'The times, they
are a-changing'
United States more than he was By Liz Armstrong in the past," said William NC News Service Sockey, executive director of "The times, they are a-chang ing" in the church in the United Catholics United for the Faith. If the pontiff is displeased by any States. The major U.S. Sees of New thing in America, "this would be a way to begin to influence York and Boston await new arch bishops. Within five years, 23 things," he said. Salvatorian Father Keith Bren Ordinaries (out of 175 Sees) nan, adminstrative' assistant for are scheduled to retire. The New York and Boston . Jhe Conference of Major Superi appointments "are going to be ors of Men, noted that likely very critical ones," said Father candidates for New York and Robert Johnson, president of the Boston, and other cities, include National Federation of Priests' many men named to the episco pacy under the tenure of Arch Councils. They will "have a pro found 'impact on the church in bishop Jean Jadot as apostolic delegate in the United States. this country," he said. Archbishop Jadot "chose a lot of James Robert Henderson, ex ecutive director of the National very good men. It will be inter Office for Black Catholics, esting to see whether he (Pope John Paul) is putting his stamp agreed. "If the cardinals appoint of approval on that group of ed are statesmen, visionaries, broad-minded and sensitive to the men or whether he isn't," the CMSM official said. He suggested nee<ls of the worshipping com munity . . . those appointments the pope may wish to start fresh will be very important ,to growth in order to build a personal ·loyalty. of the church in America." Various sources cited diverse Church historians, theologians and ,leaders of Religious and lay qualities they think an Ordinary groups said that the choices the should have: intelligence, open ness toward Vatican II reforms, pope makes will reveal his atti adherence to church teaching as tudes toward ,the church in Am erica. They agreed that the explicated in Vatican II docu ments, a spirit of collegiality, selections will help shape the Catholic Church of the United advocacy of the church's social States for years to come but justice principles, the ability to they also cited other phenomena, both praise and criticize as needed, and the courage to stand such as the increasing participa tion of laity in the church, a up for what the bishop believes vocations crisis and disputes' is right - even, some suggested, over ,the roles of Religious, as if htat sometimes means dis influencing the church in Ameri· agreeing with the Vatican. "The man must be unafraid,"
ca as it approaches the 21st said Msgr. John Tracy Ellis, pro
century. As of Nov. 18, no successors fessorial lectur~r in church his to the late Cardinals Terence tory at the Catholic University of America. "He must not trem Cooke of New York and Hum berto Medeiros of Boston had ble every time there is a decision from Rome that runs counter" been named. In addition, Spring field, 111., and Harrisburg, Pa., to the U.S. experience. He must also be "unafraid of change," the were anticipating bishops to re place the late Bishop Joseph A. historian said. "There are ultra McNicholas and Bishop Joseph conservative churchmen who are' T. Daley, respectively. The See seemingly frightened to death.of of of Dubuque, Iowa, whose it." Msgr. Ellis, like othea-s, sug Archbishop James Byrne retired, gested the U.S. bishops will have also was vacant. Other retirements also were to explain developments in the total U.S. church to church offi pending, including those of Car dinals Timothy Manning of.. Los cials at the Vatican, which he Angeles (in 1984) and John Krol thinks sometimes gets misleading of Philadelphia (in 1985), and information. "I've the impress Archbishops Peter L. Gerety of ion that certain Curia officials Newark (in 1987), William D. are listening too much to one Borders of Baltimore (in 1988) side - and that side is usually and Philip M. Hannan of New the far-right," he said. Msgr. Ellis and other sources Orleans (1988). What will that mean for said that the Vatican seems wor Catholicism in the United States? ried about the church in Ameri "The obvious thing is that ca. "There is an uneasiness about you're going to have that much new 1eadership coming up. It's certain trends in the American a new generation," said Father church," he said. "There's been Charles Curran; professor of a kind of steady criticism, no' moral theology at the Catholic doubt about it," and the pope himself seems to regard as unset University of America. "The holy father apparently is tling "certain things going on in turning his attention to the Turn to Page Eleven
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DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSI, CAPE & ISLANDS Vol. 27, No. 45
Fall River, Mass., Friday, November'18, 1983
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'Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.' Ps. 137:2
u.s.
to keep 6 holy days
WASHINGTON (NC) Ameri can Catholics will continue to have six holy days of o~ligation, the U.S. bishops decided at their annual meeting, which closed yesterday in Washington. Of all the issues discussed at the meeting, that of the number of holy days will have the most direct impact on Catholic life. The decision, arrived at on Wed nesday by written ballot, means that Catholics will continue to have a Mass obligation on Christ mas, Dec.- 25; Immaculate Con ception, Dec. 8; AU Saints Day, Nov. 1; Ascension Thursday (the sixth Thursday after Easter); the feast of Mary Mother of God,
Jan. 1; and the Assumption, Aug. 15. In other action during the four· day meeting "dialogue" emerged as a key term. In statements, actions and press conferences the bishops discussed and emphasized the im portance of dialogue with the Vatican, with Religious, with women, with Hispanics and with each other. The bishops also elected a new president and vice president, Bishop James W. Malone of Youngstown, Ohio, and Arch bishop John L. May of St. Louis, respectively. The president-elect, at a news' conference, again
stressed the need for dialogue and communication so that the bishops can better articulate church teachings, make the Gospel relevant to me and pro mote the bishops' pastoral teach ing on war and peace. The bishops' official five-year visits to the Vatican and com· munication with Rome - in part· to correct misunderstandings of the U.S. church - grabbed im mediate attention as the annual meeting opened!. Pope John Paul II's personal representative to the U.S. bish ops, Archbishop Pio Laghi, re minded the bishops that the pon Tum to Page Seven
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