t eanc 0 VOL. 33, NO. 49
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Friday, December 15, 1989
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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eNS photo
Winter wonderlands such as this are at risk, warns Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II warns of ecological disaster VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Des- press conference at which the doc- "we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due truction of the environment and ument was released. "the plundering of natural resourThe "ecological crisis" facing attention both to the consequences of such interference in other ces" threaten hopes for world peace, the world today is a call to all peopie to ensure that creation be proareas and to the well-being of said Pope John Paul II. Lack of respect for nature "is a tected and preserved for future future generations." seedbed for collective selfishness, generations, the pope said. For Christians, the pope said, The pope spoke about depletion disregard for others and dishonesty," the pope said in his annual "responsibility within creation and of the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the sun's harmful message for the World Day of their duty toward nature and the creator are an essential part of rays, and about the resulting Peace, celebrated Jan. l. Th~ message w~s the first papal their faith." "greenhouse effect" of gradual document dedicated exclusivelyto ~ ", '''TheecologicaJ- crisi,s is a moral ,warming. . " , ' " The greerihollseefiect "has now ecology, said Cardinal Roger Etch- issue,"h'e said.' " ,'", ~, The "indiscriminate application reached crisis·l'Topt>rti-enr..,as: a_. egaray, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The of advances in sCience and techconsequence of industrial growth, cardinal spoke at a Dec. 5 Vatican nology," he said, have shown that massive urban concentrations and
vastly increased energy needs," he said. "Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and environment," he said. "The Judeo-Christian beliefthat God created the earth for the benefit of all people requires an end to any selfish uses of its natural resources. "It is manifestly unjust that a privrleged few should continue to accumulare' excess goods.,sqUand'-' ering available resources, while
masses of people are living in conditions of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence," the pope said. The social structures that create and maintain abject poverty often lead to abuse of the environment, he said. "Rural poverty and unjust land distribution in many countries, for example, have led to subsistence farming and to the exhaustion of the soil," the pope said. "Once . their land yields no more, many farmers move on to clear new land, thus acc~lerating deforestation.'.' ... . .'" Tum to Page Six
Protesters disrupt NYC Mass, mar LA churches morning Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral Dec. 10 while a thouProtesters against Catholic sand or more protested outside. stands 'on the right use of human A smaller number, also outside, sexuality demonstrated on both demonstrated in support of the coasts this month, disrupting a cardinal and against "militant antiMass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Catholic bigotry-and suppression." New York City, last Sunday and Police kept the two groups sepavandalizing four Los Angeles rated. churches earlier in the month. As police began arresting and In New York, dozens of people' carrying out people standing and protesting the views of Cardinal shouting or lying down in the John J. O'Connor on homosexu- aisles, Cardinal O'Connor stopped ality and abortion tried to shout his homily and had the congregahim down' during his Sunday tion stand to join in tqe Lord's
By Catholic News Service
abling the cathedral and the police observer, after receiving a host, a Prayer and recitation of the rosary. young man broke it, threw it on . He then proceeded with the Eu- to be prepared. charist, despite continued shouting. Uniformed police surrounded , the floor and stepped on it. Another A police spokesman later said the cathedral, and dozens of ushers priest picked it up and took it 43 arrests were~ made in the cat he- and plainclothes officers watched away as the young man walked off inside. More clergy than usual without further incident. dral and 68 people who sought to Mayor Edward Koch, who has block the street were also arrested. ' , were in the sanctuary, and some The demonstration was spon- front pews were occupied by arch- had legal as well as philosophical sored by the AIDS Coalition to diocesan staff and others in case of battles with Cardinal O'Connor over homosexual rights, sat in a Unleash Powl:r and the Women's need to guard the altar area. Health Actio.n Mobilization, which Reception of communion pro- front pew during the Mass in a defends reproductive freedom and ceeded with only minor variations show of'support for the cardinal quality health care for all women. from standard procedure, but there and joined him afterward in talkPlans for the cathedral action was a report of at least one dese- ing with reporters. had been widely publicized, en- cration of a host. According to an Turn to Page Six
AT MARIAN MEDALS award ceremony held last Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin presents the medal to, from left, Kenneth Leger, Sacred Heart parish; Fall River; Mrs. Joseph Costa, Espirito Santo parish, Fall River, mother of Father Joseph Costa, administrator of St.
Vincent's Home; Fall River; John Sullivan, St. Bernard parish, Assonet, father of Father Paul Sullivan, SJ, of the faculty of Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River. The medals recognize outstanding service to one's parish. (Gaudette photos)