t eanc 0 VOL. 32, NO. 13
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F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Friday, March 25,1988
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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usee disappointed
Civil rights veto WASHINGTON (NC) - The opponents of the measure sucgeneral secretary of the V.S. bi- ceeded in postponing the vote. shops' conference expressed disThe delay came as a barrage of appointment that President Rea- telephone. calls for sustaining the gan vetoed "one ofthe most impor- veto began after the Rev. Jerry tant pieces of civil rights legislation Falwell, chairman of Moral-Majorto come along in many years," the ity, sent an urgent message to pasCivil Rights Restoration Act. tors calling on them to rally conMsgr. Daniel F. Hoye, general gregations against what he called secretary of the V.S. Catholic Con- the "Civil Sodom and Gomorrah ference, said in a March 17 state- Act." The Washington Post rement that he hoped Congress would ported that SO,OOOe.lIs were received by the Senate during one override Reagan's veto. hour. Five days later, by a vote of 73The Civil Rights Restoration 24, more than the necessary twoAct would overturn the 1984 Suthirds majority, the Senate overrode the veto. The House took the preme Court ruling in the Grove same action following the Senate City College case. The court ruled vote. Both chambers originally that only the federally funded propassed the bill by overwhelming gram in such institutions as universities, not the entire institution, margins. could be penalized for civil rights The USCC originally had expres- violations. sed concerns about the bill but Congress added' the "abortionsupporte~ it after it was amended neutral" amendment that specified to include a provision to prevent it that nothing in the legislation could from being used to demand abor- be construed to require or prohibit tion coverage and a "religious ten- providing or paying for abortion ets" exemption to prevent religious services. organizations from being unduly Reagan, on vetoing the bill, su bburdened. mitted to Congress an alternative The Senate began discussion of Turn to Page II overriding the veto March 17 but
In Northern Ireland
Anger and horror
"The Crucifixion" Crom the lyttlinlton Missal •• Westminster Abbey Library
GOOD FRIDAY
At last, Dukakis replies In The Anchor for March 4, we ran a front-page story, "Super . Tuesday hopefuls speak," giving responses of major Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to a series of questions submitted by the National Catholic News Service. Many readers noted the lack of comments from Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. His response was finally received last week and it follows. Editor. WASHINGTON (NC) - Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis opposes govern-
ment restrictions on abortion, tuition tax credits, the nuclear arms race and the death penalty. In response to written questions submitted by National Catholic News Service, the Massachusetts governor also supported the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty and regarded aid to the "contra" rebels in Nicaragua as a violation of both U.S. and international law. He likewise backed reforms in immigration policies and favors suspending deportation of illegal immigrants who fled Central American violence, favored em-
phasizing human rights concerns in foreign policy, and said he wants the federal government to adopt universal health care and welfare reform policies similar to those he has implemented in Massachusetts. He also suggested that government must reflect traditional American social justice values. 11 questions to presidential candidates were submitted by NC News in early January. They were based on election-year issues raised by the V.S. bishops in their statement on political responsibility for 1988.
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BELFAST, Northern Ireland (NC) - Irish and English Catholic officials reacted with anger and horror to the rash of sectarian killings in Northern Ireland over the past month, including the murders of two British soldiers by members of a funeral procession in Belfast March 19. Cardinal Tomas O. Fiaich of Armagh. Northern Ireland. the primate of Ireland. said March 20 that he was horrified by the "brutal and obscene murders" of the soldiers. His condemnation of the killings was echoed by church and political leaders in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The killing ofthe two young troopers. who were in civilian dress. provoked shock in a society accustomed to political violence for almost 20 years. Cardinal George Basil Hume of Westminster. England, said March 22 that the killings were "the bitter fruit of a gospel of hate which has been preached relentlessly by the IRA for nearly two decades. "The Catholic Church both here as in Ireland condemns it without hesitation or reservation." he said. According to eyewitness accounts. the troopers drove their car up to the funeral cortege at a
rapid rate. frightening many in the crowd who were still jittery from the grenade attack by an apparent Protestant extremist at the burial three days earlier of three Irish Republican Army members killed in Gibraltar by British agents. The March 19 funeral was for IRA man Kevin Brady, one of the th~ee people slain in the March 16 attack. The soldiers, Cpls. David R. Howes. 23. and Derek T. Wood. 24. were dragged from their vehicle. severely beaten. then shot execution-style by IRA gunmen. The troopers carried pistols. but did not use them against the crowd. according to reports. Turn to Page II
INVITATION ALL ARE invited to attend the Mass ofthe Chrism at 4 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. At this Mass, chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam used at baptism, confirmation and ordination, is blessed by the bishop for use in the diocese throughout the year.