t ean VOL. 35, NO. 15
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Friday, April 12, 1991
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NCEA to advertise schools, invite congressional visits Diocesan NCEA speal{ers are spotlighted on pages 8-9
CARDINAL JOHN J. O'Connor, right, of New York, talks with Cardinal Roger Etchegaray of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" before' the start of the Vatican assembly of the world's cardinals. (CNS/ UPI-Reuters photo)
Cardinals discuss abortion, sects VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The world's cardinals went to the Vatican in April to launch a frontal attack ·on legalized abortion and the mentality behind it. At a meeting convoked by the pope, the cardinals said the problem has grown beyond personal morality to encompass social ethics and the pressing need to legally protect the lives of the weak and defenseless. Their plan calls for Catholic politicians to reverse the tide of legalized abortion, for a high-level church document by Pope John Paul II on the contemporary dangers of abortion, and for improved pro-life activities by bishops even if this goes "at times against the grain." . The plan was developed at an April4 to 7 special meeting of the College of Cardinals to discuss contemporary threats to human life and the threat to Catholics from the rise of sects. The pope invited all 141 cardinals to the Vatican meeting; 112 attended. It was thefourth time that Pope John Paul has held a special meeting of the cardinals to discuss pressing church issues. The previous meetings concentrated on Vatican finances and structural reforms of the Roman Curia, the church's central administrative offices. Abortion quickly became the main issue at the April meeting and dominated the final conclusions. The conclusions on sects were general, leaving specific initiatives to local bishops. Speakers during the meeting said that there are up to 50 million abortions a year.
The conclusions were contained in an April 7 communique which said that abortion "is no longer solely a problem of individual morality" and is "corroding the ethical foundations of, authentic democracy" by downgrading the value of life. "The social and juridical legitimacy of abortions has had a strong negative influence" promoting the idea of a "selective application" of the right to life, it said. The cardinals cited growing social acceptance of abortion as a positive value and the movement to legalize euthanasia. Society has moved "from an acquiescence when confronted with a legally allowed moral evil to its justification, and even to its paradoxically asserted obligation," it said. The process has occurred where the "dominant mentality no longer recognizes the value of human life," particularly of the "poor, handicapped or gravely ill," it added. The cardinals asked Christian politicians and other public figures sensitive to human values "to conform their legislative and political initiatives to the undeclin~ble duty to respect human life." The communique also blamed a "false feminism which sees the promotion of women according to male categories" and pushes in the background the woman's "specific vocation of custodian of life." The tone of the abortion discussions was set on the first day by the pope and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.. Turn to Page II
BOSTON (CNS) - The NaEducators will be sold campaign tional Catholic Educational Asso- kits and other promotional prociation and the U.S. Catholic Con- ducts with the theme of "Discover ference announced last week at the Catholic Schools" to teach them annual NCEA convention that they" how to market their schools using were launching a $1 million nation- buttons, billboards, posters, and wide advertising campaign to pro- banners, how to raise funds, how to deal with the press and what mote Catholic education. In another program, cospon- activities to use locally to promote sored by the NCEA and the U.S. Catholic education. Catholic Conference Department The NCEA and USCC paid for of Education, each member of the the kits but are hoping product U.S. Congress will be invited to sales to schools will help cover the visit a Catholic elementary or cost and that the schools, in turn, secondary school in his or her will sell products such as buttons home district. and T-shirts at a profit and use the The advertising program is being earnings to pay for local advertislaunched for several reasons, said ing, said Father Stephen O'Brien, officials, who noted 'that the na- executive director of NCEA's chief tion's 9,000 Catholic schools are administrators of Catholic educagetting lots of attention as the tion. movement for choice in education Mercy Sister Lourdes Sheehan, gathers strength and as different the U.S. bishops' secretary of edustudies praise the back-to-basics cation, said she hopes the camapproach of Catholic educators. paign will fulfill a goal called for Newly appointed U.S. Educa- by U.S. bishops: to make sure that tion Secretary Lamar Alexander all parents who want their children has said he supports. choice, and to attend Catholic schools will be Catholic educators are hoping they able to do so by 1997. will be included in any choice proLast November U.S. bishops gram that may develop in the approved a pastoral message future. promising more financial and Officials said they also hope the moral support for Catholic educaadvertising campaign will help clear . tion. up myths they said' exist about In a related development, NCEA Catholic education, myths such as officials announced that they will Catholic schools getting rid of sponsor a national congress on problem children rather than deal- Catholic schools for the 21st cening with them and Catholic teachers tury Nov. 6-10 in Washington. lacking certification to teach. Educators, government officials,
parents, business people will be invited to attend. The NCEA said it was holding the congress "to harness the power of the wave of enthusiasm and commitment for Catholic schools." .
Congressional Visits Sought The congressional program would seek, in addition to visits from members of Congress, the completion by' members of a follow-up questionnaire to determine their positions on issues affecting Catholic schools. Project details were outlined in letters to Catholic school superintendents from Oblate Father William F. Davis, USCC representative for Catholic schools and federal assistance, and Father J. Stephen O'Brien, executive director of the NCEA's department of chief administrators. The priests said their organizations would prepare draft letters for superintendents to use in inviting members of Congress to visit a school between April and the opening of the National Congress on Catholic Schools in November 1991. The USCC and NCEA planned to develop the questionnaire, provide lists of members of Congress and suggest guidelines for school selection. The questionnaire will ask Turn to Page II
NEW ENGLAND .BISHOPS process into Hynes auditorium at opening liturgy of National Catholic Educational Association convention. Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, second from left on side nearer camera, bows as prelates approach altar. (Kearns photo)