anc FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 48, NO. 15 • Friday, April 16, 2004
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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
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ELECTION Kennedy to Kerry: Catholic candidates in different times By PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE
came a momentous Supreme Court ruling on abortion and WASHINGTON - Forty- an increasing vigilance by four years later, the words are some in the Church toward nearly the same, but the em- how Catholic politicians vote. Before Kennedy came phasis is dramatically different. When Sen. John F. Kennedy along, only one Catholic had of Massachusetts ran for presi- been a major party's nominee dent in 1960, he faced a bar- for the presidency. New York rage of questions from a pre- Gov. Al Smith lost the 1928 dominantly Protestant public election largely because of his like: "How do we know you stance against Prohibition. But can separate your Catholic be- overt anti-Catholic rhetoric liefs from your political re- also was a factor in his defeat. In a speech on the Senate sponsibilities?" With Sen. John F. Kerry of floor in January 1928, Sen. Massachusetts seeking the Thomas Heflin, D-Ala., White House in 2004, the ques- warned that Catholics were tions he'll get likely will come trying to get the Democratic from Catholics and sound more Party to denounce the Ku Klux like: "What makes you think Klan - which he described as you can separate your Catho- "the Protestant order" - and lic beliefs from your political were trying to control Southresponsibilities when it comes ern newspapers to push Smith's candidacy for presito voting on abortion?" Much about the two Massa- dent. "The Roman Catholic edict chusetts senators may be similar, but the political and reli- has gone forth in secret argious climate for Kerry bears ticles, 'AI Smith is to be made little resemblance to that president,'" he said. ''They will Kennedy confronted. Between lay the heavy hand of a CathoKennedy's era and Kerry's Tum to page 13 - Candidates
Poll shows Catholic support evenly divided for Bush, Kerry WASHINGTON (CNS) - An early poll shows Catholic voters are probably no more or less likely than the general population of Americans to vote for the first Catholic presidential candidate in 44 years. In a national telephone poll of Catholics, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University found that about 46 percent said they would vote for Sen. John Kerry, Tum /0 page 13 - Poll
AT THE annual Chrism Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, Bishop George W. Coleman, center, blesses the oils to be used at confirmations and anointings of the sick in the upcoming Church year. The Mass was celebrated on Tuesday of Holy Week. (AnchollGordon photo)
Taunton church's renewal celebrated on Palm Sunday By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR
Mter the blessing of palms Sunday in the Parish TAUNTON - When he saw the smiling faces Center nearby, Father Stopyra celebrated Mass for and heard the oohs and ahs of his congregation when the first time in the "new" church. they took their first look at the extensive and reTum to page nine - Holy Rosary markable renovation of the interior of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church on Palm Sunday morning, Father David M. Stopyra, OFM Conv., knew his prayers were answered. "My happiness was for the people, the congenial Franciscan pastor said. "1 was pleased because they were pleased. 1didn't want to disappoint them. We have about 500 families and they had worked hard over the years to make the annual August Parish Picnic a success, and that is where the money came from to make this wonderful restoration of their church." What the people saw when they entered the church was a much lower and simplified reredos, or panel that backs the main altar, allowing an unobstructed view of the magnificent, multicolored rose window depicting the Last Supper, at the top. The tabernacle, that had been part of the structure, was moved to its own altar of repository on the left side of the sanctuary facing the fronL However, the large wooden sculpture in color depicting St. Dominic receiving the rosary from the .., Blessed Mother, flanked by statues of saints Francis . and Anthony, still holds its prominent place at the center of the rear wall of the sanctuary. The main altar itself was removed from the reredos and placed as a free-standing structure in the cenTHE NEWLY renovated interior of Holy ter of the lower level of the new half-circle sanctuary Rosary Church in Taunton, greeted parishio. floor, where it is flanked by two large angels with ners on Palm Sunday. (Anchorphoto) lamps that once were part of the huge structure.