FLORIDAWWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | September 2018 Catholic MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE FATHER CIOFFI: Death penalty inadmissible? South Floridians get a Today, yes Moral theologian taste of World Youth Day reconsiders initial reaction to papal change in catechism Editor’s note: In its August 2018 edition, the Florida Catholic published questions and answers with Father Alfred Cioffi regarding a change in the wording of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Father Cioffi recently wrote this article, amending his initial comments about the change in the catechism. Father Cioffi has doctorates in both moral theology and genetics, and has been a priest for 33 years. He is the Blue Cross- Blue Shield Endowed Chair of Bioethics in STEM at St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens. Young people representing various archdiocesan youth groups carry the World Youth Day cross at the start of the prayer vigil Aug. 22 at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. (PHOTOS BY ANA RODRIGUEZ SOTO | FC) FATHER ALFRED CIOFFI Special to the Florida Catholic Prayer vigil at college seminary concludes historic visit MIAMI | On Aug. 2, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Vati- can’s Congregation for the Doctrine of WYD cross and icon to South Florida of the Faith, declared that Pope Francis had recently amended the ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO Catechism of the Catholic Church of the Florida Catholic staff regarding the death penalty. The canon in question is number 2267. MIAMI | Archdiocesan Catholics got to ex- The next day, I was asked by the perience World Youth Day Aug. 22. And they Florida Catholic newspaper to com- didn’t have to fly to be there or watch through ment on the matter. In that article, screens a mile away. essentially, I defended the long- Give or take a million people, the evening standing tradition of the Church prayer vigil at St. John Vianney College Semi- regarding the application of capital nary felt just like the real thing. punishment by legitimate civil au- About 300 young people filled a grassy field, thority as a means of last resort to flags waving to the music emanating from the protect the civilian population from stage. As the sun set, the cross and icon of World the possible escape of a convicted Youth Day were carried to a place of honor on dangerous murderer. the stage. Prayers, petitions and music inter- However, in view of Pope Francis’ mingled with silent adoration of the Blessed address to the Pontifical Council for Sacrament, amid a sea of lighted candles. Promoting the New Evangelization The best part: the WYD cross and icon were From left, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino Seminarians, guided by Mark Gomez of on the development of doctrine, I not far-off objects on the horizon but close-up and Archbishop Thomas Wenski pray before Encuentros Juveniles, put the World Youth am reversing my opinion and I now relics everyone could touch and venerate. The the Blessed Sacrament at the Aug. 22 Wold Day cross in its base at the start of the stand with our Holy Father that, cross — a gift from St. John Paul II to the young Youth Day prayer vigil at St. John Vianney Mass at St. John Vianney College Seminary today, the death penalty is indeed people of the world in 1984 — had stood beside College Seminary. Aug. 22. inadmissible, for the following rea- St. Peter’s tomb in Rome throughout the Holy sons. Year of Redemption, 1983 to 1984. The icon is a Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa of Panama went to Houston, then Washington, D.C., and First, the doctrine of capital pun- replica of the image of Our Lady of Salus Populi presided at the vigil. Giving South Floridians a Los Angeles. ishment is seen within the context Romani — the Protectress of the Roman People taste of World Youth Day was exactly his pur- of development of doctrine. Catho- — housed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Mag- pose in accompanying the WYD cross and icon ALL INCLUDED lic doctrine is indeed dynamic and giore in Rome. The devotion dates back to 590 on its one-day visit to Miami — one of only five “We know that many young people, especial- allows for legitimate development. A.D. and St. Gregory the Great. John Paul II gave stops on a U.S. tour that last happened 25 years the replica to the youths of the world in 2003. ago. After arriving here from Chicago, the cross PLEASE SEE WYD, 25 PLEASE SEE DEATH, 8 2 YOUR MIAMI COMMUNITY Florida Catholic September 2018 Before demolition, farewell to St. George JIM DAVIS Florida Catholic correspondent LAUDERHILL | The members of St. George Church said goodbye to their parish at the final Mass nine years ago. But this August, they were back — this time to bid farewell to the building where they prayed, sang, were baptized, re- ceived the Eucharist, and mourned their dead. The bittersweet memorial ser- vice brought 60-70 people for a final farewell before the structure is claimed by a wrecker’s ball. St. George was among 14 parishes and Jordan Cox Alexander, left, and missions that merged into other Emery Davis grew up at St. parishes in 2009. It was one of the George Church. They joined few predominantly black parishes about 60-70 other former in the archdiocese. members Aug. 19 to celebrate “It’s a celebration of what we parish life before the building’s had and how we worshiped to- planned demolition. gether,” said Wilhelmina King, Wilhelmina King leads singing during the farewell observance for St. George Church before the building’s the event organizer and former planned demolition. (PHOTOS BY JIM DAVIS | FC) was playing a shepherd during a choir member at St. George. “A Christmas pageant. farewell Mass is one thing. But in a mere four weeks after she con- that it’s remembered.” years. At one time or another, par- What did the church mean to with this, the finality of it all — we firmed rumors that the church Launched in 1963 as a mission ish matriarch Dorothy Paul sang him? “Family, man,” he said. “Get- won’t even be able to drive by and building, which had stood empty of St. Gregory in Plantation, St. in the choir and cleaned up before ting together with good friends. I see the church.” Several churches for nearly nine years, was about to George became its own parish in Mass. She served with the St. Vin- came with my grandparents. And were represented in the service, be torn down. 1964. Born during the civil rights cent de Paul Society and Women’s everyone hung out two or three including St. Helen in Lauderdale Ken Thurston, a Lauderhill city era, St. George embodied diversity Sodality. hours after Mass.” Lakes, Holy Redeemer in Miami commissioner who spoke at the from birth. Its membership was “I did everything in the church The members of St. George may and Blessed Sacrament in Oakland gathering, said the church land mainly black but included people at one time or another,” said Paul, have said farewell to the parish Park. will be used for a community pool. from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin 85, who in 1998 received the Pri- and the building, but not neces- But they were almost too late: Part of a $1.7 million park improve- America, even Lebanon and the mum Regnum Dei Award, the arch- sarily to one another. King said The church building was already ment project, the pool should be Philippines, as well as white pa- diocese’s highest honor. she still has phone and email lists locked and condemned. So the finished within a year and a half, rishioners. At the other end of the age scale saved from the 2009 Mass. memorial service took place at the he said. Nor did members simply warm was Jordan Cox Alexander, 18. He “Every once in a while, I get adjoining community center of St. “St. George has had an impor- the pews. They volunteered in attended St. George from his first in touch,” she said. “We are the George Park. The City of Lauderhill tant part in the life of the commu- community groups and stood up Communion until the last Mass. Church, because Christ is in us.” Q opened the center on a Sunday just nity, so it’s fitting and proper to re- for wronged workers at a nearby One of his favorite memories for them. flect on it,” Thurston said. “There’s university. Some people performed King put the gathering together a lot of history here. It’s important several jobs for the parish over the FLORIDACatholic th Anniversary of the Leaders of St. George Church pose for a final photo before the building’s planned demolition. From left are Mae Smith, Dotsy Davis, SendSeS your congratulations for this Dorothy Paul, Wilhelmina King and Virginia Cox. spspecialec commemorative Miami edition. 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