PITTSBURGH^ <| 00 I > c a t h o l i c 1-4 <C <si a. <\j Q ec 35 UJ 149 o o > JX No. 13 304 ^stabllshedJnJj44^America’s Oldest1 Catholic Newspaper in Continuous Publication Friday, June 11. 1993 M J d£ 3 t O < ':5 O' oc uj aC- CO z z> 4 ^ m Q w ^ tD* _ A matter of principle C ?oo 2cc -,sdcuj o y- a a 4 (SJ UJ I ^ ^ H i o a. H O Q- Despite pressures, Upper St. Clair student credits God in address By JOHN FRANKO editor PITiSBURGH — The recent controversy between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Upper St. PTITSBURQH — Mike Clair School District over prayer at graduation exer­ Aquillna has been cises received widespread media attention, but lost named editor of the in the furor was the struggle’s core — the faith Pittsburgh Catholic, the exhibited by students in their everyday lives. official newspaper of the Teens of all faiths joined together to support the Catholic Diocese of Inclusion of religious references at school ceremo­ Pittsburgh. nies June 6 . Among them was Thomas Stuhldreher, “I am confident that one of eight class valedictorians. Mike will make the “It’s important to recognize and thank God," he Catholic an even more said later. “People tend to go to God only during the effective tool in commu­ hard times, but it’s just as important to go to Him nicating the faith to the Mike Aquillna when things are going well." people of the Diocese of has edited book manu­ In his address, Stuhldreher stated success in life Pittsburgh," said Bishop scripts for the American depends greatly on the graces of God. Though many Donald W. Wuerl, who Maritain Association and do not realize it, he said, God continues to touch our lives each and every day. serves as publisher of the Notre Dame University newspaper. Press, and has done exten­ He credited his parents and grandparents for teaching him that God is a friend who calls each of "This is an exciting time sive free-lance writing and us to be friends with one another. He described Him to be a Catholic press edi­ promotional work. His arti­ as a friend with whom we share hopes and joys, one tor," Aquillna said. “It's an cles have appeared in (Star who we love and loves us in return. especially good time to be Sunday Visitor, First Things, The student pointed out his strong faith is the editor of the Pittsburgh Intervention, and other result of the example set by his family. His parents Catholic. Our sesquicenten- periodicals. nial year has been a year of are active members of St. Agatha Church in Bridgev­ A native of Kingston, Pa., ille. His mother, Wendy, is a director of music minis­ great change and great Aquillna has a bachelor’s grace. There’s no better try- degree in English and writ­ He has been actively involved in the CCD program place to be a Catholic than ing from Pennsylvania State and plays oboe in the parish choir. Pittsburgh, and there's no University, where he As for the prayer controversy itself, Stuhldreher better time than now." minored in religious studies. said he was saddened that it happened at his school Most recently, Aquillna While at Penn State, he but he wasn’t surprised it took place. supervised the editorial earned membership in Phi He pointed to his faith as a source of inspiration department for Black Box Beta Kappa, the national during the ordeal. Corporation, a marketer of honorary fraternity, was a “It (his speech) was something which gave me a computer network equip­ University Scholar, and sense of fulfillment,” he said. “I knew I was doing it ment headquartered in served as a teaching assis­ for the right reasons. Cecil, Pa., which he joined in tant in the Department of “1 just decided it was important," he continued. “A 1986. Religious Studies. lot of my friends were behind me and I thought it Prior to that he was edito­ He, his wife Terri, and would be important to them. The speech was written rial director and editor for their two children are mem­ well before the controversy krose. It wasn’t written The Barash Group, State bers of St. Agatha Parish, for the T.V. cameras — it was for the 240 people College, Pa., where he edited Bridgeville, where he serves (classmates) who wanted prayer at my graduation." Town & Gown, a monthly as a catechist in the adult Stuhldreher will continue his education in the fall magazine covering the Penn­ education program. He has when he will attend Notre Dame University on an sylvania State University also taught in the marriage ROTC scholarship. He described the campus as a and surrounding area, and preparatory course at St. setting that will help him to “stick with" his religious Where & When, a travelers’ Patrick Parish, Canonsburg, beliefs. guide to 30 Pennsylvania and taught at the junior Perhaps the most fitting testimony of his faith counties. high and high school level at came at the close of his valedictory speech when he He is also a book author, both parishes. said: “Thank you mom, thank you dad, thank you all Photo by Jim Herrmann of my friends, and thank you God.” Thomas Stuhldreher delivers his valedictory address during commencement (Gerard Mahon also contributed to this story.) exercises at Upper St. Clair High School Court nixes ban on religious programs, OK’s graduate-led prayer By PATRICIA ZAPOR Chapel congregation to use school property to show films. been no realistic danger that the community would think WASHINGTON (CNS) — In two cases June 7. the Supreme Though several Justices cited different reasons for agreeing that the district was endorsing religion or any particular Court wedged open the door permitting some religious activi­ with the church’s case, all nine members of the court said creed, and any benefit to religion or to the church would ties on public school property, saying a church may use the school district was wrong to exclude Lamb’s Chapel from have been no more than incidental.” school meeting space and letting stand a lower court ruling using public property to show a film series that addressed District employees had testified that the Lamb’s Chapel allowing student-led graduation prayers. family problems from a religious perspective. request to use the school had been turned down because the The court reversed a 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Writing for the court, Justice Byron White said considering film Series “does appear to be church related.” ruling that the Center Moriches Union Free School District that the school district permitted a wide variety of organiza­ By rejecting the church’s application solely because the on Long Island, N.Y., did not have to permit the Lamb's tions to use school property after hours, “there would have (Continued on page 2) JS THERE A HEAVEN? Eucharistic Congress IS THERE A HELL? Leper priest’s cross j&v convenes in Seville Styi; At least 19,000 people in 12 countries stolen from museum who participated in a survey o f their religious By AGOSTINO BONO beliefs answered this way: HONOLULU (CNS) — A 10-inch wooden cross belonging to SEVILLE, Spain (CNS) — The 6,200 delegates to the 45th Father Damien de Veuster — the famed “leper priest” of Molo­ Believe in Heaven Believe in Hell International Eucharistic Congress engaged in a flurry of activ­ kai — has been stolen from its display case in a Waikiki muse­ ities centered on the Eucharist as the source of Christian life. um. W. Germany 26% Before they had a chance to settle comfortably into their Officials of the Damien Museum at St. Augustine Church in seats, speakers challenged them to see the Eucharist as the E. Germany 7% Waikiki and the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts, Father Damien's springboard for personal conversion, Church solidarity and order, were offering what they called a “modest" cash reward aggressive evangelization, which includes concern for solving Britain 29% for return of the cross but said the cross had little cash value. social problems. The reward amount was not made public. USA 86% H 71% The speeches were mixed in among Masses, cultural activi­ Its value is instead based on its historical and religious sig­ ties, round-table discussions and visits to several churches Netherlands 40% | 9 18% nificance, said Father Joseph Bukoski, provincial superior of where the Blessed Sacrament was on 24-hour display for wor­ the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts in Hawaii. ship. Hungary 27%' * 16% The cross, made of black wood and bearing a silver-covered Pope John Paul II was scheduled to close the June 7-13 image of Christ, was stolen on May 17 or 18 from the museum Italy 58% congress. The congress theme was the Eucharist and evangeli­ 48% in the church, which also operates a soup kitchen for the zation. Ireland 87% .::f 53% homeless six days a week. Seville was chosen as the site because it was the Spanish Announcement of the theft was delayed until early June in church jurisdiction initially responsible for sending missionar­ N. Ireland 90% H 74% 3 hopes the cross would be quickly returned. ies to the New World. The missing cross was held by Father Damien as he lay Poland 64% Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan, Italy, told delegates that the b 57% I dying of Hansen’s disease in 1889 and was placed in his hands Mass is misunderstood if it is regarded as an “escape” or Norway 47% during the viewing of his body after death.