......... Disabled___ Inside Dies Father William Gillum, OFM Returning after missing two col­ Editorial............................. Page 4 Father Paul E. Plndel, a diocesan Cap., presents the first of a two-part umns due to Illness, Msgr. Charles C olum ns............................ Page 5 priest known to many as the series on the disabled and places of Owen Rice gives his views on the Entertainment...................Page 6 "Polka Padre," died Feb. 26 follow­ worship. Also, the story of a U.S. role In the ground Invasion In Bible Q u iz.......................... Page 6 ing a lengthy Illness. He was 65. specialist who inspires children Operation Desert Storm. Catholic Life.......................Page 7 and adults with disabilities Is Classified........................... Page 8 featured on page 7. Around Diocese Pages 9-12 Page 11 .......................................Pages 5 & 7 Page 5 Obituaries.......................... Page 11 i a rvj 'O rsj PITTSBURGH CO < h - C L 00 OJ o 'XI 9 * > Q —« -J 3 r \ j 3 LJ X 3 *> LL OL > - T 3 sO o r o o h - 33 -4 < r ULJ /) ri ot­ s> L- / > ri f . ) t— o h—< 3 o ►—t 3 -J Q -JX. 14i I No. 50 25 cents Established in 1844: America's Oldest Catholic Newspaper in Continuous Publication Friday, March 1, 1991 P r i e s t s C h a l l e n g e d e c r e a s e Catholic Church teachings w o r l d w i d e can aid massive social ills VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The By JERRY FILTEAU number of priests in religious WASHINGTON (CNS) - A top Address to focus orders dropped worldwide, but Vatican official opened a national the decline was almost entirely of­ gathering of Catholic social on ‘Rerum Novarum ’ Justice advocates in Washington fset by an increase in diocesan PITTSBURGH — Bishop Feb. 24 with pleas to revitalize priests, according to Vatican Donald W. Wuerl will give his figures. Catholic social teaching in first major address as a response to massive social ills The same figures showed the distinguished service professor today. number of seminarians increas­ at Duquesne University Thurs­ The Church must "live what it ing by 1.3 percent. day. March 7 at 4 p.m. in the teaches about the social field," The total number erf priests at university's school of music Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, presi­ the end of 1989 was 401,479, the recital hall. His talk will focus dent of the Pontifical Justice and Vatican said Feb. 23. That was a on the 100th anniversary of Peace Council, said in the keynote decrease of 451. Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on address. The Vatican said an 0.2 percent social justice, "Rerum Panelists challenged the nearly growth In the ranks of diocesan Novarum." 500 participants from across the priests offset the loss in religious- His address is titled “ Rerum nation to live and witness justice order priests. Novarum: 100 Years of in their families and parishes, to Catholic Social Teaching" and Africa and Asia accounted for end women’s second-class status will Include an analysis of cur­ the growth In the diocesan priest in the Church, to revive the rent and future implications. corps, the Vatican statistics said. becalmed civil rights struggle and To register, call 434-5131. But there was a decline In Europe, to help America’s new classes of the United States, Canada and poor to organize and achieve Oceania, it said. Justice In the workplace. to Church social teachings, say-. Other statistics showed a rise In The Feb. 24-27 meeting, titled ing Americans "can be proud to'* permanent deacons and a drop in "A Century of Social Teaching,” be the heirs of a Cardinal Gib­ women religious. Living Stations in B eaver Falls marked the 100th anniversary of bons, of an Archbishop Ireland, of the first social encyclical. Pope a John Ryan, a John Courtney The figures were complied by Students at St. Mary School, Beaver Falls, pre­ Parker). The soldier Is Steven Dickinson, center. Leo XIII's "Rerum Novarum,” on Murray, a Dorothy Day.” the Vatican’s Central Office for sent living Stations during Lent. Marta DeNome, The Stations will be performed March 1,15 and work and workers' rights. He departed from his prepared Church statistics and are the as Veronica, wipes the face of Jesus (Aaron 22 at 7 p.m., and March 8 at 12:15 p.m. B u t the participants — text to note, “ I must also mention latest worldwide figures available. representing diocesan social con­ here George Higgins" — drawing The Vatican statement gave no cerns offices and Catholic prolonged applause for Msgr. Hig­ country breakdown of the Charities organizations. Cam­ gins, long regarded by many as statistics. Nor did It suggest Cholera epidem ic continues in Peru paign for Human Development of­ the chief living symbol of Catholic reasons for the situations. fices and a variety of other social Justice in the United States. According to the Vatican CHANCAY. Peru (CNS) - Not until a week after Caqui throughout the world to give Catholic social action organiza­ Cardinal Etchegaray also figures: W hen 15-year-old Daniel Caqui fell ill Jan. 22 did Peru’s top money and send medical sup­ tions across the country — focus­ received sustained applause • Permanent deacons staggered into the hospital one epidemiologists finally identify plies for Peru's cholera victims. ed on the Catholic social heritage when, talking about peace, he night with nausea, cramps and what struck him — and, by mainly in terms of the challenges said: “Less and less can we work numbered 16,603 at the end of Father John Harvey, 1989, a rise of 5.8 percent. There intense diarrhea, doctors were then, thousands of other Peru­ it presents to Catholics today. for peace with the arms of war. diocesan director of the Society were 15,686 permanent deacons baffled. vians. It was cholera, an easily in a video message, Pope John More and more must we work for for the Propagation of the Vomiting and diarrhea spread intestinal disease that Paul II urged the group to peace with the arms of peace." As in 1988. Faith, reported that nearly pointed to food poisoning, but can be fatal. rediscover “the priceless heritage he spoke the allied ground war • Major seminarians totalled $2,000 has been received to cramps suggested a sting from Starting In Chancay. on the of the Church’s social teaching” against Iraq was Just entering its 93,405 at the end of 1989, a 1.3 help the people of Peru. a venomous spider, or maybe Pacific coast about 35 miles in order to see the “great and second day. percent rise. There were 92,173 com plex" social Justice issues to­ pneum onia said Dr. Walter Or­ north of Lima, a cholera The Sisters of Mercy in Pitt­ He said the challenge of social seminarians in 1988. There was day "In a fresh light.” tiz. who rushed Caqui into the epidemic has swept Peru, over­ sburgh have rushed medical teaching is greater today than an increase in all regions of the "The Church's social teaching emergency room that night In whelming its health system supplies to the mission in ever because "never before have world, except Europe. The is not only a doctrine but a way of late January. and threatening the rest of Chimbóte. Peru. people been so threatened In their greatest increases were in Africa life.... The Church’s teaching Is Caqui had lost consciousness Latin America. physical and moral being.” and Asia, where a combined 6.3 EDITOR 'S NOTE - Funds itself a kind of 'workshop,' a place and was close to death before percent rise was recorded. Among those expressing for Peru may be sent to Fr. where all people are called to "But how many Christians real­ Ortiz managed to revive him concern over the outbreak has Harvey, Society for the Pro­ ly know this social teaching?" he • The number of women labor" to forge a better social with potassium injections and been Pope John Paul II, who in pagation, 111 Blvd. of the religious declined 0.9 percent in order, he said. asked. In many quarters, he said, quarts of serum. mid-February asked Catholics Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. the Church's social thought has 1989 to 885.645. There were Cardinal Etchegaray praised 893.418 in 1988. the commitment of U.S. Catholics (Continued on page 2) February brings bad news to abortion opponents ■ - " .. ' Pope John Paul II summoned bishops from nations Involved in the Persian Gulf War By PATRICIA ZAPOR opponents. that abortion Is the wrongful tak­ 15-year-old girl who asked the to the Vatican to discuss the WASHINGTON (CNS) - In Maryland, last-minute ing of Innocent human life will state to pay for an abortion when consequences of the war and to February has been a tough month debate focused on an effort to face the prospect of punishment she became pregnant after being offer a "concrete contribution” for abortion opponents, as amend a "conscience clause" In because of their convictions held raped numerous times at a party. to peace. legislatures In Maryland and the new law. Opponents said the in conscience. The state refused under the 1988 South Dakota and the Michigan wording of the law will force Legislation rejected In South voter-approved ban. Court of Appeals dealt blows to health care workers to make abor­ Dakota would have allowed abor­ Summit participants The 2-1 appellate court verdict abortion restrictions. tion referrals even when It is tions only in cases of reported Include: said the state failed to show a The swift passage in January of against their religious beliefs or rape or Incest, severe mental or compelling Interest for a ban that a tough Utah law prohibiting morals.