09.10.82

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A Statement

The four Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts have issued the following statement through the Massa­ chusetts Catholic Conference:

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A STATEMENT ON ELECTIONS To be a citizen in a democracy is to share a consider­ able amount of responsibility for the pursuit of the com­ DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSl( CAPE & ISLANDS mon good. This responsibility can be fulfilled in a variety of ways. For most of us, it is discharged chiefly through Vol. 26, No. 35 Fall River, Mass., Friday, September 10, 1982 20c, $6 Per Year an intelligent and informed exercise of the right to vote. In order to be intelligent and informed, the exercise of the right to vote should display at least three character­ istics: 1. it should proceed from the knowledge of the polio' tical competence and personal qualities of the individual candidates; 2. it should be based on ~ set of values consonant with the proper pursuit of the common good; 3. it should be rooted in a critical evaluation of posi­ tions on issues essential to the development of the common good art~culated by the candidates in their respective cam­ paign statements. An intelligent and informed exercise of the right to vote demands a considerable amount of relevant informa­ tion. It also calls for careful reflection on that information in light of one's moral values. As the time approaches for state and local elections, \\ we, the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts, remind our people of their twofold obligation: 1. to "get out and vote" 2. to cast their ballots within the context of a rightly . formed conscience, a conscience considering not only the competence and character of candidates but also the rela­ tionship of their campaign positions to the social teachings of the Church and the moral values which we are com­ mitted to uphold. To b'e consistent with their religious convictions, to vote with intelligence and a rightly formed conscience, Roman Catholics should give respectful adherence to the moral guidance provided by the teaching authority of the Church. Some of these teachings are doctrinal in nature and AT AN ORIENTATION SESSION at 'Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, are binding upon the Catholic conscience. An example is the for teachers new to the diocesan school system, Father George E. Harrison, keynote abortion issue and the need to protect innocent human life speaker, chats with, from left, Mrs. Carol Collins, Mrs. Fredda Megan, Sister Anne by law. Marie, SSD, Mrs. Sheila O'Brien. (Torchia Photo) Others may best be described as solid 'theological guidance which the popes and bishops have offered and continue to offer on a variety of social issues which affect contemporary society. Among these are statements on such social policies as: public safety and crime abuses or discrimination in jobs, education and At the invitation of Bishop Mahon, assembly co-chairman. housing tor. An assembly banquet follow­ Daniel A. Cronin, the National Following reports from NCCW ed by entertainment will conclude the special needs of the handicapped Council of Catholic Women will commissions and committees, the day. the plight of the poor and the elderly meet in biennial assembly from Father Thomas F. Lynch, family Thursday's program will in­ the right to receive proper medical care Monday, Oct. 4, through Thurs­ life representative of ,the U.S. clude NCCW subcommittee re­ the role of the government in providing proper day, Oct. 7, at the Sheraton Catholic Conference Department ports and a forecast of activities aid for public education . Regal Hotel, Hyannis. of Education, will deliver the for the organization's 1983 con­ vention, to be held in Denver. the morality of capital punishment in an age The meeting, held on alternate assembly's keynote address. Papers on aging and on human Monday's program ,will con­ scarred by violence and sickened by a disregard years from the NCCW national convention, will attract some clude with 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. rights will be submitted for rati­ for the sacredness of human life. 300 national and diocesan offi­ Francis Xavier Church, Hyannis, fication. The assembly will ad­ In our system of government, those who vote determine cials of the largest Catholic wo­ with Bishop Cronin as principal journ at noon. the improvement and the progress of the common good. It men's organization in the world. celebrant and homilist. Participants will receive sou­ is our hope that the people whom we shepherd in the They will hear and act on reports Tuesday's agenda will include venir "tote bags" designed by Commonwealth of Massachusetts will exercise their voting of ongoing projects in such fields presentations by family affairs, Mrs. Aubrey' Armstrong and privilege in a manner reflecting the Gospel values given us as legislation, missionary out­ legislative information and or­ made in the Fall River and Cape Cod DCCW districts. Blue, with by the Lord Jesus and proclaimed by His Church through teach, human rights and service ganization services commissions kelly green lining, they feature to youth and the ~ged. and a leadership workshop. The the ages. a white whale wearing a pilgrim

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NCCW assembly here

Humberto Cardinal Medeiros ' Archbishop of Boston Most Reverend Bernard J. Flanagan Bishop of Worcester ,Most Reverend DanielA. Cronin Bishop of Fall River Most Reverend Joseph F. Maguire Bishop of Springfield

The assembly will be preceded on Oct. 3 by a reception and din­ ner for the NCCW executive com­ mittee, hosted by the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Delegates will be welcomed on Monday, Oct. 4, by Bishop Cro­ nin; Miss Eth.el Crowley, DCCW president; Mrs. Arthur Giroux, director of the NCCW Boston Province; and Mrs. Michael Mc-

day's liturgy will be celebrated by Msgr. Gilles Simard, modera­ tor of the NCCW Boston Pro­ vince. Wednesday will see reports from the community affairs, in­ ternational affairs and church communities commissions and a public relations workshop. The liturgy will be celebrated by Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, Fall River diocesan DCCW modera­

hat. The pilgrim insignia is tra­ ditionally used by Fall River delegates to NCCW national con­ ventions. Convention arrangements are being handled by Mrs. McMahon a diocesan past president and past NCCW treasurer, and Mrs. Gilbert J. Noonan, also a past diocesan president. The assembly Turn to Page Six


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