E1098 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 25, 2005 Most everywhere you look in Hartsville, wrong message when they look to us and see and Bishop Baraga Central High School in there are touches of Eleanor: Fred’s the Dollar the precedents that we are setting. For ex- Marquette. In 1968, he was appointed Super- Store, Subway, Trey Park, the Gazebo, the ample, when Venezuelan officials were re- intendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese cently criticized for adopting a restrictive 1800’s train depot, the amenities around the new media law, they immediately cited a of Marquette and three years later was ap- courthouse, and the Living History Museum. ruling that sentenced a Rhode Island jour- pointed Superintendent of Catholic Education Eleanor continues to work tirelessly to make nalist to six months house arrest for refusing focusing on not only Catholic schools but also Hartsville an even better place to live. to divulge a source. As is evident from Ven- for all religious education throughout the Dio- Currently, Eleanor stays busy teaching ezuela, instances such as these are bound to cese. Seniorcize Class twice a week, hosting a radio weaken freedom of press in other countries, Throughout his 50 years of ministry, Father show each Friday, and writing a weekly col- where reporters are already more frequently Gauthier has held many positions in the umn. forced to cooperate in government investiga- church. He was the Director of Evangelization The Trousdale READS program was formed tions. The last thing we need is for inter- and served as Secretary, Treasurer and then national journalists to be questioning our earlier this year to promote learning and over- dedication to upholding free speech guaran- as President of the Priests’ Council. He was a sees the distribution of books from the Dolly teed in the U.S. Constitution. member and President of the Priest Personnel Parton Imagination Library. The program pro- We must do something to remedy this situ- Board and also a member of the Diocesan vides a free book each month to every child ation that is making honest journalism and Reconciliation Board. He spent several terms under age 5 in the county. I can think of no true confidential sources a thing of the past. on the St. Joseph’s Association for Priest Re- better way to honor Eleanor, than to do so in The administration and judiciary should ex- tirement and was also a consultant to the a way which benefits Trousdale County. I wish ercise greater discretion in requiring report- Bishop. Eleanor and her family continued success. ers to reveal their sources so that journalists Although Father Gauthier is retired now, he and every American can regain their con- f fidence in the First Amendment’s protection. continues to help parishes and serve his faith. He continues his 30th year as Director of the f PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT Propagation of the Faith, Director of the Holy FATHER LAWRENCE T. GAUTHIER Childhood Association, the Home Mission and HON. JIM McDERMOTT 50TH ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY in 2000 he was assigned as the Catholic Re- OF WASHINGTON lief Services Director. Once again for the third IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. BART STUPAK year, Father Gauthier has been assigned to Wednesday, May 25, 2005 OF MICHIGAN represent the senior priests of the dioceses on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Priests’ council. Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I, like Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Represent- Wednesday, May 25, 2005 many, believe that the First Amendment is atives to join me in thanking Father Lawrence currently under attack. Yesterday I attended a Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to T. Gauthier for his service to the Holy Catholic forum titled ‘‘Media Bias and the Future of pay tribute to an outstanding man of faith, Fa- Church and his tireless dedication to the value Freedom of Press.’’ I’d like to submit to the ther Lawrence T. Gauthier. On June 4th, of education and involvement in his faith com- RECORD the statement that I distributed there 2005, Father Gauthier will celebrate the 50th munity. Beyond the incredible credentials, yesterday, as well as the Freedom of Informa- anniversary of his ordination as a priest. Fa- leadership roles and accomplishments that tion request that I filed with the Department of ther Gauthier’s contribution to the Catholic span his lifetime, Father Gauthier has shown Justice. Church and his faith has touched so many in unwavering commitment to the people he has I’d like to call attention to an issue of ex- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and beyond. served. He has truly done God’s work through treme and growing importance: an alarming Father Gauthier’s has focused on education his teachings and as a role model for parish- trend in the dilution of First Amendment throughout his entire life. Born to Leo and rights regarding freedom of the press. Today ioners. reporters are being compelled to reveal their Margaret Gauthier on February 26, 1929 in f confidential sources—or else face jail time Marquette, Michigan, he attended grade and/or stiff fines. Prosecutors are insisting school in the Catholic school of Marquette. In HONORING THE TOWN OF MILLRY, upon this and judges are backing up their de- 1949, he studied at the Salvatorian Minor ALABAMA, ON THE OCCASION OF mands by ordering reporters to testify and Seminary and St. Francis Major Seminary in ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY provide confidential information. This is Wisconsin, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Phi- turning the news media into an investigative losophy in 1951. He then went on to complete HON. JO BONNER arm of the judicial system and a research four years of theology at St. John’s Provincial tool of the government—exactly the opposite OF ALABAMA of what it is supposed to be. The increasing Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES On June 4th, 1955 at St. Peter Cathedral, pressure on journalists will most certainly Wednesday, May 25, 2005 lead to a decline in investigative reporting, Bishop Thomas L. Noa, D.D. ordained Father threatening freedom of press and the public’s Lawrence T. Gauthier as a priest of the Holy Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to need, and right, to know. Catholic Church. Although he had obtained a honor the Town of Millry, Alabama, on the oc- This trend is not just talk, although major goal in his career, he continued to pur- casion of the 100th anniversary of its found- anecdotally, the past few years document sue his education. In 1960, Father Gauthier ing. the greatest assault on source confiden- attended Catholic University where he earned Millry was founded on June 2, 1905, incor- tiality in the U.S. in decades. Hard evidence porated in 1921, and the community’s first and more specific statistics are being sought his Masters Degree in school administration so that this issue can be brought to the at- and counseling. From 1965–1973 he under- election was held in 1922. Millry derived its tention of the nation without room for dis- took post graduate studies in his hometown of name from ‘‘Mill Creek,’’ which ran almost di- pute. In fact, in an effort to uncover statis- Marquette at Northern Michigan University in rectly through the center of the town and was tics that the government is unwilling to dis- Education Systems. He also studied at Mount a resource which contributed heavily to the close, I have just filed a Freedom of Informa- Mary College in Cincinnati, Ohio and Catholic community’s development. Millry also took its tion (FOI) request to the Department of Jus- University in Washington, D.C. in the field of name from the two grist mills and the saw mill tice, asking for access to and copies of Religious Education. located on the creek’s fast-flowing waters. Set- records which show the number of subpoenas tlers who came to the Millry area were at- requested, as well as the number of sub- As a priest, Father Gauthier has dedicated poenas authorized, in order to obtain infor- his entire life and career to the church. He tracted to the fishing at the state lake, the mation from, or about, members of the news served as administrator of two missions in the beautiful scenery of the stands of tall pine media in the years 2001–2004. I believe this in- diocese and also as pastor at Nativity Parish trees, and the green pastures. formation will prove that my concerns with in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Michael’s Parish in The first schools were run in local homes or the First Amendment go farther than just Marquette and St. Louis the King Parish in in available buildings. In the early 1900s, a anecdotes. As soon as I obtain this informa- Marquette. small school served by three teachers was tion, I will release it to the public, as I feel During those years in the church, he contin- constructed. Later, a two-story school building it will be very eye-opening. The protection of freedom of the press is a ued his devotion to education by spending the was constructed in 1920, with the first grad- central pillar of our democracy, and sharing greater part of his priestly ministry in the field uating class marching in 1929. Additionally, in information with the public is imperative in of Catholic Education serving as principal of those early days, there was only a single a nation with these strong democratic tradi- Loretto Central High School in Sault Ste. church of the Methodist denomination which tions. Other countries are being sent the Marie, Holy Name High School in Escanaba was built in 1910.