. . FALL RlVERDIOCESAN NEWSPAPER :FOR. SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS ;'¢AeECOQ &.'I'.HEISLANDS
t ,eanco VOL. 37, NO. 38
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Friday, October 1, 1993
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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$11 Per Year
On "ad limina" visits
Catechism, youth topics for New England bishops
GENEHOUS BEYOND MEASURE: Dr. Thomas Groome, with Father Richard W. Beaulieu, talks with catechists after speaking at the diocesan religious education convention, therned "Generous Beyond Measure." See story page 6. (Hickey photo)
Abortion key topic ill health reform WASHINGTON (CNS) - As the debate on national health care reform began in earnest, much discussion centered on the topic likely to get the most Catholic attention - the inclusion of abortion coverage. The topic drew comment from both President Clinton and his top health care adviser, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the days after the reform plan was unveiled Sept. 22. The plan does not mention abo~ tion by name but calls for coverage of unspecified "pregnancy-related services" and family planning. "There are f'eople on both sides with very strongly held feelings who would like this plan either explicitly to sa~1 abortion is covered or must be m;:.ndated and ... people on the other side who say abortion should be prohibited and absolutely eliminated," Mrs. Clinton said Sept. 24 in an interview with CBS News. "We're not going to make people on the extremes of this issue happy," she added. "I think we're striking the right balance." At a town hall meeting in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 23, a nurse told the president that he was "personally and morally involving me in the abortion issul~ by using my tax dollars." "We are a:.so personally and morally improving preventive and primary care s~rvices," Clinton responded .. Catholic officials found much
to praise in the Clinton health care reform plan, but worried that the inclusion of abortion coverage could sink the long-awaited reforms. "The president has set the terms of the debate and demonstrated the bold presidential leadership that is required to elevate health care reform to a national priority," said John E. Curley Jr., president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. "CHA applauds President Clinton for his courage in taking the first step on what will be, no doubt, an arduous journey of a thousand miles," said Sister Maryanna Coyle, president of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, who chairs CHA's board of trustees. . The U.S. bishops were generally positive toward the plan, but expressed bitter disappointment that it proposed to cover abortion. "The plan outlined by President Clinton ... is a major step forward in several important respects, particularly in its strong commitment to universal access," said Auxiliary Bishop John H. Ricard of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Domestic Policy Committee. "However, it is a tragic step backward in its inclusion of abortion coverage as an integral part of national health care reform," he added. Bishop Ricard also expressed reservations about the plan's exTurn to Page Two
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) - Release of the Englishlanguage edition of the "Catechism ofthe Catholic Church" and evangelization of youth were among topics ofthe New England bishops'. recent meetings with Pope John Paull!. Bishop Sean O'Malley was among the bishops in September making their "ad limina" visits, required of all heads of dioceses every five years. They met with the pontiff at his summer residence, Castel Gandolfo. The bishops said they now estimate that it will be the end of the year before the English-language catechism is published. "By the end of the year .would seem to me to be the quickest you could expect it now," said Cardinal Bernard F. Law of Boston, who was assigned by the Vatican to oversee the original English translation. The French text, which is what other language versions are being translated from, was released last Nov. 16. The pope formally presented the catechism at a Dec. 7 ceremony., distributing copies in French, Italian and Spanish. Bishop James P. Mahoney of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, said the Canadian bishops mentioned their concerns about the delayed Eng-
Diaconate applications open The diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate announces that pre-application interviews for the fifth class' of prospective candidates begin today. In a letter to pastors, Father John F. Moore, program director, noted that the period of pre-application will remain open for three months, closing on the last day of December. Men who feel they are qualified and who are interested in the program should contact their parish priests or the Office of the Permanent Diaconate for further information, he said. Potential candidates must already be active in parish ministries, be between the ages of 32 and 52 and, ordinarily, hold a college degree, professional certification. or the equivalent. In addition, a letter of recommendation from the parish priest must be mailed to the diaconate office at the time of application, indicating pastoral supTurn to Page Two
lish text to the pope during their mid-September "ad limina" meetings with him. The bishop said one problem seemed to be which Scripture translation to use for quotations in the text. Like Bishop Mahoney, Archbishop Joseph N. MacNeil of Edmonton, Alberta, said expressions of frustration over the delay were tempered by a desire to see that the English version is as carefully translated and well written as possible. "The significance of the English translation cannot be overestimated," Cardinal Law said. With the growing use of English as a universal language, "I think the English translation is going to be a very, very influential'text. That's why they have to be very careful." Meeting with Pope John Paul II during his la:;t full week at his summer residl~nce, the New England bishops said the pontiff was relaxed and cordial. Cardinal Law said he hadn't pinned down the source of the peaceful mood of the meetings at Castel Gandolfo, but the atmosphere was noticeably different from the Vatican. "The setting is just a less hurried setting. Obviously it's away from the traffic of Rome and that in
itself is going to make it more peaceful," the cardinal said. The New England bishops boarded a bus in Rome at dawn Sept. 21 to reach the papal residence in plenty of time to concelebrate a 7:30 a.m. Mass with the pope. In his address to the bishops, the pope focused on the need of young Catholics to hear the full teaching of the Catholic faith .. Young people are "looking for a solid foundation upon which to build their lives," the pope said. "The youth of America look to you to lead them to Christ" out of an atmosphere of "moral confusion." Attending with the New England bishops was Archbishop J. Francis Stafford of Denver, who postponed his visit until he was finished hosting the international World Youth, Day gathering in August. Pope John Paul thanked Archbishop Stafford and all the U.S. bishops for their work on World Youth Day, saying it was "a time of great joy ~nd renewed hope." "It is clear that the controversies and dissent of past decades are of little interest" to today's youth, the pope added. "They are not inspired Turn to Page Two
1993
'Spe(:ial section pages 8-16