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t eanc 0 VOL. 38, NO. 27
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Friday, July 15, 19941
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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$11 Per Year
A ttack on free speech
Bubble zone ruling called return to Dark Ages ,
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WASHINGTON (CNS) - The U.S. Supreme Court's June 30 decision upholding the constitutionality of a "bubble zone" around a Florida abortion clinic has been roundly condemned as an attack on free speech by organizations opposed to abortion. The court ruled 6-3 that a 36-foot, noprotesters zone around the Aware Woman Center for Choice in Melbourne was constitutional. But by an 8-1 margin, the justices also said broader restrictions on approaching clinic clients and employees or displaying signs visible to people inside ~ went too far. Liberty Counslel attorney Mathew Staver, who repre:sented Judy Madsen and two other plaintiffs in their appeal of the injunction, said the ruling "has trans...
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formed public sidewalks normally open for expre~sive activity into a type of Tiananmen Square. By doing so, the court today has retreated to the Dark Ages, when speech was permitted only at the discretio~ of government officials." Staver said the ruling sends a message to all forrps of social protest "to beware." The National Right to Life Committee said the o,nly effect the Madsen ruling will have is that it "makes being pro-life a thought ~rime." , A stat~ment from Right to Life presi- . dent Warlda Franz said as a result of the Madsen case, women en route to having abortions will be denied a chance to be given information that might make them change their minds. "This decision is a devastating blow,
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not only for pro-life persons who wish to speak out against the destruction of unborn children, but also for the free speech rights of all Americans," Mrs. Franz said. Similar injunction or local laws in several jurisdictions limiting protests near clinics have been in limbo while awaiting the Madsen ruling. A Phoenix city ordinance restricting protests within 100 feet of clinics has been the subject of an injunction barring its enforcement woile the Supreme Court case was pending. In May, the California Supreme Court cleared the way for an injunction requiring protesters to stay on the opposite side of a busy street from a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city of Vallejo.
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And in Texas, a ruling has been pending on a request for a permanent injunction barring Operation Rescue and Rescue America protesters from demonstrating close to 10 abortion clinics. Jay Sekulow, an attorney With the American Center for Law and Justice who has represented key Operation Rescue defendants several times, said the Supreme Court ruling "crushes both the pro-life message and its messengers." Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, writing for the court, specifically said the injunction was properly based not on what the protesters said, but on their previous disruptive actions. Mark Chopko, general counsel for the U.S. Catholic Conference, said he thought Turn to Page II I
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Mass., U .8. bishops oppo~e allti-child initiatives I
Both nationally lind in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, bishops are expressing strong opposition tiD proposed programs affecting chiIdr~n, born and unborn. A story Olll a grassroots campaign to be mounted by the U.S. bishops in opposition to inclusion of abortion coverage lin any universal health care 1)lan follows, A 'statement of the Massachusetts bishops with regard to Governor William F.; Weld's .veto of welfare refqrm elements in the 1995 state budget is on page 3.
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WASHINGTON (CNS) - Armed with new surVey that shows most Americans support universal coverage and oppose abortion coverage in health care reforms, the U.S. bishops are launching a grassroots campaign to reignite the flickering health care debate. "\t's time to swing into high gear," said Bishop Jame$ T. McHugh of Camden, N.J., a member ofthe bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, at a July 13 press conference at the National Press Club in Washington. i "Our message [to Congress] is direct and unambiguous - put genuine universal coverage in and take the abortion mandates out," said h.uxiliary Bishop John H. Ricard of Baltimore, chairman of the bishops' Domestic Policy Committee. Press conference participants stood in front of bo~es containing an estimated half million of the 5 million postcards sent earlier this year to Congress as part ofthe National' Project Life Sunday campaign against abortion coven\ge in health care. During the new campaign, those who signed the cards will be asked to contact their congressional representatives again to reiterate their' desire that mandated abortion coverage be excluded from any health care reform pla:n, said Helen Alvare, director of planning and information for the bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Other aspects of the campaign include placement 9f print, radio and television ads supporting the dual goals of universal coverage and no:abortion mandate; a Project Life hot line (800-451-3344) providing Western Union t~legrams to two senators and a representative for a $8.95 fee; and a new letter from Catholic leaders to Congress. "We will continue to work for true reform, but we ~igorously oppose measures that advance an abortion agenda in place of a real committnent to universal coverage," said the July 13 letter signed by Bishop Ricard; Cardinal Rpger M. Mahony of Los Angeles, chairman of the pro-life committee; and Archbishop ,William H. Keeler of Baltimore, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Abortion mandates are opposed by the American people; they will force millions of employers, churches and individuals to subsidize abortion in violation of their consciences; they will jeopardize the future of Catholic and other religious providers of health care; and they will destroy the chances for real refbrm," the letter added. "We are determined to persuade Congress to eliminate abortic?n mandates on the floor and we promise our vigorous opposition to any legislation that includes them." Turn to Page II
AT TOMB dedication ceremony, from left front, K of C District Deputy Charles Pine; State Treasurer :James Sawyer; Faithful Navigator Robert Canalis; Grand Knight Joseph Hurley; Father Lucio Phillipino, pastor of Immaculate Conception parish, North Easton. At rear, partially hidden, Knight Sonny Santino; Knight Don Berstorm; District Deputy Francis Kennedy.
Tomb for Unborn is dedicated At a June 26 ceremony, Easton Knights of Columbus dedicated the first Tomb of the Unborn Child in the Fall River diocese. The ceremony at Immaculate Conception parish cemetery, North Easton, followed a Mass at the church. Some 150 members of Immaculate Conception and of Holy Cross parish, South Easton, as well as state officials of the Knights of Columbus, were present for the dedication of the tombstone by Father
Lucio Phillipino, Immaculate Conception pastor and cemetery director. Father Phillipino donated the lot on which the tombstone was erected and the Knights provided the monument. An honor guard was made up of members of the Cardinal O'Connell Assembly of Fourth Degree Knights. Speakers for the occasion were Joseph Riley, executive secretary of Massachusetts Citizens for Life and John Spillane, pro-life chairman for the Knights.
__- - - J'n This Issue Don't IVliss Bishop's Evening on Cape! I)age 3
All Families Share Simpson Tragedy Page 4
........ Vocation Vacation Anyone? Page 6
First Communion at St Joseph's, Fairhaven Page 9