RiVER SPp~PE~ FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHuseTTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS c
VOL. 31, NO. 15
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Friday, April 10, 1987
FALL RIVER, MASS.
New Bible text seen as more gender-neutral WASHINGTON (NC) - A new Catholic translation of the New Testament is better suited for liturgical use than its predecessors, editors of the new version said at a press conference held to introduce it. Liturgical use was "a high priority" in the new translation, said Franciscan Father Stephen Hartdegen, secretary of the editorial board and director of the U.S. Catholic Biblical Apostolate. The new revision also tries to incorporate gender-inclusive or gender-neutral language wherever this would not do violence to the original text or to smooth English reading, the editors said. The revised New Testament of the New American Bible was made public April5 in Washington. At a press conference April 3, its five editors presented it to report~rs and answered questions about It. Benedictine Father Claude Peifer ofSt. Bede's Abbey, Peru, Ill., said the question of sexually discriminatory language "was very ,?uch discussed indeed" by the editors, -Pi,tIt- by John Guo,i. {NC pIIoto) "probably more than any o~her GOOD FRIDAY single issue over the past eIght years." The revision began in 1978 Attend and see if there be any sorrow and was completed last year. "An outside consultant on gender like. t()mYS()l'fQ\V language was called on f~r a~vice, said Jesuit Father FrancIs Gignac of the Catholic University of America, editorial chairman. She was Marianne Sawicki, who holds a doctorate from Catholic University and teache~ at ~exing.ton Theological SemInary In LexIngton, Ky. "We found her very helpReligious of the diocese met Mary Ann Donovan, SC, San ful " said Father Gignac, even th~ugh "we could not incorporate Sunday at Bishop Feehan High Jose Bishop Pierre DuMaine and School, Attleboro, for a workshop Sister Margaret Cafferty, PBVM. all of her suggestions." on issues facing religious who wish The meeting was "a very enrichThe new translation uses terms to change ministry or are preparing experience," said Sister Blu.te, like "one" and "human beings" in ing to enter retirement. modeling "a truly collaborative place of "man" and "men." Conducted by Sister Philomena mode of men and women in the The 1970 New American Bible Agudo, FMM, of LaSalette CounChurch, seeking the development translation of Matthew 4:4, for seling Center, Attleboro, the workof religious and the growth of the instance, is "Not on bread alone is shop was described as very useful Church." man to live..."; the new transla- by those in attendance. Archbishop Quinn, chairman of tion is "One does not live by bread Discussion at the meeting will a Pontifical Commission on Relialone." assist in planning future programs, gious Life which completed a threeThe old version of Matthew said Sister Mary Noel Blute, RSM, year consultation process last year, 5: 16 is "your light must shine before Episcopal Representative for Relisaid that U.S. religious life is healmen"; the new has "your light gious for the Fall River diocese. thy. "So many have been faithful must shine before others." She said the workshop was organthrough so' much transition and Where Matthew 9:8 "praised ized by a diocesan committee on change," he declared. "There has God for giving such authority to Transition in Ministry that has been a decline in numbers but not men," it now reads "glorified God been meeting since December. in quality." who had given such authority to San Francisco Parley The archbishop described relihuman beings." gious life as a "witness of transThe new version does not, howIn other news from the diocesan cendence" and said that it is a mesever, use gender-neutral terms for Office for Religious, Sister BI!1te sage of hope to 'people ~ho a~e God or Christ. Nor does it resort reported that she attended the ansearching for a center III their to what the board in a press release nual meeting of the National conlives." called "inelegant circumlocutions ference of Vicars for Religious, Sister Donovan, professor of or neologisms" to avoid some of held late last month in San Franchurch history and systematic thethe male terminology in ordinary cisco and themed "Religious in the ology at the Jesuit School ofTheolEnglish. Local Church: Yesterday, Today ogy, Berkeley, Calif., was the keyThus the translation uses "he" and Tomorrow." note speaker, tracing the role of and "him" as third-person singular Speakers included San Francisco ArchbishopJohn R. Quinn, Sister Turn to Page Six Turn to Page Six
Workshop, national parley focus on religious life
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Violence marks papal journey BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (NC) - Pope John Paul II arrived in Argentina after a turbulent visit to Chile bringing a strong message of support for human rights and the South American nation's return to democracy. "The full reestablishment of democratic institutions constitutes a privileged moment by which Argentines can be ever more conscious that all are called to responsible participation in public life," he said in his first day in the country. Argentine President Raul Alfonsin was elected in 1983 after seven years of military rule, which human rights monitoring organizations describe as a period of massive rights violations. Since 1983, top military officials, including three ex-presidents, have been found guilty of human rights-related crimes and received sentences ranging from four years to life imprisonment. In ceremonies at the cathedral in Buenos Aires, the pope joked to ~ the crowd that "it's even hotter here than in Chile" but added "and that's only a climatic observation." Several events during the Chilean leg of his South Americanjourney were marked by violent clashes between police and demonstrators which left more than 400 people injured. The pope also spoke to diplomats April 6 and asked for greater efforts to solve the Third World's foreign debt crisis. Argentina has one of the Third World's largest foreign debts, and the government has said it cannot meet interest payments. . Before arriving in Argentina, he visited Chile and Uruguay. Visit to Chile The pope went to Chile to celebrate his success as an international mediator, but soon found himself embroiled in deep domestic divisions regarding the 13-year rule of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The pope heard Pinochetjustify his military government actions as a defense of the "authentic values of the Christian West" against international Marxist subversion. He prayed briefly with Pinochet and his wife in the chapel of the presidential palace. During the April 1- 6 trip, the pope also met opposition political leaders, saw numerous antigovern- , ment signs at papal events and witnessed a bloody clash between demonstrators and police at a papal Mass. Signs accused the government of murder, torture, kidnapping and being a dictatorship. Pinochet's reign also has been the focus of
stiff cntlclsm from the Chilean bishops and international human rights organiz!itions. The pope did not offer to mediate. Instead, he outlined dialogue and reconciliation as the means by which Christian societies should solve their differences. During his visit, he developed two major principles: respect for human rights and rejection of violence as the means to sociopolitical change. The pope voiced the theme of nonviolence in Montevideo, Uruguay, his first stop, March 31, and repeated it at major stops.in Chile. .He gave tacit support to nonviolent opposition leaders seeking a quick return to elected government. On April I, his first day in Chile, Pope John Paul listened as Pinochet described his military government as a bulwark of Western Christianity against a tide of Marxism. The next day, the pope told Santiago slum dwellers that "active participation in public life" - including the "election of public officials" - is part of a Christian political society. Residents of the poor neighborhoods had presented the pope with their grievances against the government, citing high unemployment and barriers against political participation. Prior to Pinochet's coup, Chile had 46 years of elected civilian rule under a multiparty system, a record for Latin America. Banners accusing the government of torturing political prisoners were raised at several papal events. In Concepcion April 4, the pope spoke directly to the matter, saying the church "denounces the practice of moral.and physical torture." Violence, however, became a part ofthe papal trip. At an April 3 Mass, police and anti-government demonstrators clashed, leaving more than 100 people injured. The incidents occurred about 160 yards from where the pope was celebrating Mass. Turn to Page Six
INVITATION ALL ARE invited to attend the Mass oftheChrism at 4 p.m. Tuesday atSt. 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.