U. S. Bishops
Opt .for Sanctity, Dignity of Human Life WASHINGTON (NC) - "Our fundamental commitment must be to the sanctity of and dignity of human life at all stages of its development and in all contexts," proclaimed Archbishop
Joseph L. Bernardin of Cincinnati, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops at the opening of the national meeting here on Monday. "If, as some would have it,"
In reference to bishops' comthe prelate explained, "we bishops are to be known as men of ments of "disappointed" and "enone issue, let the issue be human couraged" in the political camlife and all that is necessary to paign were widely interpreted protect and enhance it. I can -though officially denied-enthink of no better' issue and dorsement for Ford, Archbishop none more crucial on which to Bernardiri continued: . stake our reputations and our consciences now and in the years to come." The archbishop said that the sanctity and dignity of life are too often violated nationally by racism, unemployment, poverty, inadequate health care, bad' WASHINGTON (NC) - The housing and inadequate school- U. S. Catholic bishops at their ing, by discriminatory laws and fall meeting here did not con-, attitudes which isolate the eld- sider allowing Communion in erly. the hand as a means of restrictInternationally speaking, he ing the spread of swine flu. pointed out that living on a The administrative committee small planet with finite re- of the National Conference of sources, "brings with it interde- Catholic Bishops (NCCB) dependence and the challenge of cided not to place the issue on sharing our goods with other na- the agenda of the conference's tlons. . \ general meeting. A Boston couple, New Beginnings Mr. and Mrs. John Brennan, Archbishop Bernardin spoke backed by a Harvard University of new beginnings in both the professor of medicine had Church and in the nation. In the brought the matter before the Church, he cited the Interna- NceB Committee on the Liturgy tional Eucharistic Congress and and it was referred to the adthe Bicentennial "Call to Action" ministrative committee, where it was noted that, unde.r Church Conference. Referring to the national po- law, each bishop has the power litical elections, the prelate said: to 'take whatever action might "We look now to the future for be necessary in his diocese to fulfillment of promises, the limit the spread of disease, incharting of new directions and cluding temporary Communion the 'execution of such mandates in the hand. Twice before, the NCCB has as have been bestowed." rejected Communion in the hand The NCCB president noted as a general practice. Under that America's newly elected present Church law, two-thirds leaders face a task similar to of a nation's bishops must 'rethe bishops' consideration of ways to improve their efforts quest Vatican permission .to institute the practice in their through' conference structure. countries. The bishops of about 50 countries have asked for and been. given such permission. In such countries, communi· cants wishing to receive Communion on the tongue can con, tinue to do so. The list of countries where the practice is permitted includes most of continental Europe. English-speaking nations where Vol. 20, No. 46, Nov. 11, 1976 communion may be distributed in the hand are England, ScotPrice 15t $5.00 per year Tum to Page Three
Need No Ruling On Host in Hand Say Bishops
YOU'RE HELPING HER: Nurse examines little girl at Black Belt Community Health Center, Epes, Ala., among projects partially funded by Campaign for Human Development (CHD). Annual CHD collection for natio~aI, diocesan projects will be taken up in diocese weekend of Nov. 20-21, at which time Thanksgiving Clothing Drive will ,also begin.
d;TbeiZ Thought of Others ANCHOR Precedes Holidays
Thought of others will precede thoughts of self and family this holiday season as diocesan Catholics participate in the annual Campaign for Human Development (CHD) and Thanksgiving Clothing Drive before turning their attention to their own festive preparations. The annual Campaign for Human Development collection, funding a wide array of national and diocesan anti-poverty projects, will be taken up in all "churches of the diocese on the weekend of Nov. 20 and 21. 'Beginning at the same time and continuing for a week will be the annual Thanksgiving ,Clothing Drive, sponsored by
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and having as its theme this year, "Blanket the World with Love." Turn to Page Three
Bless'ed Virgin Paid Tribute As US Patroness WASHINGTON (NC) - More than 250 bishops from around the ,country closed the bicentennial year yesterday with a Mass rededicating the U'nited States to Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Turn to Page Three
"The shock waves are still reverberating. All that is past his· tory but history from which we can learn an important lesson." One lesson, he said, is that "Neither we nor the many Americans who oppose abortion and desire the remedy of a con· stitutional amendment can expect universal approbation for our efforts. "On the contrary, no, matter how hard we try to make our position clear, how often we emphasize our concern for the broad spectrum of human life Tum to Page Five
Pope, Prelate Congratulate Jimmy Carter Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin, president of the National Council of Catholic ,Bishops, have sent messages of congratulation to Presidentelect Jimmy Carter. The papal telegram was addressed to "The Honorable James E. Carter," the president· elect's formal name. But Carter staffers during the campaign made a special point to change "James Earl Carter" to "Jimmy Carter" on ballots in several states. This is the text of the message, signed personally by the Pope instead of his secretary of state: The Honorable James E. Carter President-elect of the United States of America Plains, Georgia On the occasion of your election to the high office of president of the United States we are happy to send you our cor· dial felicitations. We ask the Lord to endow you with the wis· dom and fortitude that will enable you to le'ad the beloved American' people in the way of authentic progress, true peace and fraternal concern, with liberty and justice for all. Upon you personally and your family we Turn to Page Three
True Liturgy Reform
Now, Only Few Look Forward to Mass But Soon • • • MEMPHIS, Tenn. (NC)-Qnly about 20 percent of churchgoing' Catholics look forward to the liturgy today, a Jesuit liturgist said here. But within 20 years, "between 50 and 60 percent of those attending Mass will find it an adventure which they will anticipate and enjoy," said Jesuit
Father John Gallen, executive director of the Murphy Center .for Liturgical Research at Notre Dame University. Even though 80 percent of the church-goers today might not be "excited" about attending Mass, this does not mean they are at· tending only to fulfill the Sunday obligation, Father Gallen
said in an interview with Common Sense, Memphis diocesan newspaper. "To say they are in the pew only out of Church obligation is too facile a use of words," Father Gallen said. "Before Vatican Council 44 and today, the Mass was and is a genuine faith Tum to Page Three
·---_In This I s s u e - - - - - - - - - - -
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Letters Do Count
What Church Really Needs
New Rite Of Penance
What Abollt Jeane Dixon?
Unbeaten Eleven
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Pages 8-9
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