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VOL. 48, NO. 33 • Friday, September 3, 2004
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Thirty-five million poor hearing little about themselves in campaigns Bv PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
and author of the 1998 book, "Catholic Social Teaching and WASHINGTON - Try typ- U.S. Welfare Reform." ing the word "poverty" into the Although both candidates emsearch functions of the Websites phasize their plans to improve the for the presidential campaigns of financial lot of the.mi~dle class, President George W. Bush and he said, "nobody's talking about Sen. John F. Kerry and it might upward mobility for the poorest seem as though it's only a prob- people, about people at the botlem in other, distant parts of the tom of the job market." ·world. Father Massaro said both camWhile both candidates talk all paigns are responding to the pothe time about litical reality how they inthat "the poor tend to improve don't vote," or the economic at least, not in situations of significant .' , ,~middle-class I enough numf voters, neither ".. bers to make ;,p.,'. so far has detheir concerns voted much a priority. campaign ef"They're fort to the problems of the 35 mil- not a visible population," he said. lion Americans living below the "They're not well-organized." poverty line. He said Bush's policies, which When Kerry or Bush mentions the Republican describes as prothe word poverty in stump viding tax relief to stimulate the speeches, it's usually in refer- economy, are "all trickle-down ences to fighting poverty to pre- economics. It's much more 'convent terrorism, or as a strategy in servative' than it is 'compassioncombating HIV/AIDS interna- ate.'" Kerry, the Democratic nomitionally. "I'm not thrilled with either nee, comes closer to policies that party's take on addressing pov- actually address poverty, the erty," said Jesuit Father Thomas priest said. "He keeps talking Massaro, a moral theology pro- about the lower middle class, and fessor at Weston Jesuit School of that's great," said Father Massaro. Theology in Cambridge, Mass., Tum to page 13 - Poor
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SACRED HEART Parish in North Attleboro will celebrate its centennial tomorrow. A centennial Mass will be celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman at the church on September 12.
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ELECTION
BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman is greeted by students, faculty and parents at the new St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth. The bishop was at the parish to celebrate Mass for the 50th anniversary of the parish and to dedicate the school which opens its doors for the first time on September 8. (Anchor photo by Bruce McDaniel)
North Attleboro Parish ready for centennia·1 Mass, banquet Bv
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
NORTH ATTLEBORO With more than a dozen religious and fun-filled events under its belt, hundreds ready to attend a Mass and gala banquet marking its l00th anniversary, and plans for an addition. to its house of worship on
the horizon, pastor Father David Costa's pleasant note, "As you can see, we are very much alive and well!" told the tale of Sacred Heart Parish in North Attleboro. On Saturday night, the actual 100th anniversary of the parish's founding on Sept. 4, 1904, a centen-
nial banquet will be held at Luciano's Lake Pearl in Wrentham. Presentations, prize drawings and dancing will follow the dinner. The Centennial Mass will be celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman on September 12, at 10 Tum to page 10 - Sacred Heart
Fall River diocese implements new guidelines of Child Protection Act FALL RIVER - Religious Education directors and principals and teachers in Catholic schools across the Diocese of Fall River are currently receiving the newest updates on issues and regulations dealing with the protection of children and the law affecting them, as the new school year begins. "We've had to change the ways we provide education and training pertaining to the Criminal Offender Record Information System because of the changes advanced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops following their 2002 charter sessions in Dallas, Texas," said Arlene A. McNamee, diocesan director of Catholic Social Services. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was drawn up and approved by the bishops following the clergy sexual abuse of children scandals that rocked the Church in
the United States in recent years. However, for more than a decade, the Fall River diocese has been a leader among dioceses nationwide in addressing the issues. "We have produced. a new video and last week we began training sessions with directors of religious education from all the parishes across the diocese and we will be doing another session tomorrow," she told The Anchor on Monday. "The directors of religious education are our focal point here. They will then use the'video in sessions with their teachers and parish volunteers," McNamee explained. At the same time, in light of those same changes, CSS has had to introduce a Child Protection curriculum into diocesan schools, and this was done Monday at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall RiV~li~ith all the principals and Calli \C schoolteachers in the
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diocese. Another session with teachers and principals is slated for September 7. The new school curriculum being introduced is called LURES, McNamee reported. Schools will invite parents in to view the program and receive the information as school sessions begin. "In our religious education we have also developed a curriculum that is integrated into the existing program of studies that religious education teachers use. We also held those sessions last week so that the directors can instruct their teachers on the additions to the curriculum." McNamee also reported that what was formerly known as the Office of Abuse Prevention in the diocese has been changed to the Office of Child Protection. "To demonstrate the imporTum to page 11 - Guidelines
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