08.09.85

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

t eanc 0 VOL. 29, NO. 31

FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1985

$8 Per Year

In South Africa

Bishops ask

ap,artheid end

LONDON (NC) - The Cath­ olic bishops of South Africa have culled on the nation's president to "call off the state of emer­ gency forthwith" and end the apa::theid system of legalized dis­ crimination, according to a Brit­ ish lay Catholic organization. The London-based Catholic Institute for International Rela­ tions July 31 released the text of a statement by the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Confer­ ence, which said the govern­ ment's only option is "to dis­ mantle apartheid and its insti­ tutions." The institute is a British lay organization which describes its role as promoting "better under­ standing of justice and peace issues." The bishops' statement said the state of emergency declared July 20 for 36 black districts by South African President P. W.

Botha "comes as no surprise" because apartheid "breeds vio­ lence, oppression, economic ex­ ploitation and racial animosity." "In the history of South Afri­ ca, savage repression has always been carried out in proportion to the intensity of popular resis­ tance," it said. "The national government has only one option, that is, to dismantle apartheid and its institutions." The bishops listed five steps which Botha should take to "demonstrate his willingness to abolish apartheid: - An immediate end to the state of emergency. - The release of all political prisoners and detainees "uncondi· tionally." - An end to police occupa­ tHn of black townships and resi­ dential areas. - The start of "meaningful Turn to Page Six

Motta photo

RESIDENTS OF St. Vincent's Home, Fall River, are routinely frisked upon entering the Bristol County House of Correction, New Bedford. Sheriff David R. Nelson is at right

SLAM!

By Joseph Motta

male facility are serving time for drug and alcohol-related of­ Residents of St. Vincent's fenses. Home, FaH River, recently parti- . 212 prisoners are housed at cipated in PROJECT SLAM (Stu­ the medium-security House of dents Learning A Message) at Correction, which has a. rated the Bristol County House of capacity of 135. Such over­ Correction, New Bedford: crowding is typical of Massachu­ In the anti-drug program de­ setts jails. The antiquated New veloped by 'Bristol County Bedford building, built in 1828, Sheriff David R. Nelson, two in­ last saw expansion in 1884. mates incarcerated for drug­ Life decisions made at a young related crimes spoke to the group age determine whether or not a of about 15 young men, describ­ man will find himself incarcera ,jng in down-to-earth language ted, Nelson emphasized before how lives can be destroyed conducting group members on a through substance abuse. short tour of the dismal building, Launched in January, SLAM's including viewing of a typical aim is to let young adults see first -hand the other side of the drug culture, namely prison Ufe and loss of personal freedom. Sheriff Nelson also wants to bring a message to participants On page 16 of thIs Issue The that will encourage them to re­ Anchor begins -a monthly Fam­ Ily Page of splrltuaUy oriented flect maturely on their own pres­ ent or potential .drug involve­ pictures and puzzles, Today's ment. August page, for Instance, Is based on the "Bread Gospel" of Upon entering the facility, the young "tourists" were frisked John and talks about both bread for contraband. This procedure for the body and the bread of life. was standard, Sheriff Nelson ex­ The Family Page originates plained, and had drugs been found lin a visitor's possession he with Church World, newspaper would have been detained. He of the Portland, Maine, diocese noted that frequent attempts are and is shared with us by ar­ made to smuggle drugs and drug rangement with Henry Gosselin, pluaphenalia into the prison.' Church World editor. Created by The sheriff told the group that Susan Manclne, It is Illustrated by Christina Beebe. 80 percent of inmates at the all­

Family Page

o

IN TENSE South Africa, troops monitor mourners re­ turning from a mass funeral. (NC/UPI-Reuter photo)

jail cell and the prison court· yard. The cell, a windowless six by eight foot cubicle, houses on~ man and contains a bed, toilet and sink. Prisoners are allowed to decorate their quarters and to supply their own radios and televisions. Nelson noted that the average inmate is 22 years of age and must spend abollt 19 hours a day locked in his cell. One St. Vincent home resident, when asked what he thought of the cell, said it was "not some­ thing I'd like to live in, that's for sure." After the tour, the group' was shown to the prison chapel, where Nelson exhibited home­ made weapons confiscated from prisoners and discussed drug­ smuggling techniques used by visitors to supply prisoners. He showed, for instance, a pair of sneakers brought in for an in­ mate which were found to have drugs hidden 'in the soles. Inmates "Peter" and "Sam" were then introduced to the young men. Peter told the group that he "started off with downers at 12 or 13" and soon went on to harder drugs, not caring what he had to do to get them. "Drugs, alcohol and doing Turn to Page Six


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08.09.85 by The Anchor - Issuu