FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 VOL. 29, NO. 21
FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1985
$8 Per Year
On beleaguered Benelux trip
Pope defends church teaching By Sister Mary Ann Walsh
NC News Service Pope John Paul II defended traditional church teaching on issues such as birth control,
ebortion and women's ordination; championed peace, and strongly urged rich countries to help poor nations during his May 11-21 trip to the Benelux countries. Reactions to his messages on church teaching were mixed, ranging from skepticism and out right criticism to enthusiastic support.
In Utrecht, Netherlands, thou sands of youths chanted anti pope slogans and fought with police. But church and police of ficials said the demonstrators were more committed to protest for its own sake than to any specific anti-papal philosophy. Concern for the pope's safety, however, prompted extensive security measures. Some speakers at meetings in the Netherlands and Belgium broke from prepared texts to ap peal to the pope on women's
ordination, birth control and the church's teaching on sexual matters. But on several occa sions he reiterated his firm stand on moral teaching and the church's· moral responsibility. The pope frequently referred to teachings of the Second Vati ran Council but said May 19 that misinterpretations of the council led in some cases to "disarray and divi.sion." He told Belgian bishops to make sure that the "professional theologians" did not "create a
parallel magisterium." He encouraged ecumenism, but said the church would not com promise its basic teachings on the Eucharist in the search for Christian unity.
Many Dutch youths had writ
ten the pope prior to his trip
with questions and criticisms on
church teachings on sex, child bearing and marriage. The church will not "mouth generalities," -the pope said. "If the church makes unpalatable Turn to Page Sixteen
Appeal total now at- $1,530,453.89 The Catholic Charities Appeal total now stands at $1,530,453.89 with many parish returns, priests' donations and special gifts yet to be reported. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, dio cesan appeal director, said that such donations must reach Ap peal headquarters in Fall River
by today for inclusion in this year's total. "These reports shou'ld be made in person to ·insure credit," he said. "The final total of the 1985 Appeal will be published in the June 7 Anchor. I hope that every one of our 114 parish~s will be 'over the top' today."
Honor Roll Falmouth; St. Francis Xavier, Hy 77 parishes have thus far sur annis; Our Lady of the Isle, Nan passed their 1984 final totals. tucket; St. John the £vangelist, The following parishes were add Pocasset; St. Peter, Province ed to the Honor RoB since last town; St. Pius X, So. Yarmouth; week's Anchor .report: St. Augustine, Vineyard Haven; St. John, Attleboro; St. Mary, Holy Trinity, West Harwich. St. Mary Cathedral, Espirito Seekonk; Our Lady of Victory,
Centerville; St. Anthony, East Turn to Page Four
St. Anne's
Hospital
in
•the
great tradition I
of:I
Cari~g !
with Excellence
I
• £-edication of C~coI6gy/ J~adiation
Therapy Center
•
special section
pages 5 - 15 Gaudette Photo
rHE HAROLD K. HUDNER ONCOLOGY/RADIATION THERAPY CENTER AT ST. ANNE'S HOSPITAL, FALL RIVER