t eanc 0 VOL. 36, NO. 15
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F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Friday, April 10, 1992 0"
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JOANNE NOCHELLA ~ith her sixth-grade religious education students (from left) Tommy McManamon, Colin Driscoll, Jamie DiCostanzo, Carrie Hamilton, Noel Girouard, Amy Heufelder.
Sixth-graders have unique CCD class St. Patrick's parish, Falmouth, has found a unique venue for one of its sixth grade religious education classes. Each Tuesday after school, six students head to Freedom Crest Nursing Home, where they are taught by Joanne Nochella, a young woman who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease. The usual grade level lesson plans are followed with a few modifications: an opening prayer, snack, general discussion of the lesson with Scripture reading and application of the lesson to daily life. Class closes with a meditation song and final prayer. Ms. Nochella attended religious
education classes at St. Patrick's and was confirmed there in 1977. She has been confined to a wheelchair since 1983, two years after graduating from Falmouth High School. She has resided at Freedom Crest since 1990. When Ms. Nochella contacted St. Patrick's director of religious education, Marie H. Leavens, to express her interest in teaching, Ms. Leavens and nursing home administrator Matthew Muratore were happy to accommodate the religious education class in one of the home's dining rooms. St. Turn to Page 10
Which one? WASHINGTON (CNS) Three young people from each of three U.S. dioceses vying for the chance to host a 1993 world youth rally and papal visit will be in Rome on Palm Sunday to hear the announcement of the site selection. Dioceses on the short list of contenders are Buffalo, N.Y., Denver and St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to Paul Henderson, associate director of the U.S. bishops' Office· of Family, Laity, Women and Youth. Pope John Paul will announce the location, date and theme of the visit during a Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican April 12 in which ~h.e U.S. young people will partICipate. Also on hand forthe Palm Sunday announcement will be youth representatives of three national Catholic youth organizations the National Catholic Student Coalition, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and the Focolare Movement. The U.S. bishops are covering trip expenses
for the 12 young people off to Rome. Official title of the event is "World Youth Day 1993: The International Meeting - A Gathering of Youth and Young Adults," Henderson said. Turn to Page 10
..-----------l1li.1 INVITATION
All are invited to attend the Mass of the Chrism at 4 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. At this Mass, at which Boston Cardinal Bernard Law will be celebrant, chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam used at baptism, confirmation, ordination and dedication of churches and altars, is blessed for use in the diocese throughout the year.
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Detnocrats speak
Republicans speak
WASHINGTON (CNS) - Democratic candidates for president Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton see nearly eye-to-eye with the V.S. Catholic bishops on health care and economic changes, but when it comes to abortion, the differences are dramatic. In response to questionnaires submitted to their campaigns by Catholic News Service, former California Gov. Brown and Arkansas Gov. Clinton agreed with the bishops' argument that all Americans should have equal access to health care. On other topics, the two agreed with some points advocated in the bishop's 1992 political responsibility statement. However, both support legal abortion and favor the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, which would prohibit states from restricting access to abortion. Clinton's campaign responded to the CNS request by sending the candidate's position papers. Brown's campaign returned an "Index of Issues," a compilation of excerpts from speeches and his record as governor. Brown and Clinton both support universal health care, advocate preventative medicine and say a universal system would help reduce costs. "In Canada, people are spending $500 less per capita than we are and they're living two years longer and they're covering every single person ... [the Canadian system] would save over $100 billion a year," said Brown. Clinton's 10-page health plan emphasizes streamlining the current insurance system, eliminating bureaucracy, and eliminating unnecessary testing and duplication of expensive equipment. He said he would improve preventive and primary care, expand longterm care and intensify health education. The candidates agreed in supporting legal abortion. Brown said he supports the right to abortion "totally free from any pressure or inducement from the federal government." Clinton said if elected he will issue an executive order repealing the "gag" rule, a 1988 federal rule prohibiting abortion counseling and abortion referrals by workers at federally-funded clinics. The Bush administration March 20 revised it to allow doctors at such clinics to discuss abortion as an option. Both candidates favor reinstating federal Medicaid money to pay for abortions of poor women and support the Freedom of Choice Act. Maximum funding for Head Start, a priority of the V .S. bishops, has the support of Clinton and Brown, both to improve the eduTurn to Page 10
WASHINGTON (CNS) - Republican candidates George Bush and Patrick Buchanan expressed agreement with the U.S. Catholic bishops' stands on abortion and educational choice in response to a questionnaire from Catholic News Service. But on health care, immigration and the economy, there were disagreements between them and the bishops. The Bush campaign responded directly to the CNS questions; the Buchanan campaign sent position papers on topics raised. Both candidates expressed opposition to abortion. with Buchanan saying that as president he would "lead the fight for life in the Congress and the federal courts. We will veto any law that seeks to codify an abortion 'right' or that forces taxpayers to subsidize the killing of innocent unborn children." Bush said although "people of good will may disagree on questions as difficult and complex as this," he opposed abortion "except when the life of the mother is threatened or when there is rape or incest." The candidates expressed support of choice in education, although Bush did not use the word "vouchers" in his response. "Giving parents the ability to leverage change in the way we educate our children can help transform all of our schools into the best schools in the world," Bush said. Buchanan said that "federal. state and local vouchers should be encouraged for use in all schools." He also expressed support for a constitutional amendment allowing prayer and religious instruction in public schools. Asked what he would do to improve schools, Bush mentioned his "America 2000 initiative, a strategy to modernize our educational system, maintain local control over schools and better prepare our children for success in life." Buchanan's position paper did not respond to that part of the question, except to say that he would "encourage teaching of U.S. history and of English and American literature in our public schools." On health care, neither candidate backed the concept ofuniversal access endorsed by the bishops. "To lower health care costs and expand available coverage, the government should deregulate the system, encourage competition and provide incentives for employers and employees to purchase affordable insurance," Buchanan said. Bush's response recapped his previously announced health care Turn to Page 10
GEORGE BUSH
&
PAT BUCHANAN
JERRY BROWN
News stories relating to national, state, or local political campaigns are reported for their news value and are not intended to constitute statements of endorsement of or opposition to any candidate. The Anchor