10.22.81

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER

t eanc 0 VOL. 25, NO. 43

Father John Shea and Sister Carol Ranges, CSW. are the main speakers for the anr,ual diocesan Catholic Education Convention, to be held Sunday ;and Monday at Bishop Conn:>lly High School, Fall River.

Father Shea, a nationally known lecturer, emphasizes the role of the story in teaching religion. He is a professor of systematic theology at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Ill., and director of the doctor of

FATHER SHEA

Wojciech Jaruzelski, the newly elected chief of Poland's Communist Party, is from a Catholic background and enjoys great respect among his countrymen.

It is expected that he will play "a balancing role" in reso1ving the tensions between the country's Soviet-controlled government and the Solidarity un:ion led by Lech Walesa.

The evaluation came from Father Robert S. Kaszynski, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church, Fall River, who returned last Friday from a preaching tour of Poland that took him throughout the country. "I did not hl~ar one negative word about Jaruzelski," he declared.

Father Kaszynski attended one day of the recent stormy Solidarity congress in Gdansk, Poland.

There he met with Lech Walesa, who he hopes will pay a flyi,ng visit to Fall River next month while he is in the U.S. to attend an AFL/CIO convention.

In general, said the Fall River priest, the new government shakeup in Poland "makes little difference" to daily life. He said

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ministry program of the archdiocese of Chicago.

His books include "The Challenge of Jesus," "Stories of God" and "Stories of Faith."

He will speak at 1 p.m. Sunday on "The Role of Storytelling in Religion" and at 3:15 p.m. on "The Experiencing of Life in the Stories of Jesus."

Closing Sunday's program will be a commissioning service for classroom and parish educators.

SISTER RANGES

During the two-day program, over 50 exhibitors will display educational materials in the Connolly gymnasium, which will open at noon Sunday and at 8 a.m. Monday for the convenience of convention-goers.

Monday Schedule Sister Carol, a staff member of the Center for Family Learning, New Rochelle, N.Y., will be heard at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Monday. Her topics will be "Family Systems" and "Trees, Triangles and Temperments."

A graduate of the Fordham University School of Social Service, she has specialized in family therapy and was a Catholic Charities supervisor before joining the Center for Family Learning staff.

The Monday program will begin at 9:15 a.m. with a Mass at which Bishop Daniel A. Cronin will be principal celebrant and homilist.

Morning and afternoon workshop sessions will present a wide array of topics relating to the family and contemporary concerns: - Psychologist Hugh C. Boyle Jr., Ed.D., "Healing Family Hurts." An approach to understanding origins, meaning and healing of consistent patTurn to Page Fifteen

P asto]~ evaluates- Poland

By Pat McGowan

FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETIS

that the Communist party is sincerely supported by only a small percentage of Poles and that the Catholic church is the true strength of the nation.

A Russian invasion is not feared, said Father Kaszynski.

"The people point out that the Russians have already been in the country 36 years."

What is feared is the coming winter. Waits for food are .already a part of daily Hie, with hours on line often rewarded by the sight of empty shelves and the prospect of renewed waiting the next day.

"Some people say they were better off under German occupation in World War II," said Father Kaszynski, "because although food was rationed, it was at least available."

He added that hours standing in line virtually around the clock take their toll in absenteeism from schools and work and that food shortages are causing malnourishment and sickness.

Such necessities as soap and toilet paper are also rationed, while waits of up to seven hours in gasoline lines are common.

A bright spot is that foods, money and medicine donated to Poland through Catholic agencies "get to the people 100 percent," said Father Kasiynski, although gifts made through other U.S. groups seem to have a spotty record of arrival.

The F~ll River pastor preached to priests and seminaries throughout Poland, contrasting pastoral conditions there and in the U.S. He also made a retreat at the monastery of Czestochowa which he said is vjsited by some Turn to Page Two

NOTICE In observance of national Respect Life month, a special section begins on page 3 of this issue. Next week we will salute Vocation Awareness Day, Sunday, Nov. 1, with a Vocations section. For this reason our usual features, including Steering Points, wlll not appear this week or next. Our next regular issue will be Nov. 5. Please send Steering Points announcements with this in mind.

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~ "I WILL GO, Lord, if you' lead me." Sister of Mercy Evangela McAleer leads hundreds at St. Mary's Cathedral in song at Mass marking the 150th anniversary of her community. (Sr. Gertrude Gaudette Photo)

'Big hang' favored VAnCAN CITY (NC) - The The "big bang" theory, devel"big bang" theory of the origin of oped by a Belgian scientist, the universe was a popu~ar topic Father Georges Lemaitre, a forwhen 30 scientists from seven mer president of the pontifical countries held a week-long study academy, says that the universe session on cosmology sponsored was formed in an explosive nuby the Vatican. clear reaction within a dense, hot According to Jesuit Father globule of gas expanding rapid-ly George V. Coyne, director of the outward.

Vatican Observatory, participants "But the big bang did not take in the study week heard further place ,in a given p~ace. It hapevidence supporting the "big pened everywhere," said Father bang" theory and rea<;hed unani- Coyne. "Some people think that mous agreement that it is "the because on earth everything is most accepted theory on how the expanding away from us, this universe began."

-must be where the 'center' of the But many questions remain, he big bang was. But everything in the universe is expanding from said.

The meeting, arranged by the everywhere else too."

-Father Coyne, a 48-year-old Pontificm Academy of Sciences, brought together scholars from native of Baltimore, said that China, India, the United States, cosmologists can See only 10 Great Britain, Italy, France and percent of the univer$e, while 90 West Germany.

Turn to Page Two

2

THE ANCHORThurs., Oct. 22, 1981

Poland

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'Priest'ly vocations are flourishing, he noted, with seminaries only able to accommodate about 50 percent of applicants. In one seminary, he said:, 10 young men were sleeping in a room designed for two.

The Polish church, he said, feels its mission :s to prepare for the evangelization of Russia "in our 'lifetime."

A,lthough now suffering a "long Good Friday," ,the people have hope in a prophecy made by the late Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, that 1982, proclaimed the Year of Our Lady of Czestochowa, wiU see "victory for 'Poland."

What that victory might be, said Father Kaszynski, remains enigmatic, but in the meanwhile a steady line of visitors to the cardinal's tomb demonstrates his enormous postmortem influence.

"The West has the facts but not .the context or the background on Poland," said Father Kaszynski, saying that he feels Americans are still naive about Communism and unaware of the true effect World War II had upon East European nations.

The priest said Lech Walesa points out that one of the reasons Solidarity presents such a threat to Moscow is that its membership is largely of people who grew up under Communism.

"Yet they are throwing off the influence of Russia," he said, attributing much of Solidarity's power to the st:~ength of Polish famHies which never forgot their heritage and passed it on to their children.

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Fr. McPeake Funeral services were held Oct. 14 for Father Thomas E. McPeake, SJ, 76, the first dean of the Fairfield University Graduate School in Fa::rfield, Conn.

A New Bedford native, he was the son of the late Thomas and Margaret McPeake. After graduating from Holy Family High School in 1920 and Boston Coliege in 1926, he earned a master's degree at Boston University and a doctorate at New York University.

He ,taught at Normandin Junior High School, New Bedford and at New Bedford High School before entering the Society of Jesus in 1940. He was oroained in 1946 and served in various capacities at Fairfield University from 1951, retiring as graduate school dean.

Active in ete Knights of Columbus for over 50 years, Father McPeake was named chairman of the K of C National Scholarship Program in 1970. He had been a New Bedford Public Library trustee and a past president of the Holy Family Alumni Association.

Survivors include a cousin, Dorothy Baldwin of· New Bedford.

The Mystery "The mystery of story is that everyone is one and everyone has some, and in a conducive setting everyone wants to tell them." - Father John Shea

'Big bang' Continued from page one percent is part of the so-cal'led "dark mass."

"You could say, in a certain sense, that human society is blind to 90 percent of the universe, but that blindness does not stop our curiosity," he said.

One participant in the Vaticansponsored study week calculated that the number of possibilities about the actual state of the SISTER DALMACE "dark mass" is 10 to the 80th power, or 10 followed by 80 zeros, Father Coyne said.

Discussions at the meeting cenSister Marie Dalmace, OP, 78, tered on the five most likely the former Marie Ange Seguin of the Dominicans of St. Catherine theories on the "dark mass," and Elf Siena, died Oct. 14. Her participants concluded that furfuneral Mass took place Satur- ther study is necessary.

The recent evidence by four day at St. Anne's Church, Fall American astronomers that space River.

A native of Canada, Sister contains a huge, mysterious Da·lmace was the daughter of the "gap" was "a hotly debated late Jean Baptiste and Helene issue" at the study sessions, Seguin. She had lived in Fall Father Coyne said, but participants agreed that the findings do River for 60 years. not challenge the "big bang" During her religious life she theory significantly. was principal at St. Anne's Although some scientists interSchool and Dominican Academy, pret the new findings as evidence both in Fall River. She also was that the universe could collapse. superior of' the FaH River and "there was fairly good unanimity Mooers Forks, N.Y., houses of at the meeting that the universe her community. is expanding at such a rate that Despite the loss of her right it wi'll continue to expand, that arm in a farm accident at age 8, there is not enough material to Sister Dalmace, although not draw it back in," Father Coyne naturally J.efthanded, developed added. her artistic ability to such an exPope John Paul II addressed tent that she taught art and was the issue of the origin of the uniknown for her own paintings and verse when he met with members calligraphy. of the Pontifical Academy of She was beloved by her stu- Sciences and other scientists Oct. dents, who dedicated the 1965 3 in Castelgandolfo, Italy.

Dominican Academy yearbook to "Any scientific hypothesis on her. In pa::-t, their tribute read: the origin of the world, such as "You have been to us a well- the hypothesis of a primitive spring of goodness, cheerfulness atom from which derived the and understanding. You have whole of the physical universe, g.iven us a model, yourself, on leaves open the problem concernwhich to base our lives." ing the universe's beginning," She was the sister of the late the pope said. "Science cannot Father Augustin Marie Seguin, of itself solve this question."

OP, who served at St. Anne's Father Coyne previously did parish, Fa::J River, and she is research work at the University survived by several nieces and of Arizona's observatory. nephews, including Sister Jean Named to direct the Vatican Augustin, OP, and Father Jean Observatory in September 1978 Baptiste Seguin, both in Canada. by Pope John Paul I, he heads ,Interment was in Notre 'Dame a staff of six astronomers, an cemetery, FaIl River. engineer and a mathematician specializing in computer science.

Father Coyne, an ex-officio member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, said the academy sponsors study weeks each WASHINGTON (NC) - The year, devoting a session each Senate has agreed to give mem- eight to 10 years to cosmology. bers of 'l"eligious orders under a "Each time, we define our igvow of poverty another 10 years norance~etter," he said. "We before removing their minimum know better what we don't Social Security benefIts. know."

Working on a bill that would restore the minimum benefit to most current recipients, the Senate Oct. 14 enacted the special The 17th New England regionprovision :for Religious by voice al conference of Serra Internavote with almost no discussion. tional will be held tomorrow and Under the specia.) provision Saturday at the Sheraton-WayReligious who begin drawing So- farer Motel, Bedford, N.R cial Security benefits prior to Speakers will include Archbishop October 1991 will receive at least John Whealon of Hartford, Auxithe $122 monthly minimum bene- liary Bishop Kenneth Angell of fit.

Providence, Msgr. Thomas S. The measu~e now goes to the Hansberry of Manchester, N.H., House, which already has voted Father Leonard Foisy, former to restore the minimum benefit rector of St. Mary's Seminary, for current recipients but has not -Baltimore, and Edward J. Reytaken action on the special pro- nolds, a Serra Club international trustee. vision for Religious.

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1981 respect life section

t eanc 0

1fhe synod, the pope and respect for life

By Msgr. James T. MeHul~ sm

In October, 1980, the Fifth World Synod of Bishops met in Rome for a month-long discussion on the role of the family in the contemporary world.

The synod themes provide a context and starting point for this year's Respect Life Program.

The context in which the family exists and functions differs from continent to continent, nation to nation. Yet poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance touoh thG Uves of the majority of the world's people. The gap between those who have and those who have not is often perpetuated by unjust social and politicsli structures based on selfishnes:s, domination and a refusal to acknowledge God as Creator and Lord of all.

As a consequence, fundamental human rights are often d,~nied or violated, terrorism and 'violence flourish, basic keedoms and !human equality are ignored or set aside in favor of nationai secur-

ity and the dignity of the human person becomes a platitude rather than a foundation for peace, justice and harmony.

Nor are these problems merely peculiar to the developing nations, even if they reach a greater magnitude there. A,rchbishop Joseph Bernardin, one of the U.S. delegates to the synod, reported that "the United States is one of the wealthiest, most industrialized nations in the world, yet even here some five and a half million of our 50 million families live with incomes below a subsistence level. Their chHdren, 10 million in all, are intimately acquainted with the hellish reality of poverty and its dehumanizing consequences."

He listed hunger and malnourishment, disease and chronic illness, absence of adequate housing, i1Iiteracy and unemployment as causes of poverty which have a particularly tragic effect on families.

They contribute to fami路ly in-

stability which often leads to desertion or divorce. They Oleate a self-image of personal inadequacy which often becomes a self-fulfiHing prophecy. They generate hostility toward society and in some cases :lead to lawlessness and crime.

basic human, civil and family rights of every refugee."

He ~so called attention to "the addictive use of drugs, alcohol and other substances and the deteriorating influence whioh it has throughout the wol'1d on individuals and on families," a . point addressed by other bishops Terence Cardinal Cooke of as well.'

New York called the synod's atThe Cardinal noted that crime, tention to a number of other social problems affecting famHies. poverty, deterioration of family "The refugee family, perhaps the life, media approval of permispoorest and most severely tested siveness, social toleration of deof family units in modern civili- viant behavior and political exzation," suffers in a special way ploitation of the drug problem because such families "are up- are conp-ibuting factors to addicrooted from their homes and tion. communities in circumstances The ,Church must combat these accompanied by violence and causes, motivate people to avoid devastation, and forced to take addiction and provide special asflight with few, if any, posses- sistance to addicts' families, so sions." that they might help in the reCardinal Cooke caHed upon habilitation process. the Church to e2dend its pastoral care to .refugees and to "continue its role of advocacy ,in the international forum on behalf of the

In synod discussions, two basic descriptions of the family emerged on which participants reflected in light of the Church's

teaohing on the sacrament of marriage.

One can look at the famHy primarily as partnership or interpersonal union, where emphasis focuses on the ;relationship between the spouses, their communication and intimacy, their shared values and vision of the future and thek relationship with their children.

In societies where this approach is dominant - - usually the developed nations - there is the nuclear family, generally sm~l in size, mobile and sepalfated from r81atives. In this model there is great pressure on the conjugal unit to meet almost singlehandedly the psychological and emotional n'eeds of each family member.

There is danger that the family unit can become somewhat iso'lated, preoccupied with materialistic concerns, lacking the necessary help to perform its functions and meet its needs.

Turn to Page Six

4

the living word

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981

themoorin~ All of Life The assassination of President Sadat, the renewed violence in London, and the carnage in £1 Salvador, to name but a few of the world's current concerns, should cause us all to reflect upon the little value placed on human life in our present social order.

By many the Respect for Life movement is viewed as concerned solely with the right to life debate and the issue of abortion.

There can be little doubt that abortion proponents regard life as disposable. And certainly we should continue all efforts to counter this trend.

At the same time, however, it is incumbent on all pro-life supporters to widen their perspective to include all of life.

Respect for life means life at every stage.

The forces supporting the Planned Parenthood viewpoint have the single-issue mentality. For them everything centers about the effort to legalize abortion. In their zeal to make it a mere political issue divorced from all moral and ethical considerations, they seemingly fail to realize that when one fundamental life issue is relegated to the realm of the insignificant, all of life is rendered less valuable.

It seems that our society is daily growing more disrespectful of life. Our disregard for the starving peoples of the Third World, our collective indifference to the multitude of refugees, our permissive attitude towards the drug culture and our complete disavowal of family life are but a few of the grave effects that flow .from our belittling of life itself.

What all this means is that our society is trying to remove the soul from man. His spirit, his ideals and his dreams mean nothing. He is but another animal. Those who advocate or engage in abortion, euthanasia, assassination and drug addiction make a mockery of man, putting him at the mercy of a scalpel, a needle or a bullet.

Church members and all people of good will who believe in the freedom of the human person carinot be passive in the face of a mentality that would erode the dignity of man. How can we say, on the one hand, that man is made in the image and likeness of God, and, on the other, permit the slavers· of humanity to reduce us all to the status of expendable chattels?

How can a person who believes in a social order ordained to the good of mankind uphold positions that would destroy those whom that order is intended to benefit?

How can one who believes in an orderly cosmos condone annihilation, havoc and ruin?

The point is clear. Those who would be selective in their approval of life should acknowledge that they are upholding a divisive and destructive theory. You cannot make life an a la carte issue!

The church has the moral obligation, even if she suffers as a reSUlt, to become more energetic in her efforts to uphold the dignity of all human life.

She must do all she can, especially through her vast educational resources, to motivate people to respect human life, no matter where or how found. Church members must truly believe that the welfare of every man is dependent on the value placed on the life of a single man. .All of life has been redeemed. All of life is at issue.

thea

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 410 Highland Avenue Fall River,' Mass. 02722 675-7151 PUBLISHER Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, D.O., S.T.D.

EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR Rev. Msgr. John J. Regan ~ leary Press-Fall River

i~n

her is the beauty of life.' Ecclus. 6:31

The prayer of listening reluctant to participate in the few that are offered.

A recent poll conducted by the The Bible can be interpreted Princeton Religion Research by the fundamentalist in a manCenter indicated many problems ner which does not treat the in the typical faith life of the Catholic Church fairly. EvangeliAmerican Christian. Less than cal preachers, playing on emohalf of the adult respondents tions, can sometimes convince could name more than four of people that sensational healings the Ten Commandments and less or emotion-filled testimonies are than one-eighth read the Bible of greater significance than· the daily. teachings and traditions of the Lack of prayer was the most Roman Catholic Church. alarniing finding. Those said Praying the Scriptures is the were limited mostly to prayers best way of growing in underof supplication. Prayers of adora- standing of the Bible. Praying tion, contrition and thanks- means listening more than talkgiving were rarely said. Such an ing. But listening does not seem unstructured and superficial· popular today. Sperry Rand tells style of praying promotes a very us that we usually hear only false image of God. There is a one-fourth of what is said to us. danger of reducing him to a It is trUE! that it is not easy sort of divine Santa Claus. to listen. Deep communication This sad state of affairs has between two people is rare. not been helped by self-pro- Communication between God claimed biblical experts who re- and man is even rarer. Pope John ceive their guidance from the Paull's criticism of theologians electronic media. The evangeli- could as well be applied to many cal swing among Catholics is not Catholics who are constantly something that should auto- talking about God. While Patrimatically be considered a bless- arch of Venice, the pope said: ing.

"The trouble with our theoloIt is good that C(ltholics are gians is that they speak very rediscovering the Bible. It is much about God - they do not far from good that so man;' are talk to God." uncritically accepting a very As we learn to listen to God, superficial interpretation of it. we also learn to listen with The need for adult education more awareness to ourselves and has been underscored often in others. Being willing to spend this ¢olumn. However, such pro-, time alone, in quiet, is essential grams are rare and adults seem to listening. We often fear this,

By Father Kevin J. Harrington

however, and we escape into distractions and busy work.

Even prayer can become a dis-. traction,ironic as that may seem.

Prayer is not so much telling and asking as it is listening. We need to focus less upon our egotistical concerns and more on God, as we understand him. That understanding grows through listening.

By listening, we become aware of previously ignored needs, feelings and responses within ourselves. If we replaced the word exploring with listening in the following passage by T. S. Eliot, we might learn a great deal: With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling We shall not cease from exploring, And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.

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Continued from Page Three Often the responsibilities seem overwhelming to one or both pal'tners and they :look for escape. When this occurs, divorce is the customary response and it is increasing to an alarming degree, 1eaving in its wake a great deal of personal maladjustment for spouses and child-reno If we look at the family primarily as a social ;institution, the emphasis ,is on the relationsip of the individual family unit to the society of which it is part.

This includes support and obligations the family derives from the society, the kinship structure of the famHy, ,the ability or inability of the family, usually as part of an extended network to bring about change in society.

This view prevails in many developing nations and in socialist societies.

Yet this model of marriage and family Hfe tends to reduce the family to a small cog in the economic structure and to overlook the dignity, inherent freedom and spiritual nature of each person. -It often creates obstacles to the appreciation of the sacramental nature of Christian marriage, particularly when it involves the exchange of a dowry before the couple can marry.

Nonetheless, these two dimensions of the famHy - interpersonal union and socia:! institution - are recognized by the synod as complementary aspects which should be harmonized and safe-

guarded. They noted that a proper balance of these two dimensions is compatible with the Church's teaching on marriage and family life.

One of the central concerns of the synod was the Church's teaching on the transmission of human life. There were many dimensions to this issue, and the synod afforded the participants an opportunity to state clearly and candidHy their particU'lar concerns.

Attempts at controlling population growth to which the synod objected are usuaUy based on the assumption that population. is increasing rapidly and massively throughout the world, and that any and al1 measures must be utHized to bring a halt to this growth.

In point of fact, birthrates have been steadily declining in most developed nations and in some countries are now at a dangerously low point.

According to the latest United Nations studies, the rate of increase has begun to drop in developing nations and will continue to decelerate in the future.

Consequently, the "rapid and massive growth" viewpoint is neither an .accurate nor helpful model on which to formu~ate future policies.

Instead, projections of future growth must take into account birth and death ,rates, population distribution, migration patterns, and the responsibilities of the affluent developed nations.

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"CHOOSE LIFE, THAl' BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MA Y LIVE" DEUT.30:19

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7

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981

HLA: the time Abortion has become one of the most important moral and political issues of our time. It is a topic of discussion among relatives, friends and neighbors.

State and federal legislatures debate it; politicians are wary of stating their views on it. Chances are you know someone who has had an abortion, or who has been involved in an abortion in some way.

This year over 1,500,000 unborn chi'ldren wiH lose their lives to abortion.

Women rarely have abortions because their physicaJ safety is at risk, or because of rape or incest. Some choose abortion rather than risk the possibility of the child's being born handicapped. Most choose abortion because to have a child is inconvenient - the woman is considered too old or too young; a child would complicate education or career plans; the pregnant woman is not mar-ried.

Abortion is ;legally avaHable in the United States throughout the nine months of pregnancy - not simply for three months as popuiar writers tend to imply. And the hands of our legislatures are tied - the 1973 Supreme Court decisions that made abortion legal also made it unconstitutional for states to protect. unborn human life.

The only feasible way to reverse the Supreme Court's abortion decisions is to amend the Constitution. Such' an amendment (commonly called a Human Life Amendment or HLA) would protect the right to life of every human being from conception to naturaI death, and would thus restore legal protection to unborn children. It would also help to prevent the courts from compromising the right to life of other helpless and dependent human beings, such as handicapped and terminally ill persons.

1'HAT YOU MA Y HAVE LIFE" John 5:40

Choose Life!

CURSIIJLO MOVEMENT of the

Dioees:e of Fall River

When abortion was legalized in 1973, ,the number of maternal deaths did not take a dramatic drop. Nqr, if abortion were made IDepl today, would there be a surge of matema1 deaths. ,Proge rea 1n ....... cue and the deYelGpileilt 01 Mardaa tee . . . . ....., nmcwed die .... ,waY ,to ~eui ....:'~ , .. ,:.

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maternal deaths from abortion further is to decrease the number of abortions being performed.

Although human me begins at conception, pregnancy is not verifiable until after implantation.

Under American law, a criminal penalty for homicide can be applied only when it is proven that a specific person's me has been taken. Pre-implantation drugs and devices are capable of destroying the unborn in the earliest stages of development, but proof of such action in a specific instance could not be estab'. lished in a court of law. Thus, the charge that the use of such agents will become acts of homicide is untrue.

Pro-abortion groups have said that the pro-life movement wants to "deprive you of your freedom of choice.... by imposing its beliefs on everyone. But respect for human life is not a minority conviction. It appeals to a wide variety of religious and nonreligious people who disagree on many other public issues.

The real agenda of the pro-life movement is that of trying to

now convince the American people and the members of Congress that an issue decided nearly nine years ago by the Supreme Court should be returned to the people for their own determination. An HLA cannot be enacted without a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legisIatures. This is not an underhanded effort to impose a belief on the people of this country. It is an integral part of the democratic process.

The crux of the matter, however, is not whether the unborn child is human - for he or she undeniably is. The task facing society is to decide wtherer it is going to value each and every human me or treat some lives as expendable.

The destruction of human life is not a private matter. It is the concern of every responsible citizen. We must commit ourselves to the effort to protect the most defenseless of all human beings - the unborn child - and to work on behalf of a Human Life Amendment.

CATHOLIC DEAF APOSTOLATE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

-Shatter The World of Silence -

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Fearful of the growing sentiment in favor of such an amendment, pro-abortion groups have bombarded the media with innuendo and factual distortions about the intent of a Human Life Amendment. They have used scare tactics in an effort to convince the American people that abortion is a good which must remain freely available. Such groups contend that legal abortion safeguards the lives and health of women and 'that an HLA would force women into Hfe-threatening "back aHey" abortions. They also claim that should an HLA be enacted, women who use cel'tain contraceptives couId be prosecuted for homicide. Such' assertions are nothing short of Iudicrous.

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Golden Age?

By Antoinette Bosco

Only When The Dignity Of Life Has Been Preserved

"THE SPIRIT OF GOD MADE ME AND THE BREATH

OF THE ALMIGHTY GAVE ME LIFE." - JOB 33:4

Respect The Elderly!

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

REPRESENTI NG 25,000 CATHOLIC WOMEN

102 PARISH AFFILIATES

F I V IE

DISTRICTS

UPHOLDS THE VAL-UE OF路 HUMAN LIF'E

FIVE DEANERIES

for three months under the direction of two trained leaders.

Tim O'Shea looks like a least Upon "graduation," participants likely candidate to be carrying find themselves armed with the the torch for older people. I skills and the motivation to take would guess he is hardly 30, yet responsibility for their own wellhe has a love for people past re- being and continued personal tirement age that brings a glow growth. to his face when he talks about All SAGE requires of persons their "quality" and their "limit- coming to it is a Willingness to less possibilities." He has found commit themselves to embark a most fortunate outlet for his upon some form of change. If dedication -- an idea, an action, they do this, change happens an experience called SAGE. right from the beginning of their SAGE is a "new coming of introduction to SAGE. They age" for pE:ople past 60. SAGE start to' feel better, even though '(Senior Actualization and they do not exactly know why.

Growth Explorations) empha- This is no mystery to an outsizes bringing older people to sider like me. Older people in see themselves as having prom- our culture are robbed of so ise, potentilll, power and a con- many of the things we label as tinuing capacity for personal giving us purpose, power and growth. SAGE re-educates older meaning. SAGE says, don't buy people. It uses a curriculum that the myth, and from the first enhas a most unusual result: It in- counter, begins to restore a perspires older people to fall in son's sense of self-reliance and love with life again. worth.

That is the way Tim O'Shea,.

In Tim O'Shea's words, the executive director, explained "SAGE is the only game in town SAGE to me recently. SAGE is that explores new human possian unusual program,' founded bilities for older people." seven years ago in Berkeley, I love his way of frequently Calif., and beginning to attract using the expression "honor" atention from people who are when talking about the older interested in how we age in Am- people he is working with. Honerica. O'ShE~a found it easier to or would, of course, have to be talk about SAGE's results than the byproduct of an effort like its program or process, simply SAGE, whose purpose is to break because tha.t is what most im- through the artificial barriers presses him. that isolate older people - and "People walk in ready for the in so doing, to allow them to rocking chair. They walk out become vibrantly alive in olel very enthusiastic about life age. again, ready to soar," he said.

SAGE is located at Claremont He told about a nun who was Office Park, 41 Tunnel Road, on sabbatil:al, attending theoBerkeley, Calif. 94705. logy courses at Berkeley, when she became interested in "wellness" modes of health care. She heard about SAGE and came to some of the workshops.

"She told me that she had been involved in making human beings aware of their sacredness.

But, she said, 'Never have I seen -a program that so honors the individuals involved,''' 0' Shea recounted, adding, "That made my day."

The SAGE program is stimulating. It incorporates the best available tec:hniques to help people more than 60 expand their awareness and appreciation of themselves and their sense of community. These include a range of llctivities which enhance health, such as stress reduction and deep relaxation techniques, nutrition counseling, group bonding, exercises and self-help health care.

"The magic of SAGE is that it operates out of a context where the activities are developed by the peer group itself, not by outside 'experts,''' O'Shea said. "We've actually seen a few people relax for the first time in maybe 30 years. No wonder they feel revived."

The SAGE process consists of forming COlre groups, 12 to 15 people who meet weekly for the development and practice of the skills and exercises that make YOU'RE never too old up the SAGE experience. The carefully st:ructured groups m~et for music.

Nursling homes

By Dr. James and

Ma~r

Kenny

Dear Dr. Kenny: My Rlother is 85 and is no longer abhl to live alone. She is forgetful and unsteady on her feet. I would like her to live with us, but we have four children at home, and she cannot stand the noise lInd confusion. I am her only child. We are considering a care center or nursing home for her'. What should I look for in a care center? I love my mother very much. (Indiana) Thank you for raising a question that affects many of us today. How do you pick ar.: institution for someone you love? I think there are two sets of considerations. You must consider the facts, and you must look at the solil.

What type of care does your mother need, mild supervision or highly skilled nursing,' Many nursing homes provide different levels of care depending on the individual capabilities of the resi路 dents.

What is' the staff-patient ratio? Do they seem to have enough skilled staff to provide your mother with proper attention?

Look around the h~llls and reoms. Are they clean? Do things seem generally in order?

What kind of reputation does this care center have? Don't ask the physicians or social workers.

Ask your friends who have a relative there. Ask some residents how they like living there.

Ask these and other such factual questions. But don't forget to consider the intangibles which are even more important. How do you assess the soul of a care center?

The best way is to spend a day there yourself from rising to bedtime. That is not too much time to give in order to judge whether your mother will be happy there. Get a feel for the place.

Be sure to eat a meal there with the patients. How does the food taste? Notice the mealtime atmosphere.

Observe the staff. Do they appear happy and enthused in their work? Most important, do they smile and laugh a lot, or do they seem cold; crisp and efficient?

Finally, does the staff touch the patients a lot? As hearing and vision fade, touch becomes increasingly important as a way to communicate.

These suggestions are by no means exclusive. I hope they start you thinking. Get the facts.

But don't forget to consider the heart and soul.

Reader questions on family living and child care to be answered in print are invited. Address questions to: The Kennys, Box 67, Rensselaer, Ind. 47978.

A good nursing home encourages visits from grandchildren.

SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND BE AWARE OF THE NEEDS

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OF THE

PHYSICAL,LY IMPAIRED "HE IS THY LIFE AND THE LENGTH

OF THY DA YS." -

DEUT. 30:20

ST. PATRICK PARISH FALMOUTH

Respect for Life is the essence of health care

St. Anne's Hospital St. Anne's, as a Catholic community hospital, gives witness and commitment to every aspect: of Respect for Life.

Our skilled medical professionals share our philosophy and purpose through compassionate care and concern.

The depth of our commitment is put into action through family-centered health care programs, designed to meet special needs in our community, as well as medical/surgical care.

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Fall River, Mass, 02722 • (617) 674-5741

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PRISON MINISTRY JUVENIILE COURT APOSTOLATE '0

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783 SLADE ST. P.O. Box' M - So. Sta.

ALC()HOLISM OUTREACH

674-4681

CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

997-7337

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PRO-LIFE APOSTOLATE

ATTLEBORO CAPE COD CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES t 32-34 SANFORD ST. 1441 RTE. 132 SPANISH APOSTOLATE ••• P.O. BOX 971 . CENTERVI LLE •I 226-4780 771-6771 t------:...------:...----------------L--------...-----------

~~nistries

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These RESPECT LIFE

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by ·enhancing the dignity and qua~ity . of their lives.

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serve the people of God

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PETER Il GRAZIANO, M.~W., Diocesan .Directo( .

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981

The exceptional child

By Angela M. Schre'iber A baby who is either handi-

capped or retarded or both brings drastic changes to the family.

While every family situation is unique, there is one thing all have in common - that moment when they learn their child has a disability. This is always a moment of shock and deep sorrow.

How a physician tells parents is important. No one set of rules can be drawn up. The decision of when and how to tell the parents is a problem that falls to the obstetrician or the pediatrician because he or she is the professional on the scene.

In most cases the father should be told first. The doctor should suggest to the father that he contact his pastor and 'between them an appropriate time should be chosen to talk to the mother.

Besides bringing some comfort with him, a clergyman in this way becomes aware from the start of what the family faces, while the couple knows from the beginning that the church community cares.

Usually the newborn infant can be taken home. Babies with physical impairment or mental retardation, like all other infants, thrive and develop better in the loving atmosphere of parents and family.

Those of us who have handicapped children are almost crushed by the stress and disappointment we feel when we learn that, as most people judge, the new life we have brought into the world is regarded as flawed. For those women who know that the life they carry in their wombs is not "perfect" the anguish is even greater. The secular world offers abortion. Deter-

mining to carry such a child to term takes much strength. While this is the right choice, like many other right choices, it is difficult. Pastoral counseling is extremely important during the period when a couple is facing the birth of such a child and immediately after the birth.

In the beginning, total family acceptance is probably rare.

This is, though, not a one-sided project. Family members don't give without return. The new member gives too. Bit by bit, he or she teaches patience, tolerance, and selflessness. How it evolves is undefinable, but finally we love more deeply. And these babies, like all infants, have their individual charm.

The majority of handicapped and retarded infants and children can be cared for at home, but if a child is born with a physical condition which the family cannot handle, an institution is the only answer.

Parents who truly must place their child in an institution are doing their duty" as best they can by learning about the institutions in their area. How many doctors, registered nurses, aides are on the staff? What kind of education and training programs are provided? What is their recreation program? Visit the institution. Ask your doctor to help with your selection.

Choosing an institution and placing the child there do not exhaust parental responsibilities.

The child still needs the parents.

Frequent visits help the child progress. Even in cases where no progress can be expected, the physical touch and presence of parents brings some comfort.

I shall never forget a five-

Integrating handicapped "The church's record in deal-Religious Education: Reliing with disabled persons in in- gious education of the handistitutions is good," says Dr. capped may cequire :trained perDavJd M. Byers, secretary of the sonnel and special equipment.

U.S. bishops' committee on min- Diocesan offices may be able to istry with the handicapped. help or suggest where to look for "DeaHng with them as members help. of ordinary Christian communi-Liturgical Celebrations: Hanties is another matter. dicapped individuals can play forThe way for a parish to begin, mai roles in the liturgy, finding Dr. Byers believes, is to find out personal satisfaction therein and who m the parish is disabled and adding powerful witness to the parish's commitment to unity. the nature of the disabHi.ties.

"Of course, getting to know Blind choir members, mentaUy them simply as names i.n a sur- retarded servers, an offertory vey is worthless except 2tS a fJrst . procession in wheelchairs - all step. "If subsequent co'ntact is are feasible.

-Social Services: The specific limited to an occasional phone needs of the handicapped may call, they wrIl slide out of sight again, and the prejudic;es that vary but many share loneliness. keep them out of sight will re- To someone in this situation the main intact. Even regular con- best social service is the comtact is not enough if they are panionship of a person who oftreated simply as objects of par- fers assistance when necessary ish concern. They showd become and the chance to be of assistfunctioning members of the con- ance where feasible.

"The parish will serve its hangregation." dicapped members more adeNeeds of the handicapped w111 quately when it knows them bettend to fall into certain cate- ter," Dr. Byers concludes. "Othgories, he said: erwise handicapped people, a sign -Access: "If you caunot get of contradiction to the world, into the church or the paJlish hall, will progressively become a sign you lose aU but the most abstract of contradiction to the Church." place in the community clf farith," observed the secretary. He added that it is usually not tenibly dJfGOD'S ANCHOII HOlDS ficuIt or expensive to ren.der parish facilities accessible.

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month-old boy I saw in the hospital years ago. This baby saw only a little, was deaf and brain damaged. Doctors said he would never respond to anyone. Yet at four-and-a-half months, he responded to his mother. She held him every evening for an hour.

He began feebly to grasp her finger. At the time I met them, a suitable institution was being sought. She said, "We will always be near him. He is realizing a little about love. My comfort is knowing he has not lived without experiencing anything of love."

Handicapped and retarded children are not passive dwellers in the Christian community. Rather, they are part of its pulse beat.

Almost every parish has CCD classes for special children. This is excellent, but these children should also be included whenever possible in regular parish activities'. All the parishioners benefit. For instance, normal children learn there are many different kinds of people and that everyone deserves respect and consideration. They learn, too, that those special children can give.

Once I thought of a perfect human being as someone with a perfectly formed body and mind.

But no more. I have come to learn that every human being holds some of God's perfection.

After all, he has made every one of us in his image.

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THE ANCHORThurs., Oct. 22, 1981 "?

Time 'of watching

By William Ryan

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The greatest need of a dying person is for someone who will listen and help Jceep watch. It seems so obvious, and yet many persons have been denied this support because well meaning family members, friends or priests refused to acknowledge with them the reality of what was taking place. Until recently, ours has been a society which hushed up the subject of death, denying its reality even when it stood at the doorway. Now that is changing.

"The art of pastoral care of the terminally ill today is emerging from the dark," said Priscilla M. Russo. "It has been an incremental development, but there is new rededication, new insight and more adequate programs."

Ms. Russo describes hospitalbased hospice programs in which patients and family are given special help to face the reality of dying as well as to care for their loved one at home whenever possible. She also discusses the role of the priest, that of the parish, and the overall contribution which can be made by good educational programs.

FALL RIVER'S ROSE HAWTHORNE LATHROP HOME: "The time will come when all has been done that could be done; then comes the time of watching."

Quoting from an article by Rev. John T. Cullen, Ms. Russo writes, "The phrase 'watch me' sums up all that any group of concerned people can do as they care for the dying. It matters little whether they be family, doctor, nurse, priest. The time will come when all has been done that could be done; then comes the time of watching."

Ms. Russo stresses that "only the dying can tell us what they think and feel, what they need,

what they fear and what they ing with others, they do have a hope. We should not alienate the special role to play. "There is dying by trivializing what they one part of the dying person's say or by telling them what we last hours where the priest's inthil1k they should think or feel fluence can be most felt, and or what we think they need. that is the sacramental world of Dying is a mysterj and we must . Reconciliation, Eucharist, and be open to its unique reality as Anointing of the Sick. Anyone it presents itself to us in the dy- who has spent time with dying ing of each and ~very person." believers knows how much the Again quoting Father Cullen, sacraments mean to dying. paMs. Russo points out that while tients and their families." priests must approach the dying Ms. Russo believes that parperson in the context of work- ishioners need to hear homilies

at Mass on the subject of death and dying. "Not the death of the body which will be overcome by the Resurrection. But the universal, raw fact that every living being will face.

"Pastoral care of the dying includes not only the victim, but all those who share in his or her life in. an intimate way," Ms. Russo says. She suggests the parish is the core from which to radiate a network of support services enlisting concerned and compassionate laypeople (preferably those who have experienced the death of a family member after a serious illness) who can talk with individuals or meet in groups (for example, parents who have lost a child through incurable illness). They should do this working side by side with priests and religious members of the community.

"Families who are experiencing the death of a member should be brought together to pray and share," she says. "Where possible the family should be assisted in its daHy tasks.

"The moment of death always comes," Ms. Russo writes.

"When human skills and human caring have done all that could be done, then hope takes over and we trust that God will do for us all that he has promised."

In Fall River a new Hospice Outreach program has been organized to assist terminal cancer patients and their families.

An eight-session training pro. gram for volunteers will begin in November. Information is available from Linda Valley, 673-1589.

DIOCESAN DEPARTMENT OF PASTORAL CARE OF. THE SICK 795: Middle Street Falll River, Mass.

674-5741 (Ext. 394 or 395) Rev. Edmund J. Fitzgerald Diocesan Director

,PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK BRINGS HIS LIFE "" . .

TO HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS, NU'RSING HOME RESIDENTS AND PARISH HOMEBOUND

By "l'HOU HASl' GRANTED Mt: LIFt: AND MERCY AND THY VISITA TION HATH PRESERVED MY SPIRIT." JOB 10:12

Hospital Chaplains and Pari"sh Pastoral Care Of The Sick Programs

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THE ANCHOR Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981

Nuclear arms an,d

pro-life

By William Ryan "A pro-life position is not complete if it fails to concern itself with the nuclear arms race."

Father J. Bryan Hehir, Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace, United States Catholic Conference, m2lkes this assertion in the 1981 Respect Life Manual in an article entitled "The Sanctity of Life and the Nuclear Arms Race."

In the article, Father Hehir outlines how the church has stated the vision of thE: Gospel about war and peace in the nuclear age and discusses the role of the U.S. church in regard to the arms race.

He is careful to note that church concern about the morality of warfare is not ne:w.

"The morality of war and peace has always been ~l central part of church teaching on the

ARTIST'S CONCEPT OF MX MISSILE IN FLiGlIT sanctity of human life," Father Hehir said. "Because the use of force involved the taking of human life, it always constituted a problem for Christians. But, that problem has been given a radically new character by the advent of the nuclear age - a development which Pope Pius XII first began to take note of and his successors have continued to do, with ever increasing urgency.

Father Hehir recalled German thesologian Romano Guardini's statement, made at the end of World War II, that the preeminent moral question for the last half of this century would be whether society could develop the moral capacity to control the

PROTJECT

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dertake a completely fresh appraisal of war,'" Father Hehir states. The Constitution set forth a series of principles which constitute the heart of the Church's position on nuclear war. These include: - a condemnation of total war: "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation. . . . " - Support for "conscientious objectors who refuse to carry arms provided they accept some other form of community service."

- a call for an end to the arms race and "a real beginning of disarmament, not unilaterally indeed but at an equal rate on all sides, on the basis of agreements and barked up by genuine and effective guarantees."

"The Constitution remains the key document concerning the morality of war and peace, not because nothing else has been said since Vatican II, but because other statements reflect its framework and perspective," Father Hehir commented.

physical power that had been un- past 35 years, Father Hehir said Pope Pius XII reduced the traleashed.

"We created and used nuclear ditional "just causes" of war to weapons without a clear assess- one, self-defense of one's nation ment of the qualitative change or defense of others under atthey were introducing into the tack, while Pope John XXIII relations among nations," Father questioned the use of force could Hehir said. "Once their enormous be considered a rational means destructive capacity had been of achieving justice in the nuclearly demonstrated, the history clear age and called for the banof the nuclear age became a pro- ning of nuclear weapons and cess of political leaders trying progress toward nuolear disto contain, control and defuse armament. the nuclear threat which hangs Vatican II's "Pastoral Constiover the world." tution on the Church in the In Father Hehir's judgement, Modern World," "even while acthere are three reasons why the knowledging the traditional princharacter of the nuclear arms ciple that states possess the right race has taken on an even more of legitimate defense, called updangerous character today. The on Christians and others 'to unfirst is that there are no major arms control discussions in progress at the present time. The second reason is the size of the nuclear arsenal on both sides, with each superpower moving "THOU HAST MADE THE EARTH toward possession of 10,000 warAND ALL THINGS THAT ARE IN IT: heads which can be delivered against the civilian or industrial AND THOU GIVEST LIFE TO ALL centers of the opposing country.

THESE THINGS." 2 ES. 9:6 But the third reason may be the most frightening. After two decades of an official U.S. position that the only reason for stockpiling nuclear weapons was to deter the use of such weapons by a potential aggressor, because no real winner could emerge from an uncontrolled nuclear holocaust, a new nuclear "doctrine" is now being proposed: that a nuclear war can be controlled and is "winnable."

"This kind of discussion can reduce the psychological and political barriers carefully constructed over many years against the use of nuclear weapons," - '' Father Hehir warned. .' ...'.... .

A similar comment was made in mid-August by the President • '-iJ).~";1 : ", ...,t ~,. I'} .' of the National Conference of ..... .

Catholic Bishops, Archbishop John R. Roach of St. Paul and 'Minneapolis, after the government announced it would proceed with development and stockpiling of the neutron bomb.

It is a grave question whether the decision enhances the fragile and precarious stability of the nuclear balance of terror, or whether, in fact, it simply adds to the 'breathtaking spiral of COUNCIL armaments' which both superpowers are relentlessly pursuOF THE ing." Archbishop Roach said.

Tracing the religious-moral DIOCESE vision which has developed in Catholic social teachng over the OF

Respect Life!

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St. Vincent De Paul Society

"IT IS TO SUCH AS THESE THE KINGDOM OF GOD BELONGS" (LUKE 18:16)

Church of the 'Holy Name Fall River

Our Journey "Our journey is not the way of adjustment in order to survive but the way of struggle in order to transform." - Father John Shea

FALL RIVER

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THE'ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22,1981

Post-abortion reconciliation and pastoral care

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With the increasing incidence of abortion (estimated at 3 percent of 8'11 women between 15 and 44 .in 1979), the percentage of CathQlic women dn need of post-abortion reconciliation with the Church is growing.

Perhaps because of 路the Church's vocaol and consistent opposition to abortion, these women often feel the Church is the last place they can tum for the sacramental healing they so desperately need. Herein lies an enormous pastoral chal:lenge for pastors and others .in the Church, says Father Edward M. Bryce, director of the Office for Pro-Life Aotivities of the National Conference of Catholic bishops.

God's limitless mercy is available to women who have had abortions as much as to everyone else, he points out.

"So much, however, points to fact that reconciliation is the missing piece in the abortion pic,ture," he says. "Changes in the ritulrl of 'going to confession,' diminished frequency in preaching the for~veness of Chr-ist available in the sacrament, firmness sometimes tinged with

harshness rather than compassion when preaching about respect for life, or vague genera:lities instead of specific clarity when preacrung about disrespect for me - aU of these factors must be examined.

"It is quite possible that the behavior in word and deed of the one who shared in the creation of me contributed to the abortion," Father Bryce notes.

"There is the family - parents, brothers and sisters - who may have taken an active part in encourag,ing the abortion." ,Fdends also might have supported the decision to destroy the unborn child.

"Final1y, there is the system of abortion providers: counselors, public relations,agents, medical technicians, nurses, managers and physicians who make a living at suppressing new me."

Noting that even pro-abortionists have sometimes spoken about the sorrow experienced by women who have had abortions, Father Bryce says !the pain is even more acute for many Catholic women. Some wonder if God will ever forgive them. And

what punishment he will exact he does. They can't pray any more. And if they were active in church affairs, Father Bryce says, sometimes closeness to the priest and other parishioners can become an obstacle to their reconciliation.

"In a world that struggles to dismiss guilt as a passe or as a tool of manipulation. the Church teaches the reality of moral responsibility and the limitlessness of divine mercy," Father Bryce states. "Sin, -guilt, penance and forgiveness frame the Catholic understanding of 1ifeas a chi'ld of God." He says pastoral care "consists of bringing together those o

U.5. bishops to testify 4

"THOU WILT SHOW ME THE WAY OF LIFE, MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS IN THY PRESENCE." PS.15:1I

...

1981 Year of Disabled

And Handicapped DIOCESAN GUILD FOR THE BLIND o

REV. BRUCE M. NEYLON DIOCESAN DIRECTOR

who have aborted with the forgiving love of Jesus Christ.

jf

WASHINGTON (NC)-The Nationa:! Conference of Catholic Bishops wm testify Nov. 5 before the Senate subcommittee on the Constitution on proposed constitutional amendments on 'abortion.

Archbishop John R. Roach of St. PauI-Minneapolis, president of the NCCB, and Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York, chairman of its Committee for ProLife Activities, will deliver the testimony.

The Senate subcommittee began hearings Oct. 5 on several constitutional amendments on abortion. The measures include a controversial amendment introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (oRUtah), which would reverse the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on abortion by stating that nothing dn the Constitution establishes the right to have an abortion.

It also would a'Low - but not require -- Congress and the states to re-enact abortion legisaation struck down by the Supreme Court and. is generally regarded as an interim step prior to passage of a comprehensive amendment banning abortion. It would, however, fa'll short of a direct prohibition on abortion.

The NCCB has ca:lled it "a significant opportunity to restore legal protection to unborn me."

Father Erlward Bryce, executive director of the pro-life committee, said that "Sen. Hatch's amendment, in my opinion, would effectively reverse the Supreme Court's decision in the abortion cases and wou'ld restore to the elected representatives of the American people their historic power to protect human life." "a has been nearly nine years since the Supreme Court abortion decisions. Abortions in the United States now total well over one and a half million annually," he added. Yet, he said, Americans sHU oppose abortion on demand. "Clearly the pace of events is accelerating and prospects for positive action in the 97th Congress are growing bright垄'!'. I pray the time for strong remedial action by Congress is at hand."

"The pastor must be present in a manner reminiscent of the healing Christ, patiently and compassionately guiding the woman toward reconciliation," he explains. "This wHI include assurances of the crove and forgiveness Jesus offers in the sac~ament of 'reconciiliation, and assurances also of God's abiHty to love the child he cal:led into existence uniquely and forever in a manner bey-ond her comprehension."

The pastor may have to reassure the woman time and again, Father Bryce says, while other significant people- in her ute must aliso share in the rebuHding process which reconciliation entaHs. The priest :recommends that pastors prepare for reconoi!ling women who have had abortions by talking with people who are close to the issue such as emergency pregnancy sel'V'ice volunteers, counselors, psychiatrists, and "the women who have been through the mill and who are

able to tell you what it was like and how they put their lives back together."

He says petitions at Mass might sometimes dnelude those who have been involved in an abortion, but a1so the plU"ents and sibHngs of the one who has aborted.

Some of these persons suffer intense anguish because of an action they could not prevent.

They shoUld be reassured, Father Bryce says, that their love will -in the long ,run prove more effective than stern judgment.

Father Bryce suggests that examinations of conscience at penance services include abortion, that retreat houses be especially aware of the abortion issue, and that seminary professors prepare future priests to deal with the problem.

Not 'least, he says every parish should have women trained in emergency pregnancy service skills. "To find such a friend in one's pa-rish," says the priest, "goes a long way toward demonstrating that the Church is truly a community of-service."

His jSit4~ . promi in this world that

an of us will cherish, respect and love life.

(John 15:12)

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981

15

Continued from page one terns of hurt in the family.

EARLY BIRDS (morning); and "Helping PreDA I L Y Delinquent and Delinquent Adolescents Who Have Returned to 4 - 5:30 P.M. the Regular Classroom" (afterALSO noon).

CATERfNG TO WEDDINGS - Frances Ferrick, Holt, RineAND BANQUETS hart and Wilson publishers, "The Single Parent and the Child in Rte. 28, East Falmouth the Catholic School." IdentifyOPEN MON, Thru SAT. Hosts - Paul & Ellen Goulet ing and helping the single-par4-10P.M. ent child.

548-4266 or 548-4267 SUN. 4 - 9 P.M. - Sr. Rosellen Gallogly, New Bedford home visitor assigned to attendance problems, ''Children Bring More to School Than Their Lunch Boxes." Resources for helping troubled children and families.

INC. - Peter Kirwin, Cape Cod director, Catholic Social Services, "School as a Change Agent in a Family System." Examination of parallels and differences between school and family systems.

- DeUa Lynch, Youth Support Services director, Joslin Center, Providence, "Significance of Alcoholism to the Individual and to Society." () - Barbara Madore, MSW and Kathleen Levesque, RN, St. ~,.,.,.' " ....•...••.."." ''''.'' ''.'.' '' Anne's Hospital, Fall River, "bUd Abuse and Neglect: 'A ~ •••••••• M•••••••••••••••••••••••••; Community Problem." Film, followed by discussion period.

- Father Robert J. McIntyre, administrator, St. Aloysius NEW BEDFORD : Home, Greenville, RI, "Dealing : with Children from Troubled ~ : NEWER MODEL : Families." Specific strategies forAUTO & TRUCK PARTS : : teachers.

- Irene Murphy, vice-presi: 926 CHURCH STREET - 995-2623 : dent, Benziger Publishers, "Prayer, Sacraments and Crea- : Mass. Toll Free (800) 642-7548 : tive Teaching." Practical aspects of catechesis.

- Father John J. Oliveira; Espirito Santo parish, Fall River, ' I 8 • ~'The Portuguese Imntigrant • • Family." Insights designed to as- : P.T.L. • sist educators in teaching reli- • CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO ROUTES 140 & 195 : gion.

FOREIGN AUTO & TRUCK PARTS : - Sister Joyce Wise, S81, : Springfield Juvenile Court pro- : 947 CHURCH STREET - 998-2384 : bation officer, "Youth and ValOLDER MODEL : ues." Why many youth lack : values. : AUTO & TRUCK PARTS :' - Sheila Barry, Cape Cod 1272 SHAWMUT AVENUE - 995-2211 : Catholic Social Services worker, : "The School-Age Parent." The ~ '\ teacher's role in cases of teenage pregnancy.

- Father Maurice T. Lebel, 81, Attleboro director, Catholic Social Services, "The Adolescent in the School and Family System." Psychic stress factors of adolescence and how schools can cope.

Monday's program will close at 2:15 p.m.

Pre-registration for the two day event is not required.

D & D SALES AND SERVICE,

FRIGIDAIRE

AT AN October Mary Day celebration at St. Mary's parish, Seekonk, first communicant Ca1'rie Jarvis crowns our Lady's statue, steadied by Father Francis Mahoney, . pastor. Left, Mrs. Le,e Ghazil, CCD teacher, right, Tracey Murphy, a reader for the service.

Calls for "full investigation" WASHINGTON (NC) A Minnesota congressman has joined those calling for a "full and fair investigation" by the Guatemalan government of the July murder of Father Stanley Rother of Oklahoma City.

Rep. James L. Oberstar (0Minn.), in a Sept. 3 letter to Secretary of State Alexande,r Haig, said he was skeptical that three Guatemalan Indians arre,sted in the murder actually were responsible for Father Rother's. death.

"I don't believe tne government of the United States can accept the unbelievable explanations of the Lucas Garcia regime," said Oberstar, rl~ferring to ~sident Romero Lucas Garcia of Guatmala.

Mter the death of Father Rother, who had worked in Guatemala for 13 years, the Guatemalan government maintained that he was the victim of a robbery attempt.

But church officials expressed skepticism about the Guatemalan explanation, noting that other priests have been killed in an apparent attempt to suppress the church in Guatemala.

Among those who also have urged Haig to seek a full investigation of the murder, which took place July 28, is Archbishop Charles A. Salatka of Oklahoma City.

In his letter Oberstar said he felt the Guatemalan government arrested the three Indians only because it felt pressured to produce suspects in the case.

"The government of Guatemala should realize that public opinion in America regarding repressive rightwing governments has been changed dramatically following the murder of American citizens by rightwing elements," he said, citing past murders of American citizens in EI Salvador and Nicaragua.

Blacl{ Catholics elect WASHINGTON (NC).- New officers for three nationaJ black Catholic organizations were elected during the first-ever National Conference of Blac:k Catholic Clergy and Religious held recently in Washington.

The joint conference also heard speakers, including the pope's representative ,in the United States, Archbishop Pio Laghi, and witnessed presentation of an

Jesus the Revealler Jesus "caUs people to decision.

He reveals people to themselves, helps them to see who they are and where they're going. He breaks down the defenses that people throw up against selfdiscovery and the demands of reality." - Father Jam.es DiGiacomo

outstanding achievement award to black Hturgist Father Clarence Rivers.

Participating groups were: -The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, which elected Father Edward Branch, 36, as its president. Father Branch is pastor of St. Benedict the Black church and the Newman Center of Grambling State University, Grambling, La. -The National Black Sisters Conference, whose new president is Sister 'Elizabeth Harris of the Home Vistors of Mary, a minority vocations consultant for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

-The National Black Catholic Seminarians Association, whose new head is Carmelite Brother Keith Williams, 28, a student at the Carmelite Monastery in Washington.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs., Oct. 22, 1981 ~

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Conference at St. Luke's Recruitment, training and supervision of lay pastoral ministers in health care centers will be the topic of the fifth annual

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GIFTS ARE STILL being received in support of the building fund of 51. Anne's Hospital, Fall River. Sister Mary Patricia, OP, hospital president, receives a contribution from Loretta George on behalf of Lightolier, Inc.

October 23 Rev. Joseph Eid, 1970, Pastor, St. Anthony of Desert, Fa1l River October 25 Rev. ReginaId Chene, O.P., 1935, Dominican Priory, Fall River Rev. Raymond B. Bourgoin, 1950, Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton October 27 Rev. Edmond L. Dickinson, 1967, Assis~ant, St. Mathieu, Fall River Rev. Francisco L. Jorge, 1918, Assistant, Mt. Carmel, New Bedford October 28 Rev. Alfred E. Couloumbe, 1923, Pastor, St. George, Westport Rev. Stanislaus Kozikowski, O.F.M., Conv., 1956, Pastor, St. Hedwig, NE!W Bedford

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Conference for Pastoral Ministers to be held Wednesday at St Luke's Hospital, New Bedford.

Organized by Father Kevin F. Tripp, coordinator of Catholic ministry for the hospital, the program will have as morning speakers St. Luke's chaplains Father Steven R. Furtado and Sister Jeanne L. Lavallee, CSC. Preceeding lunch, Rev. Earl W. Miller, Protestant chaplain, will lead prayer. Greetings of the hospital will be extended by executive director Alfred J. Smialek.

The afternoon session will offer an open forum discussion for participants.

The conference, open to area clergy and pastoral ministers, is held in October in recognition of the Oct. 18 feast of St. Luke, physician and evangelist, for whom the New Bedford hospital is named. Registrations are being accepted at 997-1515, ext.

411.

Gets CWU post NEW YORK (NC) - President Thelma Adair of Church Women United (CWU) in New York has announced the appointment of Dominican Sister Marjorie Tuite as coordinator for ecumenical citizen action.

Sister Tuite, who has spoken in the Fall River diocese, and has been a consultant for the CWU urban program, was formerly associated with the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago, with special responsibility in the area of social justice.

Church Women United is a national organization of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish women.