Feb. 27, 2004

The Cathol ic News & Hera ld 1 February 27, 2004

Serving CatholiCS in WeStern north Carolina in the DioCeSe of Charlotte

Weaving bright futuresORB grant assists Montagnard refugees

| Page 5

Special reportDiocese combats sexual abuse of minors

| Pages 8-9

Culture WatchMovies, books, crossword puzzle

| Pages 10-12

feBrUarY 27, 2004 volUMe 13 no. 22

See REPORT, page 8See CHASTITY, page 7

www.charlottediocese.org

ProTeCTiNg god’s CHildreN

See ASHES, page 8

by KEVIN E. MURRAyEdItoR

CHARLOTTE — As part of its ongoing commitment to effectively deal with the sin of sexual abuse of minors by some clergy, the Diocese of Charlotte released information included in the national John Jay study Feb. 27.

The study, conducted by the John Jay College of Crimi-nal Justice in New York, was commissioned by the all-lay National Review Board under the mandate of the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” The report, compiled by figures submitted by almost all of the 195 U.S. dioceses, presented data on the nature and scope of the sexual abuse of minors by some priests from 1950 through 2002.

Also on Feb. 27, the Na-tional Review Board released a companion study on the causes and context behind clerical abuse of minors, based on a se-ries of interviews with church leaders and specialists. When the bishops formed the board in 2002, part of its mandate was to develop those studies.

The 46-county Diocese of Charlotte reported 13 priests had allegations of sexual misconduct made against them since the es-tablishment of the diocese in 1972. Upon investigation, two priests were exonerated. The percentage of priests with allegations against them is 1.9 percent of the 677 ac-

Bishop Jugis addresses clergy abuse issues

Parish Profile: St. Pius X Church

| 6

The essence of ashes


CHARLOTTE — Lent is a holy season of repentance and conversion, said Bishop Peter J. Jugis.

The bishop delivered the Lenten message during his homily at St. Pat-rick Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25. He called people to conver-sion, and to reflect on the condition of children during the Lenten season.

“Every year our Lord Jesus Christ invites us into this holy season of Lent, because he wants to work a miracle of repentance and conversion in our heart through his grace,” said Bishop Jugis.

“It truly is a miracle, isn’t it, when God’s grace can move our hearts to re-

Bishop Jugis distributes ashes, Lenten message

Charlotte students learn value of chastity

by KAREN A. EVANSStAff wRItER

Editor’s note: The following article contains material of an explicit nature that may not be ap-propriate for younger readers.

CHARLOTTE — “It is only when a person takes sex out of a relationship that they can know the value of

love,” asserts Jason Evert.For many teen-agers,

this may seem like a difficult statement to agree with, but Evert believes it — and has said so to hundreds of thou-sands of teens across the United States.

Twenty-seven-year-old

doN’T geT Carried away

established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul vi

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

Local, national abuse statistics released

Photo by Kevin e. Murray

Bishop Peter J. Jugis distributes ashes during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Photo by Karen a. evans

Jason Evert recruits an student at Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School for a demonstration to open his talk on chastity Feb. 20.

2 The Catholic News & Herald February 27, 2004

Current and upcoming top-ics from around the world to your own backyardInBrief English-speaking bishops receive

copies of draft of Mass prayersCouNTry iN Crisis

ROME (CNS) — Bishops in Eng-lish-speaking countries have been sent drafts of a new translation of the main prayers used at Mass, but one expert said the number of obviously modified texts would not be overwhelming.

Msgr. James P. Moroney, secretary of the U.S. bishops’ liturgy commit-tee, said “the only things that were changed were those things that needed to be changed for precision or procla-mation.”

The English draft of the “Ordo Missae,” or Order of the Mass, was approved by the episcopal board of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy in January.

Copies were sent out Feb. 13 to every Latin-rite bishop in the United States, and other English-speaking bishops’ conferences were expected to distribute the text about the same time.

Msgr. Moroney said he would not

discuss specific suggested changes while the bishops were reviewing and offering their comments on the texts. He said the Order of the Mass con-tains “almost all of the changes” ex-pected in the parts of the Mass recited by the congregation.

The Order of the Mass includes prayers that are used at every Mass. It does not include all of the prayers that change weekly during the liturgical year.

Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the draft in late February. In several instances, the new version of the Mass prayers includes more literal trans-lations of the original Latin texts, includ-ing the word order.

For example, the proposed Gloria begins: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people of good will.”

The current English text says: “Glo-ry to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.”

In many instances, the proposed text

PublisHer: Most reverend Peter J. JugisediTor: Kevin e. MurraysTaFF wriTer: Karen a. evans graPHiC desigNer: Tim FaragheradverTisiNg rePreseNTaTive: Cindi FeerickseCreTary: sherill beason

1123 south Church st., Charlotte, NC 28203Mail: P.o. box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237PHoNe: (704) 370-3333 FaX: (704) 370-3382e-mail: [email protected]

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FEBruAry 27, 2004VoluME 13 • NuMBEr 22

ASHEVIllE VICArIATE

SWANNANOA — St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrew Place, offers Adora-tion of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each month following the 12 p.m. Mass with Benediction at 5 p.m. For information call (828) 686-8833.CHArloTTE VICArIATE

CHARLOTTE — Why would an anti-Catholic Presbyterian minister become a full-time Catholic apologist? Gerry Matatics will present a free, eye-opening talk ad-dressing “How the Bible converted me to Catholicism.” “Will ‘faith alone’ get you to heaven?” and “Is ‘Scripture alone’ taught in Scripture?” This free presentation will take place at Ballantyne Resort, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., March 14, 1:30-6 p.m. Bring your Bible, questions and friends. For more information, visit www.gerrymatatics.org.CHARLOTTE — All women are invited to join Women in the Word for weekly gath-erings for prayer, reflection on Sunday scripture, music and sharing experiences of Christ in daily life. The group meets each Thursday, 9:45-11:45 a.m. in the family room of St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. For details, call Linda Flynn at (704) 366-9889. For childcare reservations, call Jurga Petrikene at 704) 907-0205.CHARLOTTE — The Happy Timers of St. Ann Church meet the first Wednesday of each month with a luncheon and pro-gram at 1 p.m. in the parish activity center, 3635 Park Rd. All adults age 55 and older

are welcome. For more information, call Charles Nesto at (704) 398-0879.CHARLOTTE — The 50+ Club of St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Rd., meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. with a program and lunch in the parish center. The March 10 program will feature a fashion show. For more information, call Lucille Kroboth at (704) 537-2189.GASToNIA VICArIATE

BELMONT — Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, 503 N. Main St., will have a Lenten Supper-Study Wednesday evenings during Lent — March 3, 10, 17 and 24. All are welcome. Community dinner is at 6 p.m., with Catechesis 6:45-7:30 p.m. Topic this year is “Vatican II: 40 Years Later.” No pre-registration or fee required, no need to bring food, all is provided by the parish. For more information, please contact Dennis Teall-Fleming, Director of Faith Formation, at [email protected] or (704) 825-9600, ext. 26.GrEENSBoro VICArIATE

GREENSBORO — Many of us want to do “something extra” during Lent. The Greensboro Council of Catholic Women will host their annual Lenten mini-retreat each Wednesday in March at St. Mary Church, 812 Duke St. Mass will be at 10 a.m. followed by refreshments. For information, call Janet Law at (336) 288-6022.GREENSBORO — St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., will host a Lenten reflection se-ries, “The Purpose-Driven Life,” Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8 p.m. March 3-April 7. This series is based on Rick Warren’s book, which is a journey to answer life’s most important question: “What on earth am I here for?”

Diocesanplanner

CRS: delivery of humanitarian aid threatened by unrest in

BALTIMORE (CNS) — Catholic Relief Services said food supplies at its centers in Haiti are running low and de-liveries of fresh supplies are threatened by current unrest.

CRS, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency, warned of a potential humanitarian crisis in Haiti if commercial and aid supply lines contin-ued to be affected.

“The situation is critical,” Dula James, CRS country representative in Haiti, said Feb. 18.

That day, CRS began delivering several thousand metric tons of food and cooking supplies. However, the volatile environment — including spontaneous street protests, roadblocks and general social unrest — could threaten the deliv-ery’s implementation, affecting hundreds of thousands who depend solely on CRS food aid for survival, the agency said.

CRS said roadblocks manned by gunmen have made it difficult for supplies and humanitarian assistance to reach these areas.

The agency’s partners in northern Haiti have reported shortages in food and household supplies. CRS was organizing support for parishes in the area to distrib-ute basic necessities.

Some 60 people have been killed since a rebellion against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide began in early Febru-ary.

Rebels have chased police from more than a dozen towns and cut supply lines to northern Haiti from Port-au-Prince,

the capital, and from the western Domini-can Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

The threat of violence and lack of communication have left Haitian citizens at the mercy of each day’s events, CRS said.

Hospitals and schools closed and the cost of food, medicine and cooking fuel skyrocketed. In Gonaives, the country’s fourth-largest city with a population of 200,000, all commercial deliveries were discontinued, CRS said.

CRS and Caritas partners continued to work in the areas that remained acces-sible and lobbied for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to alleviate the suffering of the North.

Aristide, a former Salesian priest, became Haiti’s first elected leader in 1991. He was ousted in a military coup shortly after his election and was restored to power in a 1994 U.S. invasion. He was re-elected in 2000 and now faces accusations of corruption and political violence.

Auxiliary Bishop Pierre-Andre Du-mas of Port-au-Prince told Vatican Radio Feb. 17 that Haiti was “on the verge of civil war, and anarchy reigns over the island.”

He said it was time for the United States, which returned Aristide to power in 1994, to remind the president what democracy means.

Cns Photo by WilliaM b. PloWMan

A woman is led away from her damaged vehicle after it was hit by stones during clashes between supporters of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and opposition demonstrators Feb. 15 in Port-au-Prince. Haitian bishops appealed for calm amid a worsening crisis on the island-nation that has pitted supporters of the president against those wanting him ousted from office.


Pope approves six sainthood causes; Vatican sets May 16 canonization

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II formally paved the way for the canonization of four men and two women, the majority of whom are founders of religious congregations from the 19th century.

The six will be elevated to saint-hood during a Mass May 16 in St. Peter’s Square.

One of those to be canonized is Blessed Father Luigi Orione, founder of the Little Work of Divine Provi-dence, a religious congregation and the Orione Family, made up of laity, religious and priests.

Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla, the only nonreligious of the group, was an Italian pediatrician who became known as the “pro-life saint.”

She discovered she had a uterine tumor during the end of the second

month of her pregnancy. In order to spare the life of the fetus, she decided to refuse an operation that might have saved her life.

Molla carried the girl to term in 1962, but died a week after giving birth.

The other causes set for canoniza-tion May 16 include:

— Blessed Jose Manyanet Vives, founder of the Sons of the Holy Family.

— Blessed Nimatullah Kassab al-Hardini, a Lebanese Maronite monk.

— Blessed Paola Busecchi-Tassis, founder of the Institute of the Holy Family and the Congregation of the Holy Family.

— Blessed Annibale Maria di Francia, founder of the Congregation of the Rogationist Fathers and the Daughters of Divine Zeal.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Germany prepares to welcome more than 100,000 young people for World Youth Day in 2005, some countries, like Australia, are already lining up to host World Youth Day 2007.

But one official at the Pontifical Council for the Laity — the Vatican office in charge of overseeing World Youth Day events — was not pleased with the early publicity of countries’ intentions to host future youth cel-ebrations.

On Feb. 19, an Italian Catholic youth Web site reported Australian Catholic bishops agreed to propose Sydney as the next city to host World Youth Day after Cologne, Germany.

Reports also circulated that bish-ops of South Africa and Bolivia want-ed their countries to be considered the venue for World Youth Day 2007.

This publicity prompted criticism from the head of the Pontifical Council for the Laity’s Youth Section, Father Francis Kohn. With preparations still

under way for the World Youth Day event in Germany, Father Kohn said, it was inappropriate to be announcing intentions to host the 2007 event.

“This is not very professional; it’s too soon to announce such a thing, and it wasn’t very prudent of Korazym to send this out so quickly,” he told Catholic News Service.

He said it was the responsibility of the Vatican to announce who would be the candidates for hosting the next round of World Youth Day events.

“It’s fine for the bishops to talk among themselves about wanting their country to host it and to come to an agreement about it and then to send us a letter of formal request. But to publish one’s intentions before even making the request ... they risk doing something that will work against their intention,” Father Kohn said.

THIS MONTH IN —1996

FroM THe vaTiCaN

To register, call the parish office at (336) 272-4681.ASHEBORO — Father Joseph Mack, pas-tor of St. Joseph Church, will introduce the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayer of the Catholic Church as it is prayed by priests, re-ligious and a growing number of lay people throughout the world. Join us and become a part of this beautiful rhythm of prayer. This program will be held March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Salt Box, Randolph Senior Adult Center, 133 W. Wainman Ave. For more informa-tion call the St Joseph Church office at (336) 629-6221.HICKory VICArIATE

HICKORY — The annual World Day of Prayer ecumenical worship service will be held at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church March 5 at 7 p.m. This bilingual service was written by Christian Women of Panama. The theme is “In Faith, Women Shape the Future.” The guest speaker will be Xiomara Palma. A native of Nicaragua, she is active in lay ministry at St. Joseph Church in Newton. For more information, contact Carole Mar-morato at (828) 256-8956.SAlISBury VICArIATE

MOORESVILLE — A Support Group for Parents Who Have Lost a Child of any age meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at St. Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Rd. We draw strength from others’ experience of loss and grief. For more infor-mation, call Joy at (704) 664-3992.WINSToN-SAlEM VICArIATE

CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., will celebrate a Healing Mass March 1 at 7:30 p.m. with Msgr. Mauricio West as celebrant. Reconciliation will be offered at 7 p.m. Sacramental laying on of hands will follow the Mass. Please join us for singing and hopeful expectancy. For more

information, contact (336) 998-7503.WINSTON-SALEM — The Fraternity of St. Clare of the Secular Franciscan Order invites you to a Peace Meal for the Poor March 7. The fraternity will serve a simple meal consisting of soup, bread and water. A love basket will be available during the meal and the proceeds will be used to stock the food pantry at Catholic Social Services. The meal will be served 12-1 p.m. in the cafeteria of Our Lady of Mercy School located at 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem, N.C. Please join us and help to feed the hungry in our area. For more information, contact Sharon Jackson, SFO Minister, at (336) 722-7001.KERNERSVILLE — The Bishop Mc-Guinness Catholic High School Student Council will host the American Red Cross Bloodmobile March 11, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. BMCHS recognizes the importance of helping the Red Cross maintain an ad-equate and safe blood supply, and everyone in the community who is able to donate blood is encouraged to attend. The Blood Drive will be held in the school’s Krispy Kreme Athletic Center at 1725 NC High-way 66 South. The school is located a block south of I-40 on Route 66. An appoint-ment is not necessary but can be made by contacting Linda Kennedy, Student Coun-cil moderator, at (336) 564-1010.

is your parish or school having an event? Please submit notices for the diocesan Planner at least 15 days prior to the event date in writing to Karen a. evans at [email protected] or fax to (704) 370-3382.

our lady oF lourdes Jubilee weeKeNdParishioners of our lady of lourdes Church in Monroe celebrated its 50th anniversary Feb. 9-11, 1996. The jubilee weekend included a Mass and luncheon honoring parishioners who had been there since 1946 when the church was established; the blessing and dedication of an organ; a family celebration; and brunch with then-bishop william g. Curlin.

Early public lobbying for World Youth Day prompts Vatican criticism

Cns Photo froM reuters

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity, speaks with russian orthodox Patriarch Alexei II at the patriarch’s residence in Moscow Feb. 22. Among other contentious issues, the russian orthodox object to Pope John Paul II’s desire to appoint Cardinal lubomyr Husar of lviv, ukraine, as Catholic patriarch. Cardinal Kasper told reporters he hoped to “open a new page, a page of friendship” with the orthodox.

Turning a new page

Episcopalcalendar

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events:

March 6 — 10 a.m.Mass with Permanent deacons and diaconate Candidatesst. gabriel Church, Charlotte

March 6 — 2 p.m.rite of election st. Matthew Church, Charlotte

March 7 — 2 p.m.rite of electionst. Paul the apostle Church, greensboro

March 13F.i.r.e. rally MassFort Mill, s.C.

4 The Catholic News & Herald February 27, 2004ArouND THE DIoCESE


FRANKLIN — The women went to hell and back, sort of.

Approximately 100 women from around the Diocese of Charlotte gath-ered for a spiritual retreat entitled “The Last Four Things” at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin Feb. 13-15.

Father Matthew Kauth, adminis-trator of St. Francis of Assisi Church, and Father Ray Williams, pastor of St. Mary Church in Sylva, spoke during the retreat about sin, purgatory, hell and heaven.

“It was a wonderful weekend,” said Father Kauth. “My job was to take them through hell and sin.”

Hell, he said, “is the inability to love. All sin is a disordered love. When we sin, we turn toward something we want more than God.”

To be a saint, he said, takes much love. “Love is to give oneself away, to pour oneself out in sacrifice,” he said.

Everything in life is a prelude to heaven, said Father Kauth, because ev-eryone goes through purgatory either in this life or the next.

In 1999, Pope John Paul II de-scribed purgatory as “not a place” but a “condition.”

Love, said Father Williams, “draws us through purgatory, which is actu-ally a process we’re going through now. I compared purgatory to a moun-tain we’re climbing. This involves a struggle; it’s not necessarily easy, but it can be adventurous.”

Prayer isn’t a struggle, said Father Williams, but the development of a relationship with God. By the grace of God, people can be saved.

“Self-love leads to a hellish ex-istence,” he said. “Loving God and neighbor is what saves us. Heaven is union with God and one another, and the glory to which we’re called. I wanted them to take away real insight into that glory, and to be inspired by that.”

Father Williams said the retreat participants left the retreat uplifted and with new ideas on how to ap-proach the season of Lent.

Many of the women were inspired to strive for saintliness.

“It was real talk to help one be-come holy, to become a saint, which is what we should all be aiming for,” said Bonny Dodge, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Contact Editor Kevin E. Murray by calling (704) 370-3334 or e-mail [email protected].

The last four thingsRetreat explores leading spiritual life

Courtesy Photo

Father Matthew Kauth, administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin, chats with participants during “The Four last Things” women’s retreat at the church Feb. 13-15.


Tiffin (ohio) Franciscan Sister Andrea Inkrott teaches Spanish to diocesan employees at the Pastoral Center Feb. 24. The Diocesan Diversity Committee sponsors the weekly “lunch and language” program, which was developed out of the desire of many employees to learn Spanish as the Diocese of Charlotte welcomes Spanish-speaking newcomers to its churches.

Lunch and

Q. Why is Ash Wednesday 40 days before Easter? What is the significance of the number 40? How do you determine the date of Ash Wednesday?

A: Because the early Christians regarded Moses’ parting of the sea as an Old Testament antecedent for Baptism and because Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai before encountering God, Christians used the number 40 as the length of the season to prepare catechumens for receiving the Sacrament of Baptism at the Easter Vigil.

The date of Ash Wednesday is counted back from the date of Easter — count back six Sundays and then go to the previous Wednesday. That is Ash Wednesday; those six Sundays are not counted as part of the 40 days.

QueQuesTioNs aNd aNswers

The Cathol ic News & Hera ld 5 February 27, 2004ArouND THE DIoCESE

by REV. MR. GERALD POTKAycORREsPOnDEnT

GREENSBORO — Montagnard refugees are weaving a brighter future in Greensboro.

Last summer, parishioners from various Greensboro-area churches helped more than 20 Montagnard women de-velop or improve existing weaving skills. The project was made possible through a one-time $1,000 grant from Operation Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catho-lic Relief Services, and donations from area businesses, according to Sister of St. Joseph Phyllis Tierney, pastoral associate at St. Pius X Church.

Meeting twice a week for three months, 15 volunteers from Greensboro churches taught the Montagnard women to use electric sewing machines to sew curtains, make skirts and repair clothes.

Though weaving looms were com-mon the women’s homeland, access to sewing machines was uncommon.

Christians from the Central High-lands of South Vietnam, the Montagnard (a French word for mountain dweller) men would hunt and fish while the women would take care of hearth and home. They practices a primitive form of weaving, uti-lizing six separate pieces of wood instead of a fixed loom.

The Montagnards aided U.S. Spe-cial Forces during the 1960s and many became prisoners in re-education camps after the Vietnam War ended. Due to cooperative resettlement efforts of the U.S. Special Forces and the Department of State, North Carolina is currently the largest Montagnard resettlement site in the Western Hemisphere.

The Diocese of Charlotte has helped resettle more than 600 Montagnards in the diocese since 1986. Many of the refugees are those who fled to Cambo-

dia after the communist Vietnamese government quelled their protests over intrusion on traditional tribal lands and religious prosecution.

The Montagnards came to North Carolina with a strong faith and limited skills.

Minhthu Lynagh, a Montagnard woman and St. Pius X parishioner ac-tive in the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees, helped organize the Greensboro

Montagnard women into a weaver’s guild.

Before relocating to Greensboro, Lynagh worked with refugees in Wash-ington and Florida. One of her goals was to help her fellow Montagnards build unity and healthy relationships among the different tribes.

Lynagh enlisted the assistance of the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center and a local yarn company, which donated

excess swatches of yarn. Using their six-piece looms, the women began making shoulder bags ordered by people in the Greensboro area.

Pete Williams, a St. Pius X parishio-ner and custom wood working business owner, built and donated 35 wooden looms to assist the Montagnard women in their work.

As the women continued to work together successfully, Lynagh encour-aged fellow St. Pius X parishioner Amy Debruycker to apply for the Operation Rice Bowl grant through the Office of Justice and Peace.

Each Lent, parishes and schools in the Diocese of Charlotte participate in Operation Rice Bowl (ORB), the Catholic Relief Services program of prayer, fast-ing, learning and giving. The majority of funds from the ORB collection help the national Catholic Relief Services office’s worldwide anti-poverty programs. The remainder of funds stay in the Diocese of Charlotte, where the diocesan Catholic Relief Services committee sponsors a mini-grants program for local initiatives on international issues or projects.

The women received donated sew-ing notions, fabric and boxes of thread. In addition, eight donated sewing machines were repaired and given to the best stu-dents.

waNT More iNForMaTioN?For more information on Catholic relief services programs and op-eration rice bowl grants, contact Terri Jarina at (704) 370-3234 or e-mail [email protected].

CCHD and CRS are part of the di-ocesan Office of Justice and Peace, Catho-lic Social Services, which is one of the 36 ministries supported by the Diocesan Support Appeal.

Brighter futures looming in GreensboroOperation Rice Bowl grant assists Montagnard refugees

Photo by rev. Mr. Gerald PotKay

H Ngeo, a Montagnard refugee, weaves using a traditional loom from Vietnam.

6 The Catholic News & Herald February 27, 2004ArouND THE DIoCESE

BELMONT — Gil Bailie, J.D., will present “Religious Violence in the 21st Century” as part of the Cuthbert Allen Lecture Series at Belmont Abbey Col-lege March 10.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001 shat-tered the way Americans perceive safety and security. The results have been long lines of screenings at airports, the deportation of thousands of immigrants with visa problems and the vigilant eye by nearly every American to thwart any future terrorist threat.

Many are still analyzing the events of Sept. 11 for its lasting impact on American culture.

As a teacher, lecturer and writer, Bailie believes the Judeo-Christian tra-dition offers a way out of violence. For years, he has explored the deeper spiri-tual and anthropological implications of the literary and scriptural traditions of Western culture.

Drawing heavily on the influence of French Catholic thinker Rene Girard, emeritus professor of French language, literature and civilization at Stanford University, Bailie’s book, “Violence Unveiled: Humanity at the Crossroads,” won the 1996 Pax Christi USA Book Award.

“We believe Gil Baillie’s work, build-ing on the thought of cultural anthro-pologist Rene Girard, opens up a unique, rarely-heard perspective on the origins and psychological functions of violence,” says Sister Jane Russell, chair of the theology department at Belmont Abbey College and member of the Cuthbert Al-len Lecture Committee.

“As The Other Side said of his book, ‘Violence Unveiled,’ Bailie’s ‘insight into the roots of violence, and final message of redemption and hope reflect a truly innovative Christian cultural critique,’” said Sister Russell. “This insight and message seem particularly worth listen-ing to in light of the current resurgence of ‘sacred violence’ in our post-9/11 world.”

Bailie joins a long list of notewor-thy newsmakers in the series, including Ralph Nader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Wil-

liam Bennett, Wendy Shalit, Sister Hel-en Prejean, James Kilpatrick, and last year’s speaker, Boston Globe reporter Tom Oliphant.

Bailie is founder and president of the Florilegia Institute of Glen Ellen, Calif., a nonprofit educational institute emphasiz-ing the anthropological uniqueness and historical significance of the Judeo-Chris-tian tradition, especially the Gospels. The Florilegia Institute is concerned with to-day’s cultural and spiritual crisis and with more accurately assessing its underlying dynamics, its perils and its promise.

The Father Cuthbert Allen Visiting Speakers Program is named after Father Cuthbert Allen who had an interest in stimulating the Belmont Abbey College community to thinking about provoca-tive issues of the day. He provided a fund to be used to invite influential leaders and decision-makers from all walks of life, including politics, government, lit-erature and the media.

waNT To go?bailie will speak in the Haid The-atre at belmont abbey College on wednesday, March 10 at 8 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Lawyer discuses violence, religion in post-9/11 Renowned speaker latest headliner for Cuthbert Allen Lecture Series

Are students customers, or not?Philosophy professor debates higher ed issue at Bradley Institute

BELMONT — For years, colleges and universities across the country have debated whether or not students should be treated, in a traditional sense, as cus-tomers. The answer depends on whom you ask.

Some students argue they are, in fact, paying customers who are in need of a college degree.

Others debate that the dangers of forcing academia into a corporatist mold would suffocate the notions of free inqui-ry, free expression, open discovery and dissent found on campuses. By doing so, they predict it would harm institutions and their students by devaluing faculty and lowering academic standards.

Methodist College’s Michael Potts, Ph.D., will tackle the issue as he presents “Students Are Not Customers: A Cri-tique of the Consumer Model of Higher Education” at Belmont Abbey College March 11.

The philosophy and religion profes-sor’s talk is part of the spring lecture se-ries sponsored by The Bradley Institute for the Study of Christian Culture, and is free and open to the public.

Potts will speak about the practical issues of how colleges and universities market themselves.

Potts believes the relationship be-tween an institution and its students should be a far different relationship than that of a commercial enterprise and its customers. He says if that difference is not observed, a corrupting element is intro-duced into the college campus.

Potts is currently an associate pro-fessor and chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Methodist College in Fayetteville. As the co-editor

of the book, “Beyond Brain Death: The Case Against Brain Based Criteria for Human Death,” Potts’ area of academic specialization is in the field of bio-ethics.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from David Lipscomb College, a master’s in theology from Harding University Graduate School of Theology, a Master of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Uni-versity of Georgia.

Potts has published in journals in-cluding “The American Catholic Philo-sophical Quarterly,” “The Thomist,” “Perspectives in Biology and Medicine,” “Faith and Philosophy,” “The Interna-tional Journal for Philosophy of Reli-gion,” “The Journal of Medicine and Phi-losophy” and “The Journal of Near-Death Studies.”

The Bradley Institute for the Study of Christian Culture, founded in 1996, provides opportunities for business exec-utives, career professionals and clergy to examine relevant ethical, theological and philosophical topics within the context of their modern lives. Program topics range from business, legal and medical ethics to history and philosophy.

waNT To go?dr. Michael Potts will speak in the student Commons at belmont abbey College on Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. To make a reservation, please call (704) 829-7231.


Evert is a Catholic apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers, one of the nation’s largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangeli-zation. He addressed the eighth-grad-ers of Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, the student body of Charlotte Catholic High School and parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul Feb. 19 and 20.

“It’s important to have someone who promotes the Catholic Church’s message of chastity in a positive, engaging man-ner,” said Father John Allen, chaplain at Charlotte Catholic High School and direc-tor of diocesan vocations.

The Catholic Church’s call for chas-tity is the same for everyone, regardless of a person’s age or stage in life, Father Allen said.

Evert explained he promotes chas-tity rather then abstinence.

“Abstinence is saying ‘no’ to sex,” he said. “Chastity is saying ‘yes’ to love.”

According to the Catholic Answers Web site, “some think that ‘chastity’ simply means ‘not having sex.’ But that’s abstinence: what you can’t do and can’t have. Chastity is what you can do and can have . . . right now: a lifestyle that brings freedom, respect, peace and even romance — without regret. Chastity frees a couple from the selfish attitude of using each other as objects, and makes them capable

Saying ‘yes’ to loveCHASTITY, from page 1

of true love.”Making a connectionEvert began his presentation with

an attention-getting demonstration. He asked a boy to volunteer, and one proudly hopped up on the stage and towered over Evert.

Evert asked the audience to imag-ine that he and the young man were on a date. To set the scene, Evert gave him a long blond wig to wear.

“Now imagine that we’re at the Grand Canyon overlooking the edge,” Evert said, picking up his “date” in his arms and stepping closer and closer to the edge of the “canyon.”

Evert compared premarital sexual activity to carrying someone to the edge of a cliff and dropping him or her. He asked the audience if they would ever put someone they love in such danger.

Romance without regret“All boys feel lust, but they’ve been

lied to about what it means to be a man,” Evert asserted. “Don’t get your manhood by robbing a girl of her pu-rity, but instead by protecting it.”

Evert quoted Ephesians 5:25-26, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her, to sanctify her...”

According to Evert, studies show that the earlier a person engages in sexual activity, the more partners he or she is likely to have, leading to more breakups and more heartache. In turn, these people have higher rates of abor-tion and divorce.

Throughout his presentation, Evert stressed the importance of today’s decisions on tomorrow’s out-comes. He explained that a marriage between two virgins has a divorce rate 70 percent lower than the national average. Even two non-virgins who save intercourse for marriage are two-to-three times more likely to stay married.

“The things that you want to do with your girlfriend...would you want a guy to do that to your future wife?”

he asked the young men.According to Evert, respect is a

key component in healthy, successful relationships. A feeling of being used never brings a person peace, Evert said.

“When you start having sex, you’re not spending time with each other, but with each other’s bodies,” he said. A lack of respect and communication breeds distrust, which often leads to a breakup.

“Then you’ve given someone a pre-cious gift who didn’t deserve it, and you can’t get it back,” he said.

Evert also stressed the damage that pornography can do to young men and women, because it trains men to see women as objects. When men marry, they transfer their fantasies and lust to their wives, who cannot live up to these impossible standards of beauty and sexuality.

By rejecting pornography now, Evert said young men are being faithful to their future wives.

Evert also encouraged the young women at Holy Trinity to dress and act modestly.

“Girls will never convince guys to respect their modesty until they convince themselves of it,” he said. “The way a woman dresses invites a man to treat her as a gentleman would or as a beast would.”

Evert suggested girls ask them-selves, “Am I a date or a soul mate? A

for-now girl or a for-ever girl?” “Ultimately, God wants us all to

be happy,” Father Allen said.“The peace and joy that come

from chastity are worth more than all the pleasure in the world,” said Evert. “Love means doing what is best for your beloved.”


Students at Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School line up to sign a prayer book following Jason Evert’s “romance without regret” presentation at the school Feb. 20. Evert prays daily for each person who signs the book.

8 The Catholic News & Herald February 27, 2004SPECIAl rEPorT

pentance for our sins, and conversion to a more faithful following in Christ.”

The bishop said it was a “very personal dialogue” that Christ initiates between him and his people, “where he speaks tenderly but insistently to the heart: Turn away from sin, and return to me with all your heart.”

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, 46 days before Easter. Ashes are blessed and placed on the foreheads of Catholics to remind them of their sin and the joy that lies in repentance.

“Ashes, as an outward sign of penance, were already used in Old Testament times, and the Church has preserved this custom to the present day,” said the bishop.

The ashes, said Bishop Jugis, express a desire for Christ to undertake an interior journey of conversion within his people.

“The journey of conversion is de-signed to lead us to the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation before Eas-ter,” said Bishop Jugis.

The Lord tells people to change and become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven, said the bishop.

“This is the conversion he asks of us all the time: Change, cultivate simplicity and trust in imitation of Christ, who iden-tified himself with the little ones,” said Bishop Jugis.

The bishop said Pope John Paul II has asked all people to reflect on the condition of children during Lent and be

mindful of them, because welcoming chil-dren is a way of welcoming Christ.

“Jesus says, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,’” said Bishop Jugis. “What greater source of grace could we ask for during Lent than receiving Christ himself?”

Too many children, unfortunately, have been “profoundly hurt by the violence and misconduct of adults,” said Bishop Jugis. “Sadly, this has even hap-pened to some children in the Church.”

Bishop Jugis said the John Jay report released Feb. 27 would “help us bishops determine whether the steps we have already taken to address the issue have worked, or if additional steps are still needed.”

“Hopefully, it will serve as a model for a larger community to follow in eradi-cating sexual abuse of minors from our society,” he said.

The bishop expressed his “profound sorrow” to “victims of this crime.”

“Some clergy did not live up to their calling to be an image of Christ, the Good Shepherd,” said Bishop Jugis. “We are all suffering with those who have been vic-tims of this immoral behavior.”

The bishop asked that, during Lent-en practices of prayer, fasting and sacri-fice, people pray for “God’s grace to bring healing to our brothers and sisters who are victims, and for God’s grace to bring healing to the Church.”

“This certainly is the intention of my heart,” he said.

Contact Editor Kevin E. Murray by calling (704) 370-3334 or e-mail kemur-

Lenten messageASHES, from page 1

tive and retired priests in the diocese between 1972 and 2002.

The clergy alleged to have been involved in these incidents are deceased, retired or no longer in active ministry.

During this same period of 30 years, 18 allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the 13 priests in the Diocese of Charlotte, and the diocese paid $704,439 for counseling and other services to victims, and for legal fees.

In 2003, an additional amount of $10,892 was paid for counseling. However, no new allegations regarding sexual abuse of minors by clergy were reported.

Diocesan insurance funds and the diocesan general fund were used for pay-ment. No money from the Diocesan Sup-port Appeal nor parish savings were used.

“The publication of this information affirms the pledge of the Diocese of Char-lotte to root out the sinful crime of sex abuse and to do everything humanly pos-sibly to make sure that it will not recur,” said Bishop Peter J. Jugis.

The bishop addressed the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy during his homily at St. Patrick Cathedral on Ash Wednes-day, Feb. 25. He also called Catholics to prayer during this season of Lent.

“The theme for Lent this year as set forth by Pope John Paul II is, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name re-ceives me.’ It is an invitation for all of us, Catholic or not, to reflect upon the condi-tion of children and especially those chil-dren who have been profoundly hurt by the violence of adults,” said Bishop Jugis.

“We are called to protect children and young people,” he said.

National perspectiveU.S. Conference of Catholic Bish-

ops president Bishop Wilton D. Greg-ory of Belleville, Ill., noted that “we don’t have comparable statistics” from other organizations or professions that could be used to gauge the significance of the John Jay data on clerical abusers and their victims.

“I would like to believe that the Catholic Church is taking a bold step not only because of the seriousness of this issue for us, but the seriousness of this issue for all of society. ... I trust that what we are doing will advance the knowledge of this horrible crime in other venues,” he said.

In the Feb. 27 report of national figures covering 1950-2002, the total number of priests with allegations of abuse is 4,932. The report said there were 109,694 active priests in this time period, and using this number, 4.0 per-cent of all priests active between 1950 and 2002 had allegations of abuse.

A total of 10,667 individuals made allegations of child sexual abuse by priests. Of those who alleged abuse, the study contained information that 17.2 percent of them had siblings who were also allegedly abused.

The report said the amount of money already paid as a result of allegations, to victims, for the treat-ment of priests and for legal expenses was $507,000,000 (including a highly publicized $85,000,000 settlement not

included in the surveys from dioceses).Thomas Plante, a psychology pro-

fessorin California who treats clergy sex abusers and their victims, said the 4 percent figure is keeping with previ-ous estimates and may not be far off from the general adult male popula-tion.

He said there is child sex abuse in other religions and in professions such as teaching and coaching.

“The bishops can’t change his-tory, but we can make sure that it is not repeated by determining the na-ture and scope of the problem,” said Bishop Jugis. “With this information, the bishops can determine whether the steps we have taken are adequate to the problem.”

Protecting childrenThe Diocese of Charlotte was

among the nearly 90 percent of U.S. dioceses in compliance with the U.S. bishops’ national policy to protect children and respond to clergy sexual abuse of minors, according to the first national audit report released Jan. 6.

The report was based on an inde-pendent compliance audit conducted by the Boston-based Gavin Group, headed by William Gavin, a former FBI official, and overseen by Kathleen McChesney, a former top FBI agent and head of the U.S. bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection.

The Diocese of Charlotte was commended for its early proactive initiatives to ensure the protection of children and youths under its pastoral care. In 1994, the diocese adopted its “Policy of the Diocese of Charlotte Concerning Ministry-Related Sexual Misconduct by Church Personnel,” which included the establishment of a review board, a group of volunteers not employed by the diocese, with the exception of one priest.

The group includes a psychologi-cal counselor. Their role is to review allegations of abuse and to make rec-ommendations to the bishop.

The diocese was also commended for its comprehensive Safe Environ-ment Program, which includes train-ing programs and background investi-gations for clergy, volunteers, teachers and contractors who have contact with minors.

Since June 2002, more than 7,000 diocesan employees and volunteers have completed the Protecting God’s Children Training Program to help them recognize and prevent the sexual abuse of children.

Auditors also recommended the Diocese of Charlotte’s policy for report-ing allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy be made more readily available. The diocese complied with the recom-mendation through regular announce-ments in church bulletins, The Catholic News & Herald and its Web site, www.charlottediocese.org.

“Here in the Diocese of Charlotte, we have policies, people, programs and, most importantly, prayer to ad-dress this problem,” said Bishop Jugis. “Prayer is the primary response for the people of God when confronted with something as evil as sex abuse.”

“I pray on a daily basis for all vic-

MISSION, from page 1

Local, national statistics

The Cathol ic News & Hera ld 9 February 27, 2004SPECIAl rEPorT

by dAVId HAINSSpEcIAl to

the catholic news & herald

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis began his homilies at Our Lady of the Assumption Church by expressing that he would have preferred his first parish visit to be under different circum-stances.

Bishop Jugis celebrated all Masses at the church Feb. 21-22 because Father Gregory Littleton was removed from ac-tive ministry and resigned his position as pastor Feb. 20. That action was a result of new information related to a violation of “The Charter for the Protection of Chil-dren and Young People” as reported by the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J.

In homilies that wove Scripture pas-sages into his message regarding Father Littleton’s situation, Bishop Jugis said, “The Lord is kind and merciful, do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” He of-fered prayers for the victims of sex abuse and Our Lady of the Assumption Church family.

Father Littleton was a priest in good standing in the Diocese of Metuchen when he transfered to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1997. No allegations of any wrongdoing were made against Father Littleton during his service in the Diocese of Charlotte.

In fall of 2002, Bishop Paul G. Boot-koski of Metuchen ordered a review of priest personnel files in response to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. As a result of the review, in October 2002 the Diocese of Metuchen sent portions of Father Littleton’s psychological assess-ment to the prosecutor’s office in Middle-sex County, N.J.

At that time, the Diocese of Charlotte was made aware information was sent to the prosecutor, but Father Littleton’s sta-tus as a priest in good standing was not

Charlotte priest removed from ministryBishop addresses parish, celebrates Masses

Photo by david hains

Bishop Peter J. Jugis greets parishioners after Mass at our lady of the Assumption Church Feb. 22.

ProTeCTiNg god’s CHildreN

changed because no other information was supplied to the Diocese of Charlotte.

Unlike the current diocesan policy, the policy in 2002 said the bishop needed a specific allegation in order to take action against a priest — something the Diocese of Charlotte felt it did not have in con-nection with Father Littleton. Today, an investigation would warrant the priest’s removal from active ministry.

The Middlesex County prosecu-tor later declined to seek an indictment against Father Littleton in the matter.

In mid-February, 2004, Bishop Boot-koski relayed new information to Bishop Jugis regarding Father Littleton’s case. Bishop Bootkoski also said he was includ-ing Father Littleton among Diocese of Metuchen clergy counted in the John Jay study.

After reviewing the new documents sent from New Jersey on Friday, Feb. 20, and considering the placement in the John Jay study, Bishop Jugis removed Father Littleton from ministry.

“This situation is difficult for the Our Lady of the Assumption parish and for me personally,” said Bishop Jugis.

After the Masses, Bishop Jugis greet-ed parishioners, many of whom expressed sorrow over the situation. Others asked for additional details about the bishop’s decision, but ethics and confidentiality rules regarding personnel matters pre-vented the bishop from elaborating be-yond what was said in the homilies.

Bishop Jugis assured the parishioners that “God will take care of Father Little-ton and God will take care of Our Lady of the Assumption parish.”

David Hains is acting spokesman for the Diocese of Charlotte.

In the Diocese of Charlotte, policies, procedures, programs and people are in place to combat the sin of sexual abuse of minors. They are:

— A written policy to deal with the sin of sexual abuse that was put in place in 1994. This policy has been updated to reflect the values expressed in 2002 in the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”

— Procedures that encourage people to come forward if they have witnessed or experienced sexual abuse. The procedures can be found on the diocesan Web site, www.charlottediocese.org. The diocese also encourages anyone who has been a victim to report the incident to civil au-thorities. The diocese will cooperate in any investigation.

— People who will act as advocates for victims of sexual abuse. Three victims’ assistance advocates are located in dioc-esan offices in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Asheville.

— Training for clergy, staff and vol-unteers. Since June 2002, more than 7,000 diocesan employees and volunteers have completed the Protecting God’s Children

Training Program to help them recognize and prevent the sexual abuse of children.

— The Review Board. This group of volunteers, with the exception of one priest, is not employed by the diocese. The group includes a psychological counselor. Their role is to review allegations of abuse and to make recommendations to the bishop.

Protecting God’s Children

diocese of Charlotte review boardCo-chairs— robert M. gallagher, publisher— Harry J. grim, attorney

— James g. babb, communications executive— sandy butler, human resources— barbara Caldwell, attorney/mother— John g. engler, investments — Paul Franz, hospital administrator— Janet r. Kenny, Ms, lPC, therapist and

consultant in child and adolescent therapyinvolving sexual abuse

— don C. locke, Phd, college counselor— Msgr. anthony J. Marcaccio, priest


a roundup of scripture, readings, films and more

Culture Watch

REViEwED by EMiLiE AsT LEM-MOns

cAThOLic nEws sERVicE

“Riding the Dragon: Ten Lessons for Inner Strength in Challenging Times” has been on the Catholic best-seller list since it hit the bookstores in September. In it, Robert Wicks offers wisdom for staying afloat during low times of depression, burnout and grief.

Wicks has been helping people develop the psychological and spiritual tools of inner work for more than three decades. He is no stranger to dark nights of the soul, both in himself and others. A psychologist and professor in the pastoral counseling department at Loyola College in Maryland, his clients

often are other healers and helpers — ministers, doctors, counselors and relief workers.

While many people flock to thera-pists in an effort to run the “dragon” into its cave, Wicks says greater inner growth comes from staying with prob-lems and, as the title suggests, “riding the dragon.”

“Often we seek security by either running away from our feelings of dis-couragement or attempting to conquer them,” he writes. “Instead, we need to stay with them.”

Among the ideas Wicks offers: Sim-plify and “prune” your life if you often find yourself becoming exhausted. Find “renewal zones,” such as quiet walks, cheerful friends, or relaxing hobbies. Use kindness along with clarity when you assess yourself. Find love in small deeds. And perhaps most important: Allow yourself to rest in your darkness instead of seeking a quick fix. Trust

Two healers offer help for mind and bodyreviewed by EMIlIE AST lEMMoNS

that life will provide a new way for you.Wicks also realizes that there are

psychological and spiritual dangers involved in “living a full life of involve-ment with others.” Feelings of “futility, fear, vulnerability and hopelessness” can be contagious. To keep a hopeful but compassionate heart, Wicks sug-gests steps for a “spiritual review of the day,” a process that combines the “countertransferential review” that mental health workers use after ses-sions with clients with the theological reflection and self-examination that ministers do in prayer at the end of the day. It is an affirming way of conduct-ing an examination of conscience.

“Hands that Touch, Hands that Heal” is the story of another healer — St. Joseph Sister Rosalind Gefre and “her pioneering work in healing touch.”

Back in the days when massage was associated with prostitution more than health care, Sister Rosalind opened her first massage parlor in St. Paul, Minn. She knew then what mainstream medicine now confirms — that the healing touch of massage can remove headaches and muscle tension, stress and toxins.

But at the time, Sister Rosalind, now 73, faced city regulations that shut down her business, as well as a reli-gious order that asked her to move out because it wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a nun doing massage.

Almost 30 years later, Sister Rosa-lind is regarded as a leader in changing legislation on massage. She has five schools and six massage clinics in two states. Author Joan Holman weaves the nun’s words in with her own narrative in this light biography. Photographs and some of Sister Rosalind’s poems are included.

Lemmons is a staff writer at The Catholic Spirit, the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocesan paper.

WORD TO LIFESUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS: MARCH. 7, 2004

March 7, Second Sunday of Lent

Cycle C Readings:1) Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-142) Philippians 3:17-4:13) Gospel: Luke 9:28b-36

by dAN lUbycAtHolIc NEwS SERVIcE

Why on earth didn’t they tell anyone about it? They’d had the mother of all mountaintop experiences. They had seen, with their own eyes, their master trans-figured, his glory revealed in all its daz-zling, awe-inspiring splendor. They had seen Moses and Elijah discussing with Jesus the things that would befall him on his journey to Jerusalem.

How could they not shout from the rooftops the incontrovertible proof that Jesus’ claims to be Messiah were true?

They had been certain enough at first. Peter had been so riveted by the transcendence of the moment that when Moses and Elijah appeared to be leaving, he proposed building three tents so the heavenly visitors could stay and the golden moment could be preserved forever. Yet the Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent concludes with an emphatic note on the silence of the disciples when they returned from the mountain.

Perhaps what changed their mood

from ecstatic enthusiasm to sober, even frightened silence, was the command they heard from the shadow that over-took them: “Listen to him.”

Listening to him, after seeing his glory, they could no longer ignore what Jesus already had been saying — and what they had been objecting to — about the passion that awaited him. With dawning clarity they began to under-stand that the triumphant vindication of Jesus, for which they were so eager, could be reached only by a path of struggle and trial.

To listen to Jesus in the days ahead, as we travel the Lenten journey with the rest of the church, is to choose a path of repentance and renewal. It is to recognize that the conversion to which this season calls us cannot be embraced without cost.

May the prayer, fasting and almsgiv-ing which make up the discipline of Lent strengthen us for the journey.

Questions:What is one fear that gets in the

way of my listening faithfully to Je-sus? To what Lenten discipline will I commit myself as a way of sharpening my hearing for the words of Christ in my life?

Scripture to Illustrate:“After the voice had spoken, Jesus

was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen” (Luke 9:36).

sCriPTure For THe weeK oF February 29 - MarCH 6 sunday (First sunday of lent), deuteronomy 26:4-10, romans 10:8-13, luke 4:1-13; Monday (lenten weekday), leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18, Matthew 25:31-46; Tuesday (lenten weekday), isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 6:7-15; wednesday (lenten weekday), Jonah 3:1-10, luke 11:29-32; Thursday (lenten weekday), esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 or 4:17 (esther’s prayer), Matthew 7:7-12; Friday (lenten weekday), ezekiel 18:21-28, Matthew 5:20-26; saturday (lenten week-day), deuteronomy 26:16-19, Matthew 5:43-48

sCriPTure For THe weeK oF MarCH 7 - MarCH 13 sunday (second sunday of lent), genesis 15:5-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17—4:1, luke 9:28-36; Monday (lenten weekday), daniel 9:4-10, luke 6:36-38; Tuesday (lenten weekday), isaiah 1:10, 16-20, Matthew 23:1-12; wednesday (lenten weekday), Jeremiah 18:18-20, Matthew 20:17-28; Thursday (lenten weekday), Jeremiah 17:5-10, luke 16:19-31; Friday (lenten weekday), genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46; saturday (lenten weekday), Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, luke 15:1-3, 11-32

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE

DON’T PROCRASTINATE! CALL NOW!!

“riding the dragon: Ten lessons for inner strength in Challenging Times,” by robert wicks. sorin books (Notre dame, ind., 2003). 160 pp., $15.95.

“Hands that Touch, Hands that Heal: The True story of sister rosalind gefre,” by Joan Holman. sister rosa-lind Christian Ministries (st. Paul, Minn., 2003). 114 pp.,


by GERRi PARE AnD DAViD DicERTO


NEW YORK — (CNS) “The Pas-sion of the Christ” (Newmarket) is an uncompromising, interpretive drama-tization of the final 12 hours of Jesus’ earthly life.

Unflinching in its brutality and penetrating in its iconography of God’s supreme love for humanity, the film will mean different things to peo-ple of diverse backgrounds. Co-writer, producer and director Mel Gibson has undoubtedly created one of the most anticipated and controversial films of recent times.

Like other films on Christ’s life, “The Passion” does not simply trans-late a single Gospel narrative onto the screen. Rather it is a composite of the Passion narratives in the four Gospels embroidered with nonscriptural tradi-tions as well as the imaginative inspi-ration of the filmmaker. The result is a deeply personal work of devotional art — a moving Stations of the Cross, so to speak.

However, by choosing to narrow his focus almost exclusively to the pas-sion of Christ, Gibson has, perhaps, muted Christ’s teachings, making it difficult for viewers unfamiliar with the New Testament and the era’s his-torical milieu to contextualize the cir-cumstances leading up to Jesus’ arrest. And though, for Christians, the Pas-sion is the central event in the history of salvation, the “how” of Christ’s death is lingered on at the expense of the “why?”

The film opens with a distraught Jesus (Jim Caviezel) facing down evil, personified as an androgynous being (played by Rosalinda Celentano), in the

mist shrouded garden of Gethsemane and progresses to his death on the cross, followed by a fleeting, but po-etically economic, resurrection coda. Flashbacks of his public ministry and home life in Nazareth with his mother, Mary (Maia Morgenstern), pepper the action, filling in some of the narrative blanks.

Each flashback in the film is a wel-come respite from the near-incessant

Gibson’s ‘Passion’ will be everything and then some to different people

bloodletting, but more importantly for how it conveys Jesus’ core message of God’s boundless love for humanity, a love that does not spare his son death on the cross so that we might have eternal life.

Concerning the issue of anti-Semitism, the Jewish people are at no time blamed collectively for Jesus’ death; rather, Christ himself freely embraces his destiny, stating clearly “No one takes it (my life) from me, but

I lay it down of myself ” (John 10:18). By extension, Gibson’s film suggests that all humanity shares culpability for the crucifixion, a theological stance es-tablished by the movie’s opening quo-tation from the prophet Isaiah which explains that Christ was “crushed for our transgressions.”

Catholics viewing the film should recall the teachings of the Second Vatican Council’s decree, “Nostra Aetate,” which affirms that, “though Jewish authorities and those who fol-lowed their lead pressed for the death of Christ, neither all Jews indiscrimi-nately at that time, nor Jews today, can be charged with the crimes committed during his passion.”

Overall, the film presents Jews in much the same way as any other group — a mix of vice and virtue, good and bad. Yet while the larger Jewish com-munity is shown to hold diverse opin-ions concerning Christ’s fate — exem-plified by the cacophony of taunts and tears along the Via Dolorosa — it fails to reflect the wider political nuances of first-century Judea. The scene of the stock frenzied mob uniformly call-ing for Christ’s crucifixion in Pilate’s courtyard is problematic, though once Christ begins his laborious way of the cross Jewish individuals emerge from the crowd to extend kindness — in-cluding Veronica wiping his face and Simon of Cyrene helping carry the cross, as a chorus of weeping women lament from the sidelines.

However, the most visually dis-tinctive representatives of Jewish authority — the high priest Caiphas (Matia Sbragia) and those in the San-hedrin aligned with him — do come across as almost monolithically malev-olent. Caiphas is portrayed as adamant and unmerciful and his influence on Pilate is exaggerated. Conversely, Pon-tius Pilate (Hristo Naumov Shopov) is almost gentle with Jesus, even offering his prisoner a drink.

This overly sympathetic portrayal of the procurator as a vacillating, conflicted and world-weary backwater bureaucrat,

Film should arouse opinions, deeper understanding

Cns Photo froM iCon ProduCtions

The weight of the worldJim Caviezel portrays Christ with his cross in a scene from “The Passion of the Christ.”

See PASSION on next page


eMPloyMeNT

ACCOMPANIST: “Sanctuary,” the contemporary worship group of Saint Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville, is looking for an experienced ac-companist for the 5:30 pm Sunday evening Mass. The group practices Sundays at 4:15 pm, followed by Mass from 5:30-6:30 pm. Please call Anne Lan-ka at 704-799-0416 for questions or an audition.

OUTSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVES: J.S. Paluch Co. (est. 1913), the nation’s oldest Catholic publisher, is now interviewing for the position of Sales Representatives for parish church bulletins. Realistic earning potential of $40K+ health in-surance, paid vacation, 401K & training salary. Some travel required. Self motivation a must. To arrange an interview call Les Black 1-800-432-

3240. EOE

PRINCIPAL: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic grade school located in Southern Pines, NC, is now accepting curriculum vitae for the position of principal. The school’s curriculum is faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. Applicants must have a Master’s degree and be state certi-fied in education. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Since the school is expanding, an applicant should be a visionary and have fund-raising capabilities. Curriculum vitae will be received through 3/31/04. The Very Reverend Jeffrey Ingham, V.F., St. Anthony of Padua Catho-lic Church, 175 E. Connecticut Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387.

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ArouND THE DIoCESE

averse to unnecessary roughness and easily coerced by both his Jewish subjects and his conscience-burdened wife, does not mesh with the Pilate of history re-membered by the ancient historians as a ruthless and inflexible brute responsible for ordering the execution of hundreds of Jewish rabble-rousers without hesitation.

However the film is abundantly clear that it is the Romans who are Christ’s executioners (a fact corroborated by both the Nicene Creed and the writings of Tacitus and Josephus).

The Roman soldiers are unimagin-ably — even gleefully— sadistic in flay-ing Jesus to within an inch of his life. “The Passion” is exceedingly graphic in its por-trayal of the barbarities of Roman justice.

As depicted, the violence, while ex-plicit and extreme, does not seem an end in itself. It is not the kind of violence made to look exciting, glamorized or without consequences. It attempts to convey the depths of salvific divine love. Nonethe-less, viewers’ justifiable reaction is to be repelled by such unremitting inhumanity.

In the end, such savagery may be self-defeating in trying to capture the imagination of the everyday moviegoer.

In contrast to Jesus’ physical agony is the emotional desolation seen in the figure of the Virgin Mary. The viewer is pierced by the depth of Mary’s un-derstanding of Christ’s divinity and her sublime acceptance of seeing her son suffer. It tears at one’s heart to see Mary struggling to get close to Jesus as he walks through the winding, nar-row streets carrying the cross. Seeing him suddenly fall, she is transported, along with the viewers, to Christ’s childhood, to a time when she was able to scoop him up when he stumbled. When she finally reaches Jesus, and he is on the ground, crushed by the weight of the cross, it is he who com-forts her with his words, “See, mother,

I make all things new.” Morgenstern’s portrayal of Mary is beautifully ren-dered, never more so than in the Pieta-like tableau when Christ’s body is laid in her arms.

The juxtaposition of the wounded and bleeding body of Christ on the cross with scenes of the Last Sup-per compellingly underscores how the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ. Other indelible im-ages include a derided Jesus faltering under the weight of the cross intercut with his earlier triumphant entry into Jerusalem and a single raindrop — a tear from heaven — heralding Christ’s death.

The power of the cross is also keenly conveyed. Jesus does not recoil from either the horrific scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers or from carrying the burdensome cross. Instead, he declares his “heart is ready” and embraces the cross as if comforting a fallen sinner. These are truly moving and emotional points in the film.

Cinematically, there are flaws as well as triumphs in Gibson’s film, such as a recurring tendency to slip into the horror-genre conventions, including a scene of a guilt-wracked Judas be-ing taunted by little boys whose faces turn into those of grotesque, macabre ghouls. And close-ups of Christ’s scarred and mutilated body are truly horrible.

For those coming to the film without a faith perspective it may have little resonance. But for Chris-tians, “The Passion of the Christ” is likely to arouse not only passionate opinions, but hopefully a deeper un-derstanding of the drama of salvation and the magnitude of God’s love and forgiveness. It is not about what men did to God, but what God endured for humanity.

Because of gory scenes of scourg-ing, torture and crucifixion, a suicide and some frightening images, the

aCross 1 sally Field movie “Norma ___” 4 ooze 8 slightly open 12 Computer key 13 verdi opera 14 design 15 Jesus’ stories 17 loafer 18 st. Catherine city 19 out 21 grF follower 23 rome beauty 26 illinois city 29 Church recess 32 First vowels 33 light brown 34 Henry follower 35 brooks partner 36 70’s group 37 Pre-med req. 38 Medicinal plant 39 regression 41 distress signal 43 dancer gregory 46 sound alike 50 so be it 52 spendthrift 54 say ___ (refuse) 55 alleviate 56 Costa rica peninsula 57 Cooking measure (abbr) 58 arab prince 59 Q-u connectordowN

1 sings like eminem 2 Jai ___ 3 raison d’ _ 4 Japanese city 5 City in somalia 6 biblical garden 7 el ____ 8 City in illinois 9 Papal beatles? 10 “a long time ___” 11 Caviar 16 Pear 20 scottish to 22 adam’s son 24 late night last name 25 german one 26 dutch fragment 27 Ca school 28 seers 30 actress Zadora 31 reclines 35 Japanese sauce 37 education employment org. 40 Turkish seaport 42 religious group 44 Fencing sword 45 Computer memory type (abbr) 47 Frankenstein’s assistant (var.) 48 Catholic liturgy 49 israeli seaport 50 May be red 51 Crowd 53 “whisper Not” group

CROSSWORD PUZZLEGibson’s passionASHES, from page 1

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Courtesy Photo

Senior youth group members Michelle lindstrand and Jessica Hogan present a check to John Baker, president of the richmond County mental health department in February.

Super caring

HAMLET — Youth at St. James Church in Hamlet held their annual Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1.

Inspired by Spring Valley Presby-terian Church’s fundraiser in Colum-bia, S.C., the event involves parishio-ners each donating one dollar as they leave church on Super Bowl Sunday.

Money raised is donated to a local charity.

This year, the youth collected $384.06 for Crisis Ministries of Rich-mond County, which assists area soup kitchens, food banks and shelters.

St. James youth stir up funds


Perspectives a collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints Pope says Christians must

walk ‘arduous path to holiness’by cAROL GLATZ


VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II said every baptized Christian is called to walk “the arduous path to holi-ness” in order to be “authentic disciples of Christ.”

At the start of the church’s peniten-tial season of Lent, the pope presided over a special Ash Wednesday liturgy Feb. 25 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The morning’s weekly general audi-ence was replaced by a solemn Liturgy of the Word celebration at the Vatican.

In previous years, the pope tradition-ally led an evening Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Sabina after holding a Wednesday morning audience. The Vatican had earlier announced a cut-back in the day’s events due to the pope’s declining health.

But Ash Wednesday morning, the pope looked alert in royal blue vestments as he presided over the liturgy as well as blessed and distributed ashes among some of the faithful.

He also read out most portions of his homily but, as has become more common, skipped several sentences.

“This necessarily entails sacrifice and self-denial ... (and) the willingness to face every difficulty and overcome every obstacle to reach the appointed goal,” the homily read.

The penitential act of administering the ashes, his sermon said, “underlines man’s awareness of his sinful nature be-fore the majesty and holiness of God.”

“At the same time, it also shows one’s willingness to accept the Gospel and turn (its message) into concrete action,” the homily read.

The pope said the two formulas that accompany the placing of the ashes on the heads of the faithful remind man of his “transient and limited” nature (“For you are dust, and to dust you shall return”) as well as issue an urgent appeal to change one’s life (“Repent, and believe in the Gospel”).

But the pope warned against ostenta-tious displays of penance during Lent.

“External gestures of penitence have

value if they express an interior attitude, if they express the solid will to avoid evil and follow the path of goodness. This is the profound meaning of Christian asceti-cism,” he said.

The pope emphasized the need for a “humble and meek acceptance of the will of God together with constant prayer.”

Other typical penitential customs of Christian tradition include “abstinence, fasting, mortification and the giving up of goods,” as well as “concrete gestures of welcoming our neighbor,” he said.

“Lent represents a more intense time of spiritual training and generous service to our brothers and sisters,” said the pope.

Specifically, he urged the faithful to engage in concrete acts of solidarity with needy children this Lenten season.

Referring to this year’s Lenten mes-sage, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,” the pope said, “I wanted to draw attention, in particular, to the difficult conditions in which many of the world’s children live.”

He said he strongly hoped that “our small brothers and sisters, often aban-doned, receive needed care, thanks in part to our solidarity” with them.

He added, “This is one concrete way of carrying out our Lenten resolutions.”

During the prayers of the faithful, one petition asked God to look after those hit by violence and ethnic and religious divisions and to help guide nations to-ward reconciliation and peace.

Another asked that God help people “transform their consumerist behavior” into a lifestyle of “temperance that would allow our brothers and sisters to live with greater dignity.”

My friend Jack is a priest in his 60s who enjoys frequent visits to New York City.

Father Jack frequents concert halls and museums like no one else I know. He’s also practical. He realizes that driving into Manhattan means finding parking and additional ex-pense. So public transportation is his usual means of getting around.

He told me recently of an expe-rience he had on the New York City subway.

When Father Jack got on, he was one of about a dozen people in the subway car. Shortly thereafter, a man boarded the train who was completely unkempt and talking loudly to himself. He was young man, over six feet tall and, to the folks in the car, he looked intimidating.

Nervous looks were exchanged. At the next station, four passengers got off. At the following station, an-other five left. In short order, everyone left the car except Father Jack and the young man.

Jack was disturbed, chastising himself for not wearing his clerical collar, which he thought might have given him a little cushion of safety.

The stranger glanced his way. He mumbled a little, growled a little and finally spoke to Jack. “Hey, man, you know what?”

“What?” Father Jack nervously responded.

“Man, you look just like some ac-tor in the movies. What the heck, you know him, but I can’t think of his name — in that scary movie about the crazy doctor!”

To which Father Jack responded: “You mean the doctor who loved a little Chianti with his fava beans?”

Father Jack had described the Hannibal Lecter character played by Anthony Hopkins in “Silence of the Lambs.”

“Yes, that’s the guy. You look ex-actly like that crazy doc!”

And in that moment, the ice was broken.

A smile crossed the young man’s face. A connection was made. And the unknown suddenly became less fright-ening.

They began to talk about mov-ies. About the theater. About acting. About life and dreams for life. And when Father Jack got off the train,

What you never The Pope Speaks

popEJoHN pAUl IILight One

CandleMsGR. JiM LisAnTE

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With time, conversation and openness, a person feared is not so fearsome

they shook hands and wished each other well. Father Jack recalls think-ing as he walked up the subway stairs: “You just never know.”

When Father Jack told me about that meeting with the ultimately de-lightful stranger, he admitted he’d actually had a number of similar expe-riences when he’s made an immediate judgment about what someone was or was not, only to learn differently.

We all make these split-second decisions, filled with certainty that our opinion — or our prejudice — is 100 percent correct. And as often as not, we’re absolutely wrong!

Judging people by external ap-pearance is almost always risky. None of us is simply the sum of our looks, but rather the sum of our hearts, our minds and our souls. And those aren’t quickly read.

I remember the time I had the chance to meet Mother Teresa.

I was excited for weeks in antici-pation. Here was a living saint. Here was a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Here was a world-renowned advocate for the poor. She’d have to be overwhelm-ing, bigger than life. Her insights were sure to be profound.

Yet nothing was what I expected.She was tiny and cast her eyes

down in humility. Her words were unpretentious and completely under-standable. She wasn’t larger than life at all. But she was something much better, the essence of a life lived well with love for others.

There was nothing complex about her, just goodness plain and simple. She was not what I had expected. But she was everything she should have been.

Father Jack learned that with time, conversation and openness, a person he feared wasn’t so fearsome at all. Wouldn’t it be great if we could meet everyone the same way? The world would be much more peaceful if we didn’t form opinions about people until we knew something of them, of their souls.

For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, “Resolve, Reconcile Respect,” write: The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017; or e-mail: [email protected].

Q. I understand that more than 3,000 of the nearly 29,300 parishes in the United States are now without a resident priest pastor. In many of them, instead of Sunday Mass there is only a Communion service.

Does our obligation to attend Sunday Mass apply also to these Communion ser-vices? (Maryland)

A. What you say about priestless parishes is correct, and it seems that

Priestless parishes unless something major happens the replacement of Mass with Communion services will become more frequent as time goes by.

Church law on the subject is explic-it; the faithful must participate in the Mass on Sundays (Canon 1247). When that is not possible, the obligation does not transfer to a Communion service or any other liturgy.

Of course, worshiping God in some way with our community of faith ought to be an integral part of keeping the Lord’s Day holy. Participation in a Liturgy of the Word and Holy Commu-nion together, when the opportunity is provided, is an appropriate way to meet that responsibility.

Question CornerfAtHER JoHN

dIEtZENcNS colUMNISt


Lent is upon us, urging us to pull ourselves together spiritually. A way to ac-complish this is to utilize the sacrament of reconciliation more fully throughout this liturgical season and to reflect on reconcili-ation in all its dimensions.

Most of us see reconciliation as going to confession. But it can also encompass making retreats and pilgrimages, fasting, almsgiving and doing works of charity.

In a retreat, we set aside a special time to examine our lives and how well we are living according to God’s plan for us. A retreat goes hand in hand with the sense that we are endeavoring to get our lives back in order. Retreats create the hope of changing our lives for the better.

Pilgrimages get us into the spirit of holiness by introducing us to holy places and past saints. I never will forget standing before the glass coffin of Blessed Pope John XXIII in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and thinking: “You tried to imitate a gentle, humble Christ and you so in-spired us with your kindness. How I wish I could imitate you.”

It was a special pilgrim moment; I felt touched by his sanctity. This same desire for holiness came over me when I visited the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi.

Fasting these days is not easy. Yet it is one of the best means for reducing our selfishness. When we fast, we deprive our-selves for the purpose of living according to a higher order in life, putting aside our needs in order to concern ourselves with those whose basic needs aren’t being met.

Works of charity and almsgiving are a wonderful means of repaying God for the blessings he has showered on us. They promote gratitude, keeping us forever in the debt of God and making it difficult to turn our backs on him.

In Pope John Paul II’s 1984 apostolic exhortation on reconciliation, we learn reconciliation is the best means of dis-covering where our hearts really are. The better we understand our internal disposition, the deeper at peace we are within ourselves.

Often subconscious guilt leaves us feeling downhearted, though we never quite know what the reason for this feeling is or take the time to bring it to the surface. The sacrament of rec-onciliation is an opportunity to surface the cause of our dejection and to put our hearts back in the right place.

When our conscience and God’s voice within us are at one, we have a life. May your Lenten season be life — given for you!

Now that we are nearly two months into 2004, I think we should all pray for the grace to revisit our New Year’s resolutions. God can help us to do the things we are not able to do on our own.

It has been a brutally cold winter, and some people have felt a little blue. Cabin fever sets in from being confined indoors too long. But cheer up. When the sun comes out the snow melts. Keep your courage high, and look for-ward to the warmth of spring.

There is one prayer in particular which has helped a lot of people. Mira-cles of conversion and transformation come from this prayer, which is called the “Serenity Prayer.” You’ve heard it before I’m sure:

“God grant me the serenity to ac-cept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Everyone knows that opening, but there is more. Here is the prayer in its entirety:

“God grant me the serenity to ac-cept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference — living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to his will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with him forever.”

The reference “taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is” refers of course to Jesus Christ. Alcoholics Anonymous has adopted the first part of this prayer as its own, and all the other addiction programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous, Gambler’s Anonymous, etc., have done so as well. They keep the concept of a higher power as neutral as possible, since some addicts don’t even believe in God.

Somehow they find a higher power for themselves and sidestep the entire theological issue. Each one decides who

or what that higher power is.For the Christian the entire prayer

brings to light the great wisdom of the Gospel message. Whether you have ever had a problem with drink or drugs it makes no difference. The prayer speaks to the heart of every human being.

At the heart of it there is the word “surrender.” It is something all of us have trouble doing. This prayer presupposes a deep faith in God, who is a caring presence in our lives. We know that he will do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. Without his grace given day by day, minute by minute, we are powerless.

This is more than faith; it is a profound level of trust. Those who hit bottom realize that all their intel-ligence, strength and will power is useless before the demon that holds them in bondage. Their lives have become unmanageable, and until they turn their lives and their wills over to a force greater than themselves they remain helpless.

For the Christian this force, this power, is Jesus Christ, who is Lord and who has dominion over the powers of darkness.

The secret of recovery is in the words Jesus taught us, “Thy will be done, not mine.”

A prayer that makes real sense

It’s already going on, the airing of political campaign ads that say or show ugly things about the opponent. Most disturbing so far was the ad picked up by the TV news commentators that showed the face of Adolph Hitler mor-phing into the face of President Bush.

The Republican National Commit-tee said the ad came from MoveOn.org. That group issued a disclaimer. (The ad had not been released by MoveOn.org, but it had been submitted to a contest run by that organization. MoveOn is an Internet political group that wants to see Bush defeated in November.) In spite of the disclaimer, the Republican ranting went on about dirty campaign tactics. The anger was understandable, considering the awful implications of linking Bush to Hitler.

But then, surprise. The Democrats pulled out a TV ad that had been ef-fectively used by the Republican cam-paign of Saxby Chambliss before the 2002 election to discredit Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia. That offensive ad showed the face of Osama bin Laden morphing into Max Cle-land’s face. I had not seen that before, and I went apoplectic.

Cleland is a longtime friend, and much more than that he is a Vietnam War veteran who lost both his legs and one arm in battle. How could anyone put out a TV commercial implying this

man is not patriotic! Oh yes, Cleland lost that election.

I met Cleland many years ago when he was addressing a reha-bilitation agency dedicated to helping people with disabilities gain indepen-dence. Cleland, who had been head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under President Carter and was at that time secretary of state in Georgia, was so perfectly qualified for that task.

He talked openly about the day that changed his life — Vietnam, April 8, 1968 — when a grenade explosion left him a triple amputee, but “lucky to be alive.”

“Not many people believed that a 25-year-old former Army captain, losing two legs and one arm, could do much after that,” he told me.

He spoke honestly of the years after suffering those terrible wounds when he had to pull his life together. He would become so discouraged that

The ugly side of political campaigns

he would think “doing the right thing is ending it all.”

He realized then that people who have extraordinary setbacks “have to dig down deeper — to discover more courage” than normally is needed.

“Before Vietnam, I thought cour-age was the absence of fear,” he said.

He learned instead, that courage is accepting fear and turning to prayer so that you can now “focus on oppor-tunity in the face of danger to take disabilities and turn them into possi-bilities, to turn your scars into stars.”

Cleland wrote a book about his journey back to life. Its title, “Strong at the Broken Places,” is from a line in Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms”: “The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.” I remember being awed, even by the fact that Cleland had traveled by himself from Georgia to Connecticut. I vowed not to complain about my periodic bouts with sciatica!

I judge that linking this heroic sol-dier to the master terrorist was about the lowest a group could sink to. But it has had a good effect on me. I shall be ever on the alert for raw lies and hateful calumny in this election year of 2004. It is sad that we, through our political parties, have slipped into such shame.

The Bottom

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Embracing

The Human Side

FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK

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FATHER JOHN CATOIR

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Surrendering to God’s serenity is secret to recovering from darkness


GREENSBORO — Although St. Pius X Church was not founded until after the first Catholic parish was estab-lished in Greensboro, the two communi-ties share an intertwined history.

The first Catholic church conse-crated in the Guilford County seat was St. Agnes Church, dedicated in 1877. Bene-dictine monks assumed responsibility for the mission in 1888, and by century’s end a new church was built and placed under the patronage of St. Benedict.

St. Benedict School was opened in 1926, and by the 1950s a larger facil-ity was needed to accommodate grow-ing numbers of students. Then-Bishop VincentWaters of Raleigh and Msgr. Hugh Dolan, pastor of St. Benedict Church, purchased a 14-acre site on which a school-chapel complex was built, along with a convent and rectory.

The classroom section of the facil-ity opened its doors in March 1955 to 176 students. The school and church were named in honor of the pope can-onized in 1955, St. Pius X. Daughters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Md., staffed the school, and Msgr. Dolan became the first pastor of St. Pius X Church.

Msgr. Dolan remained at St. Pius

X Church for 20 years until a reassign-ment took him to Charlotte. He was succeeded by Msgr. Lawrence New-man, who was known for his dedication to Catholic education.

In 1977, Msgr. William Pharr succeeded Msgr. Newman as pastor of St. Pius X Church. Through Msgr. Pharr’s guidance, the parish looked into the possibility of constructing a new church for the growing congrega-tion. The formal request was submit-ted to then-Bishop Michael J. Begley of Charlotte in December 1978.

When Father George Kloster be-came pastor of St. Pius X Church in July 1979, planning and fundraising for the new church began. Ground was broken on March 2, 1980, and the new church was dedicated on March 29, 1981. About 400 registered families composed the congregation.

St. Pius X Church soon adopted a southern Peruvian mission that it con-tinues to support. Also during Father Kloster’s pastorate was the establish-ment of Dolan Manor in July 1979, a retirement center for low-income seniors located behind the church.

Father Frank Cintula succeeded Father Kloster in 1988, and Father Cintula’s pastorate was followed by the arrival of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual — the Conventual Fran-ciscans — in July 1990. They remained at St. Pius X Church until 1994, when Father Francis Connolly, a diocesan priest, was appointed to lead the par-ish.

In 1997, St. Pius X School under-went renovation and opened a new wing including classrooms, media cen-ter, computer lab, science lab and art room. At the time, the school had 411 students enrolled.

The same year, a new parish cen-ter was constructed to help meet the spiritual and social needs of a growing congregation. In 1999, the center was renamed the Kloster Center.

In October 1999, a new building with more than 20 units for Dolan Manor was dedicated. In July 2000, Father Connolly retired and a new per-manent rectory was purchased. Msgr. Anthony Marcaccio, former priest secretary to Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, became and still serves as pastor of St. Pius X Church.

In August 2000, a new gym/ath-letic complex was opened. The center was dedicated in November 2000 and named the Francis T. Connolly Ath-letic Center, in honor of the former

PArISH ProFIlE

St. Pius X Church contributes to spiritual growth of Greensboro

saiNT Pius X CHurCH2210 North Elm StreetGreensboro, N.C. 27408(336) 272-4681 or (336) 272-8598

Vicariate: GreensboroPastor: Msgr. Anthony MarcaccioDeacon: rev. Mr. ronald SteinkampNumber of Households: 1,012

Msgr. Anthony Marcaccio

pastor.Since Msgr. Marcaccio’s arrival,

endowments for the parish and school were established and now total more than $750,000, and a new rectory was purchased.

In 2002, the Korean Catholic com-munity of the Triad began worshiping at St. Pius X Church.

Today, St. Pius X Church con-sists of more than 1,000 households that actively embrace stewardship as a way of life through approximately 70 established ministries. Planning is under way for the fundraising and con-struction of a columbarium. Jubilee celebration plans are also in the works for the 50th anniversary of St. Pius X

Photo by GeorGe K. Cobb

St. Pius X Church in Greensboro was dedicated in 1981 to accommodate the growing congregation.

Feb. 27, 2004

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