Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Editorial. 4 From the Archives. 16 Question Corner . 11 TheCCriterionriterion Sunday & Daily Readings. 11 Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 www.archindy.org April 14, 2000 Vol. XXXIX, No. 27 50¢ Lenten cross Gallup Poll brings Christ explores anti- to Indianapolis Catholic bias PRINCETON, N.J. (CNS)—A Gallup neighborhood Poll has found that roughly one-fourth of Americans have a negative view of the By Mary Ann Wyand Catholic religion and nearly two-thirds view it favorably. Taking the Gospel message of Christ to Contrary to widespread opinion that the streets is a Lenten tradition at St. Philip anti-Catholic bias exists disproportionately Neri Parish in Indianapolis. among evangelical or born-again Pro- For six years, members of the near- testants, the survey found that only 29 per- eastside parish have carried the St. Philip cent of that group—compared to 30 percent Neri Neighborhood Cross to a different of Protestants generally—described their parishioner’s home after the 10 a.m. opinion of Catholicism as “unfavorable.” liturgy each Sunday during Lent. Despite recent flaps over alleged insen- After processing through the neigh- sitivity to Catholic feelings by Republican borhood, Father Carlton Beever, pastor, leaders, the poll found that Democrats and a group of parishioners erect the and independents are slightly more likely six-foot wooden cross in a parish mem- than Republicans to view Catholicism ber’s front yard, then offer prayers and negatively. petitions. Ann Wyand Photos by Mary The poll results, released March 27, Parishioner Kathy Hodgson said the Above, St. Philip Neri pastoral were based on telephone interviews with Lenten prayer walk with the handmade council chair Charles Davis, a national sample of 1,024 adults in mid- cross is repeated each Sunday until who made the cross, prepares March. Easter, when it is placed in the yard of to hammer it into the ground in Among various religion questions, the Guerin Place Apartments next to the José and Maureen Rayos’ respondents were asked whether their Parish Center and draped appropriately front yard. Darren DeBruhl, a opinion of the Catholic religion was to symbolize the presence of the risen freshman at Scecina Memorial favorable or unfavorable and whether Lord. High School, holds the cross their opinion of Christian fundamentalist The neighborhood evangelization effort for Davis while Dennis DeBruhl religions was favorable or unfavorable. dates back to Father Michael O’Mara’s holds the prayer book. Darren “An examination of the data suggests years as St. Philip Neri’s pastor and has also carried the cross in the that one of the biggest predictors of nega- become a popular Lenten activity. procession from the church. tive attitudes toward Catholics is an over- “It’s a beautiful expression of Christ’s all lack of personal religious faith or prac- presence in the neighborhood, which I tice, rather than intense religious belief in think is what Church is all about,” said a different religion,” the Gallup News parishioner Richard Van Slyke. “It’s an At left, St. Philip Neri Service said in a release on the poll. extension of what we do inside the walls parishioners pray in front of “Having an unfavorable attitude toward of our church and a witness to the neigh- José and Maureen Rayos’ home the Catholic religion may be more a part of borhood of who we are and what we’re in Indianapolis on March 26 a negative attitude toward any religion, about. We pray for the neighborhood, after erecting the St. Philip Neri rather than a specific or targeted negative and it’s a beautiful experience.” Neighborhood Cross there. attitude toward the Catholic faith,” it added. Residents seem to appreciate the evan- It cited as evidence: gelization project, Hodgson said. The “Violence is very much a part of every- Sunday, a couple of years ago, we noticed • Among those who say religion is not cross has been placed in front of about day life in the neighborhood,” she said. the police had been called to a home important in their own life, 44 percent 35 homes throughout the neighborhood, “We’ve had many powerful moments as directly across the street from the home said their opinion of Catholicism was but has never been damaged or stolen we’ve carried the cross through the neigh- where the cross was to be placed. There unfavorable. during six Lenten seasons. borhood, but one stands out the most. One See CROSS, page 7 • Among those who are not members of a church or synagogue, 39 percent viewed Catholicism unfavorably. • Of those who never attend church, Thousands rally in support 54 percent viewed Catholicism unfavor- ably. • Of those who regarded religion as old- of international debt relief fashioned or out-of-date, 45 percent WASHINGTON (CNS)—Thousands “We are going to win the battle against viewed Catholicism unfavorably. of Americans formed a human chain debt,” said rally speaker Archbishop Among respondents who identified around the U.S. Capitol April 9 to urge Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of See POLL, page 8 debt relief for the world’s poorest nations. Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Sign-bearing union workers, nuns and Some flew in from as far away as students—many wearing cloth or paper Texas and California for the Sunday rally. chains to symbolize the enslaving chains More than 1,000 participants also regis- of debt—mingled side-by-side at a four- tered to lobby Congress the next day, said hour Jubilee 2000 rally on the Mall Jubilee 2000/USA national coordinator before encircling the Capitol. Dan Driscoll-Shaw. They ignored the blustery winds of an The gathering—estimated at more than CNS photo unseasonably cold day as they chatted, 5,000 people—was the first U.S. national Demonstrators supporting international debt sang and chanted, “Cancel the debt— mobilization in the worldwide popular relief form part of a chain around the U.S. now!” See DEBT, page 8 Capitol in Washington April 9. Jubilee visitors to Rome spend like pilgrims, not tourists VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Foreign visi- at the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement In fact, said Mercy Sister Gilmary Kay, tors to Rome in 2000 are different from guest house near the Vatican. the office’s busy season started in February those who came the year before; hotel “They are looking for minimal price this year, with visitors asking for tickets to operators are moaning about it, but reli- and minimal service. Their objective is to the pope’s general audiences. gious who run guest houses have been cross those holy doors” at Rome’s major “It was like Holy Week every week,” she touched by it. basilicas, she said. See PILGRIM, page 7 “The people this year are definitely By early April, the U.S. bishops’ office coming on a pilgrimage and many more for visitors in Rome was buried under Archdiocese plans Jubilee Pilgrimage to of them are poor,” said Franciscan Sister requests for tickets to Pope John Paul II’s Italy in October. See page 15. Sue Morissette, who handles reservations Holy Week and Easter celebrations. Page 2 The Criterion Friday, April 14, 2000 Celebrating the jubilee in the Cathedral schedule for Holy Week All members of the archdiocesan Church Vespers will begin at 7 p.m. are invited to attend Holy Week liturgies at The archbishop will begin celebration of Archdiocese of Indianapolis SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in the Holy Saturday Vigil Service at Celebration in the Spirit of Hope: Nov. 1 St. Paul Catholic Center, Bloomington, Indianapolis, most of which will be cele- 8 p.m. After Mass, the parish will have a The Great Jubilee 7 p.m. brated by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein. reception for newly baptized and received Nov. 4 St. Louis Church, Batesville, 7:30 p.m. For Palm Sunday, April 15-16, the assem- Catholics. The major event of the archdiocese’s bly will participate in the procession with The Easter Eucharistic Liturgy, with Jubilee Year celebration will take place Senior Citizen Masses palms and the proclamation of the Passion renewal of baptismal promises will begin at Sept. 16 in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis May 31 St. Andrew Church, Richmond, 2 p.m. according to Mark. Saturday anticipation 10:30 a.m. Vespers will be prayed at 5 p.m. with Celebration in the Spirit of Hope: The Mass is at 5 p.m. The archbishop will preside Opportunities for the sacrament of rec- Great Jubilee. Everyone in the archdiocese Aug. 13 St. Ann Church, Terre Haute, 2 p.m. Oct. 22 St. Charles Borromeo Church at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. Vespers onciliation will be before the Saturday, is invited to attend this special Mass to cel- will be at 5 p.m. on Sunday. April 15, anticipation Mass, from 3:30-4 ebrate 2,000 years of Jesus Christ and the Bloomington, 3 p.m. Nov. 19 St. Joseph Church, St. Leon, 2 p.m. The Three Days, or Triduum, consists of p.m. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday carrying forward of the faith into the new Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy of Holy Week, the sacrament will be millennium. Archdiocesan indulgence churches Saturday and Easter Sunday, April 20-23. offered from 11 a.m. to noon. † Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein On Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s and at least 20 other bishops and The faithful can receive an indulgence—an amnesty of any Supper, with washing of feet, will begin at several archdiocesan priests 6:30 p.m. Archbishop Buechlein will serve will concelebrate Mass and temporal punishment accrued Official Appointments because of past sins—by mak- as the main celebrant.