t eanc 0 VOL. 39, NO. 25
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Friday, June 23,1995
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAt~ NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest
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$11 Per Year
Bishop names diocesan chancellor
Liturgy, land mines, plio-life on bishops' spring agenda CHICAGO (CNS) - The U.S. bishops took action on topics as diverse as land mines and life issues, disabilities and telecommunications at their June 15-17 spring meeting in Chicago. But the issues that prompted the most debate and took up most time - liturgical questions and the possible restructuring of the National Conferen(;e of Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference - remained unresolved. The meeting - one of the most productive spring sessions in recent memory - was ov(:rshadowed by the news of Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernard in's June 12 surgery for malignant tumors on his kidney and pancreas and the strong likelihood that they will recur. The bishops unanimously approved a IO-page statement, "Sowing the Weapons of War," which calls for a sharp curb on international ar'ms salt;s and a worldwide ban on land mines. Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, who introduced the statement as head of th(: bishops' International Policy Committee, said that by approving it the bishops were "committing ourselves to a campaign to restrain the arms trade and to eliminate land mines" from the world. He expressed hope that soon land mines, which kill or maim more than 25,000 people a year, will be viewed by the international community in the same way as biological or chemical weapons. The bishops also agreed, by a 207-1 vote, on a 29-page statement, titled "Faithful for Life," which calls advances in abortion and euthanasia in the name of human freedom "freedom gone wrong." The statement compares legal abortion and legal euthanasia to America's former denial of human rights to black slaves. It also compares them. to Nazi campaigns to exterminate Jews, Slavs, Gypsies and the mentally ill on the basis of theories that classified them as "subhuman." Similar near-unanimity greeted the new "Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments With Persons With Disabilitie~," approved June 16. The document seeks to improve access to the sacraments by the disabled and to reduce inconsistencies in pastoral practice. Approved by a vot(: of 205-1, it is first such document issued by the bishops on the national level. In seven separate votes, the bishops decided to disband the
Weekl~'
Bishop Sean O'MalIey has named Rev. Michael K. McManus Diocesan Chancel1or, effective Wednesday, June 28. Father McManus will retain his office as diocesan Secretary for Temporalities. A native of Immaculate Conception parish, Taunton, he is the son of the late Joseph F. McManus and the late Helen (Fenton) McManus. A graduate of Coyle & Cassidy High School, Taunton, and Holy Cross College, Worcester, he taught at Coyle & Cassidy and was administrative assistant to the mayor of Taunton before entering S1. John's Seminary, Brighton, to prepare for the priesthood. After ordination on June 22, 1985, by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, Father McManus was parochial vicar at St. Mary's Cathedral until June 1986, when he was appointed vice chancellor with residence at the cathedral. In December 1986 he was appointed Diocesan Finance Officer and was reappointed to that position in December 1991. Since July 1987 he had served on weekends at S1. Mary's parish, Mansfield, and in October 1993 took up residence in that parish. He was appointed Secretary for Temporalities effective October 14,1994.
Catholic Charities hits alltime high The 1995 Catholic Charities Appeal has reached an alltime high of $2,379,764.78. In 1957, the Anchor's first year, when the Appeal was 15 years old, the grand total was $354,477.92, with Holy Name parish, Fall River, and St. Lawrence parish, New Bedford, the leadinl: parishes. The 1995 leaders are St. Pius X parish, South Ya.rmouth, and St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis.
Hickey photo
MOTHER TERESA AND HER SISTERS AT ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH
Bishop's Statement In this week's Anchor, you will note the results of the 1995 Catholic Charities Appeal in the Diocese of Fall River. I am delighted to report that a total of$2,379,764. 78 was collected in this year's Appeal. This represents an increase of over $72,000.00 from the previous year. No doubt this is due to the dedicated work of priests, religious and lay men and women throughout the diocese as well as to the generosity of thousands who have contributed to this effort. I wish to extend a personal word Turn to Page 13