The ANCHOR An Anchor of the Soul. Sure and FIrm-Sf. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Nov. 30, 1972 PRICE 10¢ Vol. 16, No. 48 © 1972 The Anchor $4.00 plr ylar
Citizens Group Hits Religion Guidelines BOSTON (NC) - The Massa- Massachusetts as evidence that chusetts Citizens for Public "85 per cent of the MassachuPrayer (CPP) has challenged setts electorate" feel they have guidelines for religion in public the right to have prayers in pubschools that were issued by the lic schools. Massachusetts Board of Educa- . The group accused the board tion here. of education of having "com"Religion belongs in our pletely overlooked the heart C1f schools." the CPP said. accusing the matter" in its guidelines, the board of education .of deny- which the CPP declared is "freeing Massachusetts citizens their dom of religion," not freedom right to freedom of religion. of "teachng about religion." The guidelines. generally de"Religion is essentially an afscribed by observers as "neufective experience." .the CPP tral." are only advisory and do claimed. "Religion is not which not have the force of law. They Pope ruled when and how, who suggest that public schools not . . celebrate religious holidays, but teaches what dogma where. and who painted which Madonna." they suggest that religion can be "Once we have firmly reintaught as history, as arts, as a stated freedom or' religion in the study of comparative beliefs. ~ Although there is no mention public classroom, then and not of public prayer in public Tum to Page Two schools in the guidelinE:s.the CPP cited a November referendum on public school prayer in
Challenges Universities To Prove TheirWorth VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope Paul VI has challenged Catholic Universities to prove that fidelity to God's word and to a Godcentered value system never weakens i n tell i g e nee but strengthens it. "That seems to be the specific witness expected of a Catholic univer..;:~y." the Pope told participants at the second Congress of Catholic University Delegates on Nov. 27.
Advent
The work of the congress. which opened Nov. 20. was scheduled to continue until the end of the month. The Pope noted that mass media have impregnated public opinion with "questions or stands on the basic problems of existence." Here. he said, is where the Catholic university comes in. "At this juncture, you have embarked with men on this passionate pursuit, from which the faith cannot dispense you." _The Pope listed what the world, the people of God, and the bishops need from the Catholic university. . "The world needs to experi, ence a real freedom of. spirit throughout. "The people of God need to find in you witnesses of the faith it professes, and well-in-
formed guides on the road of life. · "The pastors expect your aid ip fulfilling their charge, as it devolves on them to guarantee tbe authenticity of the revealed ,message." i The Pope referred to a "preparatory study" prepared by the universities and by successive committees since the first congress, held four years ago in the African nation of Zaire (the former Belgium Congo). · Without quoting the study, he referred to a section describing ~he essential notes defining a true Catholic university. · "Fidelity to Christ's message as it is transmitted by the Church constitutes the very rea· son for (the Catholic university's) continual effort of study," Pope Paul asserted.
Presidential Commendation For Rev. John R. Foister
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President Richard Nixon has "The White House Washington sent a citation to Rev. John R. November 17, 1972 Foister, assistant pastor of Notre Dear Father Foister, Dame Parish in Fall River and Recently I read a news acchaplain to the Fall River Fire count of your successful efforts Deparmtent. The presidential commenda- ;in persuading a young man to ' tion, also sent to Firefighter Wile ·come down off a bridge after he liam Tavares of Fall River's Res- tht'eatened to jump. Your comcue I, praises the action of priest :passion and cOllcern for this and fit'efighter in an August res- young man undoubtedly percue of an attempted suicide from I suaded him to change his mind and prevented a tragedy. . the Braga Bridge. The letter to Father FoIster · You are to be commended, along with WilHam Tavares, for reads: •the part you played in this dramatic rescue, and I want you to know of my admration for your outstanding humanitarian , concern and your willingness to , be of assistance in an emergency situation. With all good wishes, Sincerely. Richard Nixon." The rescue mentioned, one ot six in which th<e priest was part I in the past five years. was extensively reported in The Anchor in August. On that occason the priest had clmbed to 230 feet over the Taunton River, 100 feet over the roadbed to bring his ministry to the distraUght youth. I
Priest Writes Bill of Rights For Reta rded LOS ANGELES (NC)-A priest who works with "persons with mental retardation" has issued a "bill of rights" affirming their dignity and value as persons. Father Michael Gilsenan. associate director of the Los Angeles . archdiocesan Department of Special Service to the Handicapped. does not speak of "the mentally· retarded" -but of "persons with mental retardation"-with the emphasis on "persons"--in his bill of rights. He speak~ not only from current day-to-day concern for persons with retardation. but also against the lurking threat Tum to Page Three
....................... Clothing Drive Ends Saturday The traditional Thanksgiving Clothing Drive held in all the pari~hes of the Diocese this week. will end the parish -phase on Saturday. On Monday· morning truckers will begin to pick up all packaged clothing from the parishes to send them on to shipping centers. • • • • • • • • « ••••••••••••••
Deplore Episode On Television A California bishop and the , head of the Knights of Columbus have deplored a two-part episode of the CBS-TV program "Maude" that dealt with abortion and va· . sectomy. Bishop Hugh A. Donohoe ot Fresno, Calif., in a letter to Co- .. lumbia Broadcasting System President Frank Stanton, said the , episode "was a very brazen treatment of abortion and vasectomy;' and "openly downgraded the be· lief that there is a moral value in matters ot this kind." John W. McDevitt, ~upreme NEW BEDFORD PARISH CENTENARY: Principals at the lOOth anniversary banquet: knight of the Catholic taternal of St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford, held on Sunday night were: Most Rev.: .organization, said in a letter to Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of the Diocese, who addressed the gathering; Frankl CBS that the episode sbowed a Martin, chairman; Dr. Joao M. H. Themido, Portuguese Ambassador to the United States ,I "shocking irresponsibility" on the who also spoke; Rev. Manuel P. Ferreira, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bed-; part of the comedy show's auTum to Page Three ford.