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t eanco VOL. 34, NO. 34
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Friday, August 31, 1990
By Msgr. George G. Higgins Catholic News Service ,,' ,,' ,,', THIS LABOR DAY comes""'at a time when the:U$.labor movement is experiencing a crisis so serious that sOnte4!xp~rtsfear >', it may prove terminal. The labor movement rejects this~()o'rosdaY,;f pessimism, but is painfully aware that it maybecomecriJ)pled,>' beyond recovery unless its leaders resolve the challenge~ an~proJ).., ';' lems posed by today's rapidly changing and, highly competitive global economy. , ,,' " To survive, let aione prosper, the movement must take stoc~ of its traditional methods, plans and programs, 'and be prepared to adopt new ways of doing business. . ' Today's economy calls for "an Imaginative vision •.. that can help shape economic arrangements in critical new ways," the U.S. bishops said in their 1983 pastoral letter on the economy. The pastoral emphasized the role organized labor and management, with government's assistance, can play in developing new forms of bona fide partnership for the pl,Iblic good. ' This has new and important meaning as American industry and labor struggle to try to find ways to become more profitable and competitive without sacrificing such hard-won human gains as equal employment opportunity, safe and decent working conditions, adequate wages, security in both employment andretir,ement, and the opp,ortunity to improve one's standard of living. But, the bishops warned, such partnerships are possible "only when both groups possess real freedom and power to influence decisions." "Workers rightly reject calls for less adversarial relations when they are a smokescreen for demands that iabor make all the concessions," they said. It is useless to theorize about new forms of cooperation without a consensus that unions are not only legitimate, but indispensable in a society like ours. , Na such consensus exists tOday. Indeed, there is reason to think that we may be moving further and further away from it. Government also plays an indispensable role in bringing about new forms of labor-management cooperation. First and foremost ought to be a new look at our aging federal labor laws. The modest - and rejected -reforms proposed in the 1970sare' ' still badly needed; far more extensive r,eforms will be required to meet the new challenges. ' , One badly needed reform is to outlaw the permanent replacement of workers Inv~lved in a legitimate strike. Employers who exploit outmoded court 'decisions to replace legitimate strikers represent a serious threat to our social fabric. " What we need are not just technical innovations, ill labor,,; management-government relations, but solutions to ethical and: profoundly human problems of great significance for the future of our society. There has to be recognition that: , ' , -As a moral and economic world leader and model forottler; nations, the United States has a responsibility to achieve It just' balance between economic and human needs. _", - The right to employment security is basic in an advanced and ," humane society. ' - We need to develop ways to tap the often-neglected creative' talents of workers. ' >-;, - Workers need to be able to develop their talents ands~ilIs ill~i;> meaningful f a s h i o n . ; " , -Technological advances should serve workers as well as hIlSi." ness. Everyone should benefit from new technology and particio' pate in its development.' , - We need t,o think about competitiveness in away thatdoes / not sacrifice a segment of the population. We have a moralobUga-'" tion to provide workers whose skills or industries Jiavebecome',· obsolete with the means to again become contributors to the ' economy. - We need not be trapped by the past; its lessons can help create" ' new opportunities and approaches consistent with our values.
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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REV. STEPHEN J. AVILA, parochial vicar at SL)ulie Billiart parish, North Dartmouth, in foreground, retired Navy Chaplain Cecil L. Newbert; rear, and Rev. Constantine S. Bebis of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, New Bedford, background, do the honors at the 21st annual Blessing of the Fleet at New Bedford State Pier. (Rosa photo)
Faith, fears mingle in Gulf crisis WASHINGTON (CNS) - Faith is a touchstone for Catholics from Pope John Paul II on down in what is called, in media shorthand, the "Gulf crisis." But as rapid developments crystalize the Persian Gulf conflict into a heavily armed standoff between Iraq and virtually the rest of the world, the fears of what could happen if war breaks out loom large in many minds. The pope, in a midday Angelus talk Aug. 26, made his most explicit comments yet on the current situation.
Prayers are needed, he said, so that "the star of peace may shine brightly on the troubled populations of the Persian Gulf," but said that the crisis is "truly worrying" with world stability "gravely threatened." Pope John Paul said the Iraqi actions in its takeover of neighboring Kuwait, which precipitated the crisis, were "grave violations of international law ... as well as the ethical principles which must rule the living together of people." In disclosing an August meeting between the pope and Archbishop -
Marian Oles, papal pronuncio for the two Persian Gulfnations, Vatican spokesman Joaquin NavarroValls said the Polish-born archbishop's title remains "pronuncio to Iraq and Kuwait." Iraq maintains that Kuwait no longer exists. Stock markets worldwide were tumbling and the price for a barrel of oil on the spot market soaring because of the Gulf crisis. Events in recent days have included: - U.N. Security Council approval for nations to use force to Turn to Page 10
7 bishops nix women 's pastoral WASHINGTON (CNS) - Seven U.S. bishops have urged in an amendment to the proposed pastoralletter on women that the letter be scrapped - at least for now. And Bishop Joseph L. Imesch of Joliet, Ill., chairman of the U.S. bishops' committee writing the document, told Catholic News Service Aug. 24 that there was "certainly not" the unanimity on the women's pastoral that there has been on other bishops' letters. "I don't know of any pastoral letters that haven't been approved. Maybe we'll make some history that way," he said. The amendment was submitted to Bishop Imesch's committee on the heels of two recent statements asking the bishops to drop the letter. The statements were by the Center of Concern, a social justice group, and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a national organization of heads of women's religious orders. In addition, Milwaukee Arch-
bishop Rembert G. Weakland, citing credibility problems raised in part by the draft's treatment of the issue of women's ordination, has suggested the letter be scuttled.
The amendment by the seven bishops says that rather than publishing the document as a formal pastoral letter, the bishopsshould Turn to Page 10
.. • Over 2 million children will return to U.S. Catholic schools this fall. last year's attendance:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
HIGH SCHOOLS
1.985.936
630.661
SOURCE: The omclaJ Calho/lc OIrectary. 1990 edIIon
Photo: Juliann Koonse
~ 990 CNS Grllllhlcs