NorthBringing the Good News to the Diocese Texas of Fort Worth Catholic Vol. 22 No. 17 October 20, 2006 Supreme Court won’t hear case seeking to reverse landmark abortion ruling WASHINGTON (CNS) — The in Doe or in Roe. Supreme Court Oct. 10 declined In petitioning the court, Cano’s to hear the appeal of Sandra Cano, attorneys argued that although the Georgia woman who hoped medical science and technology the court would reverse her 1973 have advanced, by refusing to victory in one of two decisions reconsider the validity of the Roe that legalized abortion. and Doe cases, the Supreme Court Cano was the “Mary Doe” has “frozen abortion law based on in the court’s Doe v. Bolton, the obsolete 1973 assumptions and companion case to the better prevented the normal regulation known Roe v. Wade decision. Roe of the practice of medicine.” threw out most state restrictions Like the original plaintiff in on abortion, but the Doe decision Roe v. Wade — Norma McCorvey CROSS MOVED — Construction workers Oct. 5 remove the 20-foot cross formed by steel beams that was recovered permitted abortions through all was later identifi ed as “Jane Roe” from the rubble after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks brought down the World Trade Center in New York. The cross was nine months of pregnancy. in the 1973 case — Cano has said taken to nearby St. Peter’s Church, where it will be stored as reconstruction on the trade center site continues (CNS Without comment, the court she never really wanted an abor- photo/Chip East, Reuters) rejected Cano’s appeal of the 11th tion, but that attorneys looking U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rul- for test cases about abortion ing in January that said federal laws pressed her into proceed- Churches grapple with what tax code district and appeals courts lacked ing. McCorvey and Cano have allows regarding election issues authority to overturn the decision SEE SUPREME COURT…, P. 3 By Patricia Zapor may be endorsing candidates and still haunts that community. WASHINGTON (CNS) — political parties. This September, the rector of U.S. bishops’ anti-poverty With another election looming, Meanwhile, priests, ministers, All Saints announced that the politicians, religious leaders, can- and rabbis seek to guide their IRS had demanded a broad as- program distributes nearly didates, and the Internal Revenue congregations in how to apply sortment of parish documents Service are again contemplating the lessons of faith to politics, in an investigation into whether $9 million in grants a perennial American political while steering clear of sometimes a sermon shortly before the last question: Where is the line that confusing IRS regulations for tax- presidential election violated WASHINGTON (CNS) — The The grants totaling $8,909,000 divides the appropriate and in- exempt charities, lest they fi nd restrictions on political activity Catholic Campaign for Human will be distributed to 326 projects appropriate interplay of religion themselves subject to lengthy by tax-exempt organizations. Development, the U.S. bishops’ in 47 states, the District of Colum- and politics? investigations, legal challenges, An administrative summons domestic anti-poverty program, bia, and Puerto Rico. As politicians try to reach vot- and costly fi nes. from the IRS requested 17 docu- is awarding nearly $9 million in Timothy Collins, CCHD’s ex- ers by tapping into religious or- A 2004 homily intended to ments and other information grants this year to support local ecutive director, said the agency ganizations, the efforts raise red give guidance on voting to pa- related to an Oct. 31, 2004, ser- projects working to eliminate is working with poor and low-in- fl ags with the IRS, which is wary rishioners of All Saints Episcopal mon by guest preacher the Rev. the root causes of poverty in the come people to develop “creative, of tax-exempt organizations that Church in Pasadena, California, SEE CHURCHES…, P. 12 United States. SEE CCHD…, P. 15 SAINTS CANONIZED Pope canonizes four, says being a — Mexicans Rafael De Jesus Barroso Santiago and his saint is not for the weak, fearful father, Enrique Barroso Ordaz, deliver By Cindy Wooden from church leaders were not to Jesus Christ and renounced the relics of Mexican VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pre- uncommon in the lives of the everything to be his friends,” Bishop Rafael siding over the second canoniza- four new saints: Mexican Bishop he said. Guizar Valencia of tion ceremony of his pontifi cate, Rafael Guizar Valencia of Vera Cardinal Francis E. George of Vera Cruz during Pope Benedict XVI honored two Cruz; Italian Father Filippo Chicago, who had cancer surgery his canonization women and two men who dem- Smaldone; Italian Sister Rosa in July, and Cardinal Salvatore De ceremony in St. onstrated that becoming a saint is Venerini; and Mother Theodore Giorgi of Palermo, Italy, were the Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. not for the weak and fearful. Guerin, foundress of the Sisters main concelebrants at the papal 15. Pope Benedict “The saint is that man, that of Providence of St. Mary-of-the- Mass. XVI canonized four woman who, responding with Woods, Indiana. Five other U.S. bishops from news saints Oct. joy and generosity to the call of Even in the midst of “trials and Indiana and Illinois concel- 15, including Mother Christ, leaves everything to fol- persecutions,” the pope said, the ebrated the Mass, which was Theodore Guerin, a low him,” the pope said at the new saints knew that following attended by some 125 Sisters of pioneer in Catholic Oct. 15 canonization Mass in St. Jesus “truly guaranteed a happy Providence, dozens of students education in Indiana Peter’s Square. existence and eternal life.” from St. Mary-of-the-Woods in the 19th century. Political persecution, poverty, “The saints had the humility College, and 45 pilgrims from (CNS/Giampiero suspicion, and even opposition and courage to respond ‘yes’ SEE SAINTS PRAISED…, P. 6 Sposito, Reuters) Page 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, October 20, 2006 Diocesan November off ers us a chance to refl ect on what the saints can teach us about following Christ Dear Friends in the to think of this now, since October is drawing to a close, and soon we will Diocese of Fort Worth, In the upcoming month of November, the be celebrating All Saints Day and All s I Souls Day. This is a time the Church saints are waiting for us to teach us how has for us every year, so that in the write entire month of November (dedi- A cated to all of the Faithful departed), this col- to be friends of Christ in this complex, we can refl ect on the Communion of Saints and Eternal Life, and not only umn I challenging age where, in God’s providence, heaven, but the importance of the have been teaching of the Church on purga- we fi nd ourselves. Some of the challenges tory and praying for our beloved taking deceased. In the fi nal analysis, our goal is some Bishop Kevin W. Vann they faced in living the Gospel are not eternal life with Christ, so how do we prepare for that now? How do time at the Jesuit Retreat much different than we experience. we live our lives now as response to the call of Christ to be his disciples? House (Montserrat) near I would highly recommend My Lake Dallas, to have Cathedral of St. Patrick, the time of were treated to a thorough tour and Life with the Saints. In his introduc- the year, and what the saints must explanation the history of the ca- tion to the book, Fr. Martin says, some quiet time to think, teach us about our own life with thedral and all of its appointments, “These refl ections are not meant Christ. including all of the saints in the win- to be exhaustive, scholarly biogra- read, refl ect, and pray. Recently, our Diocese hosted the dows and the statues. I heard again phies of the lives of these spiritual national convention for the Canon and again how much the beauty of heroes and heroines. Instead, they We are truly blessed in Law Society of America. This is no our cathedral impressed our visitors are meditations on the way that our Diocese to have such small effort, and thanks to the hard ... especially all of the depictions of one Christian relates to these holy work and hospitality of our Tribunal the saints. persons: How I came to know them, a facility and the pres- staff, the Diocese of Fort Worth made All of the saints in our cathedral what inspires me about their stories, a great impression on many visitors remind us that life in Christ is no and what they’ve meant to me in ence and ministry of the who are canon lawyers working in easy task, but it is possible. From my own life.” parishes, Tribunals, Chanceries, and St. Maria Goretti (chastity), to St. In the upcoming month of No- Society of Jesus for re- parish and educational ministries Elizabeth of Hungary (care for the vember, the saints are waiting for treats and spiritual direc- throughout the country. poor), St. Oliver Plunkett (uncom- us to teach us how to be friends of For many of the convention visi- promising Faith in an age of perse- Christ in this complex, challenging tion. tors, a highlight of the convention cution), St. Charles Borromeo (love age where, in God’s providence, was the Mass celebrated this past of Christ’s Church and courage in we fi nd ourselves. Some of the In part of this day, I have been Wednesday at the cathedral.