Inside Convents Become Home for Elderly
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Pennsylvania's D. largest w eekly 0 4 7 9 8 0 0 |__________________________________ DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY m r g h C a t h o l i c circu lation LIBRARIAN LOCUST & COLBERT STREETS PITTSBURGH P A l l ? Friday, September 9. 1983 139th Y oar. CXLIV No. 26 =j>iau u s n e a in itt44: America's Oldest Catholic Newspaper in Continuous Publication Convents Inside C ath olics fa vorite ta rget o f cults P ro-life events become (See editorial on page 4) Priest-author to speak at state pro-life convention here home fo r By WILLIAM FODIAK and U.S. congressman to speak at People Concerned for the Religious cults have not disappeared and Catholics are still a Unborn Child banquet here. elderly favorite target for cult membership, Father Donald Breier, Page 3. director of the Youth Ministry for the Pittsburgh Diocese, warned Open bouse ceremonies will be In addition, he said, Catholics now ate being recruited for held this month at two former stewardship by so-called “ Christian churches” , where leaders convents in the Turtle Creek claim they are the only ones who can interpret the will of God and Valley that have been converted tell their followers when to marry, what job to take, and how much into group homes for low-income income must be given to their church in order to be “ saved.” (rider adults. Cults seem to recruit more heavily at the beginning of school The ventures mark the first terms at colleges: however, they are constantly recruiting all year time the diocese and area parishes long in subtle ways, such as fellowship meetings, free concerts. have joined with the Presbyterian Bible study, prayer meetings etc. M o v ie s Association on Aging to provide I f Catholics a re awareof cult tactics and objectives, then there is such housing. less chance they will be recruited. But the Church needs to do Fr. Peter Horton reviews The ceremonies will be held more, Fr. Breier said. three movies, ail of which he Sunday, Sept. 18. from 9 a.m. to 2 “ The only way we can curb the cults is to counteract them with calls losers. Page 12. p.m. at the former St. William positive things.” he said. “ The Catholic Church has to give its convent in East Pittsburgh — now members a sense of belonging in a caring Christian community. B attle of Vienna known as Bessemer Terrace Then members won’t have to look for it some place else. The House, 515 Howard St., and Church has to give its members goals and challenge them to Area priest reviews the Battle service, which the cults do. The Church needs to challenge the of Vienna, which took place 300 Saturday, Sept. 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday. Sept. 25, idealism of its younger members.” years ago, prior to the pope’s The Church has to do an awful lot to build the family again, he visit to Austria Sept. 10-13. Page from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the former St. Joseph convent, now said, adding that religious education alone does not fulfill a youth’s 7. called Verona House, 435 Verona needs. St., Braddock. In addition to young people, adults have become involved with Work on the projects was begun churches where there is one person, often labeled a shepherd, who in March with these groups as co claims to be the only person who can interpret the Bible and sponsors: the diocese, St. William directs members in their occupations and finances These and St. Joseph parishes, the Turtle churches are “ Christian" in name only because the shepherd Creek Valley Development actually has placed himseif above Christ. In order for members to There is help for worried parents. Corporation and the Presbyterian be “ saved” , they must follow the shepherd's directives. Dame University and was on a fellowship at Sorbonne in Paris Q u e s t i o n s Association on Aging, as Most recently, the Church of Bible Understanding invaded Now he was a Moonie (Unification Church member).” managing agent. Convenant House operated by Father Bruce Ritter in New York The parent wanted to know what Catholic educators did to make Fr. Charles Bober discusses The group homes will open in City and tried to lure away homeless and runaway youth underage her son so gullible and what was the Church doing to prevent other who may be godparents. Page 6. mid-September, with Bessemer 20 who stay at the center. F r. Ritter said the cult made promises of Catholics from getting involved in a cult. Terrace to house eight persons a job, a place to stay, security, friendship and happiness. The mother continually called Father Breier and kept sending and Verona House to provide The cult is headquartered in Philadelphia with centers in other him literature regarding cults. “ I did not know a thing about cults A lso inside living facilities for six persons. major cities. Fr. Breier said there have been members from the at the time,” he said. “ Her brother was a priest and he came in to cult recruiting in the Pittsburgh area. see both the bishop and me about the situation. At that time, the Obituaries.................... Page 2 The homes are designed for those able to live semi- “ Traditionally, the Catholic /Church and Jewish Synagogue have Church in the United States was doing almost nothing for cult Editorials..................Pages 4-5 appealed very little to the emotional side of a person's life," Fr. victims or their families — not even educating Catholics to prevent Home A g a in ................. Page 6 independently but unable to provide for all of their own basic Breier said. "Rather, it has been an appeal to the intellect." Yet, a other persons from getting involved in cults." Calendar........................Page 9 youth from adolescense to age 25 holds strong emotional desires, Fr. Breier soon started reading about cults and sects to become Around diocese ... Pages 10-11 needs. They will provide room and board, 24-hour supervision by a rather than intellectual ones. knowledgeable about the subject. “ As youth director, I am Since cults do appeal to one's emotions and offer a sense of supposed to be an advocate for youth and the cult situation is a D e a t h s house supervisor, laundry facilities and linen service and community and belonging, certain Catholics and Jews turn to valid part of my ministry,” he said. “ I called the mother up and them for this need when they cannot find it in their own Church. Sister M. Corona Carraher, housekeeping services in the asked what could I do." Members of these two denominations are susceptible to the cults. “ She introduced me to the Pittsburgh Association of Individual member of Pittsburgh Sisters of homes' common living areas. Bessemer Terrace and Verona Fr. Breier cited an example that occurred when he became Freedom (P A IF ) and I have been working with them ever since, Mercy. director of Youth Ministry. “ One of the women of the diocese primarily in the line of education,” he said. " It is a great support Margaret M. (Flanagan) House, which are now newly began to call me frequently,” he said. She explained her son Patriquin, Bensalem Township, formed non-profit corporations, graduated from Catholic grade school. Catholic high school, Notre (Continued on page 11) Bucks County. (Continued on page 3) osp itoi h o stel9 to op en soon at U rsutine C enter By STEPHEN KARLINCHAK thesis for the staff member. of Western Pennsylvania Hospital The best demonstration and a facility operated by the The Ursuline Center, Bloom illustrating the need. Sister Elaine University Health System. field, is looking to an October said, came not too along ago when However, she added, these opening for its “ hospital hostel,” a she received four requests in four facilities often have no vacancies facility providing housing for out- days from local health care and there is a waiting list to get of-town hospital out-patients and providers for lodging for patients lodging in them to the families of out-of-town in and/or their families. In one case, The annex, which will house the patients who come to Pittsburgh a five-member family from hospital hostel, was a private for medical treatment. Hawaii needed lodging when they house built at least 100 years ago. The facility, to be located on the came to Pittsburgh because their Sister Elaine said. When the grounds of the Ursuline Center on daughter needed a liver academy was open, the annex was Winebiddle Street, will be housed transplant. In another situation, a used for sewing classes and to in an annex of the former Ursuline man from another part of house the offices of school dubs Academy that is presently Pennsylvania will be undergoing and periodicals. undergoing rem odelin g anc1 therepy at a local hospital every The remodeling began in July. renovation. day for 30 days. Sister said he The building's third floor was open According to Sister Elaine won’t require hospitalization, but space and is now being divided Eckert, OSU, executive director he lives too far away to commute. into rooms. On the first floor, of the Ursuline Center, the In a third case, a woman from remodeling will be done to make “ hospital hostel" will meet some Italy will come to Pittsburgh in the floor accessible for the of the needs of the community. She October for a transplant and her handicapped.