PITTSBURGH lS> <M h- ir» * < >■ H» Qw 143rd Year. CXLm No. 4, r— -A Friday. April 24, 1987 * u u :> ^ -I Study set Z -3 Vatican o o E a Diocesan funds well spent* says director .u j ^ on needs < reveals U A A o l t - Some positive news from Ethiopia retarded » J t - o * amount of -a -i a. persons PHEN KARUNCHAK There is some positive news patrimony By PATRICIA BARTOS coming out of Ethiopia, despite that country's many problems. By JOHN THAVIS Bishop Anthony J. Bevllacqua Father John Harvey, diocesan representative for VATICAN CITY (NC) - The has established a Task Force on Vatican's financial holdings, in­ Mental Retardation and charged Catholic Relief Services, said that aid from the U.S. and other cluding real estate, total about its 12 members with determining nations is being distributed in $570 million, but less than half of the extent of needs of retarded Ethiopia and that development that amount produces income, persons and their families in the said Cardinal Giuseppe Caprlo, a diocese and how to best meet projects there have begun to ac­ complish much good. top Vatican financial official. those needs, on both the diocesan It was the first time a Vatican of­ and parish level. “ The Diocese of Pittsburgh was the largest single con­ ficial has publicly revealed the The task force, chaired by tributor to the Ethiopian amount of the Holy See's Walter Haglund, president of the drought relief two years ago," "patrimony” of investments and Asssociation of Retarded Cltizens- land holdings. Cardinal Caprlo Allegheny County Chapter, met Fr. Harvey said. "Ever since that generous outpouring, I said the disclosure should help for the first time in March and will put an end to the "rumors about meet monthly for at least one wanted to go to Ethiopia to see what was accomplished." the immense riches of the year. Initially, members will Late last year. Fr. Harvey was Vatican.” survey county mental health and a part of a delegation of "A s you can see, we have retardation offices and Associa­ diocesan CRS representatives nothing to hide," he said in a rare tion for Retarded Citizen units to interview published April 16 by accurately determine numbers of and others with an interest in African relief efforts who made the Italian financial newspaper II retarded children and adults. Sole 24 Ore. Over the years, some They also will study existing a 20,000-mile trip to Ethiopia in east Africa, and to the west press estimates of the worth of the programs — on the state, county African nations of Senegal and "patrimony” have exceeded $10 and local governmental and agen­ Mauritania. billion. cy levels and those offered by "Let’s say the total of the churches of all denominations. Knowing that there was much criticism concerning the patrimony of the Holy See, in­ After they obtain this cluding real estate and deeds, is preliminary data, according to delivery of hunger relief ser­ Women prepare cotton for thread In Ethiopia. vices, Fr. Harvey said the 730 billion lire (about $572 Grace Harding, director of the delegation members had ques­ million at the current exchange diocese's special religious educa­ — Photos by Fr. John Harvey rate). But more than half of this tion office, members will begin to tions for the CRS represen­ tatives in Ethiopia and for the patrimony does not produce in­ look at how the diocese can ad­ said. "Yes, there was spoilage, metric tons was given to the avoid competition and Insure Ethiopian bishops. These ques­ come, and instead involves ex­ dress the needs and begin because at one time rain came, NGOs, non-government equal treatment. "It was a tions. Father said, included penses," said Cardinal Caprlo. programs. not much but enough to organizations, to be given tremendous ecumenical ven­ reports of expropriation of the president of the Prefecture for Haglund, the father of three damage the food sitting on the directly to the people." ture." he said. "It was quite aid by the Ethiopian govern­ Economic Affairs of the Holy See. children (one of them retarded), docks, but even that food was Ethiopia. Fr. Harvey said, was effective.” ment, spoilage of food on the “ The productive patrimony wants the task force to ac­ given to the animals to eat. The divided into three sectors: CRS, The delegation members. Fr. docks, etc. does not go beyond 350 billion lire complish two things: to deter­ government, out of 800,000 the Lutheran Church, and the Harvey said, asked about the “ We were greatly Impressed (about $275 million),” the car­ mine how retarded persons can metric tons, received only Catholic Church in Ethiopia. dinal said. The rest is tied up in of­ by the answers given us,” he 50.000. The other 750,000 become more active and involved Such divisions. Father said. (Continued on page 3) fices and other properties, in­ with the Church and how the cluding church-run schools and a Church can become more active HP hospital, all of which involve a n ­ and Involved in the pastoral needs nu al maintenance expense, he of the retarded: and also to deter­ said. mine how the Church can get In a telephone interview with more involved in the housing, National Catholic News Service educational and training needs of April 16, Cardinal Caprlo confirm­ the retarded persons and in those ed the figures and said their needs not being met by the com­ publication was part of an effort to munities where retarded persons convince Catholics worldwide of live. the Vatican's financial distress. The recent Mass for retarded "I hope the good faithful will persons and their families at now realize that the appeal by the Sacred Heart parish, with Bishop cardinals and the pope is truly Bevllacqua as celebrant, was an necessary" and "corresponds to "excellent example of that type of the facts," the cardinal told NC Involvement" the Church should News. emphasize. Haglund said. In March, a council of cardinals Bishop Bevllacqua has main­ appealed to the world's bishops to tained a long-time Interest in the increase contributions to Peter's mentally retarded. He was Pence, the fund that has helped chaplain at a home for retarded cover Vatican spending shortfalls children for many years while ser­ in recent years. Along with the ap­ ving as an auxiliary bishop in peal they sent, for the first time, Brooklyn, N.Y., before being nam­ detailed budget figures from ed to head the Pittsburgh Diocese. 1985. In addressing a recent meeting “ In the letter to the bishops, the of the task force, he told members cardinals refer to the many fan­ he had received letters from tasies about Vatican riches, families and friends of retarded noting that, apart from the persons, asking what could be various exaggerations, the base done to aid them. Most frequently A young boy displays a Pitt­ figures are false." Cardinal Caprlo mentioned, the bishop said, were are some of the thousands of youths who have sburgh Steeler T-shtrt In said In the newspaper interview. group homes for retarded adults. Orphans walk to breakfast In Ethiopia. These no families. Senegal. For example, he said, the many Many are concerned about what art works in the Vatican — often will happen to the children once cited as an example of Vatican the parents have died, he added. wealth — have great cultural The bishop estimated that three value, but for the Holy See repre­ percent of the population is men­ sent expenses for custody, tally retarded, adding that some Priests ask full authority to Abp. Hunthausen maintenance and restoration. 85 percent of them can become The Vatican’s patrimony dates By QNDY WOODEN and about 200 rellglous-order authority over key areas of ar­ self-supportive. ‘deals' being made in that direc­ from the time of the 1929 Lateran priests. chdiocesan life. Including liturgy, 'the diocese operates St. An­ tion." Priests said, however, that treaty, when Italy gave the thony School for Exceptional SEATTLE (NC) — Priests of the Father Michael Holland, pastor the marriage tribunal, seminary many felt there might be some Seattle Archdiocese have called of St. Mary Parish in Seattle and Vatican a lump-sum payment in Children in Oakmont and, with formation and continuing educa­ truth to the report. exchange for the remainder of again for restoration of full one of the meeting's organizers, the state, operates McGuire tion of priests. Father Ryan also drafted the papal territory in the country. authority to Archbishop Ray­ said the group wanted "the wider The priests' meeting came less Memorial Home, an lntermediate- April 20 statement, which the Much of the money was used for mond Hunthausen of Seattle, say­ church to understand the priests than a week after the National care facility in New Brighton. priests approved after detailed new buildings and the remainder ing anything less would be "a are with the archbishop." The Catholic Register, a Los Angeles- The diocesan CCD special discussion but only a few minor established as the “ patrimony,” compromise that we find unwor­ priests see him as a "firm leader” based independent weekly, religious education office serves changes in wording. which has been administered by a 785 retarded children and adults thy of Christians." and good teacher who “ bases his reported that Bishop Wuerl would “ We don't want to be caught The Vatican-requested division life on Gospel values," Father special Vatican investment office. through classes and retreats. Pro­ soon be given his own diocese and after the fact," said Father Lester Th e investments yielded of authority in the archdiocese "is Holland said.