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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., May 24, 1979
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Churc;h History Is Studied at Theology Parley The Sixth Theology Institute for clergy of the Diocese of Fall. River took place last week at La Salette Center. for Christian Living, Attleboro. The theme, American Catholicism in Growth and Crisis, was expertly addressed by Msgr. Joseph N. Moody, presently professor of history on the faculties of St. John's Seminary, Brighton, and Boston College. Msgr. Moody developed the study of the history of the Church in the United States during four conferences. Bishop Carroll, the first Bishop of- Baltimore, was a key figure in the speakers's treatment of the heroic dimension, a review of the missionary impulse that created the Church in America. Msgr. Moody reflected on the state of colonial America, especially as preserved in reports of the earliest Jesuit missionaries. These reports, required by superiors, are some of the best and often the only records of the development of Catholicism in the colonial states and the West. Celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination, Msgr. Moody underscored the immense work of the Church involved during the period of immigration, when, reflecting the American spirit of welcome, she helped thousands to enter the mainstream of American life despite the difficulties of adapting to an alien culture. In the Church, immigrants found a touch of tbeir homelands, easing the development of their new American identity, while preserving their faith. Although a native of New York, Msgr. Moody commented that he knows the northeast very well, having served as a Navy chaplain and as the commissioning chaplain of the USS Massachusetts. Making note that he was celebrating his 75th birthday during the year of the diocesan diamond jubilee, the historian reflected on the problems particular to immigrants working in the mills of Fall River. He described Fall River as a "microcosm" of the immigrant Church,
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By Father John Dietzen Q. several years ago I read that Jewish archeologists discovered evidence of writings relating to Jesus dating from the first century. These were to be released later but I've heard nothing on the subject since. Have· you any knowledge of what these might be? (Calif.) A. During the past few decades archeologists have discovered numerous writings apparently dating from around the time of Our Lord. To my knowledge, however,_ none of them deal in any explicit way with .Jesus and his life, unless they are documents already faQliliar to historians. Throughout Christian history
giving much credit to national parishes for sustaining morale and faith, while encouraging social companionship that facilitated the entry into life in the New World. Msgr. Moody noted his interest in having priests of Fall River and New Bedford, knowledeable in local parish histories, 'share their reflections with him. His final area of concern was that of the Church of the 20th century, involved in the tumult of two world wars. The threats of Americanism and Modernism, he commented, were occasions for much maturing of the Church in the United States. The sixth in a series of annual theology institutes for priests was part of the continuing education program for clergy, directed by Rev. Michel G. Methot. It offers the busy priest time to live, study, discuss, pray and grow with his brother priests. The 1979 Institute was especially appreciated for the opportunity it afforded to be in touch with the American church story in general and local stories in particular.
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AT THEOLOGY Institute, Fathers Richard Gendreau, Clement Dufour and Peter Graziano enjoy a coffee break.
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considerable attention and respect was naturally afforded anything that would enlighten us about Christ. Full -texts of many documents have been handed down, even though the original, or even a very early manuscript, had never been found. Certain modern discoveries seem to give us parts of some of these documents, but contain nothing specifically about Jesus that we did not already know. Certain texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered after World War II in the southern part of the Holy Land, speak of a Teacher of Righteousness. Some conjectured at first that this teacher might be Jesus, or at least a man closely connected with him. Experts now agree that this is not so. The Teacher of Righteousness, whoever he was, died some decades before Our Lord, and apparently had no more connection with him than any of the other holy men living in first century B.C. P~es tine. Q, Several years ago my son, a Catholic, married a girl who had been baptized a Methodist and had been previously married. Her first husband abused her and their child, which caused her to divorce him. When she and my son were thinking about marriage, they went to a priest who told them they could not get married in the Catholic Church because she had been baptized a Methodist, so they ended up being married by a justice of the peace. This is a real heartbreak to me, and I think to him, too. Is there anything they can do to get married in the church? (Fla.) A. There are too many facts missing from your letter for me to give a very helpful answer. The mere fact of her being baptized a Methodist would not create an unsolvable problem unless her first husband were also a baptized Christian. If he were not, a procedure might be possible that would allow the marriage. Other significant factors would be whether her first husband had been married before, what circumstances existed in the first marriage that might suggest the possibility of an annulment, and so on. Presumably a priest consulted by someone like your son would ask all the necessary questions to explore any avenues for marriage in the church. If your son hasn't talked with at least one other priest during the past few years to obtain his opinion, I'd suggest he do that. Sometimes one priest will see a chance where another does not. Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen c/o The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Mass. 02722.