AS THE MARIAN YEAR opens, Father John F. Moore, pastor, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin and Father Robert T. Canuel, parochial vicar, break ground for the new St. Mary's Church, New Bedford; right, the bishop confirms 131
adults in a Pentecost Sunday I Marian- year celebration at St. Mary's Cathedral. (Rosa, Gaudette photos)
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
VOL. 31, NO. 24
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FALL RIVER, MASS.
Friday, June 12, 1987
Reappeal set • In ARM case WASHINGTON (NC) - The V.S. bishops' conferences announced June 5 they will appeal again a federal court ruling requiring them to provide extensive church records on anti-abortion strategies. Calling the case "unprecedented" and "exceptional," Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye, general secretary of the conferences, said allowing the case to proceed "is to permit irreparable harm" to the bishops' conferences. In the ruling issued June 4 the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and V.S. Catholic Conference lost an appeal of a contempt-of-court citation that was issued over their refusal to produce the records. In a 2-1 decision the 2nd V.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York let stand a May 1986 federal district court's order to produce the documentation or face SIOO,OOO-a-day fines. "To say we are disappointed by the result is a dramatic understatement," said Msgr. Hoye in a June 5 statement announcing plans for the appeal. Msgr. Hoye said the case is important not only for the NC~B USCC "but also for any religious or tax-exempt group concerned about issues of public debate." "If necessary, the conferences will seek to protect their rights in this case by way of petitioning the Supreme Court for review. For now, the conferences will seek appropriate relief from the imposition of penalties in order to allow this matter to be reconsidered fully by the court of appeals or by the Supreme Court," Msgr. Hoye said. The suit in district court is part of a 7-year effort by Abortion
Rights Mobilization to force the V.S. government to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church in the United States on grounds that it engaged in political activities forbidden to tax-exempt religious organizations. Msgr. Hoye said the court had ruled that the bishops' conferences were mere witnesses to the case with "no interest in or basis to challenge the constitutional authority of the federal district court." "The fundamental dispute in this case is not between ARM and the government, the nominal parties to the lawsuit, but between ARM and the conferences. It is our tax exemption that is the target ,of the dispute," Msgr. Hoye said. Abortion Rights Mobilization argues that the Catholic Church has illegally politicked for antiabortion candidates and that the church's retention ofits tax-exempt status puts groups like Abortion Turn to Page II
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BONN, West Germany (NC) - Czechoslovakian authorities are cracking dQwn on women illegally joining Catholic relig~ ious orders, according to reports in the West German Catholic press. The reports say communities suspected of illegally admi • new members have been by secret police; employers have been told to monitor tbe reli~ ious behavior ofemployees, and report such behavior to police; single women who appear par-
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
fALL IfYER A MAliAN DIOCESE
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Marian year peace urged By NC News Service Through pastoral messages, parish and diocesan Masses, and special prayer services, V.S. Catholics and Catholics around the world were urged to make the Marian year a time of special grace and peace. The Marian year began June 7, Turn to Page Six
'S, ticularly dev tinized, and go have been assigned to "stake out" churches and report on regular Massgoers. Catholic orders, although allowed to exist in Czechoslovakia, are strictly forbidden to recruit or aecept new members. In recent years, however. small underground conventsand cloisters have reportedly sprung up throughout the country. In them, men and women, appar* ently living ordinary lives, se-
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$8 Per Year
Diocese welcomes two new priests By Joseph Motta June. For many, it brings memories of happy weddings and graduations. It will remind Fathers Edward J. Healey and David J. Landry of a beautiful ordination day. The men were ordained Fall River diocesan priests Saturday by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin at St. Mary's Cathedral. June 6 came complete with perfect weather. Hundreds of wellwishers wore smiles as they gathered to see the ordination. "I'm happy that he found his niche in life," said Adrienne Messier, a longtime friend of Father Healey. "He's been searching for a long time." Also present to participate were scores of priests. "All the ordinations bring back a lot of good memories," said Father Richard E. Degagne, parochial vicar at New Bedford's St. Anthony of Padua parish. Father Degagne, who noted that
e CretJy follow the vows of their particular orders. The existence of these secret orders made headlines in 1983 when Czechoslovakian police raided clandestine Franciscan communities in Prague and other cities. As secret religious order members were found in recent years at all levels of Czechoslovakian society. the govem* ment apparently became worried and began acting against them, the reports say.
the previous day was the fifth anniversary of his own ordination, remembered the support he had received on that happy day from already-ordained diocesan priests. "It's good to be here and return the support to these guys," he said. "A day like today...recalls what it's all about," noted Father Mark R. Hession, a parochial vicar at Holy Name parish, Fall River. Father Arnold R. Medeiros, parochial vicar at Taunton's Our Lady of Lourdes parish, and Father Peter N. Graziano, pastor of Fall River's SS. Peter and Paul Church, both said that an ordination day offered the opportunity for them to renew their own priestly commitment. Father Medeiros said that ordination "reminds me of the fraternity" of the priesthood. "It was the most memorable day of my life," Father Graziano said, thinking back to 1963. "I have gratitude to God for giving me this priestly vocation," said a reflective Father JohnJ. Murphy, pastor of Holy Name parish, New Bedford. "It's something all priests should thank him for." In his homily, Bishop Cronin spoke of the duties of priests. "They are called to share in the priesthood of the bishops," the bishop said, "and to be molded into the likeness of Christ, the supreme and eternal priest. "By consecration they will be made true priests of the New Testament," he said, "to preach the Gospel, sustain God's people, and celebrate the liturgy, above all, the Lord's sacrifice." Bishop Cronin then spoke to the candidates. "You must apply your energies," Turn to Page Nine