Pax Christi meeting's keynote centers on reconciliation By CATHOLIC
NEWS SERVICE
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. True reconciliation requires a process, not merely mediation of conflicts, said the keynote speaker at Pax Christi USA's national conference in Collegeville. Sister Kathleen Pruitt, leader of the Western province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, said reconciliation goes far beyond simply working out a consensus or even forgiving wro'ngs. Humility,justice and admitting one's own faults have their' place in the process" said Sister Pruitt, who also is vice president of Pax Christi International.
The steps toward reconciliation can apply to situations as small as a relationship between two people or to an international dispute, Sister Pruitt said. The national conference, held at St. John's University, also included presentation of the Ca~holic peace organization's annual Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award, and speakers on U.N. sanctions in Iraq, advocacy against the death penalty, Haiti's economic and political situation and the campaign to close the U.S. Army School of the, Americas. Also during the Pax Christi conference, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond, Va., updated members on a statement denouncing nuclear deterrence as national policy. Since the June release of the report, "The Morality of Nuclear Deterrence: An Evaluation by Pax Christi Bishops in the United States," 90 bishops have signed it, Bishop Sullivan repOrted. In her keynote speech, Sister Pruitt broadly addressed the conference theme of reconciliation. "It's easy to say, 'I forgive,' glibly or unreflectively, but true forgiveness, which calls for a profound 'letting go' of past hurts and angers, is at the heart of our Christian faith, at the heart of reconciliation," Sister Pruitt said. She related a story from a book by the late Servite Father Lawrence Martin Jenco called "Bound to Forgive," about his experiences during eight years of captivity in Beirut. He told of the progression he and one of his captors made in relating to one another. While the guard, named Sayeed, had initially brutalized the priest, event.ually he came to change his app:."oach and ultimately called him by the Arabic name, Abouna, which means "dear father," Not long beforc Father Jenco was released, Sayeed asked the priest if he forgave him. Father Jenco responded that though he had at timcs hated Sayeed and was filled with anger and desirc for revengc, he understood at that point that he had to forgive his captor unconditionally. "Is there ever a time or situation where, for whatever reason, true' reconciliation may not - sometimes cannot - happen?" she
asked. "True reconciliation is not a Orthodox and Muslims, she exhasty peace, which glosses over or plained. refuses to look at the reai or perUltimately, Cardinal Danneels ceived injustices." was no longer welcomed to areas The steps toward reconciliation that had previously been open to can apply to situations as small as a him. He insisted that although the r~lationship between two people or groups might agree to an imposed to an international displ,lte, Sister , peace, reconciliation would never occur until injustices were adPruitt said. Cardinal Godfried Danneels of dressed, Sister Pruitt said. Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium, the "Such justice demands that the president of Pax Christi Interna- seeker rend hi!;/he,r own heart," she tional, made numerous trips to said, "requires the justice-seeker to Bosnia-Herzegovina trying to bring stand firmly in the silent strength together Catholic Croats, Serbian of a just and righteous God."
Approved Scripture texts ~eeded for official worship By JERRY FILTEAU
among concerns leading to withdrawal of the imprimatur were reports of its unauthorized use in the WASHINGTON -Church law liturgy. is clear that only Scripture texts apFather Moroney declined to disproved for liturgical use can be used cuss the ICEL Psalter itself, but said in official Church worship, said that in general, the Church safeFather James P. Moroney, secretary guards what texts are used for litfor liturgy of the National Confer- urgy by requiring that they receive two-thirds approval by the conference of Catholic Bishops. "Liturgy is defined as anything ence of bishops and confirmation which is the public prilyer of the by Rome. He cited Mass, celebration of the Church, contained in the official (lisacraments, recepturgical) books of the Church," h~ .....- - - - - - - - - . , tion of Commun"What a person does' ion or worship of said. He said texts in the privacy oftheir' the Eucharist out,and prayers that are room is not within the " side Mass and the not approved for IiLiturgy of the. turgical use may be purview of the liturgy:: Hours as examples of value to people secretariat," Father of liturgical rites in their private Moroney said. 'When for which the auprayer, but that it comes to what gets thorized texts must does not make be used: them appropriate printed (for liturgical While the for liturgy. use), the secretariat Psalms are used Father Moroney exercises an over- most extensively in was interviewed sight role." the Liturgy of the about the status of Hours, they are Scripture translaalso used in the tions not approved for liturgical use other liturgical rites, he said. after the U.S. bishops' imprimatur, He said the bishops' Secretariat or ecclesiastical permission to pub- for the Liturgy, which oversees the lish, was withdrawn from an En- prepublication review and approval glish translation of t~e Psalms by of all books authorized for use in the International Commission for the liturgy, would not approve any English in the Liturgy, book which substitutes an unauthoIn a recent letter to the U.S. bish- rized translation of Scripture for the ops, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of authorized text. Father Moroney was asked Cleveland, NCCB president, informed them that, following up on whether individuals or groups who instructions from the Vatican Con- are not under obligation to recite the gregation for the Doctrine of the official Liturgy of the Hours could Faith, he had issued the decree with- use a model like the Liturgy of the drawing the imprimatur. He and the Hours for their morning and bishops had previously discussed evening prayer but substitute a difthe pending action in an executive ferent version of the Psalms. session, closed to the press and ob"What a person does in the pri- . servers, during their June meeting vacy of their room is not within the in Pittsburgh. purview of the liturgy secretariat," Although IeEL hoped eventu- he said. "When it comes to what gets ally to propose a final version for printed (for liturgical use), the secliturgical use, the Psalter receiving retariat exercises an oversight role." the imprimatur was issued only for study and comment and was neither proposed nor adopted for actual use .INutritional Supplements in the liturgy. Bishop Pilla said CATHOLIC NEWS
S~RVICE
Montie Plumbing & Heating Co. Over' 35 Years of Satisfied Services Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR.
432 JEFFERSON STREET FALL RIVER 675-7496
.I Functional Foods· .I Excellent Business Opportunitlj
508-669-6653 Maurie Neronha Independent Rellv Distributor
THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Aug. 21, 1998
9
Build your own home now with a Construction Loan from Citizens-Union Savings Bank.
Call 508-678-7641 Member FDICIDIF
--
G:t ......
Please patronize our advertisers
MEDJUEiORJE Spiritual Director Father Bill Campbell 51. Rita Parish • Marion
October 18-26 • $1450 9 days from Boston
Catholic Shrines of Montreal & Quebec Spiritual Director: Rev. Joseph Viveiros
5 days
_° 4 nights
3 nights in Montreal • 1 night in Quebec City Also St. Joseph's Oratory • Basilica ofSt. Anne de Beaupre
November 5-9 • $369
ALL STAR TRAVEL 1200 FALL RIVER AVENUE • SEEKONK, MA 02771 1-800-649-3390
QUEENSHIP OF MARY Saturday, August 22 - 4:30 p.m. Mass and Procession
GARDEN CONCERT: SPIRIT Saturday, August 22 - 7:00 p.m. POLISH PILGRIMAGE DAY Sunday, August 23 - 1:30 p.m. Father Czeslaw M. Krysa, STL, SLL
GRIEF EDUCATION PROGRAM Monday, August 24 - 6:30 p.m. "Regrets"
Thursday, August 27 -
1:00 p.m.
"Grief and Anger" Counseling Center - $1 O/session
."THE PEOPLE OF LIFE" NATIONAL EXHIBIT 25 Year History of the Pro-Life Movement On display in the Shrine Theater
August 28-September 8: 1:00-9:00 p.m. dally Prayer service beginning each hour