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t eanc 0 VOL. 34, NO. 30

Friday, August 3,1990

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F:ALL RIVE~; DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER fOR SOUTI-IEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southea~tern Massachusetts'

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Largest Weekly

$11 Per Year

Litmus test that wasn't: Souter and abortion WASHINGTON (CNS) - Take it from the president himself: An abortion "litmus test" was no "must" in nominating a new Supreme Court justice, Not that some activists on both sides of the abortion issue wouldn't have preferred one, DetermjningwhereJudge David H. Souter stands on abortion soon became the best guessing game in Washington, with uneasiness in both anti- and pro-abortion camps. According to President Bush, who tapped Souter July 23 to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice William J. Brennan, "it is not appropriate in choosing a Supreme Court justice to use any litmus test." Bush emphasized repeatedly that he did not know - or ask - Souter's views on abortion. Appointing a new Supreme Court justice is "far broader than that. I have too much respect for the Supreme Court to look at one specific issue and one alone." Some pro-lifers worry that Bush may have glossed over the abortion issue. "The red flag went up when George Bush said there has been no litmus test," said Judie Brown, president of the American Life Lobby. "I don't know how many times Republicans think they can hoodwink pro-life people but this is about the last straw."

The American Life Lobby is circulating a petition questioning Souter's background. "We are officially withholding support until our questions are answered," said Robert Evangelisto, press spokesman for the group. Pro-lifers cite three concerns about Souter. The first is Souter's vote with the majority, while on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, to accept the concept of a "wrongful birth" of a child. In so doing, he' and other judges ruled that doctors should test for birth defects, and inform pregnant women, allowing them to decide on an abortion. "When parents are denied the opportunity to make this decision" about giving birth to a deformed child "important personal interests may be impaired, including ... personal autonomy, which may include the making of informed reproductive choices," the New Hampshire court said. In a concurring opinion, Souter discussed the hypothetical plight of a doctor who opposes abortion but has a· pregnant patient who carries a deformed fetus and might want an abortion. A "timely disclosure of (the physician's) professional limits based on religious or moral scruTurn to Page II

English Mass to honor first u.s. diocese BALTIMORE(CNS)-Archbishop William H. Keeler of Baltimore, the 13th successor of Jesuit Father John Carroll, the first bishop of the United States, will be homilist at a bicentennial Mass Aug. 15 in the English chapel where Father Carroll was ordained to the episcopate. The archbishop's visit to the chapel ofSt. Mary of Lulwbrth Castle in Dorset, England, will be part of the commemoration of the bicentennial observance of the establishment of the U.S. hierarchy. When the U.S. bishops convened their annual general meeting in Baltimore on Nov. 6, 1989, they commemorated the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Baltimore as the first U.S. diocese and the appointment of Father Carroll as its first bishop. Father Carroll, however, was not ordained a bishop until Aug. IS, 1790. He was named archbishop of Baltimore in 1808. The chapel Mass, to be celebratedAug.15byBishopChris-

topher Budd of Plymouth, England, will be but one of a series of events Aug. 14-17 at Lulworth marking the bicentennial. , The chapel is on the estate of the Weld family. Bishop Carroll taught Thomas Weld, who later became Cardinal Weld. Besides the Weld-Carroll friendship, the Weld family also was on friendly terms with King George III, who permitted them Turn to Page 11

Library of Congress

ABP.JOHN CARROLL

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THE NEW STAINED GLASS WINDOW AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHAPEL, . FALMOUTH HEIGHTS

St. Thomas mission once a. parish

ReltlOvated Cape chapel blessed Last Sunday was a special day in the history of St. Thomas the Apostle Chapel, Falmouth Heights, a summer mission of St. Patrick's Church, Falmouth. It saw the blessing by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin of the newly renovated building on Falmouth Inner Harbor which has been serving Cape Cod vacationers since the early years of the ce:ntury. Under direction of Msgr. .J ohn J. Regan, pastor of St. Patrick's, the mission interior has been painted and carpeted and the pews repaired and refinished, while a new celebrant's chair, deacon's bench and processional crucifix enhance the sanctuary. But the centerpiece of the project is the chapel's magnificent

stained glass window that spans the back wall of the sanctuary. Fifteen feet wide and four feet high, it depicts Christ calming the waters, an appropriate subject for a harborside place of worship. The window is the work of Oer-, man artist Franz Schroeder and particularly worthy of note, says Msgr. Regan, is the empathy with which he captured the facial expressions of the apostles as they seek to cope with the tumultuous seas. Once a Parish St. Thomas the Apostle has an interesting past, including the fact that at one time it was the parish church and St. Patrick's was its mission. What follows is the stor)' ofthe chapel by parishioner Kevin

F. Smith, a young man with a deep interest in local history. The picturesque St. Thomas Chapel, overlooking Falmouth Harbor has been a favorite place of worship for local residents and summer visitors alike for many years. The special ambiance of St. Thomas Chapel is a result of its lovely location, architectural simplicity, and the spiritual serenity found within. In order to learn the early history of the building that is now the Chapel it is necessary to understand the history of Falmouth Heights. Priorto 1870, Falmouth Heights was known as Great Hill, FalTurn to Page II

Rachel has her priorities straight She's only nine, but Rachel Buguey of St. Francis Xavier parish, Hyannis, has her priorities straight. Very straight. Here's the letter she sent liS: My Dad brought me by the abortion clinic at Camp St. in Hyannis. 'We prayed and he explained what goes on there. It was sad to hear that the other doctors sharing the building couid deal with it. I like babies a lot and I don't want to see them be killed. I'm nine years old and 'sometimes take care oft-abies I like it because it's fun. It s disgusting to see pictures of little babies killed because even ifyou can't see them in the mother it s still a baby. I would like to see all babies grow up. Even ifit 's a handicapped child, The priests and the pastors should get all their people and bring them

down to the abortion clinic to hold signs and encourage the mothers not to do it. More people should be down there. Thank You.

P.S, My Dad typed this but I spoke the words for him. Thank You.

RACHEL AT COMPUTER


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