PITTSBURGH </> oO m > =0 < o M J O z c? 3 O -1 . 145 Year, CXLV No o ts Established In 1844: Amsrioa’s Oldest Catholic Newspaper In Continuous Publication Friday, July 7, 1989 <0 L U U <0 o ac (/i b- n o < ai t/i a. => => ► ' CD <-» U *■ « 3 0 - ommission: No miracle in Ambridge R eposl By WILLIAM PODIAK Bishop Wuerl releases PITTSBURGH — There is no a statement on the com­ convincing evidence that the mission's report that in­ open eyes of Jesus on a cross vestigated the alleged hanging at Holy Trinity Church in miracle in Ambridge on Ambridge closed on Good Friday, page 4. In addition, the stated a diocesan commission ap­ full report is reprinted pointed by Bishop Donald W. on page 6. Wuerl to investigate the alleged miracle. .................Page 4 & 7 "A careful examination of the photographs provided by Holy Trinity Church, as well as those photographs independently com­ missioned. shows no convincing evidence that a miracle occur­ red." the commission wrote in a recently released report. They added that the eyes of the figure of Jesus, as seen in the photograph taken from the video of March 24 (Good Friday) “ do not differ in appearance from the eyes in the photograph identified by the witnesses taken on Jan. 28, when the crucifix was raised to its position over the altar." Commission members conduc­ ting the investigation included Aux. Bishop William J. Winter, chairperson, Aux. Bishop John B. McDowell. Father Robert L. Mc- Creary. OFM Cap.. chairperson of the Diocesan Theological Com­ A w ard mission. and Father Lawrence A. DiNardo, chancellor. Eleanor Stnelko of The commission stated they Freedom is the recipient tried to determine whether the of this year's John Car­ dinal Wright Award. eyes of Jesus on the crucifix, located in the church sanctuary, The award is given by closed during Good Friday ser­ the Pittsburgh Diocesan vices and later returned to their Council of Catholic normal position: and whether Women. Smelko, chair­ Photographic evidence private revelations occurred to man of the International certain persons in conjunction The diocesan commission Investigating an alleged miracle in Am ­ fer In appearance from the eyes in the photograph Identified by the Affairs Committee, has witnesses taken on Jan. 28. uihen the crucifix was raised to its posi­ been involved with tne with the Good Friday event. bridge — where the eyes of Christ on a cross supposedly closed on The alleged Ambridge miracle Good Friday and later returned to normal — stated that the eyes of tion over the altar." organization since the early 50's. (Continued on page 2 the figure taken from the video of March 24 (Good Friday) "do not dlf- ............................... P age 7 At cathedral Webster case r M ystery C o u r t t a k e s firs t ste p In this week's "Home 1200 watch as bishop ordains 4 Again" column. Connie By RICHARD INFANTE Vincent Seminary in Latrobe sacrament. Ann Valenti and Father PITTSBURGH — Four new were also present, including the Following a brief examination to overtu rn a bortion Ron Lengwin discuss priests were ordained for the newly-appointed Rector. Father by the Bishop and their promise spiritual phenomena WASHINGTON (CNS) — In its 5-4 ruling July 3 upholding Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Thomas Acklin, OSB, a Pitt­ of obedience to him. the four men and the great physical Missouri abortion restrictions, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to Donald W. Wuerl on Saturday sburgh native. prostrated themselves before the and spiritual powers overturn Roe vs. Wade, its 1973 decision legalizing abortion, but morning. July 1. at St. Paul After the reading of the Gospel, altar in prayer while the litany of that exist within all of many observers and some of the justices themselves saw the new Cathedral in Oakland. Fathers the four candidates were called by saints was chanted. us..................... Page 7 decision as a first step in that direction. Charles Christen. 36, Fr. Bernard name. Father Theodore In the most solemn moment of Catholic officials and others who oppose legalized abortion hailed Hebda, 29, Fr. George Moneck. Rutkowski, secretary for Clergy the rite. Bishop Wuerl laid his the decision as a victory for pro-life forces. Backers of legalized 36, and Fr. James TorQuato. 25, and Pastoral Life, attested to their hands on the head of each man, were welcomed into the preparation and worthiness. ordaining them to the priesthood. abortion sharply criticized it. priesthood in what Bishop Wuerl Bishop Wuerl's election of the The three other bishops also laid The case at issue. Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services, in­ characterized as "one of the most men was met with enthusiastic hands on the heads of the newly volved challenges to the constitutionality of several provisions of a ancient and timeless rituals in the applause. ordained, followed by each priest 1986 Missouri law restricting abortion. Christian community." In his homily, the Bishop ex­ in attendance, welcoming them Provisions strnek down as unconstitutional by lower federal More than 1200 people attend­ plained to the men (hat with their into the presbyterate while the courts but upheld by the Supreme Court: ed the Mass and Rite of Ordina­ ordination they would be "mold­ people sang the ancient ninth • Declared that life begins at conception. tion, while over 100 priests con- ed into the likeness of Christ" and century Latin hymn, "Veni, • ReQuired physicians to perform various viability tests on celebrated. With Bishop Wuerl in instructed them “ to imitate the Creator Spiritus." (Come, Creator fetuses apparently 20 weeks old or older. the sanctuary were Aux. Bishops mystery you celebrate." He Spirit). • Prohibited public hospitals and personnel from performing John B. McDowell and William reminded them that they were Then the new priests were any abortion not reQuired to save a woman's life. Winter, and retired Bishop Vin­ chosen from among God's people, clothed in the garments of the • Banned use of public funds to encourage or counsel a woman cent Leonard. Along with family as both a sign and instrument of priesthood: the stole worn over to have an abortion not reQuired to save her liie. and friends of the four men, facul­ God's presence, to sanctify, teach both shoulders and the chasuble. In his opinion for the court, Chiei Justice William H. RehnQuist ty members from the North and govern by virtue of their (Continued on page 2) wrote that the appeals court had struck down Missouri's restric­ American College in Rome and St. priestly office conferred in the tions "on the ground that they violated this court's decision in Roe vs. Wade and cases following it. We ... now reverse." In sid e He said the court's decision to accept Missouri's 20-week provi­ Editorials............ Page 4 sion for testing fetal viability goes against "the rigid trimester Letters................ Page 5 analysis" used by the high court 16 years ago in Roe. and to that ex­ Catholic Life Page 7 tent the court now "would modify and narrow Roe and succeeding Classified............ Page 8 cases." Around Diocese But the court did not find sufficient reason in the Missouri ease to .............. Pages 9-11 review the basic decision in Roe, he said. Entertainment Other members of the court disagreed, but for different reasons. ...................... Page 12 Justice Harry A. Blaekmun. who in 1973 wrote the majority opi­ nion in Roe, said the effect of the new decision was to "overrule Roe" and "limit abortion rights." He was joined in his dissent by Justices William J. Brennan and Thurgood Marshall. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote a separate dissent. Justice Antonin Scalia. while concurring with the majority that the Missouri law is constitutional, also felt Roe had been brought in­ to Question and argued that the court should have reconsidered its 1973 decision. According to RehnQuist's opinion "because none of the challeng­ Pope ready to send ed provisions of the Missouri Act properly before us conflict with the Constitution, the Judgment of the court of appeals is reversed." diplom at to Poland In discussing the controversial declaration, found in the pream­ ble to the Missouri law, that life begins at conception, the court held VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope that "certainly the preamble does not by its terms regulate abortion John Paul II has been ready since or any other aspect of (doctors’) medical practice." early spring to send a Vatican "The court has emphasized that Roe vs. Wade 'implies no limita­ diplomat to Poland, even before a tion on the authority of a state to make a value Judgment favoring pact on formal relations with the childbirth over abortion, " it said, repeating the language found in mostly Catholic Eastern bloc na­ an earlier 1977 ruling. "The preamble can be read simply to ex­ tion is signed. press that sort of value judgment." In a letter to Cardinal Jozei On the Question of public funding for abortions, it said that the Glemp. president of the Polish state may refuse to pay for abortions without denying a woman a bishops' conference, the pope right to have an abortion. said that "it seems possible, and RehnQuist also noted that “ there is no doubt that our holding to­ even opportune, that the B ishop gathers w ith new priests day will allow some governmental regulation of abortion that would Apostolic See could send to War­ Bishop Wuerl is flanked by the diocese's four George Moneck. Bernard Hebda. James Torquato have been prohibited” under the interpretation of some of the saw its representative. and Charles Christen. Top row.