NEWS
1998 NEWS STORIES
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
Contents © 1998
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
NEWS
JANUARY 1998
"IMMEDIATE ACTION AND RESPONSE is needed from the pro-choice community. A physician has been arrested for murder for a RECOGNIZED COMPLICATION in a legal second term abortion." So runs an internet appeal for a defense fund for abortionist, Dr. Bruce Saul Steir, 66, who, on December 13, 1996 perforated the uterus of Sharon Hamptlon in a second trimester abortion he performed on her, and so caused her death. As reported in the December, 1997 Mission (see "A Conscious and Willful Disregard"), the Medical Board of California has charged Dr. Steir with the murder of Sharon Hamptlon.
The internet appeal by a group called "Feminist Women's Health Center" in Chico, California, has been posted on the web site of a New York City based group called "Refuse and Resist." The appeal states that the complication arising from Hamptlon's abortion "was tragic," but was "within the range of risk of later abortions, and certainly not murder. Complications from medical treatment are not criminal acts." The appeal calls for the support of "the pro-choice community" with particular urgency, stating that "[y]our immediate response in support of Dr. Steir and the future of later abortion is needed; Spread the word to your friends and family; send out alerts to your contacts; Contact the California Medical Board."
According to a report in the December 1, 1997 Riverside Press Enterprise, Steir's attorney, Doran Weinberg, says "he does not know how much money the support drive has generated." However, the same report states that "Riverside County prosecutor Kennis Clark has received two or three letters a day for several weeks from Steir's supporters."
In a letter accompanying the appeal, Dr. Steir himself calls on supporters to help him in his "hour of need." Dr. Steir writes that he has "reasons to believe" that his arrest has been "done to persecute me for providing abortion services. Can you imagine a surgeon being arrested for homicide because a patient died during a coronary by-pass procedure?" Dr. Steir says that he did not know that he had perforated Hamptlon's uterus: "you must believe," he writes, "that if she had shown any symptoms or signs of uterine perforation, I would have sent her to the hospital immediately."
Not only Dr. Steir has indicated that he is being persecuted; his attorney, Doran Weinberg, seems to hint at it. According to the Riverside Press Enterprise, Weinberg has said that "his client has felt political heat before in the 20 years he has performed abortions.... 'Dr. Steir sees the hands of political opponents here, that's understandable,' Weinberg said." Dido Hasper, who is "a founding director of abortion clinics in Chico, Redding, Sacramento and Santa Rosa," and for whom Steir has worked, states the case more bluntly. According to the Press Enterprise, "she blamed the murder charge on an over-zealous medical board and lobbying by abortion opponents.... 'They don't argue... (for murder) in the case of other malpractice situations,' she said. 'Charging it now around abortion has to be questioned.'"
As stated in the December 1997 Mission article, such a defense alleging persecution by anti-abortion groups is typical in cases where civil action is taken against an abortionist.
ON TUESDAY, November 25, Holy Angels Parish in Arcadia hosted an "Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service," sponsored by the Arcadia Inter-Faith Action Group. Its stated theme was: "Many Communities, One People: Becoming God's Gift." In attendance were 20 clergy of various Christian denominations, including New Thought, Christian Science, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, Reformed, Methodist, Assembly of God, and Congregational. Also on hand was the event organizer Rabbi J.B. Sacks of Congregation Shaarei Torah. In deference to Rabbi Sacks, none of the prayers mentioned Christ or the Trinity. None of the prayers, as well, used gender specific language, God being referred to throughout as "our Parent."
With so many congregations represented, the church was packed. The clergy processed in, resplendent in a variety of robes, suits, and dresses. They took up their places around the altar, and Holy Angels pastor, Monsignor Norman Priebe read a speech of welcome. After an invocation by Rev. Sybenga of Arcadia Christian Reformed Church, Mr. Robert Lawrence, Christian Science Practitioner, read a "Gathering Prayer." This read in part, "How uplifting it is to gather people with firm beliefs together with people with doubts in their hearts, in a house of God, who values deeds of caring and justice far above the reciting of creeds."
There were multilingual Bible readings, many prayers by various of the attending clerics, and hymns sung by the choirs of Holy Angels, Santa Anita (New Thought), Good Shepherd (Methodist), and the Lutheran Church of the Cross, as well as the children's choirs of Holy Angels and Barnhart School. A collection was taken up to "support the ongoing efforts of the Inter-Faith Action Group in combating hunger in our area."
THIS YEAR'S LOS ANGELES Archdiocesan Religious Education Conference will again feature Father Michael Crosby, along with other Call to Action regulars as Father Patrick Brennan of Chicago, and enneagram promoter, Father Richard Rohr (who says that nakedness "just happens" at the men's retreats he holds). A November 27 Wanderer article on the November 14-16 Call to Action National Conference in Detroit recounted Father Crosby's pessimism about the prospects for Call to Action's Church "reform" program succeeding. "I don't think it will ever come for us," Crosby told his audience. "Hope for restoration is not in the church." Crosby noted that Church liberals are a small remnant of the "Chosen People," being persecuted by modern-day pharaohs, "popes and cardinals." Crosby garnered applause from the Call to Action audience by pushing the women's ordination cause, although he noted that young people today are not moved by such "gender issues."
Sister Fran Ferder and Father John Heagle will also address the religious education conference on sexuality. According to page 267 of Jason Berry's book Lead Us Not Into Temptation, "Therapists Richard Sipe and Sister Fran Ferder, who have both treated many priests for a range of problems, consider the Vatican mindset that condemns all sexual activity outside of marriage to be locked in an adolescent stage of psychosexual development."
Archbishop Rembert Weakland and Bishop Kenneth Untener will speak at the conference, as well as Chicago's Common Ground advocate, Father Richard Sparks who, last year, said adolescents should not be burdened with the Church's teaching on sexuality, lest they feel guilty about exploring their sexuality.
Dr. Janet Smith of the University of Dallas, who spoke at last year's conference, will not be back. Last year, Dr. Smith drew a standing-room-only crowd in her talk defending the Church's teaching on artificial contraception. The conference will feature no such orthodox speaker this year.
"I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED in the most challenging and interesting part of science and math, which was physics, until I discovered that theology is infinitely more interesting and challenging, and is where true reality lies," explained Mark Wheeler, founder of Catholic Faith Seminars, as he described the intellectual odyssey that led him back into the Catholic Church. Wheeler attended Marian High School in Imperial Beach and subsequently studied math and science at the University of San Diego. Having fallen away from the Church in his late teens, he began a process of reading and study several years later, which convinced him that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church founded by Christ, and that this is a demonstrable fact.
Eager to share his knowledge with others on the same quest for spiritual truth, Wheeler established Catholic Faith Seminars early this year. His credentials include seven years as a staff apologist at Catholic Answers, a Catholic lay apologetics organization in San Diego, where he also wrote for its magazine, This Rock. Wheeler reports that since he began advertising in October, he has received numerous inquiries on a wide variety of topics pertaining to Catholicism, from Catholics and non-Catholics. A large percentage of the inquirers are in their early to mid-thirties.
Wheeler's focus is on parish and small group seminars, which always include a question and answer session following the main presentation. Private consultations are also available. Its promotional literature describes its approach as "...completely loyal to Pope John Paul II and the magisterium. We are...dedicated to explaining the Faith clearly and logically, while defending it charitably. We are convinced that the Faith is the greatest gift we possess." Contact: Catholic Faith Seminars, P.O. Box 300326, Escondido, CA 92030-0326, (760) 746-1626, e-mail: mwheeler@msn.com
STILL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS: Catholic pro-life activist Joan Andrews Bell was arrested in 1985 for participating in a non-violent, half hour blockade of a Pittsburgh abortion clinic. She was incorrectly identified as one of its leaders, prosecuted and given probation.
Recently Judge Raymond Novak decided that Joan violated her probation, and has issued a warrant to recall and sentence her. Sources close to the case report that Novak intends to hold Joan in civil contempt, which means he could have her incarcerated indefinitely until she recants and renounces nonviolent action at abortion clinics. According to Juli Loesch Wiley, Joan's friend, "This is, of course, something she would never do, no matter what the cost." Since 1985 Joan has married and is now the mother of several small children, including a handicapped, high-need adoptee.
Joan's sentencing was scheduled for December 30, 1997. Letters on Joan's behalf are urgently requested, and should be sent to: Honorable Raymond Novak, 323 Court House, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2499. E-mail regarding Joan's case can be sent to cxbell@aol.com. For further information, consult the web page set up at the following URL: http://homepages.enterprise.net/toolan/joanandrews.
A NOVEMBER 20 Catholic News Service report indicated that Call to Action's drive to obtain one million signatures on its "We Are Church" referendum petition achieved less than four percent of that target, and had garnered only 37,000 after a year and a half of concerted effort. The petition calls for ordination of women as priests and deacons, lay participation in the selection of bishops and pastors, making priestly celibacy optional, reinstating married priests to active ministry, promotion of gay rights, embracing remarried Catholics and "theologians...who exercise freedom of speech," and the "primacy of conscience" in deciding issues of sexual morality.
THE DECEMBER 1997 Mission reported on four Chinese refugees currently being held in Kern County's Lerdo Detention Facility, near Bakersfield (see "Evil Like Buddha"). They seek asylum in the United States to escape China's forced birth control and abortion policies, as well as its suppression of religious freedom.
In October 1997 Amnesty International USA issued an action alert to oppose the refugees' incarceration. They have been detained, under maximum security, since 1994. Amnesty International is currently focusing its concern on Zhou Shiu Yon, now in her early 20's, who has been incarcerated for nearly four and a half years. "Amnesty International believes that the prolonged detention of Ms. Zhou and others has been in clear violation of international standards for the treatment of asylum seekers," said Nicholas Rizza of Amnesty International. "When detention goes beyond a few weeks, it clearly [can become] abusive of asylum seekers' rights," the action alert document continues: "We believe that no purpose is served by the continued detention of Ms. Zhou." The document also expressed concern that the detention of asylum seekers in the Lerdo facility for prolonged periods of time may have "corrupted the asylum process in other cases as well."
Amnesty International USA requests that concerned individuals send letters to President Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20050; to Doris Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20536; and their congressional representatives and U.S. senators. When writing to President Clinton or Commissioner Meissner, please send a copy to Congressman Henry Hyde, 2110 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515.
"TWENTY-SEVEN PRIESTS in the Los Angeles Archdiocese," said a November 28 Tidings story, "were among the four bishops and 113 clergy and religious from around the country who signed their names to a full page advertisement in the Nov. 17 issue of Advertising Age... to support the ABC television network drama 'Nothing Sacred.'"
The 27 priests who joined ranks with Bishop Raymond Lucker of New Ulm, Minnesota, and Auxiliary Bishops Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, P. Francis Murphy of Baltimore, and Peter A. Rosazza of New Haven, Connecticut are all "members of religious communities," said the Tidings, with 24 of them belonging to the Jesuit order."
The advertisement, which reads, in part, "There are many voices of Catholicism in America. Over 60 million. The Catholic League... does not represent them all. In fact, by their own numbers, they represent less than 1 percent. They do not speak for most American Catholics,"calls on advertisers to continue to support Nothing Sacred.
A representative of the Catholic League in New York City, on December 11, told the Mission, that, contrary to critics, the League has consistently insisted that it does not claim to speak for all Catholics. The Catholic League, he said, speaks for its 350,000 members. It seems, however, that the Catholic League speaks for a few more; a league petition against Nothing Sacred has, so far, garnered 1,000,000 signatures. The League also claims that 32 sponsors have pulled their support from the program, and have indicated that they wish to be removed from the Catholic League's website listing of supporters of the show.
The December issue of the Catalyst, the journal of the Catholic League, has stated that the 1.5 million-member Knights of Columbus has now joined its boycott, and that the League's efforts against Nothing Sacred have also been vigorously supported by non-Catholics.
"In this regard, special mention must be made of the Southern Baptists, Coral Ridge Ministries, Focus on the Family and the American Family Association," the League said.
According to the same issue of the Catalyst, sponsorship of Nothing Sacred is now largely comprised of ABC's own promotional spots, as well as advertisements run by movie studios, non-profit groups and products ordered by 800 numbers. This situation, combined with the fact that some advertisements are run only in certain markets, makes it more difficult to boycott the show.
The League recommends that interested persons contact the companies that have advertised the most extensively on Nothing Sacred. For more information on these sponsors, contact the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights at (212) 371-3191; or fax them at (212) 371-3394.
THE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Los Angeles Times featured a picture of a smiling Cardinal Mahony posing with Nothing Sacred star Kevin Anderson. The Times noted that His Eminence "pointedly posed for photos with Anderson [at the October 26 Catholics in Media awards ceremony]... and praised [the show] for stirring up 'tremendous discussion of the role of the parish priest' and portraying the 'human struggles that people bring to their parishes.'" The Times also quotes Monsignor Gerald Wilkerson, recently appointed auxiliary bishop for the San Fernando Region, stating, "I don't see anything too terribly wrong with the show. I guess nobody really wants to believe that a priest is human, that he never has doubts or questions."
The Mission called Father Gregory Coiro, archdiocesan media representative, to get his statement on the cardinal's seeming endorsement of "Nothing Sacred." Father Coiro, though in the past most gracious, refused to speak to us. Asked why he would not comment, Father Coiro said it was because the Mission is a "rag," full of inaccuracies. Coiro, however, could cite no inaccuracy.
Coiro also accused the Mission of being "uncharitable" in our stories about Father Peter Liuzzi, head of the archdiocesan ministry to Gay and Lesbian Catholics, and our critique of Cardinal Mahony's latest pastoral, "Gather Faithfully Together." He seemed to think it reprehensible that we had commented on a draft of the pastoral before it was published, and that after it was published, we had called it ambiguous (See "Still Ambiguous," September Mission). Still, such considerations did not dissuade Coiro from talking to the Mission in November.