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WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper
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Antioch flame warms youth on wintry weekend With the stonny weather and an assortment of bugs and sicknesses removing the faint-hearted, around 100 hardcore Antioch F7ame-goers, pictured at right, enjoyed the epic annual Antioch Convention held at John XXIII College in Mount Claremont last weekend, 1 and 2 July. And what a weekend it was. Lead by Carmen Cummings and Ben Dwyer, the pilgrimage' theme and Jubilee celebrations were 'described by many as one of the best Flame weekends ever. All the Jubile e apects s were covered reflection, reconciliation, pilgrimage. celebration and joy - with plenty of Me latter at Saturday night's theme dress and quiz night The band, lead by Matt Theedom and Veronica Pulker, provided the musical backup to the e vening and tlw weekend, belting out both Antioch and groovy cover songs. A spiritually-moving evening Mass capped off ia wonderful night as the Antioch-goers walked intI the hall as one body, symbolising a grimage, and shared openlyover bread during the Mass. Another highlight was the powerful testimony If Mr Denis Glennon, who spoke about his own relationship with God and the way that relationship has evolved over the past few years. The closing ceremony was a great 'example of the energy and enthusiasm that was carried over the whole weekend. - Daniel Emerson, Antioch band drummer
Divorce and remarriage FrdiesMorahan after Mass Communion ban restated Some writers use Church law improperly: Vatican
VATICAN CITY - Allowing Catholics who have civilly remarried after divorce to receive Communion not only viI . tes Church law but is an affront to Catholics who live according to the law. the Vati- obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted can said. "The reception of the Body of to Holy Communion." Because divorce is not recogChrist when one is publicly unworthy constitutes an objec- nised by the Church, civil remartive harm" to the Church and to riage is not recognised either, and the faithful who obey it. said a the couple is considered to be declaration issued by the Pon- ing in adultery. Some authors, the declaration tifical Council for the Interpresaid. have argued that simply tation of Legislative Texts. being divorced and civilly remarThe only situations in which ried is not enough to invoke the such couples may receive the Eucharist are if they separate or if law. For example. the declaration they are committed to refraining said. some authors have said, from sexual relations. said the declaration. dated 24 June. and "given that the text speaks of those who 'obstinately' persist in that released 6 July at the Vatic.an. sin. it would be necessary to verArchbishop Julian Herranz, ify an attitude of defiance on the council president, and Bishop Bruno Bertagna, council secre- part of an individual who had received a legitimate warning tary, signed the declaration. Reaffirming the prohibition of from the pastot" The Vatican declaration said Communion for divorced and iremarried Catholics, the those writers were making civilly declaration chastised "some "improper use" of the canon's authors" who have tried to show wording, "relativising the prethat the prohibition is not called cepts or emptying them of their for by canon law. According to the substance." "The phrase 'and others who canon in question. those "who
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obstinately persist in manifest grave sin' is clear and must be understood in a manner that does not distort its sense so as to render the norm inapplicable." Archbishop Herranz wrote. His declaration said the canon should be invoked when an objective judgment would lead to the conclusion that the individuals were engaged in serious sin and that the situation was "obstinately persistent" because it continued and the individuals did not act to end it. Divorced and remarried Catholics who had gone to Confession after making a commitment to "living in full continence, that is. abstaining fmm the acts proper to spouses." might receive Communion in most cases. the declaration said. However, it said. bec,ause their civil status as a married couple was publicly obvious but the fact that they are not having sexual relations was not, "they will be able to receive eucharistic Communion only 'remoto scandalo.'"
that is, if scandal c.an be avoided. The declaration said creating scandal was not necessarily the same thing as doing something which shocked people. When divorced and civilly remarried people received Communion "that scandal mdsts even if such behaviour. unfortunatel . no longer arouses surprise," the declaration said. "In fact. it is precisely with respect to the deformation of the conscience that it becomes more necessary for pastors to act with as much patience as firmness" to protect the sanctity of the sacraments, defend Christian morality and educate the faithful. it said. The declaration reaffirmed earlier Vatican statements that priests should try to explain in private to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics why they could not receive the Eucharist, avoiding "public denial of Holy Communion." VVhen, however. private explanations have not convinced the couple not to approach the altar, the declaration said, "the minister of Communion must refuse to tribute it to those who are publicly unworthy." Continued on Page 11
The parish priest of St Joseph's parish. Bassendean. Father Alex Morahan. died of a heart attack on Wednesday morning after celebrating Mass. Fr Morahan would have S een 80 next Monday, 17 July. News of Fr Morahan's death came as The Record was due to go to press. Fr Morahan was born in Louisburgh, County Mayo. Ireland and ordained 29 June 1949 before joining the long line of his countrymen who have given their priestly lives to the Catholic Church in Western Australia, arriving in Perth on 23 February. 1950. He was posted as assistant priest to West Perth. Shenton Park, the Cathedral. Cottesloe and Claremont during the years 1950-1964.
In March 1964 he was appointed parish priest of Pinjarra. followed by Thodyay in 196Z Corrigin in 1969 and finally to Bassendean on 19 September. 1971. Last year, Pope John Paul II honoured Fr Morahan with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in recognition of his 50 years of priesthood.