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VOL. 47, NO.46 • Friday, December 5,2003
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Massachusetts bishops respond to same-sex marriage issue Editor's note: The following statement, issued jointly by the four Catholic bishops in Massachusetts, was requested to he read at all Masses last weekend, in all parishes in the Commonwealth. The recent ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court which radically redefines marriage is a national tragedy. By their action the justices who have decreed this have set the stage to
erode even further the institution of marriage as a human reality which the state should protect and strengthen for the good of society. We hope that all citizens will come to recognize what is at stake and work to ensure that marriage as the fundamental institution of society will be safeguarded. The misguided decision has also served to promote divisions in society by villainizing as bigotry
the legitimate defense of thousands of years of tradition. It is not the intention of the Catholic community to infringe on the civil rights of homosexuals or anyone else. Our opposition to a redefinition of marriage is to safeguard the institution of marriage for future generations. Marriage is a gift of God which in its natural order allows for the growth of the human family and society. It is not just one life-style
choice among many. The generations to come are the ones whose rights are being violated by the court. Changing the definition of marriage in the long run will seriously harm family life. The deleterious effects of the court's ruling are compounded by the directive to implement its decision in 180 days. This time frame is a sure formula for chaos. It denies the citizens of Massachusetts any real opportunity to respond re-
sponsibly. Every effort must be made to extend the stay beyond the 180 days mandated by the court. Ultimately, we advocate a constitutional amendment that reaffirms marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Thirty-seven states have already enacted legislation to protect the definition of marriage. We ask everyone to contact the governor Thm to page 13 - Letter
Diocese's senJinarians prepareprayer book to nJark centennial ~.
RETIRED MEMBERS of religious communities living in the Fall River diocese benefit greatly from the support received from the laity. These Sisters of Good Shepherd live at Cranberry Pointe in Harwich. From left: Sisters Helen (104 years old), Imelda, Catherine, Rita, and Lena. (Photo by Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan)
Appeal for Retired Religious slated for December 13-14 By
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - Catholics in the Fall River diocese are being asked to collaborate with God in a special way on the weekend of December 13 -14 in fulfilling the hopes of 52,000 retired religious nationwide. Even as the Advent Scripture readings that weekend prompt us to believe that what God has promised will occur, the annual Appeal for Retired Religious to be taken up in area parishes is an opportunity to say "Thank You" to the religious priests, Sisters and Brothers who have been beacons of hope in our lives, in our Church, and in our world, says Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan, diocesan episcopal representative for religious. "Over the past 14 years, parishes in our diocese have given without stint to assist religious congregations of men and women to care for their elderly and retired members, and for this I express my personal gratitude to you and your parishio-
ners," she wrote in a letter to pastors. She reported that the diocese contributed $137,000 last year, bringing the total contribution for the 14 years of the Appeal to $2.2 million. "For that and for your support you can be assured that 52,000 retired religious will remember you in prayer," she added. The Appeal, conducted nationally, is a bright light to thousands of religious still impacted when unfunded retirement reached a crisis stage in the 1980s. As projected by auditors, that unfunded liability for religious throughout the United States, remains in the billions of dollars. Health care costs continue to increase, as does the number of fragile religious past age 70. According to the National Religious Retirement Office, sponsor for the Retirement Fund for Religious, donations declined 14 percent in. 2002. The theme of this year's campaign is "Let nun to page 12 - Religious
Sales of the daily reader "100 Days of Prayer" will help fund their pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi.
FALL RIVER - Seminarians of the Fall River diocese have written a timely booklet of inspiring reflections that hopefully will link people in common prayer during the diocese's upcoming centennial celebrations. And as they demonstrate that they are men of prayer, they are also honing entrepreneurial tal-
ents that will come in handy when they become priests and pastors. The seminarians hope that proceeds from sale of the booklets will assist them to join in a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in April 2004, led by Bishop George W. Coleman. In order to invite parishioners throughout the diocese to join in prayer to prepare for the centennial, the seminarians have put together "100 Days of Prayer," which begin tomorrow - December 6, and continues through March 14, 2004. Thrn to page 10 - Book