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THEANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 15,2001
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Execution marks sad day fo~ country, bis-,ops' leader says
mercies will grant them every WASHINGTON (CNS) The execution of Timothy consoling grace during their grief MeVeigh and the resumption of and suffering," Bishop Fiorenza federally sanctioned executions said. "On this difficult day, we marks a sad day for the country, the president of the U.S. bishops' . pledge our best efforts to reverse this culture of violence and reconferences said. Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of place it with a profound respect Galveston-Houston, president of for the inherent value God conthe National Conference ofCatho- fers on human life." Susan Borcherts, spokeslic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference, said that he deeply woman for the Indianapolis Archregretted the execution of diocese, in which Terre Haute is located, said Indianapolis ArchMcVeigh. McVeigh was executed by le- bishop Daniel M. Buechlein was thal injection Monday at the fed- saddened the execution was goeral prison at Terre Haute, Ind. ing forward. "He is praying for the victims He had bee;} convicted of murder in the 1995 bombing of the and their families. He is praying Murrah federal building in Okla- for Timothy McVeigh and his homa City, in which 168 people family. He urges Catholics to join .him in prayer," said Borcherts in .were killed. "In an age where respect for a statement on Monday. Among other comments about life is threatened in so many ways, we believe it is important to em- the execution was a statement phasize that human life is a gift from Cardinal Adam J. Maida of from God, and no one or any gov- Detroit. "The spectacle that surrounds ernment should presume to kill God's gift," Bishop Fiorenza said the McVeigh execution should in a statement released just after have a sobering effect on us all, the execution was carried out. moving us to an examination of "Rather, all of us have the respon- conscience of how we can best sibility to protect human life from promote life for everybody," said Cardinal Maida. "This includes conception to natural death." He noted that the U.S. crimi- innocent human beings in the nal justice system has alternative womb threatened by abortion, the ways to punish criminals and pro- victims of other people's viotect society and called on Catho- lence, and ye~, even the guilty lics and all people of good will who are caught in a vicious cycle "7"" particularly legislators to of vengeance and unrepentant reconsider the use of capital pun- rage. "We have a God-given mission ishment. He said the bishops offer their of understanding and reconciliasympathy and prayers for all those tion to everyone in need, even touched by the bombing. those with sadly hardened hearts," "We pray that the God of all he said.
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Priest, .soldiers found guilty in' Guatemalan {Jishop's murd~r GUATEMALA CITY (CNS) - Three military officers and a priest were found guilty of the 1998 murder ofAuxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera of Guatemala City. A three-judge tribunal found the officers guilty of murder and sentenced each to 30 years in prison. Father Mario Orantes, who lived with Bishop Gerardi, was sentenced to ~O years as an accessory to the murder. Lawyers said they would ap'peal. Bishop Gerardi's housekeeper, Margarita Lopez, was found innocent of charges that she covered up the murder. . The trial marked the first time high-ranking Guatemalan military officials were forced to testify about their actions. Bishop Gerardi, who headed the Guatemala archdiocesan human rights office,was bludgeoned to death outside his home in April 1998, two days after he released a report blaming the military for the majority ofthe 200,000 deaths
- A DECAYING Atlantis is revealed in the new Disney animated adventure "Atlantis: The Lost ~mpire:' (eNS photo from Walt Disney Pictures)
Movie-goers discover Atlantis in new Disney flick By ANNE NAVARRO CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE NEWYORK- The legend of the lost continent comes alive in the imaginative animated adventure "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (Disney). Known for "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Hunchback of Notre Datne," directing duo Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise team up once again in a film that pays homage to the storytelling style of Jules Verne. "Atlantis" combines the adventure theme of Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with the lore of the famed lost city. The story is set in 1914 with mild-mannered Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox), a cartographer and linguistics expert, as its hero. Like his late grandfather before him, Milo is convinced he knows the whereabouts of the lost city ofAtlantis: Once athriving civilization; Atlantis was swallowed by a giant tidal wave at the height of its glory when its king (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) tried to use the city's crystal energy source to dominate the world. The adventure begins when eccentric billionaire Preston B. Whitmore (voiced by John Mahoney) finances ~ ~xpe~i~oh to find~tlantis ~d asks Milo to lend hiS lingUistics expertise to gUIde a team of exp~orers. Milo is presented ~ith a mysterious and ancient book that could prOVide the key to finding th~ l?st empire and that was left to Whitmore by Milo s grandfather. Together with a crew made up of. experts in geology, medicine and demolition, ~lo sets forth on a ~tate-of-the-art .submarine and discovers more than Just a lost empue. The narr~tive is mor~ involved than most Disney films, touchmg more directly on the theme of greed and. ~varice, while still wrapping things up on a pOSItive note. However, "Atlantis" drowns in its own plot details. The explanation of the lost city's energy source is as mysterious as the city itself. And the filt,n's opening sequence in which citizens of AtlantIS speak in their Latin-sounding gibberish
in Guatemala's 36-year civil war. Lawyers from the archdiocesan human rights office worked'with prosecutors during the trial. . The prosecution said re~ired Col. Disrael Lima Estrada, a former chief of military intelligence, masterminded the killing to keep the bishop from testifying in possible trials about wartime killings. One witness said the other two officials, Lima's son, Capt. Byron Lima Oliva, and Jose Obdulio Villanueva, former members of the presidential guard, entered the house J.lear the time of the murder. Much of the testimony about Father Orantes' role in the mur(:~搂 M()~le der centered on traces of Bishop Gerardi's blood that police investigators found leading to the priest's bedroom. At one point in "Evolution" (DreamWorks) the investigation, police arrested Entertaining fantasy comedy Father Orantes' German shep- . in which a small-town biology herd.. professor (David Duchovny) and Guatemalan human rights or- geologist (Orlando Jones) try to ganizations waited all night in the control rapidly evolving alien orpacked courtroom until the ver- ganisms brought to Earth by a dict was read near dawn. meteor crash, while competing
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(accompanied by subtitles) is likely to be confusing to children. The film's angular, edgy animation is a fresh departure from the usual Disney fashion, while still retaining the familiar attention to detail and color. Characters have a very blunt look, with squaredoff fingers and pointy facial features, resembling . Japanese cartoons and video games. "Atlantis" seems to be Disney'S foray into the nonmusical animated action genre, apparently to . compete with films such as "Titan A.E." and "The Iron Giant." However, with volcanic explosions and scenes from the heroic climax popping out at the audience, the action is also more intense than in most Disney cartoons. Yet, distinctive characters and a fine ensemble voice cast make up for some of the film's shortcomings. Fox's endearing Milo wins the friendship and respect of the rough-and-tumble crew through his integrity and courage. Commander Rourke, given a world-weary yet amiable quality through the voice ofJames Gamer, is the surprise villain. Don Novello, whose voice some may recognize from his days as Father Guido Sarducci on "Saturday Night Live," offers quite a funny turn as the laid-back demolition expert, Vinny. And the late Jim Varney, creator of the lovable yet exasperating bumpkin character Ernest, is a good fit for the crew's crusty cook, Cookie. 'Though the eye-popping animation is accomplished and the characters are engaging, the muddling of the film's fanciful narrative diminishes its overall appeal. And the heightened action sequences may be overwhelming to younger children accustomed to a more gentle film viewing experience. Due to intermittent action violence, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested.
with a govern路ment scientist (Julianne Moore) attempting to do the same. Creative special effects and goofy characters turn director Ivan Reitman's far-fetched narrative into escapist delight. Some sexually suggestive humor, sporadic sci-fi action violence, fleeting nudity and briefcrass language with a few instances of profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for' children under 13. "Let It Snow" (Artistic License)
. Forgettable romantic comedy in which a young man (Kipp Marcus) gives up a promising career as he mopes for years' over his best friend (Alice Dylan), each being too proud to be the first to say "I love you." Director Adam Marcus' low-budget comedy has droll moments and some engaging characters, but the wafer-thin . story line cannot support an entire movie without becoming tiresome. Sexual situations and references, frequent rough language, minimal profanity, fleeting nudity and comically intended violence. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III - adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.