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No. 2010. PERTH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1976
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Polish bishops slate 'brutal' ovt. campaign
ROME (NC). — In a strongly worded pastoral letter read in all churches in Poland, the Polish bishops have appealed to Catholics to .1; oppose their Government's "hateful, brutal campaign" against the Church.
"Embittered men do not The letter released here blocking social and econby the Rome Press office of omic reforms since they stir make good workers," the the Polish bishops, was the unrest and opposition to- bishops warned. (• CONTINUED, P. 2) strongest yet in a series of ward the government." recent public statements by the bishops or their leader, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, At a social gathering for members of the Catholic Social Apostolate held at Saint expressing disagreement with Charles' Seminary, Bishop Quinn, second from left, is pictured with (left to right): Les government policies. It was seen as the bishops' D'Arcey, of Bassendean; Mike D'Arcey, of Greenwood; and Bill Clarke, of Bentley. (See response to the Communist also page 7). Party chief Edward Gierek's 4^4.14.#4W4hiP4 , 04 , 41K, recent pleas for Church support in his efforts to calm social unrest in Poland. In the frank 10-page letter, the bishops listed the principal elements in what they called a stepped-up "politically Divorced persons who did programme to FALL RIVER, Mass. atheize" Poland. not remarry, it was pointed (NC). — A marriage out, were always free to ap- FOUR AREAS court official urged proach the Eucharist. priests to reach out to Among these elements. The priest characterised the bishops cited: inform and help dithe whole problem of divorced Catholics. "Go • Government failure to vorce and remarriage as "an permit building of churches un"sacramental, indissoluble remained if they ments to them, don't wait for unions" must be regarded as agonising issue. We keep and other Church-related them to come to you," married. pleading and praying for the buildings. such. disthe comments on I n said Father Dennis J. light of the Spirit and there • Discrimination in hirBurns of Boston at an cussion, Father Burns asked Father Burns, a doctor of is probably no question in ing and professional adwith diwith wide expercontact canon law for more open meetfrg in Bishop Catholics. ience in Church legislation the Church being studied so vancement against practising Connolly Fl!gh School vorced seriously or intensively." Catholics. In his talk Father Burns concerning marriage, noted Developments in the psyhere. • Anti-Church propaganwas much misinthat there said: chological sciences, said da in films, plays, on teleformation about divorces. "I have seen cases where Father Burns, had made it Some divorced Catholics "Divorce itself does not possible to grant annulments vision and in the print meat this meeting said after a the only mature decision a dia. talk by Father Burns that person has made is that of incur excommunication," he of many marriages. • A programme in stated. "Marriages should be be- schools to discredit religion, they never heard of mar- getting a divorce." But he stressed that there "There is a principle in tween adults," he explained. and to dissuade students riage courts and did not know that they were wel- was "no separate moral law law that restrictions are to ' "If unknowing children from attending church and Town & Country's current come to receive the sacra. for the divorced," and that be interpreted as narrowly enter into a union, not real- religious instruction classes. interest rate on Passbook Savings Accounts is 9%.% p.a. as possible and favourable ising what it entails, it canThere are no restrictions on the rulings as broadly. not be called a true mar- DAY OF PRAYER amount you need to have in your account. You receive a full riage." The bishops also put on 93i% p.a. regardless of whether REMARRIAGES Using psychological guide- the alert Polish Catholics, y our account is big or small. Your "In the case of divorce lines, he said, in Boston who make up about 90 per Interest is calculated on the daily balance and is credited to your and remarriage this would alone, where formerly about cent of the national populaaccount twice yearly. Deposits and almost mean you'd have to five annulments were grant- tion, that they will sponsor withdrawals can be made at any remarry as a gesture of con- ed yearly, so far this year soon a national day of prayTown & Country Savings Centre. Save with Town & Country —the BIG tempt for the Church in or- more than 400 had been al- er "in defence of the faith". Society that pays 9'/.% on all Building der to incur excommunica- lowed. The pastoral letter came Savings Accounts. tion. at a particularly delicate "In fact, most attempted 'CHURCH moment for Poland's ComDon't settle for less! remarriages are for such UNDERSTANDS' munist Government. other major society pays a full 9)%p4. (No reasons as love, loneliness or Following last summer's "It's not because we're desire for security, and imaccounts regardless of size.) worker strikes all to protest on lax in the law, but because putability of guilt is very we know the law; not be- against steep government limited." cause we don't respect in- price rises on consumer He explained that ex- dissolubility, but because we items, the party leader, communication and the right understand human fragility." Gierek,- has been trying to to receive the Eucharist enlist the Church's help in CHURACK, ASK FOR GEOFF There remained however, his efforts to keep a lid on were not identical issues. Building Society House, 297 Murray Street, Perth. PETER FENNESSY OR PAT MURPHY. Even if one were excom- cases where annulment was national unrest. Telephone 218911 not possible, he emphasised. In its pastoral, the bishmunicated, he said, his or Assets exceed $250,000,000; clearly conference her irregular marital status "But the Church does un- ops' could present a problem as derstand the hurt, damage warned Gierek that "new Sayings Centres throughout W.A. far as regular reception of and pain in the lives of the methods" in the campaign CANNINGTON: 1308 Albany H/Way. 68 1826 MELVILLE: Canning H/Way. 39 1711 lic 0891. Communion was concerned. divorced." against religion "are also
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