The ANCHOR
Did Bishops Change Medical. Ethics?
WASHINGTON (NC) '- AlIt also stated plans to request similar committees to consult though modern surgery was per- a regular meeting with the with local bishops. formed on the new "Ethical and United States Catholic ConferThe 1971 directives give local Religious Directives for Catholic ence committee on health affairs prelates final authority to interHealth Facilities," some critics and urged local guilds to form pret the dirE~ctives in their own geographical area, a fact that charge that the patient still lookt\ the same as it did 16 years ago. has turned into a sore point. To compound the situation further, That was in 1955, when the An Anchor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-St. Paul American Catholic health faciliCatholic Hospital Association ties are" now confronted with published the original document. more restrictive directives than it was revised and approved by those issued in neighboring CanFall River, Mass., Thurs., December 2, 1971 the nation's bishops when they ada just last. year. PRICE 10~ met here this November. Although few Catholic health Vol. 15, No. 48 © 1971 The' Anchor $4.00 per yea, Some theologians now argue officials will say so, the so-called that while the bishops' attempt direl:tives contain little "new" to remove some of the wrinkles new. The CHA credits them for from the directives is commendgiving Catholic health facilitiesable, it fen short of a' much ,hospitals, nursing homes and needed total face-lift. extended care institutions - "a Some Catholic physicsians, as new sense of direction." well, have expressed displeasure The directives sustain tradiWell known and loved by the over some of the 43 points in the Rev. Dennis Spykers, a Relitional Catholic prohibitions gious of the Sacred Hearts Con- elderly at the Catholic Memorial new directives. In a resolution against abo:rtion, contraceptions, gregation for' 66 years and a Home, Father Dennis was waked passed unanimously at its Nov. sterilization and masturbationpriest for 58' years died on at the home until Sunday after- 27-28 meeting in New Orleans, even for purposes of artificial Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, at noon. A Mass was offered there the National Federation of Physiinsemination. They take into acand he was then brought to the cians' Guilds applauded the bishthe age of 89. count ' organ transplants, disCongregation's Church of St. ops for issuing the new direcagreements about when a perJoseph in Fairhaven, where the tives. But the doctors also recogson can be considered dead, and funeral was celebrated Monday, nized dissenting opinions in, their' a patient's Iright to know if he is Nov. 29. own ranks. involved in a medical experiBorn in Tillburg, Holland, son The federation, representing NAMED: Bishop Cronin ment. Genetics, the biology of of the late Frederick and the more than 6,000 physicians from has named Rev.' Msgr. Ro- heredity, is not mentioned. late Josephina (Winkel) Spykers, 36 states and Canada, resoived "I recognize that this code Father Spykers entered 'the to establish a permament com- bert L. Stanton, pastor of St. does not solve the needs of the ,Patrick's Parish, Wareham Order of 'the Sacred ·Hearts in mittee of its own to "study and times, but it remains an impor'Couttrai, Holland in 1905. review medical 'ethical problems ,. as Diocesan Coordinator for tant document," Msgr. Harold PoMedical Ethics. on a continuing basis." T~rn to. Page Two Murray, dir~or of health affairs Tum to Page Six
Rev. Dennis' 5pykers~ 55.Ce. Was Model of Obedience
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Bedford .Parish;' inllfiJ'ny, ·:.Cap·acitiesforOver ·Fifty Years
BY ELLEN ANDREW .
Rev. Dennis Spykers Confined to the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River for the past four years due to illness, ,his pastoral ministry' left him without the possibility of making office calls, visiting parishioners or even offering Mass. On the day he entered the diocesan home, he could neither see, talk or walk. The Carmelite Sisters cared for the priest and he was able to concelebrate Mass and becoll,le the "pastor" ., of the second floor. The priest was praised as a picture of obedience to the Will of God. His devotion to the Rosary inade him the Father Peyton of the Sacred Hearts Congre' gation.
Silver Jubilee For Holy Union Sisters Sunday Sisters of Sacred Heart Province of the Holy Union commu. nity will mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of their province in the Boston Archdiocese at 3 Sunday afternoon in Notre Dame Church, Cambridge. Most Rev. Thomas J. Riley, BosTurn to Page' Six
Joseph RoderiCks .of M5 Purchase Street, New Bedford is to be envied. He has an 'unquenchable .love of God and chllrch, is . at peace with the world around 'him and does every day what 'he likes to do most, serve his church. That would .be Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 6th and Cherry Streets in New Bed-, ford. Joe is 83, and has served as an altar boy and' sexton at OLOA for 55 years or since he came to this country in 1916 from Santa Catherina on the Isle Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands. He has been an .integral part of Our. Lady of the Assumption parish since the days it was a little church on South Water Street, in the shadow of, ,the Gas Company tanks in the c,ity's South End. The present edifice was ded.icated Sept. 1, 1957 by Most Rev. James L. Connolly, D.D., formerly bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. "Joseph Rodericks is one of the most faithful Catholic men I have ever met," says Rev. Ambrose .R. Forgit, SS.CC" a,dministrator of Our Lady of the Assumption Church. "I've never known him to miss a day at church. He is an exceptional man. He is never late and is just faithful to his job as sexton. "Mr. Rodericks is really dedicated, has a ready smile and a very pleasant personality. He'll always greet you with a 'Good
Pope' Commends Asceticism Of )Lldo VATICAN CITY (NC)-Pope Paul is studying judo. Well, not exactly, but he did take time to study the arduous regimen .de~ahded of judo en· thusiasts . and commended the sport for its "almost ascetic rule of life and study.'" Judo comes from the Japanese words meaning "soft art." The Pope singled out some 25 instructor;s and students of the National Academy of Judo who attended the .general audience Nov. 24. The Italian group, clad in blue monogrammed blazers, rose as a unit as the Pope told them: "We have read your regimen and your programs. We detect an impression of seriousness, we could say of almost ascetic rule of life arid study, to attain this human,goal which is both scientific and athletic." The Pope described the young athletes flS persons "dedicated to Turn to Page Six
JOSEPH RODEJUCKS morning,' and leave you with a, 'See you tomorrow, God willing.' "Joseph has gone through Ii very difficult stage what with all the changes in the Church today. Yet, he has adjusted beautifully to the changes. He has a simple faith in God and Church, is truly an exceptional man and a, fine example for those around him:;'
Mr. Roderick has been at OLOA through· the pastorates of Rev. Egbert Steenbeck, SS.CC.; Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, 5S.CC.; Bouhuysen, Rev. ,Thaddeus SS.CC..; Rev. John F. Godelar, SS.CC. Also, Rev. Edmund G, Francis, SS.CC., and Rev. Raphael A. Flammia. Turn to Page Six
Clothing Drive Usab1le clothing is ,being collected by all the parishes in the Diocese during this week for further distribution to ravaged or disadvantaged areas throughout the world. The packaged clothing will be gathered from the parish centers beginning Monday, December 6.