“The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord” VOL. 30, NO. 2 JANUARY 25, 2018 Catholic Charities For 45th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Announces Honorees Bishop Schlert Celebrates Pro-Life for 2018 Gala Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown – which Mass of Reparation in Ashland provided vital services for more than 20,000 individuals By TAMI QUIGLEY and families last year throughout Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Staff writer Northampton and Schuylkill counties – will hold its 11th Annual Gala with the goal of increasing fundraising for “Today we continue to the less-fortunate in our communities. commemorate the tragic This year’s gala will be Sunday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. Supreme Court decision at the University Center of DeSales University, Center Roe vs. Wade that legalized Valley. The evening will feature live and silent auctions, a abortion,” said Bishop Al- special appeal, presentations to the honorees and a special fred Schlert, main celebrant raffle. and homilist of a Pro-Life This year’s Gala honorees are Mass of Reparation Jan. 21 Msgr. John McCann, pastor of Im- at St. Charles Borromeo, maculate Conception BVM Church, Ashland. Douglassville, and the Honorable This year marks the 45th William and Rosemary Ford, parish- anniversary of the Jan. 22, ioners of the Cathedral of St. Catha- 1973 Roe vs. Wade U.S. Su- rine of Siena, Allentown. preme Court decision that legalized abortion in the Msgr. McCann United States. Msgr. McCann graduated from Father Paul Rothermel, Marian High School, Tamaqua and pastor of St. Charles Bor- began his college studies at Allen- romeo, concelebrated the 11 town College of St. Frances de Sales a.m. liturgy. (now DeSales University). Msgr. John Bishop Schlert thanked After completing McCann Father Rothermel and pa- his first year of col- rishioners for the warm lege, he entered St. welcome he received at the Charles Borromeo parish. Seminary, Philadel- Reflecting on attending phia to begin his stud- the March for Life in Wash- ies for the priesthood. ington, D.C., two days prior In 1980 he was to the Mass, Bishop Schlert chosen by then Bishop said, “It’s so inspiring to see of Allentown Joseph tens of thousands of people, McShea to complete almost all of them young, re- his studies for the jecting the culture of death, priesthood at the Pon- and as good Americans tifical Roman Semi- using their conscientious nary and the Pontifical and constitutional rights to Lateran University, march so that someday this Rome, Italy. scourge of abortion might Msgr. McCann was be free of our land. ordained to the priest- Judge William “Because as a society, as hood in 1985, after and Rosemary Ford long as we labor under the which he returned scourge of abortion, we can- to Rome, where he not be the great nation that earned a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pope John God calls us to be. We can’t Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family. even be the great nation that He completed an internship at the Vatican’s Pon- our forefathers called us to tifical Council for the Family in 1986. Also that year he be when they enshrined so Bishop Alfred Schlert delivers the homily at a Pro-Life Mass of Reparation Jan. 21 was named assistant pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary many rights in the Declara- at St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland. (Photo by John Simitz) Church, Whitehall and served as an advocate on the Dioc- tion of Independence and esan Tribunal. the Bill of Rights.” “It’s good for us to come and ask God’s forgiveness,” In 1987 he was transferred to Immaculate Conception Referencing “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Bishop Schlert said. BVM Church, Allentown and assigned to the Catholic So- the Bishop said in our nation “life is not protected” due to He spoke of Dr. Robert Spencer (1889-1969), who the scourge of abortion. Please see GALA page 8 }} “Abortion is painfully present in this country.” Please see REPARATION page 3 }} Sharing ‘fake news’ makes one an accomplice VATICAN CITY (CNS) – People have a responsibility to check the source of what they share on social media to ensure it is not “fake news” designed to further prejudices or increase fear, Pope Francis said. Fake news grabs people’s attention “by appealing to stereotypes and common social prejudices, and ex- ploiting instantaneous emotions like anxiety, contempt, anger and frustration,” Pope Francis wrote in his message for World Communications Day 2018. The message is a reflection on the theme, “’The truth will set you free.’ Fake news and journalism for peace.” World Communications Day will be celebrated May 13 at the Vatican and in most dioceses. The pa- pal message was released at the Vatican Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists. Fake news is so effective, he said, because it mimics real news but uses “nonexistent or distorted data” to deceive and manipulate. The first to employ the fake-news tactic was the serpent in the Garden of Eden who convinced Eve she Please see FAKE page 24 }} 2 THE A.D. TIMES DIOCESE JANUARY 25, 2018 Published biweekly on Thursday by Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc. at P.O. Box F Allentown, PA 18105-1538 Phone: 610-871-5200, Ext. 2264 Fax: 610-439-7694 E-mail: [email protected] President Bishop Alfred Schlert Secretary for External Affairs Matt Kerr Editor Jill Caravan Staff Writers Tara Connolly Tami Quigley Design & Production Marcus Schneck Advertising Contact Lori Anderson Office Assistant Priscilla Tatara MISSION STATEMENT As part of the Catholic Press, The A.D. Times is the official newspaper for the Ro- man Catholic Diocese of Allentown, serv- ing Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties. The A.D. Times proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the People of God through evangelization, cat- echesis and the teaching of the Church, the extension of Christ’s presence in the world today. It endeavors to nourish, strengthen and challenge the faith of its readers by con- tinually providing news information, forma- tion, inspiration, religious education and Catholic identification. Under the patronage of Mary, Mother of the Church, The A.D. Times serves the Church so that the King- dom of God might become a reality in our society transformed by His Good News. POLICY STATEMENTS The A.D. Times will consider all editorial copy and photos submitted in a fair and ob- jective manner. The newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submission. Any advertising copy accepted does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or endorsement of The A.D. Times and/or its publisher. The A.D. Times reserves the right to reject any advertising copy submitted. DEADLINES Advertising copy must be received by Mon- day of the week before publication. News copy must be received by Thursday of the week before publication. MEMBERSHIPS Catholic Press Association, Rockville Centre, N.Y. VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR Catholic News Service, The Diocese of Allentown provides assistance to anyone who, as a minor, was sexually abused by a priest, Washington, D.C. deacon or employee/volunteer of the Diocese/Parish Catholic Press Association Award Winner Parents, guardians, children and survivors of sexual abuse are invited and encouraged to contact the Diocese 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, of Allentown for more information about this program. The fullness of compassion should be extended to these 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010, victims by the Church. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 To speak directly to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, please call the direct line 1-800-791-9209. To learn more about the Diocese of Allentown’s Youth Protection Programs, Sexual Abuse Policy and Code of POSTAL INFORMATION Conduct, please visit www.allentowndiocese.org and click on “Youth Protection” at top right. The A.D. Times (USPS 004-111) is pub- lished on Thursdays, biweekly January to COORDINADOR DE ASISTENCIA A LAS VÍCTIMAS May; triweekly June to September; biweek- La Diócesis de Allentown provee asistencia a cualquier persona que, como menor de edad, fue abusado ly October to November; and triweekly in sexualmente por un sacerdote, diácono o empleado/voluntario de la Diócesis/Parroquia. December, at a subscription cost of $20 per Los padres, tutores, niños y los sobrevivientes de abuso sexual están invitados a contactar la Diócesis de Al- year by Allentown Catholic Communica- lentown para obtener más información sobre este programa. La plenitud de compasión debe extenderse a las tions, Inc. at 1515 Martin Luther King Jr. víctimas por la Iglesia. Drive, Allentown, PA 18102-4500. Periodi- Para hablar directamente con el coordinador de asistencia a las víctimas por favor llame a la línea directa cals Postage paid at Allentown, PA and ad- 1-800-791-9209. ditional mailing offices. Para obtener más información acerca de los Programas de Protección de la Juventud, POSTMASTER: Send address changes Política de Abuso Sexual y el Código de Conducta de la Diócesis de Allentown, por favor visite to The A.D. Times, P.O. Box F, Allentown, www.allentowndiocese.org y haga clic en “Protección de la Juventud” en la parte superior PA 18105-1538 derecha. JANUARY 25, 2018 DIOCESE THE A.D. TIMES 3 that our justices on the Supreme Court would soften their hearts and understand Reparation that God’s laws as the creator supersede }}Continued from page 4 our human laws as a created people. “Whenever we tinker with God’s practiced medicine in Ashland and made laws we go astray – our nation has gone the national news upon his death in 1969 astray.” for having performed 100,000 abortions Bishop Schlert said for those who say there from the 1920s until his death.