Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Editorial. 4 From the Archives. 28 Criterion Question Corner . 25 TheCriterion Sunday & Daily Readings. 25 Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 www.archindy.org January 28, 2000 Vol. XXXIX, No. 16 50¢ Students Pro-lifers raise money urged to use for couple elections to with cancer end abortion By Mary Ann Wyand Youthful enthusiasm plus concern for WASHINGTON (CNS)—The upcom- others added up to a priceless experience ing elections show promise for the pro- in Christian service this month for 31 life movement, said several speakers at teen-agers from St. Bernadette and Our the kick-off rally for the annual March Lady of Lourdes parishes in Indianapolis. for Life Jan. 24 on the Ellipse in Members of the combined parish youth Washington. group collected pledges and participated “This year’s presidential and congres- in a 24-hour fast on Jan. 2–3 to raise sional elections must be the turning more than $12,000 for Lourdes parish- point,” Rep. Chris Smith, R–N.J., told ioners Bob and Paula Bittelmeyer, who tens of thousands of pro-life activists were diagnosed with different types of preparing for the 27th annual march to cancer last year. CNS photos the U.S. Supreme Court to protest the All the youth group members are court’s 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that Above, Roncalli High School friends of their youngest children, P.J. and legalized abortion. juniors Sarah Hughett (from left), Chelsea Bittelmeyer, fraternal twins who Smith, one of about a dozen politi- Megan Kelly and Kelley Rounds are juniors at Scecina Memorial High cians and religious leaders who sing during the Jan. 23 Mass School in Indianapolis. addressed the crowd under gray skies for Life at the Basilica of the “It’s not just the money,” Chelsea said and in a cold wind, said there was “a National Shrine of the after participating in the fast with her tremendous urgency to return a pro-life Immaculate Conception in friends. “It’s the support they’ve been giv- president to the White House.” Washington, D.C., the night ing our family throughout the whole And pointing to the White House in the before the 27th annual March thing. We really appreciate it. It helps to distance behind the podium, Rep. Steve for Life. Megan is a member of be part of a community like Lourdes and Chabot, R–Ohio, said that he hoped next St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis. Irvington and to have friends I’ve known year a different family “in this house” will Sarah and Kelley are members since grade school. It helps a lot to be support pro-life legislation. of Our Lady of the Greenwood with them because they know me so well Referring to the partial-birth abortion Parish in Greenwood. and we have fun together.” ban that was passed twice by Congress So many people are praying for their and vetoed twice by President Clinton, parents, P.J. said, and that spiritual sup- Chabot, a Catholic, said: “We’ll pass it port means a lot, too. again.” “Everyone is real concerned about But he also emphasized it was just as them,” he said. “Friends stop me in the critical to stop all other types of abortion. Tens of thousands of hallways at school and ask how they are See PRO-LIFE, page 2 people from across the country doing, and the people at Lourdes tell us gathered on Washington’s they are praying for our parents. Having Cardinal William H. Keeler of Ellipse Jan. 24 to protest on the support from friends is important, anniversary of the Supreme Court because you can’t keep it to yourself no Baltimore told Catholics that their decision legalizing abortion. After matter how much you think you can.” cause is strengthening American a rally, they marched to the steps The fast was held at St. Bernadette freedom. of the Supreme Court. More than Parish, and included prayer times, a group See page 9 40 million babies have died in discussion about Jesus, and a Mass cele- abortions in the U.S. since 1973. brated by Father James Farrell, the pastor of both East Deanery parishes. To keep their minds off food, the teen- agers played basketball, ping-pong and Archdiocesan youth march and pray for life pool, watched a movie and completed a service project. Before eating lunch By Mary Ann Wyand about abortion,” Megan said. “Abortion and I think that’s really sad.” together on Jan. 3, they washed walls at has been legal since 1973, and I think it’s Carla and Megan were among 425 See STUDENTS, page 3 Twins Carla and Megan Alderman of horrible that it should be the norm. Life teen-agers, college students and adult Indianapolis participated in the 27th should be held reverent, but people have chaperones from throughout the archdio- annual March for Life on Jan. 24 in become desensitized about the miracle of cese who joined Archbishop Daniel M. Washington, D.C., because they want to life. Buechlein at the Mass for Life on Jan. 23 help combat complacency about abortion. “We have a poster on the wall in our at the Basilica of the National Shrine of The Bishop Chatard High School religion class that says, ‘The hottest the Immaculate Conception in sophomores from St. Thomas Aquinas places in hell are reserved for those who, Washington. Parish said they believe Americans in times of great moral crisis, maintain The next day, the archdiocesan dele- should never tolerate abortion. their neutrality,’ ” Megan said. “So many gation marched with the archbishop from “I’m amazed by people’s indifference people are indifferent about abortion, See YOUTH, page 2 Lighting the Way to a New Century Catholic Schools Supplement ....................11 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, January 28, 2000 Life, the National Council of Catholic Thousands of PRO-LIFE Women and Operation Rescue. This people filled seats and aisles at the continued from page 1 year’s rally was held two days after the Jan. 22 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Basilica of the House Majority Leader Dick Armey, order to take place on a weekday. National Shrine R–Texas, likewise said the partial-birth Cardinal William H. Keeler of of the Immaculate abortion ban will once again be passed by Baltimore introduced Cardinals Francis E. Conception in Congress and President Clinton will be George of Chicago, James A. Hickey of Washington urged to sign it into law. He said Washington and Anthony J. Bevilacqua of during a vigil Congress this year will also pass the Philadelphia and 26 bishops, pointing out Jan. 23 before Unborn Victims of Violence Act and the that Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New the next day’s Child Custody Protection Act “out of our York was unable to attend because of his March for Life. love for the innocent unborn.” health. Looking to this year’s elections, Rabbi “I send special greetings to you from Yehuda Levin, of the Union of Orthodox Cardinal O’Connor, who is with you in Rabbis of the United States and Canada, spirit and prayer. He says, and I echo, said “presidential wannabes have to stop ‘Don’t give up.’” beating around the bush. Cardinal Keeler told the crowd that “You’ve got to stop abortion; we the nation’s bishops “stand with you to demand it,” he added. pray, march and lift our voices” until the Smith, a Catholic who chairs the day when “life is protected at every Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said he stage.” wholeheartedly supports Texas Gov. Nellie Gray, the organizer of the event, George W. Bush for president “because told participants, many of whom were he will do all that is possible to end the standing on melting snow, that pro-life violence of abortion.” activists will continue to gather each year But he added that no matter who pro- in Washington “until Roe vs. Wade is life activists support, they should commit overturned.” CNS photo to “rallying around whoever the pro-life Referring to the theme of the day’s The crowd, wearing parkas and hold- tions at the Franciscan University of nominee turns out to be.” gathering, “My Neighbor is Each Human ing up placards with pro-life slogans, Steubenville in Ohio, told Catholic News “Any disunity or apathy going into the Being in Existence at Fertilization,” she responded with cheers. She told them Service that participating in the march fall elections will be self-defeating luxu- said: “Each unborn child is our neighbor there were hundreds of ways to work at “definitely gives a shot in the arm to peo- ries that will only perpetuate the horrific too. We must constantly talk about life overturning the decision, including get- ple who work in the day-to-day aspect of slaughter of 4,000 babies each day,” he beginning at fertilization.” ting involved in sidewalk counseling. the pro-life movement.” said. Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” But many in the crowd have long been If nothing else, he said, being in Over the course of the 60-minute rally, from the Roe vs. Wade decision who involved in pro-life activism on a daily Washington with thousands of others representatives were introduced from a became a Catholic two years ago, asked basis, which explained their presence on committed to the pro-life cause shows cross section of pro-life activist groups the crowd how many of them want to see the Ellipse in the first place. him that it’s “more than just a handful of including Doctors for Life, Dentists for the Supreme Court decision overturned.