Oppose Liberalixing Abortion Law WORCESTER - A joint pastoral letter 'by the nine Roman Catholic bishops of Massachusetts, vigorously opposil'lg any action that would abrogate the Commonwealth's abortion law's, was read at all Masses in all of the State's Catholic Churches over the past weekend. The three-page letter, entitled
"In Defense of Unborn Human tion adopted at a meeting of the mittee that auth'ored the letter. Life," was, a presentation of the Massachusetts Catholic. ConferThe' letter was read in all "basic principles and considera- ence on Feb. 13 at Barlin Catholic parishes. just 'two days tions" which the bishops said, Farms, a Worcester di~cesan i~- _ prior to the opening of debate they felt "are necessary for an stitJ,ition in Boylston. It was re- 'in the Massachusetts Legislature intelligent appreciation of this leased hereby Au'xiliai-y' Bishop on' four bills introduced there of which 1NQuld amend or eliminate controversial and heart-rending Timothy: J." Har.rington '" issue,'·' . Worcester, long-time director of existing s'tate ·anti-ab.ortion staIn issuing the letter, the bish- social services in the Worcester. tutes. Hearings began before the ops. were acting· upon a- resolu- diocese', who chaired the comSocial Welfare' Commit\'lee of
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Fall River" Mass., Thursday, March 25, 1971 $4.00 per year Vo I. 15, No. 12 © 1971 The Anchor', PRICE 10¢
Issu'es Guidelines For Holy Week . .
Bishop Daniel A. Cronin has issued directives concerning the celebration of the Rites of Holy Week. The Commission for Divine Worship has also announced a group of consultative sessions to' assist clergy, Religious and laity in a more fruitful c~lebra tion of the Holy Week Rites. Only the speci~l Holy, Week services are included in the portion of the newly translated Missal: The Passion Sunday Rite and Mass (formerly "Palm Sunday"), the ChrIsm Mass of Holy Thursday morning, the Holy. Thursday evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Good Friday afternoon service, and the Easter Vigil and Mass. Modification of the Rites of Holy Week principally affects the texts of the orations, antiphons and readings; options have been introduced for certain of, the rites and prayers.
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"While the' changes are less sweeping than some made in the past, it Is," the Bishop point· ed out, "nonetheless incumbent upon those charged with pas.toral responsibility to study the new rites carefully in order to cerebrate them with solemnity and pastoral· sensitivity. ParisI:1 musicians must plan the Holy Week rite!! with the priests.'! While not describing· the new rites in detail, 'the bishop's directive did highlight changes, J:ur~
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Four S.tates Refuse To· ·Change Stand Abllrtion opponents recently saw victory in Florida,' Massa:, chusetts, Minnesota and Illinois - all states ~here E;fforts ,to loosen' restrictive abortion laws have' failed temporarily. ' The judiciary committee' Of. Floriaa's senate killed six prefiled liberalized abortion bills. A strong proponent of the measures declared it' "the end, o'f abortion as an iSSUE: for' thil' session." Florida's bishops set aside Sunday, March ,28 to emphasize the sacredness of human life in all s t a g e s . , . The judiciary committee of the Massachusetts state legislature also killed a package of bills designed to repeal the state:s 126year-old Crimes ~~a'inst Chas·
Inte:rment Rites For 12 Fetuses Found ,in, Dump LOS ANGELES (NC)-Burial services for 12 fetuses found in a city garbage dump were, held March 18 in the Los Angeles County Cemetery. Pray~rs were offered at the gravesite where the infants are 'buried: . Leading the recitation 'was Msgr. Patrick J. Rpche, edTurn to Page Two
Pia n Sessions' On Liturgy Rev. James' F. Lyons, Chairman of the Commission 10rDivine Worship of the Diocese of Fall River, announced today that a series of consultative sessiOns concerning the revised rites for '. Holy Week will take place in three areas of the Diocese. Fr. Lyons explained that the sessions are intended to assist all whQ are dire~tly involved in planning the liturgies of Holy Week, and anyone who is interested in the liturgy in general. "We are hoping to provide assistance for the whole people of" God," Fr. Lyons said. "The clergy,. the religious and the Turn to Page Eighteen
the House T,uesday (March 23). In their joint pastoral, the Catholic bishops said they felt impelled to state their position because of "the growing debate in the public media and in leg,islative halls concerning the morality of abortion." The letter makes the positi9n Turn to Page Thirteen
tity, Statutes. A meeting 01'\, abortion law cnanges took place on 1.'uesday in Boston before the Legisiature's Committee on So'cial Welfare. William·R. Baird, advocate of repeal, vowed: to press his fight again before public' hearings when similar bills agaip arise that. would wipe out penalties, for abortion, fo.rnication, .lewd, lasci-
vious and unnatural acts and blasphemy. The bishops of Massachusetts released a join~' pastoral letter on March 20 and 21 to make their stand clear. ,In Minnesota and Illinois, abortion, meas\lres were dismissed by legislative committees; in Maryland a vote is to be Turn to Page Two
Delegates. to Meet
On -Pri'esthood On next Monday and Tuesday, from liS many Catholics as posMarch 29 and'3p, clerical, reli- sible. 'gious and lay representatives The Diocese of Fall River was from all dioceses of New En- 'asked to make a study of the gland will meet at St. William's Spiritual Life and Development Hall of ~t. John's Seminary in of th(~Priest. This was made Brighton to pool information through polls of laity, priests that each diocese has gathered and religious; The results of the on the ministerial priesthood. polls are still being tallied anci The Priesthood will be one of interpreted and will be presented two. topics discussed at the at the New England meeting .Synod of Bishops meeting in next week. Rome on September 30. AmeriMost Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, can dioceses have been asked to ,S.T.D., Bishop of, Fall River, has make studies on various aspects announced the representatives of of the priesthood so that the the Fall River Diocese at the delegates' of the American Bish- Boston meeting~ Clerical repreops will go to the Synod Wil h sentatives will be Rev. George as much coin~ent on the subject W. Coleman, Rev. Ambrose Forgit, SS.CC., .Rev. Daniel L. Freitas, and Rev. Leq T. Sullivan. Representatives of religious will be Sister Mary' Jessica, R.S.M. of Nazareth Hall in Attlcboro, and Brother Roger Millet, F.I.C. of Bishop Connolly High School. ' , Lay representatives wlll be Mrs. Charles Landry of Seekonk, diocesan president of the Diocesan Council 'of Catholic Women; and Mr.' Joseph C. Murray of North Dighton, a former president of the, Taunton Serra Club.
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Congr~ss
Votes Issues
, BISHOP VISITS CAPE: Bishop Cronin meets Mr. and Mrs. Geagari of Hyannisport following a 'concelebrated Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church, Hyannis. . .
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The National Federation of Priests' Councils voted overwhelmingly 1<ite Wednesday night to adopt a statement which asked that priests' be immediately allowed to choose be· tween celibacy and' marriage. ' The stat~ment' w'as offered to the NFPC Hou,se of Delegates during itts annual convention in Baltimore. It also called for a greater voice by priests, religious and Turn to Page Eighteen