Diocesan Communications directorresponds to Fall River editorialrapping Church - Page seven

Holiday shopping canhave a Pro-Life punch

lights display. They decided to go lastweekend, along withTodd and Katie'sdaughter, Maggie, a year and fivemonths old.

They were a little nervous uponapproaching the dark shrine shortlybefore 5.

'~s we were pulling in all ofa sud­den they turned the lights on. It wasvery cool," said Katie Frias, who alongwith Todd and Maggie lives in Som­erset. "It was like, 'Hit the lights, we'rehere.'"'~d they did," said her mother­

in-law,Ann Frias, who along with Billlives in Swansea.

Todd Frias of Somerset said the

Turn to page 20 - Lights

i"It was on the feast of the Immaculate Con­ception that used to be celebrated on December9, that Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of theAmericas and the unborn, first appeared" to na­tiJe Aztec convert, and now St. Juan Diego, atTepeyac in 1531. "The National Night of Prayerfor Life bridges the two feasts of Our Lady onwhich we traditionally pray that respect for lifewill be restored," Burke told The Anchor.

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is cel­ebrated December 12 in the universal Church.

Burke said that the prayer night is the result ofa grass roots movement spearheaded by AnneMurphy on Long Island, N.Y., in 1982.

Turn to page 19 - Prayer

Chelsea, who was visiting with hiswife Aorence, their daughter, and theirdaughter's husband.

This is the 54th annual Christmaslights display at the La Salette Shrineat 947 Park Street in Attleboro. It runs5 to 9 p.m. from Thanksgiving nightthrough January 1.

This year's theme is "Love isBorn.'.' '

. The transfonnation of the shrineproperty on Route 118 in Attleboro astwilight recedes is startling, as mem­bers of the Frias Family learned Sat­urday.

It had been years since Todd Frias,his wife Katie, andTodd's parents Billand Ann had been to the Christmas

Cape parish to host Night of Prayer for LifeOn December 8 at midnigqt it will join thousands

of Americans in prayers for the unbornBy DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

OSTERVILLE - A dozen or more people willspend one of four hours in prayer and eucharisticadoration in Our Lady of the Assumption Churchin the early night hours on December 8, the feastof the Immaculate Conception.

And as midnight strikes, the designated "Hourof Unity" wiIllink thousands ofAmerican Catho­lics in all four time zones across the nation in anappeal to the Mother of God to restore the sanc­tity of life in the lives of people everywhere.

"There's much significance here," explainedLarry K. Burke of Marstons Mills, a parishioner ofOur Lady of the Assumption Parish and one of theplanners for the prayer sessions that begins at 9 p.m.

By MArT McDONALDANCHOR STAFF

ATTLEBORO - Thirty-five min­utes before showtime last Saturday, 11buses were parked in the overflow lotat the National Shrine ofOur Lady ofLaSalette in anticipation ofthe Christ­mas lights display there.

The pilgrims weren't disappointed,.as about 5 p.m. much of the expan­sive property lit up like, well, a Christ­mas tree.

That is, a Christmas tree with about400,000 lights.

''It's just plain beautiful, that's all.I just can't pick out one thing. Youreyes are all over the place. They do anarnazing job," said Sal Demetrio, of

Pilgrims trek from far and wide to seethe Way, the Truth - and the lights

o HOLY NIGHT - Visitors from all over New England and beyond travel to the National Shrine of OurLady of La Salette to witness the Festival of Lights every year. This year's theme is "Love is Born."Pictured are the lights surrounding the Rosary Walk and pond. (Photo by Matt McDonald)

businesses known to be big corpo­rate supporters of today's KingHerod - Planned Parenthood,which has killed about 4 millionunborn children in the U.S. alone.

"As Christians, we can't spendour money on purchases that even-

. tually end up taking life when Jesu~

Christ has given us eternal life,"noted Pro-Life activist JamesHartline of San Diego. "We believ­ers need to honor Jesus through theway we spen9 our money during theChristmas season."

Hartline has led a two-year na­tionwide boycott of poinsettiaplants because 70-80 percent of allAmerican poinsettias are grownfrom cuttings produced at the EckeRanch in California. Ecke familymembers are major Planned Parent­hood donors.

In a report published on theAmerican Life League Website,Hartline asks Christians to spreadthe word as their families and

Turn to page 18 - Pro-Life

By GAIL BESSE

ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT

BOSTON - This Advent, evenbusy shoppers can ~ffortlessly raisemoney to make more room at theinn for pregnant women who needhelp as they carry the gift of life.

With affinity and cause market­ing programs, consumers have newways to support ever-needy Pro­Life causes while shopping for pre­sents, food, and even wine.

At no extra cost to themselves,shoppers can make regular pur­chases with businesses that donatea portion of the items' price backto a participating charity.

For example, five percent of.Amazon.com purchases can go toa non-profit like MassachusettsCitizens for Life, which promoteseducation and legislation. Allthat's needed is to enter the Ama­zon site through a portal onmasscitizensforlife.org, the MCFLWebsite.

Similarly, shoppers can avoid

2 $ NEWS FROM THE VATICAN $ NOVEMBER 30,2007

By CAROL GLATZ

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

MEETING OF THE MINDS - Pope Benedict XVI meets with cardinals and bishops prior to a consistory. at the Vatican in this March 23, 2006, file photo. The pope is presiding over his second consistory,

inducting 23 new cardinals into the Church's most exclusive body. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Ro­mano via Reuters)

Vatican official: Abuse of normscontributed to Tridentine decision

veloped and changed over the centu­ries "we must recognize that the lit­urgy has a particular 'conservative'characteristic" because it is a part ofthe Church's heritage that must bepreserved. .

''This is a central aspect: We arecalled to be faithful to something thatdoes not belong to us, but is given tous," he said.

L'Osservatore also asked Arch­bishop Ranjith about liturgical mu­sic and art, saying they were otheraspects in "the debate about the lit­urgy."

Gregorian chant has a specialplace in the liturgy, he said, and itshould be used "to give praise to theLord."

Other forms of music also are ap­propriate,_ he said, if one is sure that''they are edifying for the faith, thatthey spiritually nourish those whoparticipate in the liturgy and truly dis­pose the hearts of the faithful to lis­ten to God's voice."

As for the visual arts, ArchbishopRanjith said the Church must findw~ys to enter into a deeper dialoguewith artists to encourage religious art,but also to ensure that pieces ofart inplaces of worship help people pray.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THEDIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

Vol. 51, No. 46Member: Catholic Press Ass<X:iauon, Catholic News Service

PUblished weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week afterChristmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, .Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675·7151 - FAX 508·675·7048, email:theanchor@anchomews.org.·Subscription price by mail, pos1paId $14.00 per year.Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address

PUBLISHER· Most Reverend George W. ColemanEXECUTIVE EDITOR Fa1herRogerJ. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchomews.orgEDITOR David B. Jollvet davelolivet@anchornews.orgNEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar Jimdunbar@anchornews.orgREPORTER Matt McDonald mattmcdonald@anchornews.orgREPORTER Brian Kennedy briankennedy@anchomews.orgOFACE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org

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Mass both belong to the Church andare a sign of continuity.

"Regarding the Tridentine Mass,over the years there was a growingrequest, which little by littl~ becamemore organized,!' he said.

"On the other side, fidelity to the. norms for the celebration of the sac­

raments continued to fall," he said.''The more this fidelity (and) a senseof the beauty and awe in the liturgydiminished, the more requests for theTridentine Mass increased."

"So, in fact, who really requestedthe Tridentine Mass? It was not justthese groups, but also those who hadlittle respect for the norms of a wor­thy celebration according to the'Novus Ordo,'" or new order, he said,referring to the post-Vatican II liturgy.

"For years the liturgy suffered toomany abuses and many bishops ig­nored them" despite the efforts ofPope John Paul II, ArchbishopRanjith said.

"So the problem was not requestsfor the Tridentine Mass as much asan unlimited abuse ofthe nobility anddignity ofthe eucharistic celebration,"he said.

Archbishop Ranjith said that al­though the Church's liturgy has de-r--"- -----_..._---

i • The Anchor

By CINDY WOODEN

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY-A lackofre­spect for the norms for celebrating theMass after the Second Vatican Coun­cil contributed to Pope BenedictXVI's decision to irant wider permis­sion for the celebration of theTridentine Mass, a Vatican officialsaid.

"There is a certain tendency tointerpret the post-conciliar liturgicalreform using 'creativity' as the rule,"said Archbishop Albert MalcolmRanjith Patabendige Don, secretaryof the Congregation for Divine Wor­ship and the Sacraments.

An interview with the archbishopwas published in the November 19­20 edition ofL'Osservatore I,?omano,the Vatican newspaper, after he hadgiven a speech and:an interview inwhich he criticized bishops andpriests who were putting restrictionson celebrations of the TridentineMass even after Pope Benedict au­thorized wider use of the rite in July.

In his decree, the pope said theTridentine Mass celebrated accord­ing to the 1962 Roman Missal shouldbe made available in every parishwhere groups of the faithful desire it.He also said the Mass from the Ro­man Missal in use since 1970 remainsthe ordinary form of the Mass, whilecelebration of the Tridentine Mass isthe extraordinary form.

L'Osservatore introduced the in­terview by saying, ''The debate overliturgy is as open and lively as ever."The paper askedArchbishop Ranjithif he thought it made sense that thepope's July document on theTridentine Mass "reignited the con­frontation between the so-called tra­ditionalists and so-called innovators."

"Absolutely not," the archbishop'replied, because the two rites for the

Pope praises, Vatican beatifies Italianwhose writings were long condemned

service of Christians."He said Blessed Rosmini's

VATICAN CITY - Pope message that reason and faithBenedict XVI praised the life and should be intertwined has "burn­example of a 19th.-century Ital- ing relevance" for today's worldian philosopher and religious-or- where there is "a steady eclipseder foundet whose writings had of God and his providence."been condemned by the Church The cardinal told 30 Giorni,until six years ago. an Italian magazine, he was

Blessed Antonio Rosmini was "truly happy" to see this "great,a great priest and an "illustrious bright, prophetic thinker" finallyman of culture~' who generously elevated to "the glory of the al­dedicated his life to harmonizing tars." .the relationship between reason In an interview published inand faith, the pope said just a few the magazine's September issue,hours before Cardinal Jose Cardinal SaraivaMartins said be­Saraiva Martins led the recent be- cause the 1887 condemnationatification cer- was issued post-emony in the hum 0 u slynorthern Italian "Rosmini wascity of Novara. not able to de-

In remarks fend himself"made shortly af- from proposi-ter his midday tions that wereAngelus prayer - in fact -in St. Peter's "pulled out ofSquare, the pope their contextasked that and thereforeB I e sse d ,interpreted arbi-Rosmini's ex- trarily."ample help the However, aChurch, "espe- cycle of investi-cially Italian gations, con-

ecclesial com- THE MIGHTY PEN _ Blessed demnations .and~unities, grow Antonio Rosmini is portrayed at commendat~onsIn the aw~reness a writing desk in this image re- ,from the VatIcan

_ that the lIght of leased by the Diocese of Novara, also occurredhuman reason Italy. (CNS photo/courtesy Dio- during Blessedand grace, when cese of Novara) Rosmini's life.they walk to- Twp of hisgether, become a source of bless- books - "The Five Wounds of

_ ing for the human person and for the Church" and "The Constitu-society." tion According to Social Justice"

Blessed Rqsmini, who lived - were placed on the Index of1797-1855, founded the Institute Forbidden Books in 1849.of Charity - also known as the But six years later a top-levelRosminian Fathers - and the Vatican review of all of his pub­Congregation of the Rosminian lished works led to a judgmentSisters of Providence. . by Pope Pius ,IX that they were

The road to his beatification free from heterodoxy.had been impeded by an 1887 While he was alive, BlessedVatican condemnation of 40 pro- Rosmini's attempts to find a wayposals selected from works writ- to bridge the gap between Catho­ten by the Italian priest. lic philosophy and secular phi-

But in 2001, the Vatican Con- losophy was seen as a dangerousgregation for the Doctrine of the concession to those who thoughtFaith, headed then by Cardinal reason alone could lead people toJoseph Ratzinger who is now truth and ultimate happiness.Pope Benedict, declared that the His popularity with the papalpositions condemned 114 years court was not enhanced by his be­ago did not accurately reflect lief that the unification of ItalyBlessed Rosmini's thinking or was inevitable and the Vaticanbeliefs. should loosen its temporal grip on

Historians said the proposi- the Papal States, supporting thetions were pulled out of the con- formation of a confederation oftext in which they were written. Italian states in order to safeguard

In his homily during the No- the independence of the papacy.vember 18 beatification Mass, Blessed Rosmini is seen byCardinal Saraiva Martins said el- many as having helped inspireevating the Italian philosopher to some of the reforms made dur­blessed "will certainly help re- ing the Second Vatican Council,store the friendship between rea- especially, Cardinal Saraiva Mar­son and faith, between religion, tins said, in the area of religiousethical behavior and the public freedom and human dignity.

NOVEMBER 30,2007 $ THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH , '

DISTURBING SCENE - Police, most of them females, stand in front of the cathedral in Mexico Cityin this file photo from April. Services at the cathedral were suspended by the Mexico City Archdioceseafter leftist protesters disrupted a November 19 Mass. (CNS photo/Reuters)

to request a meeting with Fernandezto congratulate her on her electionvictory, a strong sign of a potentialrapprochement.

Relations between the Church andthe government reached a crisis pointin 2005 when the head ofArgentina'smilitary diocese wrote a letter toHealth Minister Gines Gonzalez con­taining a quotation from the Gospelof Mark, Chapter.9, Verse 42: "Andif anyone causes one of these littleones who believe (in me) to sin, it

, would be better for him ifagreatmill­stone were put around his neck andhe were thrown into the sea."

Gonzalez had spoken out in favorofabortion in cases of rape. Abortionis illegal in Argentina except if thepregnancy was the result of the rapeof a mentally disabled women or ifthe woman's life is at risk.

Bishop Antonio Baseotto's com­ments at the time were received an­grily by Kirchner, who recalled theimage of bodies thrown from planesinto the sea during the 1970s' mili- ,tary dictatorship. He asked the Vati­can to replace Bishop Baseotto ashead of the military diocese.

The Vatican refused, butKirchner's government downgradedhis civilian rank.

Bishop Baseotto resigned with hereached the Church's retirement ageof75 this year. His replacement is oneof the pending issues Fernandez willface after she is sworn in next month.

Only the pope can choose his suc­cessor, but as president Fernanqezmust approve the choice under anagreement signed by the Vatican and·Argentina in 1957.

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Argentine president-elect expectedto mend relationship with ChurchBUENOS AIRES, Argentina

(CNS) - In a conciliatory gesturetowai-ct the Church, Argentine Presi­dent-elect Cristina Fernandez re­ceived the Vatican secretary of statealongside her husband, former Presi­dent Nestor Kirchner, in BuenosAires.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone metwith the presidential couple Novem­ber 14 at the end of his t:rlp to Argen­tina to preside over the Qrst beatifi­cation of an Argentine Mapuche In­dian, Ceferino Namundura, in thePatagonian community of Chimpay.

After the meeting; Cardinal. Bertone said he hoped Fernandez,

who was elected October 28 with 45percent of the votes, would be'ableto ''take the country out qfpurgatoryand elevate it to paradise."

Fernandez, who will be sworn inDecember 10for a four-year term, hassignaled she will attempt to mendgovernment-Church relations, whichdeteriorated dramatically during herhusband's administratiOl1.

A few days before being elected.Feinandez spoke outagainst abortion.

At the meeting with CardinalBertone, she also invited PopeBenedictXVI to visit in 2008 tomarkthe 30th anniversary ofthe resolutionofa territorial dispute between ChileandArgentina over the B~gle Chan-,nel on the most southern tip of the 'continent. The Vatican!' is creditedwith averting armed conflict betweenthe neighboring nations" by mediat-ing a resolution.' I,

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio ofBuenosAires, president oftheArgen­tine bishops' conference! is expected

Norberto Rivera Carrera of support­ing President Felipe Calderon duringthe 2006electioncampaign. Mexico's1917 Constitution bans clergy from,any intervention in politics.

Cardinal Rivera's vocal oppositionto Mexico City laws permittingabortion and gay civil unionsalso angers leftists.

Cardinal Rivera was inRome November 19 but hasvoiced full support for the sus­pension of Masses, FatherValdemar said.

In 1926, the CatholicChurch suspended Masses acrossMexico after assailants carried outbombings and killings in churchesand President Plutarco Elias Callesintroduced tough anti-clericallaws.

Some 90,000 people were killedin the ensuing Cristero warbefore thegovernment and Church reached anaccord in 1929.

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November 25, 2007Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovinat f"

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"Dear children! Today, when you celebrate Christ, the Kingof all that is created, I desire for Him to be the King of yourlives. Only through giving, little children, can you comprehendthe gift of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross for each of you. Littlechildren, give time to God that He may transform you and fillyou with His grace, so that you may be a grace for others. Foryou, little children, I am a gift of grace and love, which comesfrom God for this peaceless world. '

''Thank you for having responded to my call."

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Obrador's Democratic RevolutionParty, condemned the incident butcalled for an investigation into whythe church bells were sounding forsuch a long time.

"We deny responsibility for these

acts,"Acosta saidon Mexico'sW Ra­dio.

Lopez Obrador, who says he wantsto liftmillions ofMexicans outofpov­erty, has always described his move­ment as nonviolent and says he sup­ports demonstrations and civil resis­tance.

He accused Mexico City Cardinal

"The protesters came in threaten­ing andassaulting. Manyof the faith­ful were injured: old people, cryingchildren," Father Avila said. "Wecannot go on like this. "

By lOAN GRILLOCATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

Mexico cathedral suspends Massesafter protesters knock over pews

MEXICO CITY - Church offi-. ciaIs closed and locked Mexico City'sMetropolitan Cathedral and sus-,pended all services afterabout 150leftist protesters stormed intoa Sunday Mass shouting slo­gans and kicking over pews.

Father Hugo Valdemar,spokesman for the MexicoCity Archdiocese, said No­vember 19 that the cathedralwill not resume Masses untilfederal and city police ~an

guarantee security. It is the first timethe cathedral has suspended servicessince Mexico's Cristero uprisings inthe 1920s, he said.

"We have to take this action beforethere is bloodshed," Father Valdemartold Catholic News Service. "Weneedpolice to launch a public campaignshowing we are being protected:'

.Leftist leader Andres ManuelLopez Obrador, who lost the 2006presidential race by a razor-thin mar­gin, was leading a protest in the plazaadjoining the cathedral. LopezObrador claims the election wasrigged and callshimselfMexico's "le­gitimate president."

The ringing of the church bellsduring one ofthe rally's speeches an­gered the demonstrators.

A breakaway group stormed pasta line of police and 'charged up thecathedral aisle. They finally left afterthe bells stopped ringing and otherprotesters ~alled for moderation.

Father Ruben Avila Blancas, whowas in the church, described it as an 'act of terrorism.

''The protesters came in threaten­ing and assaulting. Many ofthe faith­ful were injured: old people, cryingchildren," FatherAvila said. ''We can­not go on like this."

GuadalupeAcosta, head ofLopez

4 'THE CHURCH IN THE U.S. $ NOVEMBER 30, 2007

Political document debate continues:Cardinal O'Malley raps Democrats

IN SERVICE TO THE SERVICE - Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, a Cleveland native who isapostolic nuncio to the Dominican Republic and oelegate to Puerto Rico, center, talks to a woman .at the headquarters of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services after a recent press confer­ence where he was introduced as the new head of the archdiocese. At right is Auxiliary BishopRichard B. Higgins of the military archdiocese. The appointment of Archbishop Broglio was an­nounced in Washington by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. (CNSphoto/Bob Roller)

politicians.The document makes clear, however, that "the

intentional taking of innocent human life," suchas in abortion and euthanasia, "must always berejected and opposed and must never be supportedor condoned."

It criticizes "a moral equivalence that makesno ethical distinctions between different kinds ofissues involving human life and dignity" and says,"The direct and intentional destruction of inno­cent human life from the moment of conceptionuntil natural death is'always wrong and is not justone issue among many."

Cardinal O'Malley said that in previous docu­ments "there was always the fear that we wereconsidering sort of a smorgasbord of issues, butwithout any prioritizing, or giving the impressionthat all issues are of equal value."

He said the support given by Catholic votersin. Massachusetts to Democratic candidates whowant to keep abortion legal "borders on scandal,as far as I'm concerned."

"My plea with Democratic leaders is alwaysthat they make space for Pro-Life politicians, andI have many Pro-~ife Democrats come to me andsay that they not making space for them," the car­dinal added. "I think .that that is a very seriousproblem, particularly in a state like Massachusetts,where it is so heavily Democratic."

Father Frank Pavone, national director ofPriests for Life, expressed strong support for thedocument in a statement and called on "priests topreach on its contents, on candidates to study itslessons, and on voters to heed its guidance."

He noted that "Faithful Citizenship" calls onCatholics to work to challenge political parties iftheir policies "fail to correspond to the demandsof justice and the common good."

. "In particular, we .at Priests for Life call uponthe Democratic Party to abandon its pro-abortionstance, recognizing that such a stance imperils anddilutes any progress that can be made on otherissues," Father Pavone added.

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIENCATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Judging from some of theearly reaction to the U.S. bishops' "Forming Con­sciences for Faithful Citizenship," debate aboutthe more than 1O,OOO-word document on politi­cal responsibility overwhelmingly approved bythe bishops November 14 is far from over. '

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston drew na­tional attention when he told The Boston Globedaily newspaper after the vote that the DemocraticParty "has been extremely insensitive to theChurch's position, on the Gospel of life in par­ticular, and on other moral issues."

He said the document, considered by the bish­ops every four years since 1976, was clearer thanearlier versions about the importance issues suchas abortion and euthanasia have over other politi-

. cal issues with lesser moral weight.But others say the document is not strong

enough in condemning Catholic politicians whotake positions contrary to the Church on abortion,embryonic stem-cell research and other life issues.

Judie Brown, president of the American LifeLeague, told LifeSiteNews.com that the bishops"failed to say anything about pro-abortion politi­cians who are Catholic and the obligation that theyas bishops have to deny holy Communion (to thosepoliticians) and I am terribly distraught aboutthat."

"Such documents are going to have no signifi­cance whatsoever because they're not supportedwith any daily, weekly effort on the part of thebishops as a united body to teach and to demandthat their priests teach the fundamental teachingsof the Church," she added.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y.,who headed the committee of committee chair­men that dr.afted the document, said at a pressconference that the Communion issue had beendealt with in earlier bishops' documents and didnot need to be in "Faithful Citizenship" becauseit was directed at Catholic voters, not Catholic

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REACHING HEAVENWARD - St. Patrick's Cathedral is seen fromRockefeller Plaza in New York November 20. Pope Benedict XVIwill visit New York in April to address the United Nations, celebrateMass at the cathedral and stop at the site where the twin towers ofthe World Trade Center stood before the 2001 terrorist attacks de­stroyed them. (CNS photo/Chip East, Reuters)

Ethical, scientific breakthroughsseen in new stem-cell studies

YU ROCK GIRL - Junying yt.i of the Genome Center of Wisconsin poses in a lab at the Univer­sity of Wisconsin-Madison November 19. Yu is the lead author of a paper describing a novelmethod of reprogramming adult stem cells to create cells that are indistinguishable from em­bryonic stem cells. The research was performed by a team in the laboratory of stem-cell pio­neerJames Thomson. (CNS photo/Bryce Ric.hter, courtesy University of Wisconsin-Madison)

51

XVI's recent encyclical, "DeusCaritas Est" ("God Is Love"),saying that "government cannotdo everything, and there will al­ways be a need for individualvoluntary contributions thatspring from 'loving personalconcern.'"

Supreme Secretary Don Kehoerepresented the Knights at the Texasevent, and Supreme Master JosephP. Schultz led the event in Los An­geles.

The Knights of Columbus haslong suppOI1ed American troopsand veterans. Beginning in 1916 ­and continuing throughout WorldWar I - the Knights sponsored"Army Huts," a program of enter­tainment centers that ultimatelybecame the model for the UnitedService Organizations, or USO,earning high praise from Gen. JohnJ. Pershing. The Knights .alsohelped provide additional chaplainsfor the troops.

After World War I, the Knightsran a series of night schools for re­turning veterans to help them re­enter the job market.

In the months leading up toAmerican entry into World War II,the Knights were the first nationalorganization to conduct blooddrives, an activity the organizationcontinued throughout the war. TheKnights also served as one of theorganizations of the USO during thewar.

More recently, the Knights havecontinued to support the military,among other things, by printingmore than 400,000 prayer booksfor troops and supporting the workof the U.S. Archdiocese for theMilitary Services, base~ in Wash­ington.

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Knights' donation of 2,000 wheelchairsto military veterans totals $1 million

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Inceremonies November 9-10 inWashington, Chicago, I.,os Angelesand Bonham, Texas, which is nearDallas, the Knights of Columbusdistributed 2,000 wheelchairs tomilitary veterans. ,

"As our nation pauses to honorthese men and women on VeteransDay, we are honored to be able toreach out to help veterans in need,"Supreme Knight Carl A. Andersonsaid. Veterans Day was November11.

"This wheelchair distributioncontinues our long-standing tradi­tion of service to our service menand women, both those!: who are onactive duty and those Who ~e re­tired," he said in a statement inWashington.

The Knights of Columbuspartnered with the Wheelchair

I'

Foundation to distribute the wheel-chairs. Five hundred Jere distrib­uted in each of four cities in cer­emoniesthat drew hundreds ofpeople.

A press release from the Knightssaid the Chicago ceremony beganwith Boy Scouts wheeling veteransinto the auditorium of the EdwardHines Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospitalin new "Ferrari red" wheelchairs,escorted by an honor guard of 76fourth-degree Knights.

The auditorium wl;is filled tostanding-room-only capacity withan audience that included veterans,Knights and foundation represen­tatives as well as local members ofthe National Guard, Boy Scouts, VAhospital officials and family mem­bers.

Deputy Supreme Knjght DennisSavoie, speaking onll behalf ofAnderson, cited Pope Benedict

search being reported today.""The president believes medi­

cal problems can be solved with­out compromising either the highaims of science or the sanctity ofhuman life," said press secretaryDana Perino. "We will continue

to encourage scientists toexpand the frontiers ofstem-cell research and con­tinue to advance the under­standing of human biologyin an ethically responsibleway."

Ian Wilmut, the Scottishscientist who created Dolly

. the cloned sheep in 1996,told the London Telegraphthat he had decided in lightof the new findings to aban~

don his efforts to clone hu-. man eri'tbryos and would insteadconcentrate on research involv­ing the new reprogramming tech­niques.

The National Catholic Bioet­hics Center said Wilmut's changeof heart "flowed largely frompractical considerations" but thatthe scientist also had acknowl­edged that the new approach was"easier to accept socially."

"Persistence in seeking cre­ative scientific breakthroughsand actively pursuing alternativeapproaches can help resolve se­rious ethical problems and allowus to maintain the ethical integ­rity of science while achievingimportant scientific and medicalends," the statement said.

••

I; THE CHURCH IN THE U.S. ;

the field."Unlike the ethicists, however,

Thomson called on scientists tocontinue research involving thedestruction of human embryos.More study is needed to ensurethat the newly made cells "do notdiffer from embryonic stem cellsin a clinically significant or un­expected way, so it is hardly timeto discontinue embryonic stem­cell research," he said.

The White House also praisedthe breakthrough November 20,saying that President George W.Bush's June 2007 executive or­der expanding stem-cell researchusing "ethically responsible tech~

niques" was "intended to accel­erate precisely the kind of re-

human body."The induced cells do all the

things embryonic stem cells do,"Thomson, who isolated the firstembryonic stem cells in 1998,said in a university news release."It's going to completely change

"Such strategies should con­tinue to be pursued and stronglypromoted, as they should help tosteer the entire field of stem-cellresearch in a more explicitly ethi­cal direction by circumventing themoral quagmire associated' withdestroying human embryos," itadded.

NOVEMBER 30) 2007

WASHINGTON (CNS) ­Scientists and ethicists alikehailed as a breakthrough twostudies showing that human skincells can be reprogrammed towork as effectively as embryonicstem cells, thus negating the needto destroy embryos in thename of science.

Separate studies fromteams led by Shiny aYamanaka of Kyoto Uni­versity in Japan andJunying Yu and JamesThomson of the Universityof Wisconsin-Madisonwere published online No­vember 20 by the journalsCell and Science, respec­tively.

"The methods outlinedin these papers fully 'conform towhat we have hoped to see forsome time," said a statementfrom the National Catholic Bio­ethics Center in Philadelphia.

"Such strate,gies should con­tinue to be pursued and stronglypromoted, as they should help tosteer the entire field of stem-cellresearch in a more explicitly ethi­cal direction by circumventingthe moral quagmire associatedwith destroying human em­bryos," it added.

By adding four genes to theskin cells, the scientists wereable to create stem cells that ge­netically lIlatch the donor andhave the ability to become anyof the 220 types of cells in the

6 ~ The Anchor ~ NOVEMBER 30, 2007

the living word '

The great introducer

"We have all withered likeleaves and our gUilt carriesus away like the wind" (Isa

64: 5b).

Late autumn colors frame thestatue of S1. Benedict on the

grounds of S1. Gertrude'sMonastery in Ridgely, Md.

Warmer weather has delayedthe change in leaves for manyareas in the Northeast this fall.(eNS photo/Don Blake, The

Dialog)

strangers, might con"stitute the.beginning of an enormous newdevelopment in the history of thekingdom of God.

This Advent is a time for us toredouble our efforts to bring notjust ourselves but others into it

closer relationship with the Lordwho is coming. The new beginningthat Advent signifies starts withthese encounters.

One final point. Andrewbrought people to the Lord not justby his actions, but by his words as

well. We don't have anyextant letters from him orhomilies, but we do havean ancient account of hismartyrdom, in which wecan see the way he diedand extrapolate from thereto how he would havelived.

His passio states that hewas crucified on a decussate or X­shaped cross in northern Greece.The way people normally perish incrucifixion is not because of theliterally excruciating pain, but byasphyxiation. When one iscrucified on a T-shaped cross likeJesus, in order to breathe thevictim must push up on his legs toopen up his lungs to inhale. Whenone is crucified on an X-shapedcross, however, one's quadricepsare immobilized and the process ofbreathing is even more arduous.Since we speak during exhalation,saying anything wMe dying on across is an act of tremendousheroism. St. Andrew's passio tellsus, nevertheless, for the last 38hours of his life, when he couldbarely get enough oxygen to stayalive, Andrew preached the GoodNews of Jesus Christ from the'cross to the throngs that hadassembled to see him die. Until hislast breath, he was seeking tointroduce them to the Lord.

Father Landry is pastor ofSt.Anthony's Parish in New Bedford.

.br.ing future popes, nuns, priests,or canonized saints to him. Hemay take them from among themembers of Ouf family, or friends~

or co-workers or fellow students.Our task is to make the introduc­tion, by letting others know wehave found the Messiah, andinviting them to come to meet him.

AndrC?w's matchm~ng wouldcontinue. He was the one whointroduced the young boy with fivebarley loaves and two fish to Jesus.There was no way for Andrew to

know what Jesus would do withthose meager offerings, but fromthem Jesus would work one of hisgreatest miracles. He just broughtthe boy to Jesus and let Jesus dothe rest. There's another greatlesson here: whenever we put at

. the Lord's disposal our talents, orencourage someone we know todo the same, the Lord is capable ofworking great wonders. We may

.not have much, but in Jesus' hands,everything can be miracuiouslymultiplied.

Andrew is at it again rightbefore Jesus' passion. SomeGreeks came to Philip and Andrewand said, "We wish to see Jesus,"and the two of them brought themto Jesus. The LOrd's response wasnot just to greet them, but toexclaim, ''The hour has come forthe Son of Man to be glorified" (In20:23). Their introduction was thetrigger for which Jesus wasmysteriously waiting, to inaugu­lflte the culmination of his earthlylife. Likewise with us, our bringingsomeone to the Lord, even some

The season of Advent thatbegins this weekend focuses on thegreat encounter each of us is calledto have with the Lord. The Lord iscoming - that's what Advent .literally means - and we arecalled to go out to meet him. Weare also called to help others tomeet him. More than any otherBiblical figure, St. Andrew theApostle, whom the universalChurch celebrates today, demon­strates for us how this is done.

We·first encounter Andrew atthe Jordan River aside St.John the Baptist, the greatAdvent prophet. Throughhis riverside preaching,John was helping hisfellow Jews make straightthe paths to receive theLord.

The path to Andrew'sheart and head werestraight enough that when John,one day, looked up and said,"Behold the Lamb of God!"Andrew immediately left John andwent to see where Jesus lived. Hespent the day with Jesus, recog­nized him to be the Messiah, andbelieved in him.

His next move not only revealshis character, but shows whatshould be the reaction of anyonewho meets Jesus. He ran to hisbrother, told him that he had foundthe Messiah, and hurried back tointroduce him to Jesus. As soon asJesus met his brother, he said, "Youare Simon, Son of Jonah. You are tobe called Peter" (In I:42). Little didAndrew know, of course, whatJesus' plans would be for hisbrother. His sibling, a simple .fisherman like him, was to be madethe rock on whom the Lord wouldbuild his Church (Mt 16:18).

Likewise we never know whatthe Lord might do with those weintroduce or bring closer to him.God' may need us to be theinstrument, or the fishing hook, to

Catholic conscience and identityThis Sunday we celebrated that Christ is king of the universe, a truth that

Christians now recognize and everyone will acknowledge one day. This reality,however, has more than eschatological significance. For Christians to honorChrist as king means to allow him to reign in their lives, to beLord oftheir time,their families, their possessions, and their choices.

For Christ to rule in a person's moral life, the believer obviously must firstbe able to discern what the Lord is asking in a given moment. The way oneperceives the Good Shepherd's voice in particular situations is through a prop­erly-formed conscience.

Earlier this month, the bishops of the United States took up the subject ofawell-functioning conscience in their41-page document, ''FonningConsciencesfor Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility." We print their sum­mary of the document on page 13 of this edition.

"We bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom tovote;' they state at the outset. "Our purpose is to help Catholics form theirconsciences in accordance with God's truth. We recognize that the responsibil­ity to make choices in politiGallife rests with each individual in light ofa prop­erly formed conscience."

The bishops begin by teaching clearly what ~nscience is not and what it is.''Conscience is not something that allows us tojustify doing whatever we want,nor is it a mere 'feeling' about what we should or should not do. Rather, con­science is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truthto us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil. Consciencealways requires serious attempts to make sound moral judgments based on thetruths of our faith:'

Those moral judgments involve a few elements. The bishops say that thefirst is a "desire to embrace goodness and truth" through the study what Godhas taught us through sacred Scripture and his Church. This allows us to knowwith clarity the moral principles that affect our decisions and the relative weighteach one should be given. The second step is a thorough examination of the"facts and background information" for a particular choice we need to make,so that, with the help of the virtue of prudence, we may apply the moral prin­ciples effectively and correctly. The third is "prayerful reflection," in which weseek to discern God's will in the circumstances, make the moral choice and acton it

The bishops mention several principles that must guide a properly formedconscience with respect to political responsibility. The first is that the allegianceofthe Catholic voter to Christ and to the Churchhe founded must trump loyaltyto a particular party or political persuasion. '~ Catholics," they write, "weshould be guided more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to apolitical party or interest group. When necessary, our participation should helptransform the party to which we belong; we should not letthe party transformus in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental mow truths:'

The second principle they enunciate is just as fundamental: "A good enddoes notjustify an immoral means" and "not all possible courses of action aremorally acceptable:' We must seek good ends through good means. Somemeans, they reiterate, are always wrong. ''There are some things we must neverdo, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible withlove of God and neighbor. These are called 'intrinsically evil' actions. Theymust always be rejected and oppo~ and must never be supported or con­doned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as inabortion and euthanasia:' .

They then turn to a third principle about which there is unnecessarily confu­sion among Catholic voters today. ''The direct and intentional destruction ofinnocent human life from the moment ofconception until natural death;' theydeclare, "is always wrong and is notjustone issue among many. It must alwaysbe opposed" To say this, however, is not to say that "other serious threats tohuman life and dignity" can be dismissed or ignored. There is a two-fold appli­cation of this double principle: ''A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate whotakes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if thevoter's intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would beguilty offormal cooperation in grave evil. At the same time, a voter should notuse a candidate'sopposition to an intrinsic evil tojustify indifferenceorinatten­tiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity:'

This leads, finally, to a fourth principle critical for a well-formed Catholicconscience. ''There may be times when a 9ltholic who rejects a candidate'sunacceptable position may~de to vote for that candidate for other morallygrave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible only for truly gravemoral reasons:'

The bishops do not specify what these grave moral reasons would be. In thecase ofa pro-abortion candidate, Archbishop Chaput ofDenver says that thesereasons would have to be sufficient to justify one's action before an abortedchild or Christ in the next life. We could also think of another image. Theywould have to be sufficiently grave to persuade an African-American or a Jewto vote for the same candidate in the same election ifhe were, respectively, alsofirmly racist or anti-Semitic. Catholics need to be at least as much against abor­tion in their practical political decisions as African-Americans are against rac­ism and Jews against anti-Semitism.

This does not mean, the bishops add, that Catholics are "single-issue vot­ers;' but "a candidate's position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil,such as support for legal abortion or the promotion ofracism, may legitimatelylead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support."

Voting is an important moral action. It is far more than a choice betweenapples and oranges; on occasion, itcan be achoicebetween Christ and Barabbasand, as the bishops state, "may affect the individual's salvation."

By the principles they describe in this document, the bishops have helpedformed the consciences ofthe faithful so that, as they exercise their rights in ourdemocratic republic, they will do so consistent with their responsibilities withinthe context of the divinely-instituted spiritual monarchy established by Christ

. the King.

HYANNIS, MA 02601WW.PJP2HS.ORG

71. the faithful citizenship statementrecently approved by the U.S. bish­ops knows that it urges - not "or­ders"- Catholics to be involved inthe political process (the definitionof a good citizen) and to use thevalues of their faith when evaluat­ing candidates and issues. That isnot, as your editorial glibly asserts,"laying a guilt trip on parishionersand branding candidates anti-reli­gious."

Bishops are by definition teach­ers and they have a responsibilityto teach about moral values. Elec­tions are about choices and choiceinvolves mora. judgment. Bishopsdo not tell Catholics for whom tovote or how to vote. As they statein their faithful citizenship state­ment, "We recognize that the re­sponsibility to make choices in po­liticallife rests with each individualin light of a well-formed con­science...."

It might be too much to ask thatthe entire statement be read beforean editorial is formulated.

John E. Kearns Jr.Director of Communications

Diocese of Fall River

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• 'Iance With the Charte~ and pub-lishes its findings along with areaswhere improvement could bemade. The Fall River Diocese hasbeen found in full compliance ineach of the three auditS that havebeen done.

The Fall River Diocese wasahead of the curve in implement­ing abuse response andprt:ventionmeasures, and since 1994 its Officefor Child Protection within dioc­esan Catholic Social Services hasprocessed thousands of CORI orcriminal background checks andconducted hundreds of abuse pre­vention training sessions. This waseight years before the Dallas Char­ter.

Now all of this is done -accord­ing to your editorial jab - by achurch that "harbors child rapists"?

And one more thing: your"Thumbs Down" snippet begins byrebuking the Catholic Church for"ordering parishioners to followreligious teaching when castingtheir votes in next year's presiden­tial election." Anyone who has read

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ogres, no weapons of massdestruction.

There's much to be said forsimplicity.

Well kiddies, I have to wrapthis up now. The Patriots aregetting ready to play the Ravens,and it's a must win for us.Otherwise we won't go unde­feated and the season will be afailure - even if we win theSuper Bowl. Pong anyone?

procedures to respond to allega-. tions of abuse and to prevent inci­

dents of abuse of any kind. Briefly,these include mandatory reportingof suspected cases of child abuseto civil authorities; placement ofalleged perpetrator on leave whilean investigation is done and pernia­nent removal if an allegation isfound credible; abuse preventioneducation for clergy, employees,and volunteers as well as for stu­dents in Catholic schools and par­ish religious education; backgroundchecks of all clergy, Church em­ployees and volunteers before ac­cess to children is allowed; and cre­ation of a primarily lay-memberReview Board to assist dioceses inabuse related issues. These stepsmeet if not surpass the response ofother professions to this heinouscrime.

Down" blurb in which The HeraldNews states that the CatholicChurch "harbors child rapists."That very serious accusation is anuntrue, unwarranted cheap shot.How disappointing that thiscQmmunity's local paper wouldpublish that as its editorial posi­tion.

Mistakes were made in the pastby some bishops in their handlingof incidents of abuse of children bya small minority ofpriests. Over thepast several years bishops have metwith victims, expressed regret, as­sisted victims in the healing pro­cess, and set as their priority thecreation of a safe environment forchildren.

The U.S. bishops' Charter for·the Protection of Children andYoung People appr-oved in Dallasin June 2002 instituted policies and

season. No, no, far from it. Withthe Red Sox, our concern was tostay out of the American Leaguecellar, since baseball had nodivisions at that time, and to, ofcourse, beat the New YorkYankees. Some things neverchange. .

As far as the Boston Patriotsgo, we simply wanted to win agame or two or three. Concernsabout going undefeated? We weremore concerned about going .

winless.But, we

loved our teamsnone the less.

Frankly, wefelt none of thepressures oftoday's fans,having to makethe playoffs and

win it all each season.Nope, we knew what was

corning each year, and we lovedwallowing in our own self pity.Woe is us.

Today, not only do the Patshave to win, they have to win by alot. Today, not only do the Soxhave to make the playoffs, theyhave to win it all, else the seasonis considered a failure.

Sometimes, I miss the bad olddays of the Red Sox and thePatriots. I miss watching themplay because I liked watchingthem play - win or lose~

Don't get me wrong though,little ones. I enjoy being part ofthe fandom the rest of the countrywatches with teary eyes. It's justthat there's so much pressure now.

When we played "Pong" askids, it was just a simple blackand white game of ping pong:hitting a square ball with squarepaddles in a straight line. Therewere no hidden clues, no evil

Pong Ys. PlayStation

FALL RIVER - A Catholic­bashing op-ed blurb in the FallRiver Herald News that opinedthat the Catholic Church "har­bors child rapists" and thereforelacks the credibility "to order"faithful parishioners to mull re­ligious values before making bal-'lot choices in next year's presi­dential election, has been an­swered.

John E. Kearns Jr., director ofCommunications for the RomanCatholic Diocese of Fall River, hasresponded to the allegations theHerald in its November 19 editionalso alleges, lays "a guilt trip" onCatholics.

Kearns' November 21 letter tothe Herald reads:Dear Editor:

I write in response to your No­vember 19 Our View "Thumbs

Diocesan media directoranswers Herald News rap

NOVEMBER 30, 2007 :t The Anchor $

albums, and color television·consisted of various shades ofblack, gray and white, the BostonRed Sox and the Boston Patriotsweren't very good.

There were no championshiphats to wear, no sweatshirtsproclaiming them as No.1, andno Super Bowl or World SeriesChristmas ornaments to hang onthe tree.

That didn't mean the twoteams didn't have a loyal fanbase. They did, it was just adepressed, dejected and disap­pointed lot.

We would watch fans from faraway places like Miami, Pitts­burgh, Dallas and Green Baycelebrate as kings of the gridiron.Our eyes welled with tears asfolks in Cincinnati, Baltimore andDetroit basked in World Seriesglories.

Our worries, dear children,weren't about wiiming a WorldSeries, or having an undefeated

Come children, gather 'roundThe Anchor and I'll tell you astory that you'll find difficult tobelieve.

This is a casual story-tellingsession, so feel free to wear yourRed Sox 2004 or 2007 WorldSeries championship T-shirts, oryour Super Bowl XXXVI,XXXVIII, or XXXIX apparel.

Once upon a time, when videogames were called "Pong," musicwas played on things called

8 $ The Anchor , NOVEMBER 30,2007

Come, Lord Jesus!What strong words we hear

in the readings this Sunday. Thevision of Isaiah on the peacethe Messiah will bring: "Theyshall beat their swords intoplowshares and their swordsinto pruning hooks." Then'thevery words of St. Paul thatforced the crisis and later the{:onversion in the life of St.Augustine: "Let us throw offthe works of darkness and puton the armor of light!" FinallyJesus telling us of the suddenand irrevocable call of the elect.How to make sense of it all?

Advent is a strange season,filled with paradox. It's"officially" penitential- notethe violet vestments and thelack of the Gloria on theSundays - but we can't helpbut be joyful. It's supposed to

. be all about preparing forChristmas, but at least for thisfirst week, Our Lord is stilltalkiog about the Big Surprise:

the return of the Son of Man atthe end of time - which maybe tomorrow or in a millionyears. The winter days growshorter and colder and theground freezes, but we'resinging Rorate caeli desuper,about the spring rainswhich will bring forth aflower from the root ofJesse.

The word Adventmeans a coming to or acoming towards. Butdoes it refer to thecoming of Jesus as ababe in Bethlehem or tohis second coming? Theanswer, of course, is both.They're mutually necessarybecause they illuminate eachother. The first coming inweakness will be fulfilled bythe second coming in majesty.But that's not enough; there's athird coming as well, whichinvolves every believer:'the

Advent of Jesus io our hearts.This ancient and beautifuldoctrine was taught by themonastic writers and especiallySt. Bernard of Clairvaux. Heheld that there are really threeAdvents - three comings of

the Lord. He came in time, inBethlehem. He will come at theend of time in majesty as king.

, And thirdly, he comes to us,moment by moment, in our ownhearts. The first is history,which we commemorate eachyear with joyful thanks onChristmas Day. The last lieshidden in the unknown future.

But the middle coming is toeach one of us personally. Itlies between the other two likea road 00 which we travel fromthe first coming to the last. Inthe frrst, Christ was ourredemption. In the last, he will

be our judgment andthen, by his mercy, oureternal life. In themiddle coming, he is ourrest and consolation onour way.

How do we know thisis true, that there isindeed a middle com­ing, constant and

personal, as real as the othertwo? Because the Lord himselfsaid, "If anyone loves me, hewill keep my word, 'aDd myfather will love him, and wewill come to him." He's tellingus that he comes to us everyday through the faith and lovewhich make us his own.

The moment of eucharistic

sacrifice is a coming unlike anyother. It may seem impersonalsince it is sacramental andformal; it must be so, since it isan ecclesial and communal act.But it is intimately connected toour own personal encounterwith the Lord who comes. St.Bernard wrote, "Feed ongoodness, and your soul willdelight in its richness. Remem­ber to eat your bread or yourheart will wither away. Fill yoursoul with richness andstrength." The richness andstrength he refers to can onlycome from the bread of theEucharist which is no longerbread but life itself.

It's a simple fact: if we loveand nourish the coming of theLord in our lives, he will loveand nourish us when he comes.Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Father Johnson is a paro­chial vicar at Our Lady ofAssumption Parish in Osterville.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 01, 007:15-27; Do 3:82-87; Lk21:34-36. Sun. Dec. 02, First SuodayofAdvent, 1 Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44. Mon.Dec. 03, Is 4:2-6; Ps:122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11. The. Dec. 04, Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Lk 10:21-24. Wed. Dec. 05, Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37. Thu. Dec. 06, Is 26: 1­6; Ps 118: 1,8-9,19-21,25-27a; Mt 7:21,24-27. Fri. Dec. 07, Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1,4,13-14; Mt 9:27-31.

Blessed Franz, at last

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they bore all this out of love forus sinners. I thank our dearJesus, too, that I am privilegedto suffer and even die for Him.May God accept my life inatonement not only for my sinsbut for the sins of others aswell."

Franz Jaegerstaetter wasexecuted by guillotine on Aug.9, 1943 - one year to the dayafter Edith Stein, now St.Teresa Benedicta of the Cross,died in the gas chambers ofAuschwitz/Birkenau. Thebrilliant Carmelite philosopher'and the simple Austrian peasantshared an unshakable faith that,as Blessed Franz put it, "Nei­ther prison nor chains norsentence of death can separate[us] from the love ofGod... [for] the power of Godcannot be overcome." Given thelife-and-death choice betweenwhat Dietrich Bonhoeffer (theLutheran martyr executed bythe Nazis in 1945) called '"cheap grace" and "costlygrace," Edith Stein and FranzJaegerstaetter embraced thecostly grace of the cross - andnow share the glory of theResurrection.

May their intercession at thethrone of grace be a powerfulaid in the new evangelization ofthe German-speaking world.

George Weigel is a seniorfellow of the Ethics and PublicPolicy Center in Washington,D.C.

the crowd was given a freechoice between the innocentSavior and the criminalBarabbas."

Franz Jaegerstaetter's owntrial came soonenough. Called tomilitary service in1943, he refusedinduction, not onpacifist g'rounds (hewasn't a pacifist), buton the basis of whatwe would now callselective conscientious

objection: Hitler's war was anunjust war being waged by a'fatally wicked regime; there­fore, conscience would notpermit serving as a soldier inthe Wehrmacht. Jaegerstatter'spastor and bishop tried to talkhim out of his objections; hisresponsibilities to his wife andfamily weighed heavily on him;his offer to serve as a militaryparamedic was refused by theNazi regime.

In a prison cell in Berlin,Jaegerstaetter suffered intenselyat the thought that he might beacting irresponsibly toward hisfamily. But as he ,wrote his wifeon the day of his execution, "Itwas not possible for me tospare you the pain'that youmust now suffer on my account.How hard it must have been forour dear Savior when, throughhis sufferings and death, Hehad to prepare such a greatsorrow for his Mother - and

honeymoon pilgrimage toRome that this largely unedu­cated peasant-worker wastransformed by grace into aserious Catholic. A very serious

Catholic. Jaegerstaetter was adaily communicant in an erawhen that was far more unusualthan today; he became a ThirdOrder Franciscan; he readclosely in the Scriptures and thelives of the saints; he fasted,did acts of penance, gavegenerously to the poor, andserved as volunteer sacristan ofhis local parish.

When Hitler's Anschluss ledto Austria's incorporation intothe Third Reich, Jaegerstaetter,alone in his village, protested.Too many Austrian Catholicswelcomed the new order withenthusiasm, voting in largenumbers for incorporation intoNazi Germany; Jaegerstaetter(according to that distinguishedamateur historian, WilliamDo...ino Jr.) wrote that "whattook place in the spring of 1938was not much different fromwhat happened tbat HolyThursday 1,900 years ago when

the cardinal, I regarded as a:martyr - indeed, as one of thesingular figures of 20th-centuryCatholicism.

So it was a great satisfactionthis past October 26when the officialChurch caught up withus, so to speak, andFranz Jaegerstaetterwas beatified in Linz,Austria.

Very few peoplewould have imaginedthe young Franz as asaint. He .was a hellion, and itwas only after his marri~ge toFranziska Schwaninger and a

Several years ago, I askedmy friend, Cardinal ChristophSchoenborn of Vienna, what hethought about the delays in thebeatification process for FranzJaegerstaetter, the Austrianpeasant beheaded for refusingto serve under arms in Hitler'sWehrmacht. CardinalSchoenborn is a theologian ofno small accomplishment; he'salso a man of deep piety, whichhis answer to my query re­flected: "I'm already praying tohim." A little relieved, I con­fessed that I, too, had jumpedthe canonical gun and had beenpraying to a man whom, like

I NOVEMBER 30, 2007 4; The Anchor 4;noted for his integrity.

Neither did the Pilgrims haveany use for Catholics. "Papists,"they called us. The governorboasted that the Plantation wasquite safe from Catholic priests(meaning Jesuits). In fact, being aCatholic missionary in the areawas a capital offense. So much forreligious tolerance.

Old Chief Massasoit finallydied. Tribes from all around sentdelegations to offer condolencesat the funeral of the great leader.Peeking out from the gun slots intheir fortress, the Pilgrimsconcluded the tribes wereplanning to attack them. Are we alittle paranoid?

Something had to be done.They invited the Number One Sonof Massasoit, Sachem Wamsutta,heir apparent, to dinner. TheEnglish called him "Alexander."He accepted. Wamsutta shouldhave suspected something whenthe Pilgrims kept insisting he havesecond helpings. During the meal,Wamsutta became violently illand had to be carried home,writhing in pain. He died thatnight. Was it something he ate?

Number Two Son, Sachem 'Metacom (called "Philip" by theEnglish), had had enough. "KingPhilip's War" began. The fightingwas fierce. Several satellitevillages of the Plantation weredestroyed. Many on both sidesdied. The Pilgrims nearly losttheir foothold in New England. Inthe end, Metacom was assassi­nated by' a traitor from his owntribe. Gee, I wonder who put theturn-coat up to it. Metacom'sfamily was sold into slavery,never to be seen'or heard of again.

The colonists won the war andso got to write the history books.But the truth is there, if you readbetween the lines. "You will knowthe truth and the truth will makeyou odd," said FlanneryO'Connor.

Father Goldrick is pastor ofSt.Joseph's Parish in North Dighton.

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was rampant and food scarce. Theonly building they managed toconstruct before winter set in wasa storehouse. It soon burned to theground and with it their supplies.

Come the spring, the survivorsset about their highest priority ­building an armed fortress toprotect themselves from attacksby the "savages." Of course, itnever occurred to them that theindigenous peoples had shownthem nothing but tolerance.Surely even the patience of theWampanoags was tested whenthey saw the fort and cannons.Great Sachem Massasoit did hisbest to be hospitable to thebellige~ent new-comers.

When the Speedwell - thesecond boat - arrived, food wasstill in short supply. GovernorWilliam Bradford was embar­rassed to serve his Speedwell guests"the food of savages." The Pilgrimscalled the native people "savages."According to some moral theolo­gians of the time, "savages" did nothave souls. Neither did they havehuman rights.

The Pilgrims served theirguests these ugly insect-likecreatures found crawling alloverthe rocks. We call them lobsters.The guests were so disgusted withhaving to eat lobster that theyforthwith held a meeting todetermine if they should turnaround and head home. Some did.I am not making this up.

Then there was Squanto. He,went out of his way to ingratiatehimself to the Pilgrims. He realizedon which side his bread wasbuttered. Squanto was a shrewdopportunist. Squanto was also aterrorist. He threatened his tribe

, with germ warfare. Squanto toldthem the Pilgrims had a secretweapon - a box filled with deadlydisease. Squanto said he knewwhere the box was hidden, and ifhis tribe did not show him obedi­ence and respect, he would unlockthe box and release a plague upontheir heads. Squanto will never be

on a garden gate.So lists, callings, and gates

I lay before Him in one impos­ing pile.

My Lord glanced at the heapAnd shook His head

with a little smile."You think that this is funny,

God?Oh, that'sjustfine. Fine!

Why don't you trycoming down

And carrying thisimpossible

burden ofmine?"And then He said, "My

precious child,That is exactly what I've

done.I sent down for you

My one and only Son.Have you completely forgotten?

Leave Santa to his list.Come, kneel down in the stable,

and worship.Let your finger be wrapped in

His little fist.

(Latin: peregrinus). The namemeans "wanderer."

A scouting party went search­ing for food. In Truro, theyuncovered a cache of corn. Theyconsidered this a gift from God in

divine approval. Theycalled the place CornHill. Scooping up thecorn; they returned tothe Mayflower. Unfortu­nately, the stored cornwas the winter foodsupply of the nativepeoples. TheWampanoags, I suspect,

were not amused by thesepillaging Pilgrims.

The Pilgrims abandonedProvincetown due to the unsuit­ability of the site, droppinganchor in Plymouth. Life aboardship was very difficult. Disease

on me anymore?!"This thing and that thing,

That I felt you called me to.That thing and this thing,

That people told me I should do.Nothing now seems simple.

Nothing now seems straight.Everything is twisted

Like ivy growing

simple pleasure of time spentwith family and friends.

The Christmas ListBy Nicole Bratton

My list ofthings to doWrapped around me to the floor.

1 cried, "My God, my God!Could you have piled

landed in Provincetown. There,the 102 passengers had seriousmisgivings. One disappointedwoman was overcome withdepression. Her drowned bodywas found floating in the harbor

next morning. She must have"accidentally" fallen overboard,they surmised. Right.

A child was also born on theMayflower anchored there inProvincetown Harbor. His parentsnamed him Peregrine White

The Ship's LogReflections of a

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This Sunday we begin a newliturgical year with the firstSunday of Advent. Advent is myabsolute favorite of all Churchseasons because of its warmassociation with comfort foodslike gingerbread men and ChexMix, with special feast days likethe feast of St. Nicho­las Day on December 6and St. Lucy's Day onDecember 13, and withmuch-loved familytraditions like cuttingdown a Christmas tree,lighting the AdventWreath, and ChristmasEve Mass.

A few years ago my daugh­ter, Nicole, wrote me thefollowing poem as a Christmasgift - isn't it amazing howperceptive our children can be.Every Christmas since, readingthis poem has helped me to keepmy focus on Jesus - the reasonfor the season - and on the

"THIS ADVENT LEAVE SANTA TO HIS LIST. COME, KNEEL DOWN IN THE STABLE, AND WORSHIP.

Christ the King Parish, Mashpee, decorated for Christmasin 2005 by Susan Preston. Photograph by Heidi Bratton.

Welcome Advent!

Shocking info on Pilgrims uncovered in The DightonsThursday 22 November 2007

- Three Mile River, the Dightons- Thanksgiving Day

The turkey is already history.Here I sit in my library by thefire. After a lovely social visitwith Father DickChretien, I beginthumbing through books.In moments, shockingfacts about the Pilgrimsemerge.

They did not refer tothemselves as "Pilgrims."They called themselves''The Saints." If youweren't a member of the Com­pany of Saints at Plymouth, youwere a "Stranger." This meant thatthe Pilgrims considered everyoneelse to be, well, strange.

Nor did the Pilgrims first landin Plymouth. The Mayflower

- ,

110 , The Anchor , NOVJEMBlER 30, 2007

[all now to make your appointment!

By MATT McDONALDANCHOR STAFF

Fall River pharmacist seesthe person behind the addict

share ofthe business in 1970. He became the sole ownerin 1978.

FALL RIVER - Tom Pasternak knows a lot of As a pharmacist he tries to be more than simply adrug users. pill provider to his customers. He said that while it's

As a pharmacist he deals with drugs all the time. As useful to see what researchers are saying about medica­the owner of a rooming house, he rents to people who tions, he prefers to listen to his customers' experiences.have a drug problem. And through his weekly call-in "I like to get engaged with people. That's one ofradio show, he makes frequent contact with people my trademarks as a pharmacist, talking to people,"hooked on addictive substances. Pasternak said. "You need to discuss things with people.

He also knows what people think about them. I like doing that.""Very few people seem to want to deal with sub- He and his wife Patricia have a 38-year-old son in

stance abusers. They're the lowest echelon of society," Fall River, a 34-year-old daughter in Rhode Island,Pasternak said in an interview in his office at Walsh and a new grandson.Pharmacy in Fall River last week. ''They need to be Patricia, a former Catholic school principal, servestreated with respect." as director ofReligious Education at Holy Trinity Par-

He has argued publicly that Suboxone, a hard-to- ish in Fall River.get drug that blocks the pleasure in the bmin that comes Tom has a hand in many activities.from using heroin, Oxycontin, and Percoset, should He currently serves as chairman of a citywide coa-be more widely available for drug addicts to take at lition that tries to prevent drug abuse among younghome. That stance has led people, known as Building

~~li~~a~ae:er:'ith some .,"'.' 1"'&'-0, -:- ;-'.-e,·I~ ._". '. ~~L~~ves Drug-free, or

In July, whenthernvas ",-' ~>:::LlvmgStones" re·, - He is also the pastpresi-

an uproar in Fall River -' ::-Jfnj!1~OiP~iSol{ojiJle:Weei. dent of the parish councilaboutwomensellingtheir, ....--r..::.::!r:;-,'>..,.:· ~'. ,. .... '. 0 at St. Stanislaus Parish,bodies for drugs in public which he and his wifeand drug sales among joined in 1974.men occurring openly, Father Bruce Neylon,Pasternak convened a pastor of St. Stanislaus,meeting ofa dozen people called Pasternak "a goodtaking part in those activi- resource person."ties, trying to persuade ''When things need tothem to get into rehab. be done, he seems to know

Such work is one as- ~ e .-~', _ . who to contact," Fatherpeet of his wider philoso- .y ~ Neylon said.phy ofmercy, which flows Walsh Pharmacy, an in-from his favorite Roman dependent business thatCatholic devotion, known caters mostly to geriatrics,as Divine Mercy. :' doesn't carry contracep-

Pasternak first learned tives or drugs that canabout the Divine Mercy cause abortion. Butdevotion while he and his Pasternak doesn't shywife Patricia were on a pil- away from such issues. Asgrirnage to Poland in 1995 one of the founders of aand visited the town youth ministry at St. Stani-where Sister Faustina ANCHOR PERSON OF THE WEEK _ Tom slaus during the 1970s,Kowalska (1905-1938) Pasternak. (Photo by Matt McDonald) Pasternakhasmadetheac-lived. quaintance ofseveral teen-

Sister Faustina, now known as St. Faustina, reported age girls who have become pregnant and contemplatedin her diary and elsewhere a series of appearances to having an abortion, including some who have askedher by Jesus during the 1930s asking her to spread de- him for advice.votion to Divine Mercy. The devotion gmdually spread. Some had an abortion and some didn't. PasternakIn 2000, Pope John Paul II created a new feast day on says the psychological damage caused by abortion isn'tthe Sunday after Easter, called Divine Mercy Sunday, studied enough, but that he has seen it first-hand amongwhich follows the directions St. Faustina said she re- women he stays in touch with.ceived from Jesus. Widespread abortion is one measure of the social

The devotion centers on a chaplet ofpmyers asking changes since Pasternak's youth during the 1950s. An­for forgiveness of sins while calling to mind the pas- other is church attendance. St. Patrick's had 10 Massession and death ofJesus; and on an image ofJesus with on Sunday mornings between 6 a.m. and noon whenblue and pale rays emanating from his heart, repre- he was a kid.senting the blood and water that flowed from his side "We're losing ground in too many places. The onlyafter he died on Calvary. answer - the only answer - is faith. We have to have

Participants are supposed to ask for forgiveness for an uprising of faith. We have to get more people intothemselves, to trust in Jesus's mercy, and to try to ob- church in this country," Pasternak said. ''And that's whytain Jesus's mercy for others. we have to spread Divine Mercy."

Pasternak said he and his wife immediately took to Giving money to good causes isn't enough, he said.the devotion. He notes, for instance, that "stewardship" is often used

"I don't know anyone who hasn't done anything as a code word for giving moneyto a parish, such as awrong. We have to have mercy toward others. Divine tithe.Mercy is just a wonderful avenue for us to express our ''That's not what stewardship is," Pasternak said.concerns for people," Pasternak said. "Stewardship is how you lead your life. Ifwe were all

"It's changed me. It changes how you look at cer- good stewards in our faith, we would be good stew­tain situations, how you're able to help more," he said. ards allover."

Pasternak, 61, was born in St. Patrick's Parish in True stewardship, he says, also means tending toFall River and grew up there, raised by his mother, a other people's needs.seamstress. "When we have forgiveness, that's when we can

He went to the parish school through eighth grade, have mercy," Pasternak said. "I just think that we allthen to Durfee High School, then to the Massachusetts need to take better care of our brothers and sisters. InCollege ofPharmacy, which he gmduated from in 1968. the Bible Jesus says 'Whatever you do for the least of

He started working part-time at Walsh Pharmacy my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.' I think that'son Rock Street in Fall River in 1969, buying his first where we all need to be."

children at four branches.Youth winners of the Caring

Awards were:-Jourdan Urbach, a 15-year-old

violin virtuoso from Roslyn Heights,N.Y., who has raised more than $1.3million for pediatric units and medi­cal charities;

- Mollie and Jackie Singer, 18­year-old twins from Las Vegas whostarted Diabetic Angels to educatechildren about diabetes and teachthem how to watch out for their dia­betic friends;

- Davin Singleton, 18, of Pasa­dena, Md., who created a workshopcalled "Dreamers: How to BecomeYour Dream" to empower dyslexicslike himself and other children;

- Lauren Beeder of NewburyPark, Calif., a 16-year-old volunteerat Children's Hospital of Los Ange­les who founded kidsCANCERviveto raise funds for research and pro­vide online support to children withcancer and their families;

- Emily Wemhoff, 18, ofCreston, Neb., founder of ProjectSAFE, or Save a Friend Everyday,whose fire safety efforts have savedcountless lives in Nebraska.

The Caring Institute was foundedin 1985 by Val J. Halamandaris af­ter he met with Mother Teresa ofCalcutta. She suggested he confrontthe poverty of the spirit in the devel­oped world by identifying extraor­dinarily gifted people and holdingthem up as role models.

Each of the Caring Award win­ners is inducted into the Hall ofFamefor Caring Americans, located inwhat was the first Washington homeof human rights advocate FrederickDouglass.

PlacementExams:

December 1st, 8:00 amDecember 8th>8:00 am

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See what is in YOUR future!

For more information. please contact Anne Cabralat (508) 676-1071 Ext. 333

Jesuit who works with gang membersnamed one ofmost caring AmericansWASHINGTON (CNS) - A

priest known to former gang mem­bers in East Los Angeles as "G­Dog" was among five adults and sixyoung people honored by the Wash­ington-based Caring Institute as themost caring people in America for2007.

Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle, whofounded Homeboy Industries in1988 to provide "hope, not jail" forformer gang members who want toturn their lives around, received oneof the 2007 National Caring Awardsat a recent ceremony in Washington.

As chairman of the institute'sboard of trustees, former U.S. Sen.Robert 1. Dole of Kansas, who wasa Republican presidential candidatein 1996, described the 2007 winnersas "wonderful role models and thevery personification of caring."

Father Boyle's programs help anestimated 1,000 young people fromnearly 600 different gangs eachmonth. Beginning with a jobs pro­gram and a bakery, Homeboy Indus­tries now includes a cafe as well asbusinesses that offer silk-screeningand home maintenance services andsell merchandise with the Homeboylogo.

Other adult recipients of the 2007Caring Awards were: ConstantinAsavoaie, director ofPrison Fellow­ship Romania, who spent 10 yearsin prison because of his Christianfaith; Dominic Avellani, founder ofthe East Boston Adult EducationCenter, which has assisted more than40,000 immigrants, refugees andhigh school dropouts; and RoseEspinoza of La Habm, Calif., whostarted a tutoring program for low­income children that now serves 200

I NOVEMBER 30, 2007 \t The Anchor tt 11

-

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television series "Boston Legal."Gibson said he and the cardinal

have been "solid friends" since 1949when they were classmates at St.Joseph's Preparatory School inPhiladelphia. They and three otherclassmates referred to themselves asthe "Rat Pack" and were involvedin the debate team, drama club andother activities.

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RED BANNER DAY - New U.S. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo isgreeted by other cardinals after receiving the red biretta from PopeBenedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)

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FINEST SELECTION OFCATHOLIC BOO'KS It GIFTS

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ing red hats at the same ceremony."I know Cardinal Foley only by

reputation and that is extremely posi­tive," he said.

Several ofCardinal Foley's class­mates from the Columbia UniversitySchool of Journalism also were onhand, but the star among his peerswas Henry Gibson, the comedian.and actor currently appearing on the

"So, God willing, at Christmas governor's palace and the headquar­you will hear the ghost ofChristmas· . ters of the office responsible for thepast," he told reporters. upkeep of St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Benedict met with the new Making the rounds in the Apos-cardinals, their family members and tolic Palace, Cardinal Francis E.the pilgrims who came to Rome for George of Chicago, president of thethe celebrations. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bish-

The pope asked the pilgrims to ops, said the two new U.S. memberscontinue offering the new cardinals of the College ofCardinals were im­"friendship, esteem and prayers, portant and deserving.helping them continue faithfully to "Cardinal Foley has been a faith­serve the church and to offer an in- ful servant of the Holy See for manycreasingly generous witness of years," he said. "And Cardinallove." DiNardo represents an important

"As the new cardinals accept the area of growth of the Church in ourburden of this office, I am confident country."that they will be supported by your Cardinal George said it was "veryconstant prayers and your coopera- moving" to watch the new cardinalstion in their efforts to build up the receive their red hats from the popebody ofChrist in unity, holiness and and "it reminded me of what thepeace," the pope said. moment was supposed to be." He

At the North American College said he used the word "supposed"reception, U.S. seminarians served because the moment when he re­as ushers, bartenders and entertain- ceived his own red hat from Popeers while thousands ofU.S. pilgrims John Paul IT in 1998 was so over­stood in line to congratulate the new whelming that "I went through it oncardinals. automatic pilot."

Roberto and Mira Martinez ofSt. The Knights of the Holy Sepul-Mary's Parish in Texas City were cher, a chivalric and philanthropicpart of the official Galveston-Hous- order with special ties to the Holyton pilgrimage. Land, hosted another reception for

When the trip was being orga- Cardinal Foley November 25 in itsnized, "I e-mailed my husband at Rome headquarters.work and said, 'Don't think I'm Among the guests were Latin-ritecrazy, but we need to go to Rome,''' Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusa­she said. "We are watching history lem, who said he was pleased Popeand it's exciting to be a part of it. Benedict has chosen Cardinal FoleySomeday our archbishop could be to lead the knights and their effortspope." to assist Catholics in the Holy Land.

The receptions continued in the Charles J. Curry, a knight fromevening with the traditional "cour- San Antonio, said: "We are abso­tesy visits" to the new cardinals, sta- lutely thrilled. Coming from Texas,tioned in various rooms of the Ap- we got doubly blessed" with bothostolic Palace, Vatican audience hall, Cardinals Foley and DiNardo receiv-

I.....J..

1.",

By CINDY WOODEN

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Kneeling be­fore Pope Benedict XVI and becom­ing a cardinal was "on the edge" ofbeing the happiest day in the lives ofthe two new U.S. cardinals.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo ofGalveston-Houston used the "on theedge" phrase November 24, but saidhe had to be honest: "The happiestday of my life is the day as a bishopI ordained my first priest. No daywill probably ever equal that."

Cardinal John P. Foley, grandmaster of the Knights of the HolySepulcher, also used the "on theedge" phrase, but said, "the happi­est day was my ordination as a priest.That's it. I keep saying that I havenever had an unhappy day as a priestand I mean it."

The two new U.S. cardinals spoketo reporters i~mediately after theconsistory and immediately beforeattending a reception in their honorat the Pontifical NorthAmerican Col­lege, the U.S. seminary in Rome.

The mood was light-hearted; Car­dinal DiNardo explained that he hadhoped to be "very composed" whenkneeling before the pope, but hisnew red zucchetto or skullcap keptslipping off. Cardinal Foley used theopportunity to thank the CatholicPress Association for the gift of hisnew red robes and asked, "Do I lookall right, by the way?"

Cardinal Foley also said that hehad the permission of CardinalTarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary ofstate, to continue doing the English­language TV commentary for thepope's Christmas Mass at midnight.

TRY THIS ONE ON - Pope Benedict XVI places the red biretta on U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley in St.Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 24. The pope bestowed the title cardinal on 23 churchmen,including two from the U.S., during the ceremony. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

For Americans, becoming c~rdinal

was 'on the edge' of happiest day

12 , The Anchor , NOVEMBER 30,2007

DVD/video reviews

locals trapped in a grocery store,where a courageous but sensiblemovie-poster artist (Thomas Jane),accompanied by his son (NathanGamble) and aided by the store'splucky manager (Toby Jones), mustbattle the malevolent critters whilealso trying to arbitrate between op­posing groups led by a religiousfanatic (Marcia Gay Harden) and arelentlessly skeptical lawyer (AndreBraugher). Writer-director-pro­ducer Frank Darabont's adaptationof Stephen King's novella has themakings of a diverting, old-fash­ioned monster movie, but - in ad­dition to being excessively bloody- it instead becomes talky andmeandering as it attempts to ana­lyze social dynamics, religion andthe polarities of human nature.Bloody violence and mutilation,euthanasia, pervasive rough andcrude language, much crass lan­guage and profanity. The USCCBOffice for Film & Broadcastingclassification is L - limited adultaudience, films whose problematiccontent many adults would findtroubling. The Motion Picture As­sociation ofAmerica rating is R ­restricted. Under 17 requires ac­companying parent or adult guard­ian.

Diocese of Fall River TV Masson WLNE Channel 6

Sunday, December 2 at 11:00 a.m.First Sunday ofAdvent

Scheduled celebrant isHoly Cross Father

John Phalen, presidentof Holy Cross Family

Ministries inNorth Easton

(Ben Whishaw), plugged-in electricsinger (Cate Blanchett), actor-hus­band (Heath Ledger), born-againChristian (Bale), and loner and"outlaw" (Richard Gere). Since co­writer and director Todd Hayneseschews conventional biography,the film requires some knowledgeofDylan's history for full apprecia­tion, but ultimately, despite a fineearful of Dylan songs and some in­teresting performances (especiallyfrom Blanchett), this emerges as anarty, cinematic curiosity. Roughlanguage and profanity, crass ex­pressions, brief partial male andupper-female nudity, a nongraphicsexual encounter and drug use. TheUSCCB Office for Film & Broad­casting classification is L - lim­ited adult audience, films whoseproblematic content many adultswould find troubling. The MotionPicture Association ofAmerica rat­ing is R - restricted. Under 17 re­quires accompanying parent oradult guardian."The Mist" (MGMlDimension)

Technically skillful but relent­lessly pessimistic horror tale inwhich an unnatural fog, alive withmurderous mutant animals, de­scends on a small Maine town, leav­ing a representative sampling of the

FEELING DRAINED - Amy Adams stars in a scene from the movie "Enchanted." For a brief reviewof this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Disriey)

(I]!l~' ~'I()viile

ICaIIV~Ulllle~NEW YORK (CNS) - The fol­

lowing are capsule reviews of mov­ies recently reviewed by the Officefor Film & Broadcasting ofthe U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Enchanted" (Disney)Delightful musical romance fol­

lows a maiden (the sparkling AmyAdams) from the world of animatedfairy tales into contemporary, live­action Manhattan where she falls inlove with a lawyer (PatrickDempsey), despite the entreaties ofher princely suitor (James Marsden) .and the meddling of an evil queen(Susan Sarandon). With affectionand wit, director Kevin Lima andhis team gently spoof the cartoonfairy-tale genre on which Disneybuilt its reputation, never losingsight of its traditional values andperennial charms. A few scary im­ages, some sexual innuendo and abrief instance of scatological hu­mor. The USCCB Office for Film& Broadcasting classification is A­I - general patronage. The MotionPicture Association ofAmerica rat­ing is PG - parental guidance sug­gested. Some material may not besuitable for children.

"I'm Not There" (Weinstein)Artsy, impressionistic portrait of

singer-songwriter Bob Dylan withseveral top actors playing differentaspects of his multifaceted charac­ter over the decades: WoodyGuthrie acolyte (Marcus CarlFranklin), folksinger (ChristianBale), Arthur Rimbaud admirer

Celebrated by candlelight andtraditionally held before dawn, thevotive Mass offered during Adventto honor Mary is esteemed particu­larly by German-speaking Catho­lics.

FatherJohn Berg, superior generalof the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter,will travel from the community'sheadquarters in Switzerland and willbe the celebrant and homilist. Priestsand seminarians from Our Lady ofGuadalupe Seminary in Denton,Neb., also will travel to Alabama toassist.

The Mass is open to the public.

easy to watch all the moving partsin this elaborate and improbablejob. Some glorification of crime,crude language ,and profanity,sexual innuendo, and one ex­tended if nongraphic scene of sen­suality. Extra features on the DVDinclude three additional scenes, a22-minute documentary on LasVegas and a tour of the casinowith producer Jerry Weintraub.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is A­III - adults. (Warner HomeVideo)

"Shre~ the Third" (2007)The saga of the lovable ogre

continues in the same high qual­ity vein of the first two films, asShrek (voiced by Mike Myers)­aided by a potential heir to Far FarAway's throne (JustinTimberlake) - must rescue hiswife, Fiona (Cameron Diaz), andthe kingdom's other residents whohave been captured by the evilPrince Charming (Rupert Everett)and an assortment offairy-tale vil­lains. Writer and co-director (withRaman Hui) Chris Miller's latestinstallment has a somewhat darkeredge, though still plenty of laughswith Shrek's sidekicks, Donkey(Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots(Antonio Banderas), in fine form,while the script's careful empha­sis on good values such as believ­ing in yourself, sacrificing for oth­ers, eschewing violence and trust­ing in mankind's innate goodnessoverride the occasional crude andmildly suggestive gags. Impliedogre nudity, some mildly off­color humor and innuendo, andthe death of the king. The DVDincludes a behind-the-scenesfeaturette, another on the techni­cal aspects, descriptions of threedeleted sequences, and a plethoraof fun, silly features that kids willenjoy, like "Shrek's Guide to Par­enthood," a Donkey Dance musicvideo and various interactive fea­tures. The USCCB Office for Film& Broadcasting classification isA-II - adults and adolescents.(DreamWorks Home Entertain­ment)

IRONDALE, Ala. (CNS) - TheEternalWordTelevision Network willair a solemn high Mass in theTridentine rite at 8 a.m. EST Decem­ber 15, live from the Shrine of theMost Blessed Sacrament inHanceville.

The liturgy, which will be cel­ebrated by clergy of the Priestly Fra­ternity of St. Peter, is known as the"rorate Mass" because it begins withthe Latin words "Rorate caelidesuper et nubes pluant iustum"("Drop down dew, ye heavens, fromabove and let the clouds rain downupon the just one").

EWTN Will broadcastAdvent Tridentine Mass

NEW YORK (CNS) - Thefollowing are capsule reviews ofnew and recent DVD and videoreleases from the Office for Film& Broadcasting of the U.S. Con­ference of Catholic Bishops.

"Amazing Grace" (2007)Compelling historical biogra­

phy about William Wilberforce (adynamic loan Gruffudd), the great18th-century British abolitionist,who with the help of the youngBritish Prime Minister WilliamPitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), andother like-minded friends in Par­liament and elsewhere (RufusSewell, Michael Gambon, AlbertFinney and Youssou N'Dour),'managed - after tireless and cou­rageous struggle .:- to pass ananti-slave trade bill in Parliament.With its solid performances, ac­cessible script and 'handsome pro­duction design, director MichaelApted's film recalls some' of thebest historical dramas fromHollywood's golden age, and isall the more admirable for its un­abashed portrait of a passionateman of God. Tbe DVD includescommentary by Apted andGruffudd, a making-of documen­tary with much historical detail,a tour of the National Under­ground Railroad Freedom Centerin Cincinnati, a music video of thetitle song with Chris Tomlin, andvarious interactive study guides.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is A­Il - adults and adolescents.(Twentieth Century Fox HomeEntertainment)

"Ocean's Thirteen"(Widescreen Edition) (2007)

After a convoluted Europeansojo\lrn in "Ocean's Twelve," thethird film in the stylish caper fran­chise returns to its entertaining ifmorally questionable Las Vegasroots as Danny Ocean (GeorgeClooney) and company - moti­vated by loyalty to their cohortReuben (Elliott Gould) - targetan egotistical hotel mogul (AIPacino). The buildup is more ex­citing than the payoff, but direc­·tor Steven Soderbergh makes it~

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NOVEMBER 30,2007 $ Th~Anchor 'V, 13II

The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship'. II

Thefollowing is a bulletin insertprepared A WeU-Fonned Conscience moral costs ofwar, and unjust immigration Poli- nomics and politics, in law and public policy-by the U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops The Church equips her members to address cies are some of the serious moral issueS that affects the well-being of individuals and of so-as a summary of their 41-page document political questions by helping them develop challenge our consciences and require us t¢ act. ciety. Every person and association has a righton thepolitical responsibilities ofCatholics, well-formed consciences. "Conscience is a Making Moral Choices II and a duty to participate in shaping society toapprovedat the November 12-15 meeting in judgment of reason whereby the human per- Difficult political decisions require the;: ex- promote the well-being of individuals and theBaltimore, Md.: son recognizes the moral quality of a concrete ercise of a well~formed conscience aide~,by common good.

Our nation faces political challenges that de- act. ... [Every person] is obliged to follow faith- prudence. This exercise of conscience begins Rights aDd Responsibilitiesmand urgent moral choices. We are a nation at fully what he [or she] knows to bejust and right" with always opposing policies that violat~ hu- Every human being has a right to life, thewar, with all ofits human costs; a country often (Catechism ofthe Catholic Church, No. 1778). man life or weaken its protection. ''Thosdwho fundamental right that makes all other rightsdivided t'f race and ethnicitY; a nation of irn- We Catholics have a lifelong obligation to form formulate law therefore have an obligati6n in possible. Each ofus has a right to religious free-

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migrants struggling with immigration. We are our consciences in accord with human reason, conscience to work toward correcting morally dom, which enables us to live and act in accordan affluent society where too many live in pov- enlightenedby the teaching ofChrist as it comes defective laws, lest they be guilty ofcoo~rat- with our God-given dignity, as well-as a righterty; part of a global community confronting to us through the Church. ing in evil and in sinning against the common to access to those things required for human

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terrorism and facing urgent threats to our envi- The VIrtue of Prudence good" (Catholics in Political Life, 2004). 'Yhen decency-food and shelter, education and em-ronment; a culture built on families, where some The Church also encourages Catholics to morally flawed laws already exist, prudential ployment, health care and housing. Correspond-now question the value ofmarriage and family develop the virtue of prudence, which enables judgmentis needed to determine how to do khat ing to these rights are duties and responsibili-

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life. We pride ourselves oli supporting human us "to discern our true good in every circum- is possible to restorejustice~ven if p~ally ties-to one another, to our families, and to therights, ·but we fail even to protect the funda- stance and to choose the right means ofachiev- orgradually-withoutever abandoning a rl.oral larger society.mental right to life, especially for unborn chil- ing it" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. commitment to full protection for all hdman Option for the Poor and Vulnerabledren. 1806). Prudence shapes and informs our abil- life from conception to natural deathll(see Whilethecommongoodembracesall,those

WebishopsseektohelpCatholicsforrntheir ity to deliberate over available alternatives, to Evangelium Vitae, No. 73). I who are in greatest need deserve preferentialconsciences in accordance with the truth, so determine what is most fitting to a specific con- Prudential judgment is also needed t() de- concern.A moral test for society is how we treat

_ they can make sound moral choices in address- text, and to act. Prudence must be accompa- termine the best way to promote the c0nVn0n the weakest among us-the unborn, those deal­ing these challenges. We do not tell Catholics nied by courage which calls us to act. As Catho- good in areas such as housing, health care~ and ing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poorhow to vote. The responsibility to make politi- lics seek to advance the common good, we must immigration. When Church leaders makejudg" and marginalized.

. cal choices rests with each person and his or carefully discern which public policies are mor- ments about how to apply Catholic teachifig to Work and the Rights ofWorkersher properly formed conscience. ally sound. A good end does not justify an irn- specific policies, this may not carry the ~ame The economy must serve people, not theWhy does the Church teach about issues moral means. At times Catholics may choose binding authority as universal moral principles other way around. Economic justice calls for, .affectingpublic policy? different ways to respond to social problems; but cannot be dismissed as one political ?pin- decent work at fair, living wages, opportunities

The Church's obligation to participate in but we cannot differ on our obligation to pro- i()n among others. These moral applicafions for legal status for immigrant workers, and theshaping the moral character of society is a re- tect human life and dignity and help build should inform the consciences and gui4 the opportunity for all people to work together forquirement of our faith, a part of the mission through moral means a more just and peaceful actions of Catholics. II the common good through their work, owner-given to us by Jesus Christ. Faith helps us see world. What does the Church say about Catholif so- ship, enterprise, investment, participation inmore clearly the truth about humaIi life and dig- Doing Good and Avoiding Evil cial teaching in the public square? Iii unions, and other forms of economic activity.nity that we also understand through human There are some things we must never do, as Seven Key Themes I Solidarityreason. As peopie of both faith and reason, individuals or as a society, because they are a1- A consistent ethic of life should gui4e all We are one human family, \\!hatever our na-Catholics are called to bring truth to political ways incompatible with love ofGod and neigh- Catholic engagement in Politicallife.IIThis tional, racial, ethnic,economic, and ideologi-

'life and to practice Christ's commandment to bor. These intrinsically evil acts must always Catholic ethic neither treats all issues as tnor- cal differences. Our Catholic commitment to"love one another" (In 13:34). According to be rejected and never supported. A preeminent ally equivalent nor reduces Catholic tea4hing solidarity requires that we pursuejustice, elimi­Pope Benedict XVI, "charity,must animate the .example is the intentional taking ofhuman life to one or two issues. It anchors the Ca~olic nate racism, end human trafficking, protectentire lives ofthe lay faithful and therefore also through abortion. It is always morally wrong commitment to defend human life and other human rights, seek peace, and avoid the use oftheir political activity, lived as 'social charity'" to destroy innocent human beings. A legal sys- human rights, from conception until ndtural force except as a necessary last resort.(Deus Carit~ Est, No. 29). tern that allows the right to life to be violated death, in the fundamental obligation to re~pect Canng' for God's Creation

". The United States Constitution protects the on the grounds of choice is fundamentally the dignity of every human being as a child of Care for the earth is a duty of our Catholicright of mdividual believers and religious bod- flawed. Similarly, direct threats to the dignitY God. . ii faith. We all are called to be careful stewards ofies to participate and speak out without gov- ofhuman life such as euthanasia, human clon- Catholic voters should use Catholic t~ach- God's creation and to ensure a safe and hospi­emment interference, favoritism, or discrirni- ing, and destructive research on human embryos ing to examine candidates' positions on issues table environment for vulnerable human beingsnation. Civil law should recognize and protect are also intrinsically evil and must be opposed. and should consider candidates' integrity! phi- now and in the future.the Church's right and responsibility to partici- Other assaults on human life and dignity, such losophy, and performance. It is irnportat1t for Conclusionpate in society without abandoning our central as genocide, torture, racism, and the targeting all citizenS "to see beyond party politics, tq ana- In light of Catholic teaching, as bishops wemoral convictions. Our nation's tradition ofplu- of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can lyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to cqoose vigorously repeat our call for a renewed politicsralism is enhanced, not threatened, when reli- never be justified. Disrespect for any human their political leaders according to principl~, not that focuses on moral principles, the defense ofgious groups and people offaith bring their con- life diminishes respect for all human life. party affiliation or mere self-interest" (Living life, the needs ofthe weak, and the pursuit ofthevictions into public life. The C!ltholic commu- As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. the Gospel of Life, No. 33). The follo~ing conimon good. This kind of political, participa­nity brings to the political dialogue a consis- A candidate's position on a single issue is not themes of Catholic social teaching provide a tion reflects the social teaching of our Church

I'tent moral framework and broad experience sufficient to guarantee a voter's support. Yet a moral framework for decisions in public life.2 2 and the best traditions of our nation."serving those in need. candidate's position on a single issue that in- The Right to Life and the . Reference.sWho in the Church shouldparticipate in volves an intrinsic evil such as support forle- Dignity of the Human Person I: Ca~echlsm of the <;:athollc Church (2nd ed.)

. , I, (Washmgton, DC: UnIted States Conference ofpolitical life? gal abortion or the promotion of racism, may Human life is sacred. Direct attacks dn in- Catholic Bishops [USCCBl), 2000.

In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citi" legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candi- nocent human beings are never morally a4ept- _. Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (God Iszenship is a virtue and participation in politi- date from receiving support. I Opposition to in- able. Within our society life is under dirett at- Love) (Washington, DC:_ USC~B, 2.006).

, , I' Pope John Paul II, Evangellum Vitae (The Gos-cal life is a moral obligation. As Catholics, we trinsically evil acts also prompts us to recog- tack from abortion, euthanasia, human clofring, pel of Life) (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1995);should be guided more by our moral convic- nizeourpositive duty to contribute to the com- anddestructionofhumanembryosforresebh. Ve~itatis Splendor (The Splendor.of Truth)

tions than by our attachment to a political party mon good and act in solidarity with those in . These intrinsic evils must always be oppbsed. (Washmgton, DC: l!SC:CB, 1.9.93). . .. USCCB, Catholics 10 Political Life (Washmg-

or interest group. In today's environment, need. Both opposing evil and doing good are This teaching also compels us as Cathol\cs to ton, DC: USCCB, 2004); Living the Gospel of LifeCatholics may f~l politically disenfranchised, essential. As Pope John Paul II said, ''the fact oppose genocide, torture, unjust war, aha the (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1998).sensing that no party and few candidates fully that only the negative commandments oblige use of the death penalty as well as to pfu.sue . Copyr~ght.© 2007, Un~ted States Conference

•• •• ' • II of Catholic BiShops, Washmgton, D.Cshare our comprehenSIve comrmtment to hu- always and under all crrcumstances does nof peace and help overcome poverty, raclSIll,' and To read the full statement of the bishops,

man life and dignity. Catholic lay women ahd mean that in the moral life prohibitions are more other conditions that demean human life'i' please visit faithfulcitizenship.org

men need to act on the Church's moral prin- important than the obligation to do good indi- Call to Family: Community . 1. For mo.re on the .moral challe~ge of v?~-. . .. . . " .. :.. '. lng, see Forming Consciences for Faithful Clti-

cIples ~d become more mvolved: runmng for cated by the pOSItIve commandment (Ventatzs and Participation I zenship, nos. 34-39. Visit faithfulcitizenship.orgoffice, working within political parties, and Splendor, No. 52). The basic right tcilife irn- The family, based on marriage betwcben a 2. These themes are drawn from a ri£h traditioncommunicating concerns to elected officials. .plies and is linked to other human rights to the man and a woman is the fundamental ubit of more .(ully described in the Compend~um ofthe S?cUd

, . ". ., .' ." Doctrine ofthe Churchfrom the Pontifical CouncilforEven those who cannot vote should raIse therr goods that every. person needs to hve and SOCIety. This sanctuary for the creatIon and nur- Justice andPeace (Washington, DC: UniJed States Con-

voices on matters that affect their lives and the thrive-including food, shelter, health care, turing of children must not be redefined, un- ference ofCatholic Bishops, 2005). For more informa­common good. education and meaningful work. The use of derrnined or neglected. Supporting fmrtilies lion ~n these .seven themes, s~e faithfulcitize~hip.org.

, . ' :~ For mformation on how we bIShops ofthe United StatesHow does the Church help Catholics to ad- the death penalty, hunger, lack ofhealth care or should be a priority for economic and social have applied Catholic social teaching to polky issues,

dress politicaland social questions? . housing, human trafficking, the human and policies. How our S9Ciety is organized-~eco- see faithfulcitizenship.org•.

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Being patient,with the worldNOVEMBER 30, 2007

WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER - A family at Denver's Samaritan Househomeless shelter gives thanks before Thanksgiving dinner. New national studiesshow that millions of U.S. families still struggle to feed their children. (eNS file)

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The Advent journey to live in patientexpectation begins, as we stated last week,with our need to be patient with ourselves.We must evaluate our talents, weaknesses,expectations, and experiences and then putthem to the,test. This process takes somesignificant self-examination - a trip that,if done well, ~s always perilous, for itreveals both the good and the less thangood inside us. Once this journey IS made,however, and a proper self-evaluationcompleted, we can move forward in ourjourney of preparation for the coming ofChrist, in time at Christmas and at the endof human time.

Once we are "right" with ourselves,then we need to see our Christian liveswithin the context of the world in whichwe live. We do not live in a vacuum; welive and work in society. Society has itsown challenges, which are becomingincreasingly severe each <.Jay and whichwe cannot avoid; we must do what isnecessary to meet them head-on andnegotiate any possible barriers or hurdlesso as to live our common Christianvocation to holiness fully and completely.God created the world for us; we are itsmaster. Yet we must prepare ourselves forthe multiple tests that the world willgenerally send our way.

The challenge posed by society begins­with secularism. Too often, if we are ~ot

vigilant, the world will dominate us and wewill lose focus on what is most important.Our need to concentrate on our lives of faithand not,to be absorbed by the world isillustrated in a story. One day a businessmanwas being interviewed by a reporter. Thereporter asked, "What do you do, sir, for aliving?" The response came immediately, "Iam a Christian." "No, you do not understandwhat I mean," continued the reporter. "Whatdo you do day-to-day; what is your dailyrout4te?" Without skipping a beat, thebusinessman repeated, "I told you I am aChristian," But the reporter persisted andasked for a third time, "Sir, I want to knowwhat you do for your Occupation; how doyou occupy your time day-to-day?" In arather exasperated tone of voice, thebusinessman answered for the third time, "Itold you I am a Christian I00 percent of thetime. It so happens, in order to pay the bills,I own a furniture store." While secularism_often surrounds us, the challenge of theChristian life is to keep our focus on what'we do, namely to practice our Christianity24-hours a day, seven days a week.

We must never lQse our way. Thetendency for us is to take the easy road,the one most traveled; the path withoutproblems, hurdles, or detours. But Jesusvery clearly tells us: "Enter through the

, narrow gate; for the gate is wide and theroad is easy that leads to destruction, andthere are many who take it. For the gate ismirrow and the way is hard that le;lds to 'life, and there are few who find it" (Mt7: 13-14). It is not easy to take the roadless traveled; we want to be on the mainpath with. others. The road for Christianswill never be without obstacle or pain, butthen why should we expect anything lessthan the path Christ trod in his life? If wetruly seek to be his disciples, we shouldfollow him unreservedly. As Jesus saysmany times in the Scriptures in varied

ways, there is much dying on our way tothe Father.

Apathy and indifferentism are alsosignificant challenges of society. We livein a world in which we often hear, "I don'twant to get involved; it is not my concernor responsibility." The apathetic attitudecan be depicted in a humorous story. FredEverybody;ThomasSomebody,Peter Anybody,and Joe Nobodywere neighbors,but not the typethat most wouldwant to know.They were oddpeople, trouble­some, and difficult to understand. The way,they lived their lives was a shame. Thesemen all went to the same church, but mostwould not have wanted them as parishio­ners. Everybody went fishing on Sundaysor stayed home and spoke with hisfriends. Anybody wanted to worship, buthe was afraid that Somebody would speak ,with him. Thus, guess who went tochurch-that's right, Nobody. Actually,Nobody was the only decent one ofthelot. Nobody did the parish census;Nobody joined the Parish Council. Oneday there was a call in the bulletin forpeople to apply for a position as a teacherin the Religious Education Program.Everybody thought Anybody would apply;:Anybody thought Somebody would apply.So, guess who applied? You are right, ,Nobody!

We must guard against apathy in ourlives. When society does not seem toappreciate what we do or who we are, 'there is a tendency to become apathetic.We cannot allow society to drag us down.Remember: we are the Church, the peopleof God, Our friends and neighbors look to

us; nobody is neutral on our behavior orwords. We either draw people closer to usor push them further away by what theyobserve in our words and actions. If they

, know we are Christians, their separationfrom us will also be their separation fromGod. We cannot, therefore, let othersdown.

We must alsofight againstindifferentism.People often'say, "If I followJesus, if! live agood life, whocares whatreligion Ifollow?" Todaymany people

reject organized religion. RobertWuthnow, a sociologist of religion atPrinceton University, speaks of the shift inAmerican culture and religion from a timeof "indwelling," found before Vatican IT,to a period of "seeking" in our contempo­rary society. We must stand against thistide and make a statement for what webelieve. Certainly, as Vatican IT's "Decla­ration on Religious Liberty" states, wemust respect the consciences of all people,but we must clearly maintain the primacyof Catholicism. Again, as Vatican ITclearly states, the fullness of truth lies inthe Catholic faith.

The challenge of the world is alsofound in our need to wait patiently forpeople. All of us have expectations ofothers, but what should our expectationsbe? As I suggested in speaking of self­expectations last week, I believe weshould seek high expectations, but at thesame time be realistic, If our expectationsare:1ow then others will not meet theirpotential. We have the task and challengeto raise people up to allow them to fulfill'their potential. If we expect a'minimum,

then others will remain at the low standardwe have set; they will never move higherbecause there is no incentive for them toadvance. We can challenge people, withcourtesy, grace and respect, to move up tothe potential God has given them.Thro,ugh our baptism and confirmation wehave made a public commitment to liveChristian lives. Thus, we must test othersand by our challenge help them to realizetheir commitment to build and promotethe Kingdom of God in our world.

Our need to walk the road with ourfellow Christian travelers requires signifi­cant effort on our part. As the Book ofGenesis indicates, "We are our brother'skeeper." We must be responsible to eachother and for each other. When we noticethat people have done things well, weshould tell them. When we notice prob­lems, we, should tell them, too. We shoulddo what is right because it is the rightthing to do and ask no recompense for ourefforts. As Jesus says in the Scriptures, '"We are worthless slaves; we have doneonly what we ought to have done!" (Luke17:10). Acting to resolve a problem,whether it be associated with an individualor a situation, may require tough love, butdoing what is right is always the propermove. We do not serve our brothers andsisters well when we passively ignorewhat is going on around us. We are ateam, with Jesus Christ as both captainand coach. We must never lose sight ofthis reality.

Working with others also demandsunderstanding. We all have problems,quirks; and foibles that annoy others; noone is perfect. Jesus was understanding ofothers, including his chosen leader of theApostles, Peter, who denied the Lord threetimes at his greatest hour of need.

Being patient with the world requiresus to engage society, to live in the worldbut not of the world. Secularism ispervasive and we must recognize it forwhat it is. We should not fear, but ratherstand against its onslaught. We must guard

, against the apathy and indifferentism thatplague our society. When people say theydo not want to get involved, we mustanswer with a contrary view, having thecourage to stand against the tide, nomatter its size or strength. We must havelegitimate expectations of people, notsetting the lowest common denominator,but realistic goals. We must be patientwith others and with ourselves. God,afterall, is patient with us; should we not actsimilarly?

Patience with the world is the secondstep of our Advent journey of patientexpectation. Once we have come to gripswith our self - understanding, acknowl­edging our strengths and weaknesses andour need for self reflection - then wemust engage the world, n~ver beingfearful or cowed, but always strong andconvicted in what we say and do. Such isthe challenge of the world; let us prepareourselves to face the world as our Adventjourney continues.

Father Gribble is a noted author andis associate professor ofreligious studiesat Stonehill College in North Easton.

This is the second installinent ofa five­part series.

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CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

$ The Anchor $Catholic officials s~y Middle Eastpeace possible, but ;U.S. must lead

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years has been a contributing reason to a screeching halt."II,

the peace process has s~ed. He was Christine Thcker, an official withBALTIMORE - As key leaders hopeful the U.S.-ledAnpapolis con- Baltimore-based Catholic Relief

from Israel, the Palestinian territo- ference would change that. Services and'a parishioner of St.II '

ries, Saudi Arabia, Syria and other The conference and related meet- Louis in Clarksville, participated innations gathered in Annapolis for a ings included participahts from 50 the recent pilgrimage while also con-

IINovember 26-28 Middle East peace organizations and countries, includ- ducting CRS business in the Holyconference and related meetings, ing Israel, the PalestiniJo territories Land. CRS is the U.S. bishops' over-local Catholic leaders s~d they were and several Arab states!1 seas reliefand development agency.hopeful the meetings would trigger "I think it's very imp~rtant for the She agreed that there are manyfurther discussions formaIdng a last- U.S. to show seriousnJss about all on both sides who know how to at­ing peace in the Holy'Land. of this," Bishop Mad4en 'told the tain peace but that the political pro-

Peace is attainable, they said, but Catholic Review, newspaper of the ces~ needs to be jump-started.it will take assertive leadership from Baltimore Archdiocesel ''There's a Thckersaid it is important,forthe United States to make it a real- need for an outside pa.r& to provide American citizens to lobby theirity. leadership, as long as it's going to U.S. senators to pass a measure that

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"I'm guardedly optimistic in the be even-handed.":: encourages President George W.sense that I'm always happy when Bishop Madden saidithere is gen- Bush to pursue a "robust diplomaticthere's soine kind of negotiation eral consensus about what steps are' effort" iIi the Holy Land and togoing on in the Middle East," said needed to achieve peace. Israelis make a two-state solution "a topBaltimoreAuxiliary Bishop Denis 1. would like greater contful of the ter- priority.",Madden, urban vicar for the arch- rorists who pose a thre~t to security, Pope BenedictXVI said he hopeddiocese. he said, while Palestiniks are look- theAnnapolis conference, held at the

Bishop Madden previously ing for a cessation of I~raeli settle- U.S. Naval Academy, would helpserved as associate secretary general ment-building, the returb ofland and Palestinians and Israelis reach a ')ustof the Catholic Near East Welfare freer travel. I: and definitive solution."Association and director of the Pon- ''The Israelis and Palbstinians can He said the Palestinian-IsraelitificalMission for Palestine office in and do live ~ peace," ~e said. ''We conflict "for 60 years has beenJerusalem. have extremist groups Iithat always bloodying the Holy Land," causing

He s.aid the lack ofstrong leader- topple the equilibriUn1 and when "so many tears and so much suffer­ship from the United States in recent there's an episode everyllimg comes ing among the two peoples."

,Pope says elderly sick people h!ave right to love, comfortVATICAN cITY (eNS) - The , In addition to pain r~lief, he said, when looking at physical ailments,

elderly who are sickrequire and have the dying have a right to "under- he said, but ~so when lo~king at aa right to love, understanding and standing comfort and tonstant en- loss of meanmg and loneliness.comfort from Church workers and courage~ent and acc0rPpaniment." . "I know.80-year-olds wh? are afrom their family members, Pope Pope Benedict sa~d pastoral JOY ~o b~ WIth ,and wh~ contmue .toBenedict XVI said. workers and family m~,mbers must share theIr undoubted W1sd~m, while

''Human life is a gift from God, help the elderly "prep¥e serenely I hav~ known other~ who ~ed at 5?,and we are all called to safeguard it for death which we Christians know but ~d not ·get buned untl1 well ill

always," the pope said November 17 is a tran:ition to the embrace of the 'their 80s," he said.during 'a meeting with participants h~venlyFather,.who is full ofmercy "It .is not easy ~o go ~om bein~in a Vatican conference on the pas- and tenderness." , il ~ active, prod~ctIve pnest or reli-toral care ofthe elderly who are sick. The pope asked participants to glOuS to findmg that you have

The Pontifical Council for Health remember the teaching kd example reached your '~e.ll by' date," he said.Care Ministry sponsored the No-, of "my venerated predJcessor John Elderly religIOUS need love andvember 15-17 conference for chap- Paul IT, who, especiall~ during his ,care, not prea~hing, ~e. said. Theylains, health care providers and theo- illness, offered an exemplary witness ne~d co~pamons wl1hng t? takelogians, with topics ranging from of faith and courage." I! ~eIr f:elmgs and fears senously.new medical treatments to pastoral Pope Benedict said *e wanted to 'Love ill the fq~ of,~are can andcare for aged priests. reaffirm a request Pop~ John Paul does restore meanmg.

Pope Benedict told conference made to scientists and doctors, ask­participants;"If it is true that life in ing them to discover ~~ys "to pre­each ofits phases is worthy ofmaxi- vent and cure the illnes~s related tomum respect, in some ways it is even aging without ever ~ving in to themore true when life is marked by old temptation to resort to 'practices to

d illn " I.age an ess. shorten a sick and elderly life, prac-'The challenge to pastoral work- tices that would be fonhs of eutha-

ers and to family members of find- nasia." Ii

ing ways to care for and assist the Father Anthony M6bks, former"elderly is increasing as the percent- superior general of theliCamillians,

age ofelderly people in many soci- told the conference pa{ticular careeties grows, he said.. must be given to sick and aged

''The modem mentality of effi- priests and religious. II

ciency frequently tends to "illness and ~dvancVtg years al­marginalize these suffering brothers ways involve some forin of loss: a

I'

and sisters ofours, as if they are just loss of space, ofmobility, ofcontrola burden and a problem for society,". over who comes and gbes into our

,I

he said, confined space, over time, over whatBut anyone who believes in the is done to my body," lle said, and

1dignity.of the human person knows· the problem can be ~o're acute forthat they must be respected and sup- priests and religious us~ to privacy,ported as they face the difficulties independence and a self1identity tiedof the last stage of their lives, the to their ministry. II

Rope said. Prevention is essential not only

Pope to sign, release encyclical on hope todayVATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI will today sign hissecond encyclical, a meditation on Christian hope, and the docu~

ment will be immediately released, the Vatican announced. The en­cyclical, titled "Spe Salvi" ("Saved by Hope"), will be presented ata Vatican press conference by Cardinal Georges Cottier, the retiredtheologian of the papal household, and Cardinal Albert Vanboye, aretired professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Sources havesaid the encyclical, about 65 pages long, explores the theme of sal~

vation and the hope offered by Christianity in light of modem phi­losophy and contemporary culture. The title comes from St. Paul'sletter to the Romans, in which he said: ''For in hope we have beensaved."

Pope says world must do more to keep every person free from hungerVATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope BenedictXVI, citing persistent foodinsecurity around the world, said humanity must do more to guaran­tee the "basic right ofevery person to be free from hunger." The popesaid it was "one of the most troubling paradoxes of our time" thatpoverty continues to spread even while many countries experienceunprecedented prosperity. The pope made the remarks to participantsin a recent, annual conference on global nutrition sponsored by theRome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The confer­ence reviewed data showing overall progress in combating worldhunger and even more optimistic projections. According to an FAOreport, the number of well-nourished people could reach 93 percentby the year 2050. But the FAO report noted that some areas havelagged behind.

Elevation of Chaldean patriarch highlights plight ofIraqi ChristiansVATICAN CITY - When Pope Benedict XVI placed a red hat onCardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad during the November24 consistory in St. Peter's Basilica, he was honoring not just thepatriarch of the Chaldean Church, but was elevating the plight ofIraqi Christians to the world's attention. The pope "told me 'I hopethis gesture will be a sign ofreconciliation not only among thepeople,but especially among Sunnis, Shiites and Christians, because Iraq isa country dear to me,'" the patriarch told reporters during a pressconference after a meeting of cardinals and cardinals-designate withthe pope. During the consistory, Pope Benedict said in his homilythat elevating the Chaldean leader was a way of "concretely express­ing my spiritual closeness and my affection" for Iraq's Christian mi~

norities. "They are experiencing in their own flesh the dramatic con­sequences of an enduring conflict and now live in a fragile and deli­cate political situation," the pope said.

• The Anchor news briefs

Church officials kick off new season of Cleritus Cup in RomeROME (CNS) - Vatican and other Church officials kicked off thesecond season of the enormously popular Oericus Cup soccer seriesin which 16 teams of seminarians and priests studying in Rome viefor the championship title. Organizers said they hoped the series'example ofethical sportsmanship and fair play would help infect thewider world of sports, especially in Italy, where a police officer'sfatal shooting of a soccer fan November 11 sparked riots across thecountry. Bishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the Pontifical Councilfor the Laity, said the Gospels teach that "one must triumph over evilwith good." He said the Clericus Cup was a perf~t example of thekind of good that could help guide sport away from "a difficult pe-'riod." The bishop and others spol.e during a press conference held atthe Italian Olympic Committee headquarters in Rome a few hoursbefore the whistle blew to start the series' first match between MaterEcclesiae and Rome's major seminary.

Cardinals say meeting with pope shows his emphasis on Christian unityVATICAN CITY (CNS) - The importance Pope BenedictXVI placeson the search for Christian unity was evi~ent in his decision to focuson ecumenism during a November 23 meeting with members of theCollege ofCardinals, said a U.S. cardinal. CardinalWilliam H. Keeler,the retired archbishop of Baltimore who has been involved in ecu­menical and interfaith activities for years, said the fact that the popechose ecumenism as the theme for the meeting shows ''that this is avery vital thing for the church worldwide." Cardinal Keeler, who wasone of 33 cardinals to speak during the meeting, told Catholic NewsService the discussion demonstrated that there are different experi­ences and levels ofecumenical dialogue. "Different ecumenical formshave evolved in different parts of the world, and the progress in eachregion is different," he said. "For the pope, ecumenism is not a sub­ject for discussion, but a mandate," German Cardinal Walter Kasper,president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unityand the main speaker chosen by the pope to address the meeting, toldjournalists afterward. The meeting brought together 120 cardinalsand the 23 men Pope Benedict inducted into the College of Cardi­nals.

INOVEMBER 30,2007

- 16 YOUTH PAGES ~ NOVEMBER 30, 2007

SEASON'S GREETINGS - Leslie Vicente and Principal CristinaRaposo from St. James-St. John School, New Bedford, enjoy aspecial meal during the Thanksgiving season.

, .\

THE VOTES ARE IN - BishopConnolly High School in FallRiver recently elected class of­ficers. They were: top photo,Sophomore, Junior, and Seniorstudent officers, front, from left:Shantel daSilva, Katie Tighe,and Lauren Felix. Middle:Mackenzie Rogers, JennaPerry, Evan Catudal, Kherri­Lynn Rego, and Matt Varao.Back: Katarina Mauricio,Kelsey Sullivan, Selic Borden,David Carvalho, and· ZachBoutin. At right, Freshman stu­dent officers from left: RyanFrost, Ariel Moniz, NathanHabib, and Nina Blythe.

THEY CAN BANK ON IT - The fourth-grade class at Notre Dame de Lourdes School, Fall River,recently went on a field trip to The Bank Of Fall River w!lich has a banking program to give studentsthe opportunity to open a savings account, make deposits, and understand yarious banking proce­dures. Above, teacher Pam Alexander and fourth-grader Kimberly Huyler stUdy a deposit slip.

He said "In my short time offici­ating three high school sports, Ihave never seen any gesture thatcomes close to this. It was veryclassy."

Principal Paul Cartier re­marked by saying "This speaksvolumes about the character andspirit ofthe member's of our girlssoccer team and about their futureas moral leaders in our society."

NANTUCKET - At a recentaway game, the Coyle and CassidyHigh School Girls Soccer captainspresented the Nantucket captainswith a card and bouquet of flow­ers in memory of a teammate thathad recently passed away.

The officiating referee, Mat­thew Runge, submitted this act ofkindness for recognition by theMIAA for good sportsmanship.

c-c girls soccer: A class act

AT A LACROSSE ROADS - Bishop Feehan High School Sopho­more Lauren Tavares proudly displays the lacrosse ball she de­signed to commemorate the Attleboro school's first lacrosseseason. Principal Bill Runey chose Tavares' design from all thosesubmitted by the team.

WARMING UP FOR TURKEY DAY - John Davis and FrancescaBarbi are served "Tom Turkey" by Mrs. Timper at a recent Thanks­giving dinner at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth.

.~

I NOVEMBER 30, 2007 , YOUTH PAGES 17

Homeless YouthsFigures on homeless and runaway yOLing people are difficult to comeby because of mobility and overlapping populations. Below are somefigures gleaned from a Congressional Research Service report.

Vigils across country put humanface on plight. of homeless youths

in Christ

We must continue to tell ourelected leaders that approaches based

, in violence are not acceptable. As dis­ciples of the Prince of Peace, whosebirth we will soo!! celebrate, we canpresent the picture of a communityof Jesus that will not support war.

Moreover, we also must pictureourselves among' those who do notaccept the numbing grind of povertyon people's lives.

Just recently theUnited StatesCon­ference ofCatholic Bishops sponsoredits annual Campaign for Human De­velopment collection (seewww.usccb.orglcchd). By supportingthis effort we show that we stand to­gether with all who face hunger, a lackof healthcare and unemployment.

We also present a picture of our­selves as a community ofJesus whenwe:

-Question how the U.S. govern­ment can spend hundreds of billionsof dollars on war while millions ofits citizens go without the basic es­sentials of life.

-Love the earth. We know' thatGod sanctified our planet when hecreated it. We want to pass on its ho­liness and treasures to those who~ome after us and address those is~

sues that threaten it, issues such asglobal warming.

We are powerful, committed andfilled with the Holy Spirit. We knowwhat Jesus taught us and we believeit. These are our "pictures ofyou, pic­tures of me."

MayGod inspire and guide us aswe actively care for all his family onthis planet.

Comments ore always wekome.Please write to Charlie Martin oJ:chmartin@swindiana.net or at7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

world to seePictures' ofmePictures "ofyou

Remind us all ofwhatcould have been

What could have beenWe could have been

Sung by The Last GoodnightCopyright 2007 bY VirginRecords U.S.

What could we be? What picturesmost reflect who vJ,e are? Who arethe "we" in these questions?

It's all of us who call ourselvestoday's disciples of ~esus.

These questions surfaced when Iread the lyrics to The LastGoodnight's new rel~ase "Pictures ofYou." As far as I Ialow, this is thegroup's first trip up 'the charts. Theband features an alternative rocksound and is from Enfield, Conn.Currently the group is on tour pro-

"moting their debut,ldisc, "PoisonKiss." II

"Pictures ofYou" presents variousII

scenes. Some must ~ particular toth~ song's character. Others are fa­miliar to all of us, especially those

"reflecting the curre'!t wars in theMiddle East.

What struck me ab<:>ut this song isthe reference to ~'pictures" that "re­mind us all ofwhat could have been."

How important it is to considerwhat "pictures" ofourselves we wantto present to the world as today's fol-lowers of Jesus? II,

Surely today's disciples need topresent pictures of themselves ascommitted peacemakers. We can beinspired by rememberfug the pictureof Pope John Paul II repeating toworld leaders just before the U.S. in­vasion ofIraq the worm; ofPope JohnXXIII: 'War never again!"

II

PICTURES OF YOUThis is the clock up on the wall

This is the story ofus allThis is the first sound ofa newchild before he starts to crawl

This is the war that's never wonThis is the soldier and his gun

This is the mother waiting by thephone praying for her son

Pictures ofyouPictures ofme

Remind us all ofwhatwe used to be

There is a drug that cures it allBlocke4 by the gov.emment wall

We are the scientists inside the labjus', waiting for the call

This ea~hquake weather has got: me shaking

Inside I'm high up and dryPictures ofyouPictures ofme

Hung up on your wallfor theworld to see \

Pictures ofyou \Pictures ofme \

Remind us all ofwit. we used to be

Confess to meAll that lies between Js

All that lies between you ahd meWe are boxers in the ri~g

We are the bells that nevet singThere is a title we can't »!'fiin nomatter how hard we must ing

Pictures ofyouPictures ofme ,.

Hung up on your wall/or theworld to see

Pictures ofyouPictures ofme

Remind us all ofwhat we couldhave been

Pictures ofyouPictures ofme

Hung up on your wall for the

II

.Showing the world who we areII

By CHARLIE MARTIN - CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

of Perpetual Help Church in Wash­ington.

The kickoff vigil was sponsoredby the U.N. Staff Recn;ation Coun­cil, whose president, RamuDamodaran, compared the UnitedNations to Covenant House. "We area house where at least two majorcovenants, one assuring economicand social rightS and the other as­suring civil rights, come together."

In Washington, a biting coldevening helped participants in theNovember 15 candlelight vigil ex­perience in a small way what it feelslike to live on the streets. The shar­ing of stories helped people see thefaces and hear the voices of youngpeople who had been homeless.

According to the National Alli­ance to End Homelessness, about1,400 youths in Washington werehomeless for at least one night in2006. Nationwide, the group esti-

. mates that one million youngpeople experienced homelessnessIllst year.

0200706

homeless youths in the U.S.

of 12- to 17-year-olds haveexperienced homelessness.

of runaways are white youths.17% are black, 15% are Hispanic

•of runaway or thrown-awayyouths return home.

most cited reason for familybeing homeless/runaway confl ict

5%

57%

. 52,000to1 million

UNITED NATIONS - Cov­enant House in NewYork kicked off

, its 17th annual candlelight vigil forhomeless youths with a lunchtimeflashlight vigil at U.N. headquarters.

Sister Tricia C;:ruise, a Sister ofCharity who is president of Cov­enant House, said the recent vigilwas an "urgent worldwide call forgreater advocacy on behalfof ... theestimated 40 million street childrenin Latin America and 1.3 millionyoung people who will experiencehomelessness this year in the UnitedStates and Canada."

Calling the vigil "a powerful actof faith:' she added, "It is an act ofdefiance against evil, against pimpsand against complacency. Everytime we light a candle today, or raise ,a flashlight, we send a message tohomeless youth that says,'Your lifematters.'"

Evening candlelight vigils wereheld in 150 locations across theUnited States, induding TimesSquare in New York and Our Lady

Hope in waiting'Happy New Year.No, this is not the New Year's

edition of The Anchor, nor have I·submitted my article one monthearly. But this weekenq does in factmark the start of our liturgical year.

Unlike the traditional NewYear's celebration that occurswhen the clock strikes midnighton January 1, our Catholic NewYear begins one month earlier. AsCatholics, we mark the start of abrand new year with the Advent,season. Unlike the one dayJanuary 1 celebration, our newyear begins with four weeks ofpreparation and anticipation.

The term "advent" has becomesynonymous with waiting. Somemay think that this waiting simplyrefers to: waitingfor a parkingspot at the mall; waiting in longlines at the stores; waiting toattend those Christmas parties;waiting for the st~ofChristmasbreak;, waiting to open thosepresents. Waiting has becomeSuch a negative concept espe-

cially in a culture that has drive­thru everything includingwedding chapels, seriously, lookit lip. We want what we wantwhen we want it.

But there are so many morepositives'to waiting. Waiting forthat very first snow fall;waiting for the crocusesto break through the lastsnows of winter; waitingfor those fresh Christmascookies mom baked tocome out of the oven;waiting for the birth of achild - one child inparticular during thisseason.

Yes, Advent is a time ofwaiting. It is a time for us, youngand old, to reflect on our lives anddetermine if we are in factprepared. As Cath()lics, are weprepared to enter this season ofanticipation and take a good, hardlook at who we were this pastyear? Are we prepared for thecoming of our Lord, Jesus?,

Although Advent leads right intoChristmas when we celebrate theBirth of Christ, we are alsopreparing for the time when Christcomes again. We proclaini this atMass during the MemorialAcclamation: "Christ has died. '

Christ is risen. Christ will comeagain."

As we partake in the hustle andbustle of the holiday shoppingsales, fill our cars with presents,'

, goodies, and other ~whatchamacallits - while ofcourse running up our credit cardsand emptying our checkingaccounts -let's pause a momentto reflect on the true meaning of

the season. It's not ab6ut who hasthe biggest HDTV, th~ smallestiPod, or the hottest Nintendo WtiGame. It's about recoQunittingourselves to our faith and toJesus. It's about preparingourselves to become me people in

"which he can proud.The Advent and

ehri "stmas seaspns are notjust about waiting, butthey are also about hope.Hope that thIngs, nomatter what those thingsare, will get better; hopethat maybe this':, yearyou'll be able to let go of

that grudge you've kept forreasons you no longer remember;

"hope that wars will becQme a .thing,of the past. Hope accompa­nied by faith and love c~ onlyspread joy not just for tlle seasonbut for every day of every year.

There's a scene from'''It's aWonderful Life" when Georgebegins to understand what lifewould be like without him in it.

':1

II

Clarence, the angel who has cometo show him, says "Strange, isn'tit? Each man's life touches somany other lives. When he isn'taround he leaves an awful hole,doesn't he?"

Whose life have you touched 'this past year? How do you seeyourself touching the lives ofothers in the year and years tocome? Who can you bring thefaith, hope, and lQve of thisseason to? How will you preparefor the coming of our Lord?

New years are a chance for usto start fresh. We cannot erase thepast, but we can and should learnfrOql it. Tomorrow comes with nomistakes in it. Let's make themost of it we possibly can.

But let's save singing AuldLang Syne for January 1.

Crystalis theassistantdirectorforYouth & Young AdulJ Ministry forthe diocese and youth ministry co­ordinator for SL Lawrence.MartyrParish in New Bedford. You can con­tact her oJ cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

I 18 , The Anchor ~ NOVEMBER 30, 2007 I

Pro-Life Continued from page one Our readers resPQnd

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In response: While the numbers of those remem­bering WWII's heroes are rapidly dwindling, I thinkfew of them were ever aware that Father Lenaghanwas buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery nearly 60 yearsago in 1948, four years after he had been killed inItaly. I've been in contact with city and federalVeteran's agencies to determine how a VA marker maybe obtained. Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, a retiredpri~st of our diocese, and I, have personally taken upthe cause. Deacon Jim Dunbar

Letters ate welcome but the editor reserves theright to condense or editfor clarity ifdeemed neces­sary. Letters should be typed, no longer than 100words and should include name, address, and tele­phone number. Letters do not necessarily reflect theeditorial views ofThe Anchor. Letters should be sentto: The Anchor, Letters to the· Editor, P.O. Box 7,Fall River, MA 02722-0007, or emailed tofatherrogerlandry@an,chornews.org.

weakness. With the article is a picture of Bishop,Wenski greeting Palestinian children; but lacking is apicture of him with Israelis.

From what the article reveals, I don't think BishopWenski and his group are honest brokers. This fact­finding group as portrayed in the story is no friend ofIsrael. I suggest that The Anchor, which is an excel­lent paper, be more careful in printing these types ofstories.

Charles O. CoudertSherborn

Kudos to Father Tadfor his instructions

Father Tad Pacholczyk's column, "Getting it right'The Morning After'" (11109/07), provides an abun­dance of information on the controversy over whetherthe so-called "Plan B" emergency contraception pill(also known as the "morning-after" pill) should beadministered to women who present themselves athospital emergency rooms reporting they have beenraped. He explains that, from the Catholic Church'sperspective, it may not be immoral to provide a con-traceptive in such cases, because a woman who hasbeen sexually assaulted is entitled to protect herself Columnist criticizedfrom the attacker's sperm. On the other hand, if the I am writing to express how disappointed I amwoman is ovulating by the time she reaches the hos- that you continue to feature the reactionary musingspital, the pill might function to prevent the implanta- of Mr. George Weigel. As a devout Catholic, I findtion of any newly conceived embryo, which from the it deeply troubling that the official publication ofmoral standpoint would be considered an early abor- my diocese gives a forum to this man. His columnstion. FatherTad concludes that Catholic hospitals must are' predictable; a little war justification here, aconduct tests on the women in order to exclude, with name dropping there,' plus a soup~on of obscurereasonable certainty, the possibility that a'human may' "Sfilish economist. His neocon lectures are not in­be "hidden within" before administering what could structive. They are didactic and divisive - evidencebe a death-dealing drug. his most recent screed in which. he decrees that the

FatherTad rightly complains about laws which re- paramount concern of liberalism is the "promotionquire Catholic hospitals to provide "morning-after" of lifestyle libertinism."pills when sexual assault has been alleged. As a prac-tical matter, however, in Massachusetts the law shouldnot make much difference one way or another. Thisis because the same pills which the law requires be Where are the brother priests?given in hospitals, now are freely available from phar- As I began reading Deacon Dunbar's article in themacies. No prescription is required to purchase this November 16 edition of The Anchor about Fatherpowerful drug, and the only requirement is evidence Arthur C. Lenaghan, who was killed in Italy whilethat the buyer - male or female - is at least 18 yearsserviiig as a chaplain in WWII, I was saddened fromofage. Ironically, in this state you need a doctor's pre- the very first sentence, which referred to only leavesscription to buy conventional birth control, and proof decorating the grave, "without surviving kin to visitthat you are 21 years old to get a beer, but a do-it- or bring flowers."yourself baby killer pill can be obtained by anyone Are nO,t all the priests of the Fall River Diocese, orwho has reached her .I8th birthday, or who has a friend for that matter of the Roman Catholic ChUrch wher­that old who will buy it for her. ever,they may be, brothers of this priest? Do they not

The current controversy goes back to 2005 when refer to each other as "br~ther priests"? Couldn't eachthe Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill titled "An priest in the diocese visit that grave at least once aAct Providing Timely Access to Emergency Con- year, perhaps signing up on a visitation list throughtraception" which required easy access to "morning the chancery so there would be at least one visitorafter" pills. Gov. Mitt Romney vetged the bill, but per week, br,inging a flower and saying a prayer forin September 2005 the Massachusetts Senate (37- their brother who lost his life 'in' service of his coun­0) and the House (139-16) overrode this veto. Two try? You could add the deacons to that list, also.years ago the Legislature, although about 70 per- Couldn't the diocese apply to the Veteran's Ad­cent Catholic, strongly disagreed with the Church's ministration for the marker identifying the grave asposition against the distribution of contraceptive/ that of a veteran? Since he \\las "the only priest fromabortifacient drugs. Unfortunately, nothing has the Fall River Diocese to be killed in action duringchanged since then. Nevertheless, with the help of' WWII," shouldn't this rate a marker? Now it's doneexperts like Father Tad, we should try to keep in- automatically at death, but evidently it wasn't the caseformed on the technical and moral issues involved. when his body was returned to Fall River in the 40s.In that way we can be equipped to explain to our May he rest in peace.legislators, members of the medical profession andpharmacists the moral grounds for opposing the in-discriminate distribution of "morning-after" pills,whether in a hospital setting or over the counter ~t

your local pharmacy.

No honest brokers on bishops'international committee

Thank you for The Anchor. I enjoy reading it ,;erymuch, but I am troubled by a September 14 edition

.article reporting on the five-day visit to the Holy Landby'BishopThomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chair­man of the U.S. bishops' International Policy Com­mittee. The visit was hosted by Catholic Relief Ser­vices. If the article is an accurate account of BishopWenski's views, then it looks like he is one-sided infavor of the Palestinians over the Israelis. One couldonly wonder why Bishop Wenski did not mention thedaily aggressive unprovoked attacks on Israel by thePalestinians, and, yet accuse Israel of not negotiatingin good fliith and of taking advantage of Palestinian

wines in a twin pack (buy one ­give.one) that describes the qualityof the wines, recommended foodpairings and information on thebenefits qf adult stem-cell research.Schneeberger not only raises aware­ness of the issue through his prod­uct; but he also donates 10 percentof his profits to this cause.

According to its Websitewww.bogowines.com. the companyuses a trademarked Two Heartsmarketing logo "to represent a cul­ture of life in honor of the SacredHeart of Jesus and the ImmaculateHeart of Mary."

The battle over human life,Schneeberger said, is not just po­litical and cultural; it's spiritualwarfare.--"Experience from the lasttlITee

years has proven to us that the mostimportant work in our efforts tobuild a culture of life is prayer andconsecration to the Sacred and Eu­charistic Heart ofJesus through theintercession of The Sorrowful andImmaculate Heart of Mary.

"Other brands and products helpsave the whales, save the trees, saveth,e polar bears, save the SnowyOwls," Schneeberger said, but bysupporting adult stem-cell research,BOGO "saves the people, born andunborn."

Getting messages like this intothe media is one goal ofEternal LifeRadio, a Medford-based group try­ing to bring Catholic radio full-timeto Massachusetts. Shaw's and StarMarket;ill give the group one per­cent of purchases from sales re­ceipts people tum in to Eternal Life.

The show currently broadcastsFather John Corapi weekdays fromnoon t9 1 p.m. on 950 AM WROL.It works with EWTN Global Catho­lic Radio' Network and hopes tosomeday purchase its own station,according to organizer Mary AnnHarold.

Original Shaw's and Star Mar­ket sales receipts should be mailedto Eternal Life Radio, 43 RiversideAve., No. 508, Medford, MA02155.

"Through our broadcasts,we've been able to reach peoplewith the truth of Jesus Christ andhis Church, but more help isneeded to fight the stranglehold ofdeath," Harold said.

churches are poised to buy millionsof these traditional flowers.

"Stop purchasing poinsettiasuntil the Eckes stop supporting thekilling of unborn babies. It's thatsimple," he said. Ecke Ranch prod­ucts also include the Flower Fieldsand Oglevee brands sold to grow­ers nationwide.

A list of major corporatePlanned Parenthood supporters isavailable from Life Decisions In­ternational in Front Royal, VA.

LDI's boycott list includes com­panies-from eBay to Whole FoodsMarket, Bank of America, MariottHotels, Chevron, Texaco andOutback Steakhouse, among others.

On the other hand, the Affinity4 (formerly Lifeline) company haspannered with MCFL for servicesthat people use all the time: longdistance phone, high-speed dial-upInternet, DirectTV satellite televi­sion and Visa credit cards. The Pro­Life group nets up to 10 percentfrom Affinity 4 services.

"You're going to be shoppingand using services anyway, so youmight as well have a good causebenefit," said Robert O'Brien,MCFL stewardship director.

The organization's Website of­fers a smorgasbord of easy newtechnology-based fund-raising ven­tures.

One program that Web surferscan try is GoodSearch - a searchengine that donates 50 percent ofits revenue to any participatingcharity a user designates. Everysearch brings MCFL about onecent, and GoodSearch's revenuecomes completely from advertisers.

Once on the sitegoodsearch.com, shoppers can en­ter GOQdShop, an online shoppingmall of major retailers like Kohl's,Pet Smart, Macy's and Old Navy.Making a purchase' throughGoodShop will net MCFL an aver­age three percent of the total pur­chase.

And wine .drinkers can toast,aglass to life while helping ethicalste~-cell research thanks to BOGOWines. BOGO s.tands for "BuyOne, Give One," and it's the brain­child of Bill Schneeberger, a devoutCatholic wine distributor.

He and partner Stefano Sgarzi,an Italian winemaker, sell their

-'

-'

NOVEMBER 30, 2007 $ The Anchor $ 19

Continued from page one

NEW PARISH:

CLIP THIS ENTIRE FORM AND MAIL TO:

Davignon, the pastor, has been"very supportive in endorsing ourgroup and the prayer night."

The effort is being promul­gated by a national WebsiteNationaINightofPrayerforLife.org.It aims to link parishes, religiousgroups, convents, monasteries,Right to Life groups, the Knightsof Columbus and parish/fraternalorganizations and invite them toparticipate,

For more information contactLarry K. Burke at emailLburke4845Aaol.com; or byphone at 508-420-5713.

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Catholics from other Cape par­ishes, especially Our Lady ofVictory in Centerville, will joinwith Catholics in churches fromthe East Coast to the West Coast.and be in solidarity when Bene­diction ends the hours at 1 a.m.

. "The final hour at midnight iscalled the 'Hour of Unity,'" saidBurke. "We invite all those inter­ested to take part. And if you areunable to come to our church,you can still join with us inprayer in your own home orwherever you are."

He said Father Philip A.

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AFFORDABILITY... Dignijied services within a budgetFor over 135 years. families have turned to the Waring-Sullivan service family ofcompassionate professionals to guide them through life's most challenging times,

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AScrvic< nunity Affili..c ofAFFS & S<:rviCt' CO'por.llion fn1Cf11:1tiooal, 492 R()(k Str<ct. Fan Kiv",. MA 02720 50S-676-24S4

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, In Your PrayersPlease pray for these priests

during the coming weeks

Dec. 3Rev. John W. McCarthy, P.R., Pas­

tor, Sacred Heart, F~ll River, 1926

Dec. 7Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retired Pas­

tor, St. James, New Bedford,1976

Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pas­tor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977

Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pas­tor, St. Joan ofAre, Orleans, 2000

Dec. 9Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired

Associate Pastor, St. Anne, FallRiver, 1983

Dec. 4Rev. Patrick Byrne, Pastor, St. Mary,

New Bedford, 1844Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St.

Jacques, Taunton, 1945Rev. Edward C. Duffy, Pastor, St.

Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1994

Dec.SRev. Eugene J. Boutin, Manchester

Diocese, 1986Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC.,

Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home,New Bedford, 1990

Dec. 6Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our

Lady of the Angels, Fall River,1959

Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett,JCD, Chancellor, June-December1966, 1966

Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pas­tor, Our Lady of Victory,Centerville, 1971

Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pas­tor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985

Dec.SRev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St.

Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940

"It was an attempt to establishperpetual adoration for the life ofthe unborn in a parish, but itfailed because it is so difficult torecruit adorers for the earlymorning hours," said Burke.

"Instead the Annual Night ofPrayer for Life was instituted andis now in its 18th successful yearnationally and held for the past12 years at Our Lady of the As-

'sumption Church located at 76Wianno Avenue in Osterville," hesaid.

In the Church there on De­cember 8, beginning at 9 p.m.,four, one-hour prayer periodswill begin.

"Four things take'place at eachof the four hours," Burke ex­plained. "With the Blessed Sac­rament exposed, every hour willinclude saying the rosary - andwe'll used a different one of thefive mysteries each hour - andsay a prayer to 'St. Michael theArchangel for prot~ction of alllife; and also engage in privatemeditation."

In spirit, the host parishioners,whose numbers in the past haveincreased by attendance of;

,Prayer.

NEW BEDFORD - Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m.Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church, 233 CountyStreet, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m. and confessionsoffered during the evening.

TAUNTON - Eucharistic adoration takes place at Annunciation of theLord Church, 31 First Street, December 7 following the 8 a.m. Mass andwill continue throughout the day. Confessions will be heard from 5:15 to6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction take place at 6:30 p.m.

~~~S~~----~

BREWSTER....:.. Our Lady of the Cape Church at 468 Stony Brook Roadwill host a Mass with healing service by LaSalette Father Richard Lavoiethe first Wednesday of every month.r-·-----··----··----lIOutreach ... -----'

NORTH DARTMOUTH - Bibles in Portuguese and white plastic rosa­ries are being sought by the Bristol County Sheriff's Office to help in­mates at the Bristol County House of Correction build a closer relation­ship to God. Donations can be sent to James Rioux, volunteer coordi­nator, Bristol County Sheriff's Office, 400 Faunce Comer Road, NorthDartmouth, MA 02747.

~isc~llaneous JATTLEBORO - Extreme East will h~ve a night of music, prayer, andadoration at Bishop Feehan High School, 70 Holcott Drive December 7.Sean Forrest will speak about "Moral Relativism - Jesus the One andOnly." Tickets can be purchased at the door or by going online atProud2BCatholic.com and steubenvilleeast.org

ATTLEBORO - St. John the Evangelist Church at 133 North MainStreet will hold a Holiday Concert December 9 at 3 p.m. St. John's AdultChoir and Youth Choir will perform. Please bring a canned good fortheSt. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry as admission.

CENTERVILLE - A special prayer service on the eve of World AIDSDay will take place tonight at Our Lady of Victory Church from 7 to'8p.m. The theme is "Take the Lead," and prayers will be offered for lead­ers at all levels to combat the disease. All are invited.

FALL RIVER - The Fall River Area Men's First Friday Club will meetDecember 7 at 6 p.m. at Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South MainStreet. There will be a meal following a 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Fa­ther Marek Tuptynski,who will later speak about Pope John Paull!. Allmen are invited. For information, call Norman Valiquette, 508-672-8174.

CHATHAM - A Tridentine Mass in Latin is celebrated 1 p.m. everySunday at Our Lady of Grace Chapel on Route 137 in Chatham.

FAIRHAVEN - The diocesan Legion of Mary will hold an annual re­union Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church, at Spring and Adamsstreets. Hosted by the Queen of Peace Praesidium, the event includesrecitation of the rosary at the church followed by a social in the hall. Allmembers, family and friends are invited.

Around the Diocese ~":16" ~..;.

NEW BEDFORD - John Polce will host a night of music and spiritualitytomorrow at St. Kilian Parish, 306 Ashl~y Boulevard, at 7 p.m.

[Bible Study/Advent Prayer

EASTON - Holy Cross Church at 226 Purchase Street in Easton holdsBible study sessions at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. Fridays at theparish center. This year's session, which runs through May, focuses onSt. Paul's letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Ephesians. Formore information call Fran Long at 508-238-2255.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - St. Julie Billiart Church hosts a Bible studytwice a week, organized by the parish's Adult Faith Formation office.The lectionary-based Bible study takes place 10 a.m. Tuesdays in theparish conference room at 494 Slocum Road, with a repeat session at 7p.m. Weanesdays.

SWANSEA - St. Louis de France Parish, 56 Buffington Street, will hostweekly Advent Centering Prayer gatherings. The group will meet in theFamily Room of the church at 6:15 p.m. every Tuesday through Decem­ber 18. Prayer begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. For more information, con­tact Charles R. Demers at forums8799@mypacks.net or 508-617-0848.

LE~~~ari~tic ~~r~~on_ .__ .. JEASTON - Eucharistic adoration in celebration of the feast of the Im­maculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will take place in thechapel of the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street, on Decem­ber 7 beginning with a rosary at 9 a.m and Mass at noon. For moreinformation call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-238-4095.

EAST TAUNTON - Holy Family Parish at 370 Middleboro Avenue inEast Taunton offers eucharistic adoration the first Friday of every monthfrom after the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

BUS STOP - On any given night from Thanksgiving to New Year's, one can find scores of busesbringing pilgrims to witness the Festival of Lights at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro. (Photo by Matt McDonald)

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helps the process.The electric bill runs about $26,000

over the 39 days of the display. Theshrine doesn't charge for either admis­sion or parking, but shrine officials doencourage donations from visitors.

Brother Bob, asked why theshrine hosts the display year afteryear, said:

"I think to bring in the spirit ofChristmas, especially for the children.Because there's so much commercial­ization of Christmas, and they cancome here and experience that Jesusis alive. 'Love is Born' is what theyexperience here."

Patricia said.On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sun­

days, BrotherBob narrates an approxi­mately I8-minute tour of the groundsby trolley, a must for those who havetrouble walking and a good idea evenfor those who don't, as it provides aview and facts that can't be gotten oth­erwIse.

The trolley travels about 1.4 miles,as Brother Bob describes the scenesand the prodigious manhours oflaborto install the lights, beginning August1. Nearly 6,000 teen-agers performservice projects at the shrine duringthe summer, he said, which greatly

$ The Anchor $

Conn., earlier that afternoon, and weresuitably impressed with what theyfound after dark.

"I think it's absolutely fantastic.This is our first time here. We'reamazed. It's'unbelievable;' Christo­pher Mierez said.

He said he and his wife plan to visitevery year from now on. ''And bringour children with us;' Petra said.

The bright and colorful Nativityscene was a highlight.

"A Nativity makes you feel likeyou're there, at that time;' Petra said.

"It reminds me of the birth ofmy son, too," her sister-in-law

begun, the shrine is in full Advent 'mode, which includes an expandedschedule of confessions, 2 to 8 p.m.: ;every day. The usual 6:30 p.m. dailyMass has been moved an hour earlier, "to 5:30.

The lights display is so large and ",so spread out that it's easy to miss partsof it, including what may be the mostspectacular, the Rosary Pond on thesouth side of the shrine church, which 'is ringed by colorful lights and which' ",has a peninsula that juts out into it that 'is also lit. "

Various trees around the pond are, .::dedicated to people who have died. ','"And the family co~es back anddeco- .': .rates the tree, in memory of the per-'son;' said Brother Bob Russell, direc~tor of the shrine.

About 3,000 people visited theshrine's lights display on Thanksgiv­ing, the first night, said Brother Bob.Tens of thousands more are expectedbefore New Year's Day, when it ends.

The lights and mass of humanityhave an appreciable effect on the tem­perature. A frigid walk around theRosary Pond around 4 p.m. Saturday,for instance, was almost comfortableabout three hours later, as the ther­mometer was apparently nudged up­ward by the heat radiating frOm bulbsand people.

Elsewhere on the property, thisyear's display features a new Nativityscene, which drew ChristopherMieref, his wife Petra, and his sisterPatricia last Saturday night.

They had made a bus trip with theKnights of Columbus from Hartford,

Continuedfrom page one \Lightsdisplay somehow looked bigger whenhe was little.

''But it still does look just as beau­tiful as I remember from when I was akid;' he said.

Visitors can climb stairs on twosmall hills covered in lights, includ­ing one that commemorates the ap­pearance ofMary in 1846 to two chil­dren in the French Alps, which in­spired the founding of the Missionar­ies ofOur Lady ofLa Salette, the reli­gious congregation that runs theshrine.

The other hill has stairs flanked byrows of lighted angels with trumpets,leading to "Holy Stairs," a replica ofthe 28 stairs that tradition says Jesus'had to climb during his passion. Somevisitors Saturday climbed the stairs inAttleboro on their knees, saying aprayer on each step, as a nearby signinvited them to do, on the way to thesummit, where there is a large cruci­fixion scene.

Standing about halfway up the hillas a nearby photographer grappledwith a tripod, Jean McDermott ofnorthern Vermont noted that most dis­plays at Christmastime these days aresecular, more celebrating the seasonthan the reason.

"The lights here are a symbol ofour faith, and it's tastefully done;' saidMcDermott, who grew up inMiddleborough and was visiting theshrine with her mother, her sister, andher four daughters. "This is nice thatit's combining the two, and showingthat the two can be in harmony."

While Advent hasn't yet officially

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DEDICATED FAITHFUL - Bishop George W. Coleman, top photo, is surrounded by this year's Mar­ian Medal recipients following a ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral November 18. At left, Joyce McGrathof St. Mary/Our Lady of the Isle Parish in Nantucket receives her award, and at right, the bishoppresents the medal to Berta Rodrigues of Santo Christo Parish, Fall River. (Photos by Eric Rodrigues)