AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, SURE AND FIRM -HEB. 6:19
t eanc 0 FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDA V, OCTOBER 27, 1977
VOL. 21, NO. 43
15c, $5 Per Year
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INecessity Doctrine Wins Major Pro-Life Victory
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Spirifual Guidance Social Issues Coverage "House Organifis"
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FAIRFAX, Va. (NC) A Fairfax County judge has ruled that life begins at conception in a decision acquitting five right to life activists of criminal trespass charges at an abortion clinic just outside Washington D.C. Attorneys for the defendants said the judge's Oct. 17 verdict acquitting the five. could have far-reaching effects on the prolife movement's tactics in the near future. General District Court Judge Lewis H. Griffith ruled that while trespass did take place during the May 14 demonstration inside the Women's Medical Center, the defendants were justified in believing they were saving life by entering the clinic, and that they therefore did not commit criminal acts.
Bishop to Lead NCCW M'embers
Catholic Press Gets B+ As The Anchor prepares to host its first Catholic Press Association (CPA) regional meeting, staffers are paying particular attention to a Gallup Poll "report card" on American Catholic newspapers.
The report showed that the Catholic press in the United States is generally liked by its readers, scoring about B plus in traditional report card terminology. Turn to Pa,;e Seven
Bishop Cronin will head a delegation of 23 members from the Fall River diocese attending the annual convention of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), to be held in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 6. Turn to Page Seven
Blessing Slated For New Offices
JAMES A. DOYLE, Catholic Press Assn. executive director, at left, and Robert L. Fenton, CPA president and Catholic Digest publisher, next to him, at session of Catholic World Congress of the Press in Vienna. Both will attend Hyannis regional CPA meeting sponsored by The Anchor
October
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The new offices of the Diocesan Department of Social Services and Special Apostolates at 783 Slade St., Fall River, will be blessed at 2 tomorrow afternoon by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin. The ceremony will be the high point of an open house to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. The diocesan offices, formerly located at 368 No. Main St., Fall River, offer a wide range of social services and are supported through the annual Catholic Charities Appeal. Father Peter N. Graziano, STL, MSW, is director of the department, aided by Father Thomas L. Rita, M. Div. The diocesan offices for health facilities and for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith remain at the North Main Street address.
According to attorneys for the group, they are not aware of any ruling in a previous criminal case in which the "judge has held that life begins at conception. Judge Griffith's decision can have a persuasive, though not a binding, effect on other courts,
spokesmen for the nine lawyer team pointed out. The¡ five defendants were Leszak Syski of Silver Spring, Md.; David Gaetano of Wheaton, Md.; Mrs. Florence Smith of Clinton, Md.; Mrs. Karen Torres of ArTurn to Page Seven
Synod Works Toward Short Final Report By John Maher
VATICAN CITY (NC) - In its third week of work, the fifth world Synod of Bishops seemed agreed on issuing a short final doculllent and submitting its papers to Pope Paul VI for a lengthier treatment of catechesis. !But disagreements were also apparent on what such documents should contain. After hearing 141 oral interventions in general sessions during the synod's first week and receiving other written interventions, the 204 synod members divided into 11 small language-groups for further discussion. Among the points repeatedly made in small group reports: - Catechesis must be Christcentered and must involve not
only speaking about Christ but efforts to have those catechized come into contact with Christ in prayer. - While efforts must be made to convey the Christian message in a way suited to the age, mentality and culture of those being catechized. such adaptation must not distort the message. - Those being catechized should be made aware of a hierarchy of truths. Such a hierarchy does not mean that some doctrines are less true, but that some are less important than others. - All catechesis includes celebration of the faith in the sacraments and profession of knowledge of the word of God, Turn to Page Seven
E PLURIBUS' UNUM, in the Church as in the nation, is evident at Synod session where bishops of many races and cultures gather. Here they join in opening prayer, symbolizing their unity as they strive for agreement in resolving many difficulties involved in catechesis of all ages.
pro-life month