Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , April 20, 2012
Doctor-prescribed death bill defeated in Vermont
By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent
BOSTON — On April 12, Vermont senators killed a bill, 18-11, that would have legalized physician-assisted suicide in the state. Opponents of a similar Massachusetts measure hope their state will follow suit. “We’re obviously elated that the senate in Vermont did the right thing, not only to defeat this onerous bill but also to defeat the political shenanigans that were going on to try to get this bill passed. The whole thing was politics at its worst,” said Kristian Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute. First introduced in 2011, Vermont’s “Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life,” failed to make it out of committee by the 2012 legislative deadline. In what Mineau described as a “last ditch, desperate effort,” the Health and Welfare Committee attached the bill to an anti-tanning bill. That bill was defeated after two hours of debate about doctor-prescribed death.
Mineau warned that the battle in Massachusetts will be tougher than the one in Vermont since here the measure will almost certainly appear on the November ballot. Last month, Public Policy Polling released results that 43 percent of Massachusetts voters are in favor while 37 percent are opposed. A Boston Magazine article titled, “Massachusetts Voters Want Their Parents to Die with Dignity,” highlighted the fact that 44 percent of those 65 and older oppose the measure, while their children, those aged 46 to 65, “were the highest segment in favor with 49 percent supporting the bill.” The legislation, euphemistically called the Death with Dignity Act, is a citizens’ initiative petition that is expected to appear on the ballot this year. Proponents claim the measure would give patients greater peace of mind, choice and control in their final days of life. The legislation permits individuals who are given six Turn to page 18
labor of love — Youth in St. Rose of Lima Parish in Guaimaca, Honduras, a mission of the Fall River Diocese, prepare the church for Holy Week observances. (Photo courtesy of Father Craig A. Pregana)
Holy Week in Guaimaca: Passion for the Passion of Christ
By Dave Jolivet, Editor
GUAIMACA, Honduras — Holy Week observances, rites and celebrations provide Catholic faithful worldwide with inspiration and gratitude to the Almighty Father for His great love
for us. While the holiest time in the Church season is marked by all, the methods are as unique as the many ethnicities that make up the universal Church. In the poor villages and towns in the mountainous areas of
Guaimaca, Honduras, the faithful of the Fall River diocesan mission look forward to Holy Week celebrations all year. “I asked a few of the young people here what they would Turn to page 15
his arriving in 2008, Rodrigues made a case to start data collation online in the hopes of getting firmer data to share. “It helps us look for the outlay for the future,” explained Rodrigues, especially for cities like Taunton, Attleboro, Fall River
and New Bedford, which are growing smaller. “The predominant ethnic groups are getting smaller, getting older and passing on. We see this across the country, this movement from cities into towns. That produces a Turn to page 18
Pastoral Planning: Finding faith within the numbers
By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff
welcome to the church — At the Easter Vigil at Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich, RCIA candidates Serenity Silva-Drinkwater and Janell Carme brought up the gifts with RCIA instructor Charlotte LeBlanc.
FALL RIVER — Gathering data is a rather meticulous job but someone has to do it, and for Douglas Rodrigues, director of the Pastoral Planning Office of the Fall River Diocese, gathering that data is only the beginning of his job. “Basically we’re about promoting and advocating consultative processes and shared responsibility for the clergy and the faithful in the diocese,” said Rodrigues. In laymen’s terms, Rodrigues and associate director Diane Rinkacs spend a bulk of their time collecting research and working in tandem with Bishop George W. Coleman, breaking the data down into bite-sized pieces that can be easily digested by pastors, parish councils and other members of the diocesan community. Within a year of
observing trends — Douglas Rodrigues, right, director of the diocesan Pastoral Planning Office, reviews statistical information with his assistant, Diane Rinkacs, in their office in Fall River. (Photo by Becky Aubut)