Vol. LXXII No. 37 Ninety-six years service to the Gospel September 18, 1996 Photo by Brn Prarton MICHAEL Card, left, and John Michael Talbot have combined efforts on an ecumenical album of contemplative Christian music. ^Brother to Brother’ concert brings harmony to Catholics and Evangelicals BY PETER DROEGE Thousands of Evangelical Christians and Catholics joined hands and voices last Sunday at Cherry Hills Community Church and declared, “Come, let us wor­ ship the Lord, for we are His people, the flock that he shepherds.” Continued on page 27 Samaritan House celebrates a decade of service — Page 3 f ’.VS photo Cardinal William H. Keeler o f Baltimore speaks at a press briefing before the Sept. 12 prayer vigil against the veto of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. Behind him, from left, are Cardinals Adam J. Maida of Detroit, Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia and James A. Hickey of Washington. U.S. cardinals, bishops unite against James Baca ID CR photo veto o f ban on partial birth abortions BY PATRICIA ZAPOR seat of the government. “We pray not as Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans or Living the WASHINGTON (CNS) Praying for wisdom, truth Evangelicals,” he said. "We pray for wisdom, truth and and hope on the partial-birth abortion issue, Boston hope.” Catholic Cardinal Bernard F. Law led more than 70 bishops — Despite the unprecedented gathering of religious including all eight active U.S. cardinals — and about leaders, the event received almost no media attention. faith in 1,000 others in prayer on the steps o f the U.S. Capitol In April President Clinton vetoed the bill, which Sept. 12. would prohibit one type of abortion used late in preg­ retirement The prelates and priests, schoolchildren, families, nancy. Saying it borders on infanticide, church leaders nuns and others p r a y ^ for a congressional override of have vocally opposed the procedure, in which a doctor years, see President Clinton’s veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion partially delivers the unborn child and then stabs sur­ Ban Act. gical scissors into the base of the infant’s head. The the special “I think it’s very appropriate that we pray here. child’s brain is then removed by suction, allowing for Don’t you?” asked Cardinal Law, chairman of the easier delivery of the rest of the body. section on bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, noting The bill initially passed the House with enough that he had just been asked whether the church votes to override a veto and enact the law without the pages 9-22 leaders should be holding the prayer service at the Continued on page 11 PROMINENT Catholic se­ nior, Sparky Anderson AnnunciaUon School aids studctUs mourning loss — Page 4 SEPT. 18. 1996 PA G E 2 DENVER CATHOUC REGISTER Denver area women targeted for testing God’s standards give of new abortion-inducing chemicals life to a world in need BY FATHER JOHN KRENZKE BY MIMI ECKSTEIN • Pam ela Etienne Planchc of the Denoer Catholic Register said, “This procedure makes me want to The Denver-area women have been targeted by the scream. It is so insidious ... This makes the killing of A rePection on the Gospel reading for the 25th food and drug administration to try an experimental our unborn children look easy." Sunday in Ordinary Time— Matthew 20:1-16 nonsurgical abortion drug, m ethotrexate, it was a n ­ It is nonsense to speak o f this procedure being ef­ The parable of the owner of the vineyard going nounced last week. fective when what is involved is three to four-time at­ out to hire workers throughout the day has con­ In a front page story in th e HiK-ky Mountain .\eu s. tempt to abort the child. If the injection does not work fused many people for the payment o f the workers local Planned Parenthood o f Den ver officials said, “This then four tablets are inserted. If this doesn t work, try does not st*em to be fair by any standard. is truly a milestone for wom en and their health ... There the tablets again. If this doesn't work then a surgical This parable is a teaching about rewards. The IS an overwhelming need for safe, effective abortions.” abortion is required. .-Ml in all there could possibly be ow ner of the vineyard is God and the payment He What Planned Parenthood does not tell is the full three to four visits to the clinic. gives IS eternal life. story. What can Catholics do to stop this drug induced l/ct us lixik at several items in the story. Tlie • Methotrexate is a very toxic drug used with can­ abortion procedure now'.’ order of pay ing the workers is not important to cer patients. It has been prescribed to pregnant women • Write a letter to the Food and Drug Administra­ the thrust of the story, but it permits those who because it kills the baby in utero. Using this drug for tion giving them the following message: were employed first to see how much those who abortion is a per\'ersion of a well known technique to “There is no need for this abortion procedure. You were employed last received and gives them time combat cancer. do not want this nonsurgical abortion approved for dis­ to suppose that they would receive more! Since all • To say this is for the health of women is a tribution in the United States. This procedure is not the workers receive the same payment, the par­ bastardation of the term “health.” There is nothing for a woman's health or safety. That is medical non­ able does not illustrate the meaning o f the conclud healthy about the injection of a toxic drug into a sense. The side effects o f these drugs are not in the ing saying about the last and the first. woman's system which may cause a miscarriage but if woman or child's best interest. Using the drug The original emphasis seems to be in v. 14 not she is to insert four tablets of a drug called methotrexate and misoprosotal is a perversion of the where the owner misoprosotal which causes the uterus to contract and long standing medical reason for these two drugs " speaks of his own free choice in g iv ­ expels the unborn child. W om en are to expect intense Send the letter to: ine can be cramping and bleeding as usual. David Kessler. Food and Drug .•\dministration. ing the same re­ • Msgr. Ra\Tnond Jones, vic a r general, said, “ How 5600 Fishers Lane. Rockville. MD 20837 ward to each g e n e r o u s many mothers will we lose w ith this procedure?" For fu rth er questions, call the Respect Life Office worker God is not • Monique Refior. secretary for social concerns said. of the Archdiocese of Denver. i 303 • 388--J491. ext 152 answerable to us in sharing a "Are women crazy to put som ething as lethal into their M im i Eckstein is the director of the Respect Life for what He does sorrow with a bodies and look forward to a fu tu re o f health problems Office o f the Archdiocese o f Deni er with His gifts. in their later life'’ " Therefore, it must friend. be clearly .seen that the parable is not Catholics encouraged to register to vote by Oct. 7 concerned with justice. TTiere is no injustice in pay­ ing tho.se who w orked all day a denar. A denar was To be able to vote in the election. Nov. 6. citizens must register to vote at lease 29 days prior to the elec­ a just wage in Jesus' day. must register by Oct. 7. Because o f significant national tion I Oct. 7 1. The jKiint here is that God can do as He pleases and local issues, all Catholics are encouraged to prop­ Registration forms are available at all Dept of w ith His gifts and mankind is out o f line in com­ erly exercise their political responsibility and vote. Motor Vehicle outlets and most public libraries. For plaining about God's generosity. To qualify, you must be a L’ .S. citizen who is at information, contact the Denver Election Commission We must remember that Jesus' treatment of least l^ years old on election day. must not be .serving at (303 1 640-235 1. or the Colorado Catholic Conference tax collectors and sinners at table fellowship of­ a sentence of confinement, detention or parole, and at 338-4411. ext 215 fered them the same entry into God's kingdom as the Pharisees and others. God, Jesus constantly Iioints out, IS generous in forgiveness and mercy. If Mother Teresa injured in fall, returns to hospital one would complain about that, one has clearly put one.self in the company of the critics of Jesus as C.-\LCUTT.A. India iC.N'Si — Mother Teresa suf­ derwent a brain scan at the hospital and retnained seen in the parable of the loving merchant father fered a bruise near her right eye after falling from her there for a checkup. in Luke 15. bed at the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse the A hospital statement said: "Mother Teresa had a What IS so wonderful about God’s gifts is that afternoon of Sept. 16. fall this morning and sustained a minor He IS generous to all! It is sad to see those whose .-\ Missionaries of Charity spokes­ injury in her head.