FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 45, NO. 43 • Friday,November 9, 2001
Bishop O'Malley's pastoral keys on in vitro fertilization
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COCHAIRS FOR the annual Bishop's Charity Ball plot a course with director Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington. At left, Betty Mazzucchelli, president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and right, Ronald Correia, president of the Fall River Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Plans for Bishop's Charity Ball are full sp~ed ahead ','
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The annual presentation ofyoung women from across the diocese will be held January 11 at the Venus de Milo Restaurant in Swansea.
SWANSEA - Although Dee Ferro and her decoration committee members are staying tightlipped about what attendees at the Bishop's Charity Ball will see, an educated guess would suggest that the Venus de Milo Ballroom will swirl with lots of red, white and blue. .
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-That comes as ~gr. Thomas J. Hanington, director 'of the event, reported that.two preliminary planning sessions were held with representatives ofthe cosponsors of the ball, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Diocesan Society of St. Vmcent de Paul. . . Betty Mazzucchelli of Christ the King Parish, Mashpee, president of the DCCW, and Ronald Correia of Holy :rrinity.J?arish, Fall River, president of the Fall River Coup<:il ofSt. Vmcent de Paul, are at.the helm of .:'.:' ::' :: riA',." t6 page J3 - Ball ,'
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Catholic teacher wins city award for her innovations ~
S8. Peter and Paul pal Kathy Burt. School teacher Inez The award came on October 23 . at the Annual. Education Summit, Bates neatly melds computer skills with the three R's.
BY DeAcoN JAMES N.1bmAR FALL RIVER - The City of Fall River has recognized the efforts ofa SS. Peter and Paul Parish School teacher who has deftly brought the knowledge, joys and successes of computer life into the lives of her students - as well ;lS the public at large. Inez Bates was presented with the city's prestigious, ne~ Innovation in Teaching Award by Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr., said proud Princi-
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
INEZ BATES
in its fourth year and held in this city. "Inez was one of six teachers honored but the only one from a ,Catholic school:' Burt noted. "While she has been recognized for hercomputer lab, one she' designed and obtained funding for, this newest award honors her uniqueness in devising a curriculum of technology for grades kindergarten through grade-eight, more in a computer business application than tOwards enrichment." Because the computer lab has received support from so many in the community "we are now able to give some of that back by Inez teaching . classes for adults free ofcharge that Tum to page J3 - Award
DEACON JAMES
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DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - The Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life and scientific stem-cell research involving in vitro fertilization and the destruction of human embryos, are at the heart of the pastoral "In Vitro Fertilization: Ethical Implications and Alternatives" by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., that appears in its entirety in The Anchor today. In a recent interview, Bishop O'Malley said he was prompted to write the theological paper because of the recent debate on embryonic stemcell research and the apparent misunder- L standing of many people on the matter. "I was very alarmed to learn how many human embryos are frozen in the United States, and to realize how many people are taking the situation for granted and therefore are quite disposed to killing and using these embryos in scientific experimentation," he said. Because of the confusion on "these very grave ethical issues which touch the Gospel of Life in a very profound way, I thought it important to comment on and explain the issues to our Catholic people." The bishop commented that when he was in school "we never heard the phrase in vitro fertilization and most people today don't know the meaning of the expression 'test tube baby:" He said other factors also impelled him to write the paper, among them having met "an almost elderly" couple who were showing off their new baby. They were practicing Catholics "and I was dis-
mayed to learn that their baby was conceived by in vitro fertilization and they were quite oblivious to the moral implications of that procedure." And "strangely enough, in the last few days while I was preparing this letter," the bishop said, "we received an inquiry from an anonymous but very distraught parent whohasachildconceivedby in vitro fertilization and some one had wrongly advised that because of that their child cannot receive the sacraments." He added: "I find this most distressing too, that people would in any way diminish the hu---' manity of the pre c i 0 u s value of any child, no matter what the circumstances of his or her birth or conception." He said that to use a paralleI, many people think that a child born out of wedlock is not capable of receiving the sacraments. "Of course the Church doesn't agree with those circumstances; but when a child is born, it is a human being made in the image and likeness of God and we have great concern for the spiritual and temporal wellbeing of such a child." Bishop O'Malley said he is concerned by the current debate over stem cells but especially the nonchalant attitude people are taking about the thousands of frozen, live human embryos who will be eventually discarded and killed." "So I thought the stem-cell debate in many people's minds was skewed, because of a lack of understanding of the root issue, in vitro fertilization, where the embryos are coming from, and I wanted to address that."
The bishop·s Pastoral Letter appears on pages 7-10