09.20.91

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t eanco VOL. 35, NO. 37

Friday, September 20,1991

FALL RIVER, MASS.

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Bishops condemn euthanasia moves WASHINGTON (CNS) - The parture from longstanding legal Administrative ~ommittee of the and medical traditions of our counNational Conference of Catholic try, posing a threat of unforeseeaBishops unanimously condemned . ble magnitude to vulnerable memlegalized euthanasia in a statement bers of our society." released Sept. 12. The statement said increased Legalized euthanasia violates di- public attention to euthanasia has vine law, human dignity and basic come from "new publications giv"American convictions about hu- ing advice on methods of suicide man rights and equality," the bish- and some highly publicized inops said. stances in which family members They urged Catholics and "all or physicians killed terminally ill persons of good will" to reject persons or helped them kill themeuthanasia proposals such as In- selves." itiative 119, a referendum facing Earlier this year Hemlock SoWashington state voters Nov. 5. ciety founder Derek Humphry, The initiative seeks to legalize who spearheaded the Washington "aid-in-dying" as a "medical serv- voter initiative and earlier camice" to be performed by a physi- paigns to legalize euthanasia in cian on request from patients suf- California and Oregon, published fering a terminal illness that will uFinal Exit," a mass-marketed result in death within six months. manual on ways to commit suicide. The Administrative Committee, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a retired a 50-bishop panel that includes the pathologist, made national headofficers ofthe NCCB and heads of lines last year when he helped a all NCCB and U.S. Catholic Con- woman kill herself with a suicide ference standing committees, voted machine he invented. on the statement during .its Sept. "Those who advocate euthanalO-l2 meeting in Washington. sia have capitalized on people's The committee is the top de- confusion, ambivalence and even cision-making body of the U.S. fear about the use of modern lifebishops short of their general as- prolonging technologies," the Adsembly, which does not convene ministrative Committee said. until mid-November, after the fall It made a sharp distinction, elections. however, between "a decision to ."Current efforts to legalize eu- take one's life or to allow a physithanasia place our society at a crit- cian to kill a suffering patient" and ical juncture," the bishops said. the "decision to refuse extraordiThey said euthanasia contradicts nary or disproportionately burdenthe Declaration of Independence, some treatment." which "proclaims our inalienable Spelling out Catholic teaching, rights.to 'life, liberty and the pur- the committee said, "we believe suit of happiness.' " that life is the most ba.sic gift of a "If our right to life itself is di- loving God - a gift over which we minished in value, ~ur other rights. have stewardship but not absolute will have no meaning," the com- dominion." The Catholic tradition declares mittee said. "To destroy the boundary be- "a moral obligation to care for our tween healing and killing," it own life and health and to seek added, "would mark a radical deTurn to Page 10

ST. JULIE BILLIART parish pastor Msgr. Patrick J. O'Neill and parochial vicar Father Stephen J. Avila display plans for an expanded church and parish center.

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Julie's to undertake expansion project

Msgr. Patrick J. O'Neill, pastor of St. Julie Billiart ChUrch, North Dartmouth, has announced that the parish community will begin a major expansion of the church. The plans, which were approved by the parish finance arid pastoral councils, are the result of a four year study of the needs of the parish. In just over 20 years, St. Julie's parish has grown in size from a few hundred families to the present figure of 2,000 families. Membership has doubled in the past lO years alone. The main section of the present church provides seating for only 300 people. A dividing wall behind the altar must be opened to pro-

this project over the past five years. Msgr. O'Neill, Father Stephen J. Avila, parochial vicar, and the\ parish family are planning a threeyear pledge program beginning in October to raise $750,000. This would leave the parish with a $350,000 debt which would be paid off over the years. Msgr. O'Neill said he was pleased to announce that Mrs. Arlene McNamee and Walter R. Smith will serve as cochairpersons for the expansion program and that Lawrence A. Weaver will serve as general treasurer. The cochairpersons said that they have recruited 22 team captains who have begun recruitment Turn to Page 10

. Thomas concludes testimony .

JUDGE· CLARENCE THOMAS testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during hearings on his nomination to the Supreme Court. (CNS/ Reuters photo)

vide additional seating. There is no space for small group meetings. The present church .will be expanded to double its capacity. In addition, other needs will be met by a new wing which will accommodate a kitchen, parish offices, and two meeting rooms. The proposed plan is the least expensive way to provide for the needs of the parish and still maintain all the special features of the present church. It is anticipated that groundbreaking will take place in. the spring of 1992. The best estimate of the total cost (architectural fees, construction, site work and furnishings) is $1,700,000. The parish has put aside $700,000 towards

WASHINGTON (CNS) - As the Senate Judiciary Committee concluded questioning of Judge Clarence Thomas Monday, the tone of the confirmation hearings softened somewhat, but the Supreme Court nominee still refused to say what he thinks of abortion rights. Several members of the committee persisted in trying to steer Thomas into disclosing how he might rule on abortion rights cases, but he continued to insist it would be wrong for a seated judge to do so. Thomas, 43, was appointed to the federal appeals court in early 1990 and also declined then to give an opinion about abortion at confirmation hearings. After -questioning of Thomas was concluded, outside witnesses

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were scheduled to take the stand for most of the rest of the week. On the final day of questioning the issue ofthe death penalty came up, and Thomas in response to questions from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said that "philosophically" nothing would keep him from upholding the death penalty but the nominee stressed he'd urge all possible appeals be offered. There was little doubt among Senate watchers that the committee would ultimately confirm Thomas's nomination. That outcome was hinted at by a softening of questions from one member who generally is considered a swing vote on judicial nominees. Sen. Howell Hefli~, D-Ala., Sept. 13 focused testimony for a While on Thomas' background,

giving the nominee an opportunity to discuss his days as a civil rights and war protester while attending Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass. Thomas explained how he had come to transfer to Jesuit-run Holy Cross from Conception Seminary in Missouri after encountering racism While studying for the priesthood there. In a candid discussion of his activities in his college years, Thomas recounted how in his first year of college at Conception he was climbing a staircase behind a classmate who didn't realize he was there when someone shouted from a lower level that Dr. King had been shot. He said the student ahead of Turn to Page 10


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09.20.91 by The Anchor - Issuu