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e VOL. 46, NO. 24
• Friday, June 28, 2002
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Marriage Amendment session delayed BOSTON -On June 19, Senate President Tom Birmingham (D-Chelsea) recessed the joint session of Senate and House stale legislators without a debate or vote on the proposed amendment to the state constitution affirming marriage as a , union between one man and one woman. Prompting shouts from the gallery by 200 citizen supporters of the Protection of Marriage Amendment calling for a vote, Birmingham gaveled the joint session to a close after just 3 minutes, and announced that a new session will be held July 17. According to Maria Parker, associate director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, and coordinator of MCC-Net,
Faithful come through for Appeal
the delay "thwarts the will of the people across Massachusetts to continue contactwho want a vote at the ballot in 2004 on ing their state senators and representatives preserving the institution of marriage." to support the amendment and to have their Parker noted that a legislative vote must friends do the same. In addition, she said take place before July 31 or the measure that everyone should directly call Senator will die. "It's going to be a real shame if Birmingham's office at 617-722-1500. this issue is squelched by the decision of Parker advised that "our message to the one person, legislators without a and espedebate and Complete list of state senators cially the without a senate presivote," and representatives within the dent should Parker said. that we Fall diocese, including be She want a vote in the legisu r g e d numbers - page 11. Catholics lature to
River. "phone
bring the amendment to the ballot. Even if you don't support the amendment, at least let the democratic process go forward so that the people can have their say on the vital issue of marriage." The Massachusetts Catholic Conference and the Massachusetts Family Institute have been meeting with individual legislators. "We point out that the amendment will not cut off social benefits such as health care or insurance, and talk about the unique qualities that make the marriage institution as traditionally defined so critical to the common good", Parker said. "But the legislators need to hear more from Turn to page JJ - Amendment
New Seabury to host Education Fund dinner By
FALL RIVER - Challenged by a year which began with the September 11 th attack upon our nation, which included negative economic developments in much of the area encompassed by the diocese and concluding with the troubling revelations of the sexual abuse of children by priests in regional parishes, the headquarters staff conducting the 61 sl Annual Catholic Charities Appeal in the Diocese of Fall River ,embarked upon this year's campaign with baited breath. "We fully understood that many people had contributed very significant sums to and for the relief of the victims of the September ll'h attack," remarked Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, director of the Appeal. "And, though some of the pundits see economic recovery on the way, here in southeastern Massachusetts, there are still many negative factors. Folks on fixed incomes are facing drastic increases in the cost of medicines and pharmaceuticals. "The New Bedford fishing industry is squeezed by environmental concerns. Folks depending upon investments in the stock market or in vehicles like bank certificates of deposit have fewer resources for charitable giving. And, of course, some of our regular contributors have been discouraged by the ongoing revelations of priestly misbehavior." And yet, despite all of this, the news emanating from headquarters as the final tally for this year's Appeal is being calculated remains optimistic, no longer "guarded" or "cautious," but Turn to page 12 - Appeal
DAVE JOLIVET
EDITOR
NEW SEABURY -As has been the tradition for the past four years, Cape Cod will host an evening of fine dining and entertainment to benefit the St. Mary's Education Fund, which raises monies to provide need-based scholarships to students attending Catholic elementary and high schools in the Diocese of Fall River. This year, The Country Club at New Seabury will do the honors on July 26, with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Special guests include Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., and anchor and reporter for News Center 5 in Boston, Natalie Jacobson, who will serve as master of ceremonies. Tony Place will conduct the musical portion of the evening. An added treat will be the performance of the St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School Choral Group of Hyannis. Suzanne Downing, a parishioner of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee, is the chairman for this fifth Cape Cod summer dinner to benefit the fund. "This is a most important element to help our young people acquire a good Catholic education that is most needed in our world today," she said told The Anchor. Downing, one of the founders of the Cape dinners, sees the events as vital to the future of the Church. "It's the children who benefit from the dinners," she said. "And, it should be a very wonderful and fun evening this year. We're at a beautiful new venue, and people will enjoy seeing and experiencing the new Country Club at New Seabury." Turn to page J3 - Cape Cod