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WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper
Interesting things you might like to know about angels - Page 16
Potential Popes quietly fade - Page II
UK Twins' decision concerns leaders LONDON (CNS) anxiety the outcome of a British and Malte,o' possible appeal." Church officials The parents' lawyers expressed concern that a had said if the ruling child's right to life would went against the parents' be denied as a result of a beliefs, they would concourt ruling allowing an sider appeals to Britain's operation to separate House of Lords and to the Siamese twin girls European Court of against the wishes of Human Rights. their Catholic parents. Archbishop MurphySupporting an earlier O'Connor of Westminster High Court ruling, three said in a statement that judges at London's Court he had not read the judgof Appeal voted unaniment in the case and mously on 22 September could not comment on to permit the separation, the reasons behind the in which the weaker of Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor court's decision. the twins would die. But he said he had been In a statement that day, Archbishop Vin- concerned the case might set a precedent cent Nichols of Birmingham expressed in English law allowing "an innocent perdismay at the ruling, saying the judgment son to be killed, or lethally assaulted, even "amounts to the direct killing of a person, to prolong the life of another." whose basic right to life will be denied." He said he would have "profound misHe said he had deep concern for the par- givings" about the ruling if such a preceents who came to Britain for medical help, dent had been established."' have the but "now face the prospect that one of their greatest sympathy for the parents in their children will be killed." present distress," said the Archbishop. The girls, who were given the names Jodie Bishop Niko' Cauchi of Gozo, Malta, told and Mary to protect their identity, were The Times newspaper on 22 September born on 8 August at St Mary's Hospital in that it was a "black day." The possibility of Manchester, England, after their parents the operation, he said, caused him dismay. arrived in search of medical assistance. "We do not criticise the judges, but we Doctors said the twins would die within abhor the act. You cannot destroy one months if not separated. But separation human being to save another. All life is will kill the weaker twin, Mary, who sacred," he said. depends totally on Jodie for her blood. In a joint statement on 23 September, The parents, who are from the Mediter- Malta's three bishops - Bishop Cauchi, ranean island of Malta, have refused to give Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and Auxiliary consent for the six-week-old twins to be Bishop Annetto Depasquale of Malta - said separated. They say God, not doctors, that no authority could eliminate or sacrishould determine the length of their daugh- fice the life of another human, even to save ters' lives. another life. Archbishop Nichols said he awaited "with Continued page 11
Hilton parish compliments God's Mother - Page 9
Sydney team makes faith its gold-medal event
Father Jim Boland, left, rear, stands with several Catholic members of the Olympic Village chaplain staff in Sydney. The others are, from left, Dominican Sisters Liz Anne Smith and Kim-Maree Goodwin and Fathers Barry Dywer and Nards Mercene. -
not politically correct to ask people for their faith these days," he said. "All we have to go on is the national statistics of each country.... All in all, about Father Jim Boland is not what you would 26 faith groups are involved - if we count call an Olympic junkie. the various Christian denominations." He admits that, apart from a bit of fishFor such a diverse gathering of people ing, he's no great sportsman. from different religions, there is an imporYet Father Boland, manager of the tant stipulation: "It is understood that Olympic Village Religious Services proselytising is not allowed." he said. Group, said he thinks the commercial "The Catholic Church is represented by environment is endangering the modern 10 priests and six nuns. These will be rosOlympics. tered to provide a presence each day and "It's very commercial and very secular, with a little bit of sport involved," he said. will be available for pastoral counselling. There will be daily morning Mass and "The original conception of the Olympics was to bring people from dif- some evening Masses," he said. His is a big job. he said, but he is supferent races, creeds and political backgrounds together to compete on an equal ported in his work by an army of volunbasis. Although it was about competition, teers. "It's a team work." he said. "There is a it was also about unity and harmony," committee of five co-ordinators. And they Father Boland added. 'These values, however, are now endan- work in 12-hour shifts - two on each day. gered by the financial gains that await the We have a staff of almost 100, counting medallists. But it's not in every event; it's us. We call them religious services volunteers. And they are drawn from the difonly in the high-profile ones," he said. Appointed more than two years ago by ferent faiths and denominations." The Religious Services Centre is in the the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Father Boland's task is Olympic Village Plaza, right "in the cento oversee a staff ministering to the reli- tre of things," said Father Boland, who is gious needs of 15,000 athletes and resi- one of the few who can drive his vehicle dents as well as 5,000 staff in the Olympic into the Olympic Village. Village. The two-floor Centre, open from 7am to He runs "a multi-faith Religious Ser- 11pm, has "five prayer rooms all dedicatvices Centre. It caters to the five major ed to the five different faiths," two world faiths: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, lounges, three counselling rooms and an Judaism and Christianity," he said. "It's administrative office, he said. - CNS By Minh Bui The Catholic Weekly
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