. Text of Bishops!· Stafeme·nt
The ANCHOR An Anchor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-Sf. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Nov. 25, 1971 PRICE 10d $4.00 per yea, Vol. 15, No. 47 © 1971 1'he Anchor
Bishops Show Speed Mixed with Caution WASHINGTON (NC) - The Catholic bishops of the United States elected new leadership and struck a note of political, fiscal and ecclesiastical caution during their five-day fall meeting here. Cardinal John Krol and Archbishop Leo Byrne, the newly elected president and vice-president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, both left nO doubts in their comments during the meeting that they are firmly committed to the principles of Church reform introduced by the Second VaticlUl Council. But the prevailing mood of the
Liturgical Decisions WASHINGTON (NC)-In discussing liturgical matters at their .Fall meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishops voted: -To require an obligatory memorial (class III) in Masses on the feast days of several priests and beati associated with the United States: Blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton (Jan. 4), Blessed John Neumann (Jan. 5) St. Peter Turn to Page Fifteen
u.s. MustGuarantee Rights on Religion /'
WASHINGTON (NC) - The United states Catholic Bishops, in the Fall meeting here, faced the problem of parochial school existence in the country. The bishops insist that the Constitutional right of. parents to educate their .·children in nonpublic schools has been neglected in recent Supreme Court decisions and that such a right could· easily become an illusion if it results in state monopoly in education or makes private school education the privilege of the wealthy only. . The text of The Statement on Parental Rights and the Free Exercise of Religion follows: The COnstitution of the United States guarantees religious and political' liberty to every citizen. Precisely for this reason, we, the Catholic Bishops of the United States, feel' compelled to' speak to our fellow citizens about cer· tain implications of the recent United States Supreme Court decision relating to government assistance for teachers' salaries in parochial schools. Our purpose is not to discuss the particular programs upon which the court ruled, nor .indeed the related tax and educational cris~s. affecting.
250 or so prelates at the meeting was one of prudence-not standing still; but testing the ground carefully before taking a new step. This caution was shown, for example, in their decision-after six straight years of deficit financing-to cut back; programs to fit revenues when they make their next budget. No disapproval of the dynamic new programs of the bishops' natiomil agencies was implied in the decisioJ), merely a reluctance to make heavy financial commitments in an uncertain economy. The bishops V!er.e. p:l,lrlent in their liturgical' decisions. They .did not reject in principal the idea that special' groups need Masses unlike the regular largecongregation Sunday Mass.. But they withheld their appi'oval of the practice until the experts come up with Mass texts they can accept. . In their relations with the government, the' bishops were not timid. They called for a t~ credit plan to aid parents of par· ochial school children and they urged a swift end of the' war in Vietnam.. But here, too, they avoided. extreme measures. A' passage', calling for unilateral. cease-fire " was dropped from their Vietnam. . Turn to.Page Fifte·en.··.· .
the citizens of many. ,states. obligation in justice to make Rather we address ourselves to those. accommodations necessary.. features of the decisio~ which, to secure p;arental rights in eduleft unchecked, would affect cation. In order to exercise this basic freedoms of all. right today, parents need and are These freedoms relate' to pa- entitled to a measure of economrental rights, the free exercise .of ic help-a share of the tax dolreligion, and the liberty of every lars they p:ay. citizen to speak, assemble,petiGovernment should not tip the tion and vote on matters affect- economic scales so heavily in ·ing the public role of religion in favor of the public schools that American life. parents can exercise their right The fundamental right of par- to choose nonpublic schools only · ents to 'educate their children in with severe personal sacrifice. nonpublic schools is guaranteed We are hopeful' and confident by our Constitution and. recog- that the Congress and the states nized a half century ago in the will promptly enact legislation in Pierce case, wherein the SuTurn to Page Two preme Court said: "The child is not the mere creature of the State." But today the highest court of the land-dealing with Ii case intimately related to parents·makes' no explicit mention of that right. Instead, by its deci- Olrl La Salette, Attleboro, will sion this well recognized right could become an illusion if it launch its annual Christmas ob·:results ina state educational servance and lighting 'display on monopoly in which parental Sunday, Nov. 28, the first Sunrights-if acknowledged at all- day of Advent. A 4:15 P.M. prayer service at will be enjoyed only by the wealthy, by those who can bear the main display-the mangerboth the burden of school taxes will start the five-week observ.and of the separate added cost ance which wili emphasize the of nonpublic schooling. . real value of the ;Birth of Christ. Parental Rights . The seasoll will end on Sunday, Today the effects of taxation, Jan. 2; '19'72.., . inflation and rising governmenMore than 50,000 Christmas tal cost make' it increasingly lights will be turned on followimpossible for parents to. exei'- ing Sunday's service. Theme for cise their constitutional freedoms' 1971 is "A Star in Our Darkin education without enabling ness." assistance. Approximately half a million Turlll to Page Three Government plainly has an
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Catholic U niv~rsity Collection
November 27-28
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Clothing O'rive for Poor fakes Place Next Week The 24th Annual Thanksgiving ,sulate oneself from the world's Clothing Drive will take place problems. While there is a realisthroughout the Diocese of Fall tic understanding .that the River the week of November 28. United States' cannot go on inSince that first drive Americans definitely carrying the lion's' have donated a total of more share. of the cost, of the underthan 200,000 tons of usab~e privileged of· the world, it is clothing, blankets and bedding equally true that as Americans ·for distribution. overseas to the rejoicing in a high standard of needy of every creed and race. living ~nd as followers of Jesus This year the emphasis is on Christ, U. S. Catholics cannot both light and heavy clothing turn their backs on neighbors in and infants' wear of all kinds. need. Only new shoes will be collected Those who have a goodly meathis year since it has become sure of this world's possessions .economically prohibitive to sort have a moral responsibility to' .and process old shoes. share with those who have little There is particular need of the Clothing Drive this year since or nothing. there appears to be in the nation The donation of usable cloth. a gro~ing feeling of isolation- ing is .a. relatively pai?less way .
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