Helping 'The Least' in Terrehaute
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Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Editorial . 4 From the Archives . ? Question Corner . 17 Sunday & Daily Readings . 17 TheCriterion Retirement Fund for Religious Criterion Supplement . 11 Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 www.archindy.org December 3, 1999 Vol. XXXVIII, No. 10 50¢ Pope told Helping ‘the least’ in TerreHaute of upcoming Catholic Charities agencies depend on execution money from United By Mary Ann Wyand Pope John Paul II has been informed of Catholic Appeal clemency pleas to Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon on behalf of Indiana death row By Susan M. Bierman inmate D. H. Fleenor, a mentally retarded man scheduled to be executed on Dec. 9 at TERRE HAUTE—Need doesn’t dis- the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. criminate. It could be the man, woman Responding to a letter from Carol or child living next door. Heise of the Midwest Center for Justice “If I had money, I wouldn’t be here. in Chicago, Archbishop Gabriel Monta- I wouldn’t want my neighbors to see lvo, the apostolic nuncio in Washington, me in this line,” said a man who waited acknowledged receipt of the request for in line recently for a hot meal at Terre papal assistance on Nov. 27 and noted, Haute Catholic Charities Loaves and “Please be assured that appropriate steps Fishes Dining Room—a soup kitchen have been duly taken in this regard.” located under the same roof as the In the past, the pope has appealed to Bethany House homeless shelter. governors in other states to grant clemency Loaves and Fishes Dining Room and to death row inmates scheduled for execu- Bethany House are two of many tion and to order life imprisonment instead. Catholic Charities agencies throughout In a Nov. 30 letter to Gov. O’Bannon, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis that Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein depend upon United Catholic Appeal requested clemency for Fleenor and noted funds to help the needy. that he is praying “to God that he will The 1999 Parish Stewardship United guide you in your decision.” Catholic Appeal is in its final phase. Archbishop Buechlein met with Gov. This year’s archdiocesan appeal goal is O’Bannon earlier this year to discuss life $4.5 million. issues and other justice topics. Ray Duncan said he looks forward “The Roman Catholic Church to his meal at the soup kitchen each believes that the use of capital punish- day—even on Christmas. ment is not justified when other means Duncan, an elderly man, doesn’t of protecting society are available,” the have family in Terre Haute. He is Photo by Susan M. Bierman archbishop noted in the letter. “Today, alone. Ray Duncan said he looks forward to his meals at Terre Haute Catholic Charities Loaves and Fishes life imprisonment without the possibil- The soup kitchen, which is open Dining Room and making new friends at the soup kitchen. ity of parole is a viable option for the every day of the year, not only serves protection of society. We also believe him a healthy, hot meal but also offers “I was living in Monticello, and I was stop working because he needs foot that capital punishment is yet another him some camaraderie. looking for a shelter. I called around to surgery. form of violence, and violence just “Each day I meet people here. It’s the shelters, and they were all full,” “I just told the landlord we didn’t begets more violence.” really good for my social life,” Duncan Vance said. have the rent money,” Mike Whittaker The archbishop said, “Mr. Fleenor’s said. She found out about Bethany House said. situation is especially troubling in that As Duncan ate his meal in the soup through a shelter hotline. He said the children had a difficult current Indiana state law, which forbids kitchen, Diann Vance sat in the resident They have been living at the homeless time adjusting to living in a shelter. the execution of the mentally retarded, kitchen inside Bethany House as her shelter, which is operated by Terre Haute “They (the children) just don’t is not being applied in this case, unless 16-month-old son, Michael Vance, ate Catholic Charities, for nearly two months. understand sometimes,” he said. you make the law apply retroactively.” lunch sitting in a high chair. “It’s a nice place to stay. They make The housing department in Terre M. Desmond Ryan, executive director Vance, who has another child due in you feel like you’re at home, and they Haute recently found a home for the of the Indiana Catholic Conference, cited March, can’t work because her preg- don’t make you feel uncomfortable,” Whittaker family, and they have moved Church teaching on the death penalty pub- nancy is high-risk. Vance said. out of Bethany House. lished in the Catechism of the Catholic The 27-year-old and her son traveled Cindy and Mike Whittaker and their Marty Green, who has worked at Church and the pope’s efforts to educate three hours to Bethany House in Terre three children, ages 3, 6 and 10, lived in Bethany House for about 15 years and people about the inhumanity of capital Haute from Monticello. Until about a the shelter last month after they ran out has been the director the past four punishment. month ago, they didn’t have a place to of money to pay their rent. Mike years, said her work there is rewarding. “His Holiness, Pope John Paul, has stay. Whittaker remodels homes but had to See CHARITIES, page 7 See CLEMENCY, page 20 Catholic youths urged to act on faith ST. LOUIS (CNS)—Speakers at the times seven.” 25th National Catholic Youth Conference The conference, a biennial event since in St. Louis urged some 23,000 participants 1951, drew one of its largest crowds yet to act on their faith, whether the action with 18,000 teens and 5,000 adult chaper- involves forgiving others or ending injus- ones from around the country (including tice. 376 youth and adults from the Archdio- “We are mindful that we are not always cese of Indianapolis). what we want to be or what we should be,” It was sponsored by the National said Jesuit Father J-Glenn Murray in a Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry keynote address on sin and forgiveness dur- and hosted by the Office of Youth ing the Nov. 18–21 gathering. Ministry of the St. Louis Archdiocese at “And yet we stand in the presence of a downtown convention sites. God who is slow to anger and rich in St. Louis Archbishop Justin F. Rigali mercy,” said the priest, a teacher of welcomed participants to the opening ses- homiletics and director of the Office for sion, and 30 other bishops took part in Pastoral Liturgy in the Cleveland Diocese. diverse activities, including a youth con- He noted that Jesus was asked by Peter, gress on Scripture, New Millennium Eve “How often must I forgive my brother or Party and daily prayer services. CNS photo Teen-agers raise their arms in prayer during the sister when he or she wrongs me? As often “There were glowing remarks” about the 1999 National Catholic Youth Conference. as seven times?” and Jesus answered, “70 See YOUTH, page 3 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, December 3, 1999 Two Navy chaplains from Catholic school students archdiocese die collect food for the poor By Mary Ann Wyand those who don’t have food and drink, and Father Carl A. Herold Cmdr. Kenneth Murphy to welcome the stranger,” Cooper said. Thousands of Indianapolis-area high “That’s not an option. It’s a command was senior priest 20-year chaplain school students are helping make the hol- that Jesus has given us.” Father Carl A. Herold died on Cmdr. Kenneth J. Murphy died on idays brighter for many low-income fam- Cooper said St. Vincent de Paul staff Nov. 26 in Santa Barbara, Calif. He Nov. 24 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. He was ilies in Marion County. members and volunteers treat people with was 88, the oldest priest in the arch- 60 this year, having served as a chaplain Students, faculty and staff at Cathedral “the inherent dignity that they deserve by diocese (since the death of Father in the U.S. Navy since 1979. He retired High School and Scecina Memorial High allowing clients to choose those food items Thomas Carey last in August 1999 after School collected canned goods for the that best fulfill the needs of their families.” March). He served suffering a heart Holy Cross Parish Thanksgiving and Holy Cross volunteer Audrey as a U.S. Navy attack. Christmas food basket projects. Burlingame of Indianapolis said the need chaplain for 24 Msgr. Joseph Cathedral’s food drive brought in for food at Thanksgiving and Christmas is years before retir- Schaedel, vicar gen- 29,500 cans or boxes of food, and Scecina so great that people arrive four hours ing in 1966. eral of the archdio- Memorial’s charitable efforts added before the start of the annual parish holi- Information cese, participated— another 8,000 food items for Holy Cross. day food give-aways. about the funeral with four military “The students do a wonderful job of “It really fills your heart with gratitude Mass was not avail- priests—in a memor- collecting canned goods,” said Holy Cross when you can do something like this to able at press time. ial Mass celebrated pastoral associate Linda Hirsch of help people,” Burlingame said. “It would Ordained in Nov. 30 at the naval Indianapolis. “Without their help, the Holy be neat for the kids to see these people 1935, his first assignment was assistant station chapel, Holy Family by the Sea, in Cross Thanksgiving and Christmas food receive their holiday food bags.” pastor of St.