VOL. 36, NO. 30
•
Friday, July 31, 1992
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
•
511 Per Year
Bishop Sean 0 'Malley speaks on Porter case, asks prayer Following comments he made June 16 during a press conference in the Fall River diocese, Bishop Sean O'Malley has issued a statement on the case of James Porter, a former diocesan priest alleged to have been involved in many instances of child sex abuse. The bishop's statement came , from the Virgin Islands, where he is making final preparations for his installation as Bishop of Fall River on Aug. 11. It follows:
pledge myself as Bishop to deal. as openly and effectively as possible with this problem today. As we learn more about this terrible sickness of pedophilia, we will be able to find more compassionate ways to reach out to all whose lives have been so tragically affected, perpetrat,ors and victims. Indeed, perpetrators of these crimes are often first themselves victims of another pedophile. The task of the Church community is to work for healing. Understandably, the present atmosphere is charged with anger and indignation, but it is in a climate of reflection and prayer that we must seek solutions that will help
Once again I am deeply saddened by continuing allegations concerning M r. James Porter's criminal activities even after therapy in New Mexico. My heart goes out to all the victims; and, although we are unable to undo the evil of the past, I
people rebuild their lives, realizing that God is always with us even in the darkest moments. His love is stronger than death, His love casts out fear.. The president of the US Catholic Bishops' Conference has recently articulated the outline of the Church policy regarding pedophilia. The tragic experiences of the past have helped forge these present policies which hopefully will allow us to deal with future cases in a way that will obviate mistakes of the past. Finally, I call on the Catholics of the Diocese to pray for the victims and their families.
Episcopal installation plans under way
JUDY MAJOR with her wandering statue of St. Francis and a couple of the photographs documenting its travels. (eNS photo)
St. Francis, aka Frank, travels far and wide EUGENE, Ore. (CNS) - A statue of St. Francis of Assisi owned by Eugene resident Judy Major got the ride of its life when thieves took it on a cross-country trip, sending its baffled owner photos along the way. The snapshots show the saint in front of a roller coaster at a California amusement park, beside historic monuments in Philadelphia, and on a visit to Dolly Parton's Dollywood in Florida. Thieves snatched the two-anda-half-foot tall concrete figure from Ms. Major's yard in April. At the Eugene police station, case No. 92-6525 became the humorous and holy mystery ofthe missing icon, while Ms. Major, a' Third Order Franciscan, began to think she would never see her saint again. Then strange letters began arriving in her mailbox, addressed to "The Good People." First came a ransom-style note, printed with magazine cut-out letters, saying, "A note to say St. Francis is well. You will see him again. Promise." The note was signed, "Chet and Winkie." A May 6 communication reported that St. Francis - "We call him Frank" - would be taking a
trip. A photograph showed a man with a mop scrubbing the statue. "Here he is getting a bath for his adventurous vacation which will be exciting and filled with good times," the letter said. "The car is gassed, we have our road maps, and tomorrow we hit the road. We'll keep you posted about Frank's adventures. You will see him again. Promise." The thieves also began sending letters to a columnist at the Register Guard, Eugene's daily newspaper. A letter to Ms. Major postmarked from Phoenix noted, "As you can see by the picture, Frank has been having quite a time. It's a journey filled with sightseeing (Mount Shasta), spiritual insight (Rosie the palm reader), adventure (roller coaster!) and exploration of a different flora (cactus)." In another note, Chet and Winkie lamented that the statue insisted on listening to his favorite radio station - elevator music. "We reached a compromise, no radio. He calls it sacrificing; we call it boring:' they wrote. The letter continued, "The palm reader in Southern California has confirmed that yes, a bird in the Turn to Page II
Plans are under way for the Aug. II installation of Bishop Sean O'Malley as the sixth bishop ofthe Fall River diocese. Under direction ofthe diocesan chancery office, a committee is planning the many details involved in the ceremony. With diocesan administrator Msgr. Henry T. Munroe as advisor, invitations to the cathedral rite are the responsibility of Msgr. John J. Oliveira, diocesan chancellor. who is also serving on the liturgy subcommittee. Msgr. Oliveira explains that due .to the limited capacity of S1. Mary's , Cathedral. admission will be by invitation only. However, WLNETV Channel Six wiH carry the installation ceremony live, beginning at 2 p.m. Aug. II. Other " channels, including Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network, will carry a delayed broadcast at times to be announced. Serving with Msgr. Oliveira on the liturgy subcommittee are Fathers Jon-Paul Gallant, David Costa and Richard Andrade and Mrs. Madeleine Grace.
Accommodations are the responsibility of Father Michael K. McManus and transportation and hospitality arrangements will be handled by Father Jay Maddock. Fathers Richard Beaulieu, Edmund Fitzgerald and Peter Graziano are in charge of receptions; and Father John Moore, Father Stephen Avila and John Kearns form the communications subcommittee. Father Horace Travassos will plan flowers and other decorations for the cathedral; and the usher corps will be comprised of cathedral ushers and young men from Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River. . Father Edward Byington will . make traffic and security arrangements. rt
*
-~4*N1tii1thMt1mA"t.;~~fi;,W" "f
'PM
Pope leaves hospital ROME (CNS) - Pope John Paul II, smiling and waving to well-wishers, walked out ofa Rome hospital where he spent 17 days for intestinal surgery. The 72-year-old pope left the Gemelli Polyclinic July 28 to the cheers and applause of some 300 patients, doctors and nurses. Dressed in his traditional white robes, he strode about 100 steps through the lobby and out the main exit into a waiting car. On the way, he stopped to kiss a baby and thank his team of doctors.
WHAT HAPPENED here on Aug. 4, 1892? For the gory details, see pages 8":9.
Installation Mass At the installation Mass, to be attended by many cardinals, archbishops and bishops, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, the representative of Pope John Paul II to the Church in the United States, will read the letter from the Holy Father naming Bishop O'Malley to head the see of Fall River. Cardinal Bernard Law, .metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Boston, of which Fall River is a suffragan see, will present and install the new bishop. Following the cathedral ceremony. Bishop O'Malley will receive the public at a reception at Bishop Connolly High School, 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River. All are welcome at the gathering, which will begin about 4:30 p.m.
The pope was taken to his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome, where he was expected to spend about a month. Doctors approved the pope's release from the hospital after a final medical check-up. They told him he was doing well but should
continue to take things easy for about two months. A medical bulletin released July 28 said the pontiffs condition 13 days after surgery was "good and getting better." He now needs "an adequate period of rest in order to gradually resume his normal activities," it said. "The medical team has prescribed a certain period of rest. It's up to the patient to accept it or not. I think the pope will respect our advice," said Dr. Francesco Crucitti, the pope's surgeon. The doctors said the pope will not require any extraordinary medical care. They predicted a full recovery from the operation in which a benign colon tumor and the gallbladder were removed. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope was Turn to Page II
"
! I
)