eanco VOL. 33, NO. 14
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Friday, April 7, 1989 •
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Pope praises, criticizes U.8. religious life WASHINGTON (NC) - In a letter to the U.S. bishops, Pope John Paul II mixed words of praise for U.S. religious with sharp criticisms of "radical feminism and polarization" and other aspects of religious life in the United States. In the letter, released in Washington March 29, the pope blamed lack of new vocations partly on a failure of religious to live up to their calling and identity. A continual state 'of flux ... an excessive self-absorption and introspection, an overemphasis on
Bouquets and brickbats the needs of the members as opposed to the needs of God's people are often stumbling blocks" to potential vocations, he said. The II-page letter reflected on the results of a study of religious life begun by the U.S. bishops in 1983 under a papal commission headed ~by Archbishop John R. Quinn of San Francisco. The archbishop's reactions to the letter appear on page 6.
The pope stressed the primacy of consecrated life and community life for religious, warning that "in many instances the apostolate or ministry seems to have eclipsed the other values." He called for an end to the "polarization" among women religious, urging them to "speak to one another" and "remove the causes of their division." At the same time he reaffirmed
the status of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious - a focal point of complaints by more conservative women's orders - as the official organization established by the Holy See to coordinate relations with the Vatican and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He said that other associations of religious can legitimately be form'ed, but these "are distinct
Rites, rights inseparable SAN DIEGO (NC) - Eucharistic celebrations unite congregations in breaking down barriers of racism, sexism, classism. ageism and nationalism, speakers said at a . national Diocesan Liturgical Commissions meeting held recently in San Diego. Its theme was "Liturgy and ~o cial Justice: Celebrating Rites Proclaiming Rights." "It is impossible to worship God in good conscience and ignore our clear responsibilities to work at building up [the] kingdom," said Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle in a homily delivered by delegate Richard Hilliard in the prelate's absence. The homily stressed the importance of giving preference to the poor - those who are hungry, homeless, "above all, those without hope of a better future." The liturgy "gives a glimpse of what the kingdom [of God] could be like" and invites the assembly to overcome its inertia and improve existi ng social and economic st ructures by combating "militarism, the arms race, sickness, poverty, hatred and oppression of every sort," the archbishop said. Sister Thea Bowman of the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans. said the Creed calls the faithful to protect and defend life. She said that justice, including elimination of child and spouse abuse, should be preached from the pulpit and urged a daily examination of one's commitment to "help someone overcome oppression" by sheltering the homeless, teaching the illiterate and listening to people who hurt. Father J. Bryan Hehir, U.S. Catholic Conference counselor for social policy, said the Second Vatican Council's document on the church in the modern world places "social ministry at the heart of the life of the church" but that it has been difficult to forge the link between liturgy and social ac~ion.
from" the LCWR and the parallel men's group, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. In recent years women superiors who have refused to participate in the LCWR have lobbied to end LCWR's exclusive representation of women superiors on joint commissions of the CMSM, LCWR and NCCB. Pope John Paul also criticized U.S. religious for inadequate structures and exercise of authority within some orders. Turn to Page Six
Social health index plunges TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (NC)Fordham University's annual index of the social health of the United States has recorded another drop, continuing a downward trend that began a decade ago . The index also showed that since 1970, the first year analyzed, several social problems, such as child abuse, teen suicide and alcoholrelated traffic deaths, have worsened and only a few have improved. The annual study, "The Index of Social Health: Measuring the Social Well-Being of the Nation," was released by Fordham's Institute for Innovation in Social Policy, part of the Jesuit University'S Graduate School ofS9cial Service at Tarrytown. CONVENTION-GOERS study schedules at the National Catholic Educational AssociaDescribed as similar to the contion parley in Chicago. (NC ph.oto) sumer price index or the Dow Jones average, the study evaluates the nation's social health by assessing the status of 17 social problems, including drug abuse, infant mortality, unemployment, murCH ICAGO (NC) - Speakdinal Bernardin and Archbishop archbishop, in a keynote address ders, housing and the gap between ers at the National Catholic EduRoach have served as chairman of on the opening day of the convenrich and poor. cational Association convention the NCEA board of directors. tion discussed how Catholic eduOut of a possible 100 points, the index for 1986, the last year for in Chicago praised' Catholic eduArchbishop Eugene A. Marino cation has been a gift to the church. which statistics were available, was. cators forand their strides in • of Atlanta, the first U.S. black Turn to Page 16 education said great Catholic schools • 35, a drop from the 1985 index of could serve as models for other 39. schools. The index peaked at 72 for 1976 About 15,000 Catholic educabut has fallen 37 points since. It tors, including many from the Fall was 69 in 1977,67 in 1978,57 in River diocese, attended the 86th 1979,51 in 1980,42in 1981,and35 Does he, doesn't he? annual convention, held March in 1982. 27-30. This year's theme was "And some say, 'well, should WASHINGTON (NC) - CitIt increased slightly after 1982 "Catholic Education: Gift to the before falling again to 35 in 1986. ing budget constraints, President that include parochial schools?' Church." Bush said March 29 that he does And I've said ·yes.' But the probWhen the index began in 1970, Parental choice and involvement, not think parents of private school lem again is that we are - and that performance on 10 of the social fund raising, minorities and troustudents "should get a tax break" gets really to your philosophical problems examined was classified bled youngsters were among'topas "good." But in 1986 only three for paying private school tuition underpinning of your question ics covered during the convention. and paying for public schools we can't afford to do that," Bush were in the category - infant morHonored for their efforts in said. tality, the high-school dropout rate through their taxes. Catholic education were Cardinal and the poverty rate for those over The president, whose press secre"So I think that everybody Joseph L. Bernardin of Chicago, tary, Marlin Fitzwater, attempted should support the public school age 65. who received the NCEA John F. The year 1986 saw nine probto clarify the remarks the next day, system," Bush continued. "And Meyers Award March 28, and' commented in a White House ques- then, if on top of that, your parlems end up in the "poor" cateArchbishop John R. Roach of St. gory, compared with only four in tion-and-answer session with ents think that they want to shell Paul-Minneapolis, who was given 1970. youths from the Close Up program. out, in addition to the tax money, the NCEA's C. Albert Koob Award The problems at their worst "I have been intrigued with the tuition ~oney, that's their right March 29. recorded levels were: children in concept of tuition tax credits," and that should be respected. But I Both awards are named after Bush said, responding to a query past NCEA presidents. Both CarTurn to Page Six Turn to Page 16 from a private school student.
15,000 at education parley The shaking Bush