NEWS
1999 NEWS STORIES
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
Contents © 1999
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
MAY 1999
WORK TO HALT EXECUTIONS. On Good Friday, April 2, Roger Cardinal Mahony, at a news conference at the archdiocesan offices, called on Catholics to oppose the death penalty, according to a April 3 Los Angeles Times report. The cardinal, who is chairman of the U.S. bishops' Domestic Policy Committee, read a statement authored by the 55-member administrative board of the United States conference of bishops. "On this Good Friday," read the statement, "a day when we recall our Savior's own execution, we appeal to all people of good will, and especially Catholics, to work to end the death penalty. We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing."
Referring, perhaps, to statistics that, since its reinstatement by the Supreme Court in 1976, the death penalty has claimed over 530 lives, and that 3,549 inmates are now on death row (according to the Washington-based Death Penalty Information Center, quoted in the Times) the bishops' statement said "the numbers are deeply troubling. The pace of executions is numbing. The discovery of people on death row who are innocent is frightening." The statement also notes that "sadly, many Americans--including Catholics--still support the death penalty out of an understandable fear of crime.... We hope they will come to see, as we have, that more violence is not the answer."
In union with Pope John Paul II and the U.S. bishops (including Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston who called the death penalty "wrong, morally evil and a sin") Cardinal Mahony called on Catholics to adopt a pro-life stance that includes all life. "We must defend not only innocent human life, as we do in opposing abortion and euthanasia," said Mahony, "but the lives of those who may have done evil as well."
QUOTING PSALM 117 [118], "Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus" ("This is the day which the Lord has made") Pope John Paul II on Easter day, April 4, opened his "Urbi et Orbi" message. The pope recalled the creation of the world "when Yahweh made man the steward of creation...and a sharer in his own life." Sin, said the pope, separated man "as it were from the days of creation" and from his creator. Nevertheless, man, on Easter, may sing to the world, "Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus" because "Christ has entered human history and changed its course.... Christ has annulled the condemnation of the ancient sin, and brought believers close to the Father's love once more."
Though, like the disciples, "every believer is invited to proclaim the amazing newness of the Gospel," how, asks John Paul II, can this message "resound" when "many parts of the world are submerged in sorrow and tears? How can we speak of peace, when people are forced to flee, when they are hunted down and their homes are burnt to the ground? When the heavens are rent by the din of war, when the whistle of shells is heard around people's homes and the ravaging fire of bombs consumes towns and villages? Enough of this cruel shedding of human blood! When will there be an end to the diabolic spiral of revenge and senseless fratricidal conflicts?"
The pope singled out Kosovo, asking "how can we be insensitive to the sorrowful flood of men and women from Kosovo who are knocking on the door begging help?" John Paul called on the authorities in Yugoslavia "to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, in order for help to be brought to the mass of people gathered at the border of Kosovo." The pope also spoke of Africa "where the distressing fires of war are slow to disappear," as of Asia and Latin America. "In the face of persisting evidence of war," said the pope, "and the countless grievous defeats of life, Christ, the conqueror of sin and death, urges us not to surrender. Peace is possible, peace is a duty, peace is a prime responsibility of everyone! May the dawn of the third millennium see the coming of a new era in which respect for every man and woman and fraternal solidarity among peoples will, with God's help, overcome the culture of hatred, of violence, of death."
THE ATHANASIUS APOSTOLATE of Fresno is introducing a program to ensure that Catholics are exercising the Church's precept to "contribute to the support of the Church." "In these days of confusion, abuse, heresy and liturgical mayhem," says Fresno resident Scott Keller, founder of the Athanasius Apostolate, "Catholics who have a deep commitment to living out the Faith in all its fullness are at times finding themselves frustrated and cynical. This can often drive them to shirk their responsibility of 'providing for the Church.' This program will give an important tool to those Catholics who are concerned for the responsible handling of the gifts provided to them by God. It will assist them in ensuring that God's material favors are apportioned to the proper recipients who promote the truth in its fullness."
"Catholics are not held responsible for supporting any type of abuse," said Keller. The parish priest is commissioned to act as guardian of the teachings and practices of the Truth that the Church has given us through the deposit of the Faith. If the parish priest is not obedient to his commission, then don't support him! At the time of our death, we will have to answer for our actions, and this will include our willful cooperation in disobedience to the Church instituted by Christ Himself. Don't be indifferent with your talents--act responsibly! Christ expects nothing less of us."
Because many Catholics choose to channel their donations to faithful and orthodox missions within the Church, the Athanasius Apostolate has devised a Responsible Tithing Kit. "This program," says Keller, "gives an offending priest every opportunity to rectify his error before the donor will remove or divert his funds to another Catholic group or mission." The kit was to be ready for distribution by the second week of April.
Keller said "we are called to make this journey regardless of its effectiveness. We are called to be faithful, not effective. However, it would certainly be more effective if the entire nation of orthodox Catholics were to direct their donations, in a concerted effort, to specific orthodox Catholic organizations to ensure the promotion of the deposit of the Faith.
The cost of the kit is $5. For an additional $15, you can receive monthly notification by mail or e-mail of the "Diversion Recipient of the Month." The Diversion Recipient is a group or person that is faithful to the Magisterium and is in need of funds to continue their apostolic work. You can also call (559) 323-5003 to hear the updated recipient information.
For more information, call the Athanasius Apostolate at (559) 323-5003.
HONOR YOUR MOTHER! The Athanasius Apostolate is looking for applicants to be considered for the CROS (Catholic Rights and Obligations) Conference "Traditional Mother Award." "The apostolate," says Scott Keller, "defends an institution that is being attacked from every corner of society. Motherhood has been lowered to second-hand status, instead of being elevated to the most important duty known to mankind."
The proposed candidates for the award must comply with the following requirements: they must have chosen, in the face of financial and social adversity, to stay home, and have chosen to do so above the temptation to put a worldly career above the most pivotal and important career in society: motherhood; The award recipient must have consistently promoted an environment that displays loyalty to the teachings of the Catholic Faith, starting with her own "domestic church" lived in humility and fidelity, as an example for others to live by. The names of proposed candidates may be submitted to the Athanasius Apostolate at 1295 Shaw Ave., #104-309 Clovis, CA 93612; or the names may be faxed to (559) 323-5003.
THE SAN DIEGO UNION in its March 2 business section ran a story on Catholic Family Radio network (aka Catholic Radio Network), started by Father Joseph Fessio of Ignatius Press and Nick Healy of Franciscan University at Steubenville. The network's president, John Lynch of Rancho Santa Fe, having helped develop local stations 91X and XTRA-AM, is quoted, "We want to address life's problems with a nessage of love and compassion." Radio talk show hosts for the network include Alan Keyes and Dan Lungren. But most interesting news for Southern Californians is that the Los Angeles station, KPLS (830 AM), is boosting its power from 2,500 watts to 50,000 "within the year, giving it the third-strongest radio signal in the region."
IN THE WAKE OF A JANUARY 28 RULING against Monrovia's landmark daytime curfew law, the city of Monrovia is now reviewing its options regarding the law. The daytime curfew ordinance, put into effect in October 1994, allowed the Monrovia Police Department to stop any student on suspicion of truancy between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m, Monday through Friday. The police would then issue the child a citation and later the child would be required to make a court appearance. In contrast, California state law requires that police departments only return students who are truant back to their schools.
In May 1997, Rosemary and Don Harrahill, along with their two sons, and seven other plaintiffs, sued Monrovia Police Chief, Joseph Santoro, and the city of Monrovia, and asked the court for injunctive relief from the ordinance. Rosemary Harrahill, whose two home schooled children, Ben and Jesse, were stopped 22 times because of the ordinance, charged that the Monrovia daytime curfew unfairly targeted all teenagers, even those who are home schooled or attend private schools. The city of Monrovia maintained that stopping and questioning students who are walking down the street during school hours did not constitute harassment and contributed to a decline in crime rates. The San Francisco-based Justice Policy Institute released a study that showed there was no direct correlation between daytime curfews and juvenile crime reduction. Dan MacAllistair, associate director for the Justice Policy Institute told me, "Our study focused on whether or not curfews are an effective tool in preventing juvenile crime; there is virtually no evidence proving that curfews reduce juvenile crime." MacAllistair said that cities would be better off spending their money on funding after-school programs rather than sending out the police. "Most juvenile crime occurs during the hours between 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.," he said.
In her January 28 ruling, Judge Carolyn Kuhl said that she based her decision on the fact that Monrovia's curfew law allowed law enforcement to cite students for truancy even though the students had been given permission to be absent from school. In her 27-page decision, Judge Kuhl cited instances where potentially a student could be cited for walking to a religious service, such as on Good Friday.
When asked for comment on Judge Kuhl's decision, Monrovia police chief Joseph Santoro said, "We feel good about it [the ruling]... the judge ruled on a very narrow part of the lawsuit." Chief Santoro said that the city of Monrovia would be reviewing its options, including the possibility of appealing Judge Kuhl's decision. He pointed out that the plaintiffs "don't represent all home schoolers [in Monrovia]. We have home schooling parents who support the ordinance. The lawsuit was brought about by one women and a group from Virginia" -- a reference to the Home School Legal Defense Association who represented the plaintiffs. Chief Santoro described his frustration with the plaintiffs whom he said would exaggerate their stories. He cited Pastor John Waldrip's statement to the Buena Park City Council that Waldrip knew of one boy who said he had been stopped by the Monrovia police and taken to an undisclosed location. When Pastor Waldrip was questioned about the incident during his deposition, the name of the boy was revealed. Later, the Monrovia police department questioned the boy who said it was the Pasadena school police who picked him up. "Did that man of the cloth ever go back and tell the Buena Park City Council of his mistake?" the chief asked.
ALARMED AT THE NUMBER OF PRO-HOMOSEXUAL BILLS pending in Sacramento, Capitol Resource Institute held a news conference in front of Assemblyman Lou Correa's office in Santa Ana on March 11. Correa is considered the deciding vote on AB 107 which would force taxpayers to fund benefits for homosexual partners of state employees, thus placing homosexual "marriages" on an equal footing with married couples. Randy Thomasson of the Capitol Resource Institute joined Sal Juarez of Santa Ana at the news conference. "We are calling upon Lou Correa to oppose this legislative assault on the families of this district," they said. "If he truly represents the Latino community, he will oppose these gay agenda bills".
In addition to Juarez and Thomasson, Herb Hall of Garden Grove, a man who is dying of AIDS, spoke to reporters. "I caught AIDS from living in the homosexual lifestyle," said Hall. Juarez, joined by other citizens, tried to speak with Correa's staff about their concerns regarding AB 107, but when they went to the door they found it to be locked. Later, when the a Mission reporter spoke to Chris Leo, Correa's chief of staff, Leo said that his staff had been away at a training session and he himself had been in Sacramento. "Mr. Correa is always accessible to his constituents," Leo said. Leo went on to elaborate that Correa sees AB 107 as a health care issue and a civil rights issue and not a homosexual rights issue.
The hearing for AB 107, which was scheduled for March 17, was abruptly canceled after Correa received scores of calls from constituents. Capital Resource Institute's Thomasson said that "Correa realized that the people in his district do not support the homosexual agenda. When the state sees a homosexual and a wife as the same thing, that's a direct attack on marriage. It's not about health benefits, it about the homosexual agenda."