FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
VOL. 28, NO. 44
FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9; 1984
Bishop asks aid to Ethiopia
Theologian justif~es
baboon use WASHINGTON «NC) A Catholic University of America moral theologian, commentling on the transplant of a baboon heart into "Baby Fae," said such animal-to-human transplants can be justified as a last option to enhance an individua,l's :life. But the theologian, Father Robert Friday, warned against violat'ing the dignity of the hu man person and experimenting on uninformed subjects, such as newborn infants. Father Friday, Cat-hoHc Uni versity associate dean of reli gious studies, teaches bioethics in the university's nursing school and has been involved in medical ethics'issues for 12 years. "Baby Fae" was born in Cali fornia one month prematurely with the left side of her heart almost missing. She received the baboon heart Oct. 26 and was progressing well one week after the operation. Animal rights organizations protested the kiUing of a healthy baboon to obtain the transplant· ed heart. Others argue that the operation futilely prolongs the infant's suffering. "If it is a last option, I'd say 'fine, go with it: " Father Friday said. "I don't have a problem with using animal parts in pre serving or enhancing human life." He said he was concerned, however, that in a society "where abortion is taken as a matter of course," newborns could become seen as "not as human as if.'he rest of us" and used as experi~ mental subjects.' Medical treatment ~'ought to be therapeutic and not research oriented, so we don't tum unin formed slJlbjects into guinea pigs," he said. Father Friday said attitudes are already moving in this di rection as some people view new borns as ful'ly human only after I their parents accept them and take on responsibility for early care. Although the Catholic Church has not taken a position on ani mal-to-human transplants, Fath er Friday said he doesn't believe the new medical practice con flicts with Catholic teachings. Baby Fae's situation differs from keeping people alive on respirators, Father Friday said. When a patient is brain dead, these machines don't "offer rea sonable hope of benefit:' he said, but .for Baby Fae the un ,usual heart transplant offers hope of a full life.
$8 Per Year
Recalling his service in Ethi opia from 1957 to 1961, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin has issued a heartfelt plea for aid to the some six miHion people facing starvation in that famine-ridden land. His letter to priests of the diocese follows: Reverend and dear Father: No doubt, you, dear Father, have shared in the distress of people through out the world at the media reports of the pI.ight of our .brothers and sisters in Afri ca. There have been many f ' \ graphic indications of the suffering caused by the . CIDLDREN FROM St. Mary's School, Taunton, prepare to sing at Eucharistic famine which has been occa liturgy closing Monday's Catholic Education Convention at Bishop Connolly High sioned by prolonged drought. School, Fall River. Beatrice A. Viera directed the choir. (Gaudette Photo) Ethiopia has been particu larly affected by this enor mous human tragedy.. Over 25 years ago, I came He's hot, cold' on Catholic issues to know and love Ethiopia . and the wonderful people of that troubled -land, this . as the result of my term at Addis Ababa in the service of the Holy See. As you may know, too, I serve as a member of the agenda." P,roposals for tuition liberal and .conservative Pro Board of Directors of Cath- By Liz S. Armstrong tax .credits failed in Congress testants who said the establish olic Relief Services. I have WASHINGTON~c) The direct knowledge of the ment of formal U.S.-Holy See ,in. the four years of Reagan's reelection of Rona'ld W. Reagan 'laudable and dedicated work ties violated separation of first term. as president returns to the. of this body, the official In the new Congress, he pre~ White House a political figure church and state. overseas relief agency of the dieted, because his reelection interview with In a written who has strongly sided with Bishops of the United States, National Catholic News Service' would be a demonstration of Am Catholic positions on some is in Ethiopia. I have learned goa.Js, "we erican support for his shortly before the election, sues, such as abortion and tui through contact with CRS will have an increased chance to tion tax credits, and has been Reagan said that he supports officials of the immediate move vital legislation' like tui constitutional amendment to ."a criticized by church leaders for initiatives launched by that his stands on others, such as end the' tragedy, of abortion" tion tax credits through the Con agency in attempts to re gress." that "as long as my and said nuclear weapons poNcies and spond to the urgent plight Reagan criticized .abortion 'in office we administration is cuts in government services to of the Ethiopians who are wiH continue to. support the often. as president. There were the poor. suffering from famine. questions from some quarters, pro-life movement in every way Durin,g his first term, particu I have transmitted, in the larly during his Ireelection bid, including, legislative initiatives." however, about how much effec name of the Diocese of FaB In the same interview he also tive act'ion officials of his admin the 73-year-old president spoke River, a grant of $10,000 said that "I have i1"epeatedly istration al1d the Republican often of the relationship be Party have really taken against to provide immediate help said that tuition tax credits are· tween church and state .,.... a to the Ethiopian relief ef at 'the top of my domestic abortion. topic that became the unexpect forts. Resources for this kind For example, New Right acti ed campaign issue of the year. .of emergency me available vist Richard y,iguerie asked in Himself an infrequent church to me from the generosity September what the Republican goer' for what he cites as se of our good people over the Party has done "to advance the Why Not You? curity reasons, Reagan has years. right cause of school prayer, the spoken frequently of God and to life of the unborn, and other I am well aware of the de
religious plrinciples, invited bish that concern conservative issues mands which are made upon
ops and other church 'leaders to religious people." Viguerie also our parishes and people dur
the White House" and visited asked why proposals addressing ing November. We have the
Catholic parishes and schools. some of these concerns failed Campaign for Human De
Although he was ~he governor ' "when the White House staff velopment and the Thanks whose signature in 1967 Jifted could have burned the midnight . ' . giying Clothing Appeal and
many restrictions on abortion in 011 'working on these jssues~" . many individual parishes California, his present anti-abor have speCiai programs for The president also parted com tion efforts have won him praise assisting the poor in the pany with some Catholics and from manYPl.'o-lifers. holiday season. other Christians over what many By elevating U.S.-Vatican re II Not, Why Not? Therefore, I truly feel that regard as another pro-life dssue: ,lations, to the ambassadorial Tum to Page Fourteen Tum to Page Fifteen level he drew, the ire of both
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Reagan is ·reelected
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