The Church on the move PRISON REFORM An apathetic attitude towards problems in the penal system is ^VOICJE strongly criticized in a pastoral letter just released by Bishop Floyd Begin of Oakland. The bishop's letter was OCTOBER 24, 1975 25c VOL. XVII No. 33 released in conjunction with his establishment of a new office to deal Abp. Carroll greets Serrans with criminal justice. The new office will work with pastors and parish councils in providing education about rehabilitation programs for law offenders. .will attempt to provide Reach out, Serrans told spiritual support for prisoners and their families. .and will provide NORTH PALM BEACH - A other services for prisoners and their continuing effort to create vocations families. committees in every parish, and a revitalization of the organization's TOTAL AMNESTY membership.were the main thrusts of. Total, unconditional amnesty for the District 30 Serra International Vietnam war resisters is urged in a Convention last weekend at the statement released in the last days of Passionist Monastery of Our Lady of September by Bishop James Malone Florida. of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Reaching out to members of the Youngstown diocesan pastoral parish — not just high school boys, council. "As a public policy designed but also to college-age and older to heal the wounds of war, the men, trom whom many of today's president's program" (of earned re- vocations are coming — through entry and clemency) "has failed. We parish committees, is the number one believe it is time to try amnesty — priority of the Serra Club, the totally forgetting the past and presidents of the seven district clubs restoring full citizenship to the decided. Many parishes already have thousands of young Americans vocations committees, but more are involved," the Youngstown needed, they said. statement said. The statement links STRIVINGto avoid being just a amnesty to the reconciliation goals of twice-a-month luncheon club, but the Holy Year now in process. rather using its membership as an active, working force to promote MINISTRY TO vocations, is another goal, said THE DIVORCED representatives of Serra Clubs in An office to expand pastoral Kingston, Jamaica; Orlando: Indian workwith divorced Catholics is being River: Palm Beach; Broward; Miami opened in the Archdiocese of Newark. and St. Petersburg. The office is under the auspices of the continued on page 20 Archdiocesan Family Life Apostolate. Father Edgar Holden, O.F.M. Conv., will direct the office. \High school exams? "Our entire purpose," Father Holden told The Advocate, archdiocesan Entrance examinations for the ' newspaper, "can be summed up in a 1976-77 academic year will be held few words: the church cares deeply Nov. 22, 1975 at the following about the divorced; they constitute a Catholic high schools: vital aspect of the Christian com- Immaculata-La Salle High munity. .Our office is thinking in School, 3601 S. Miami Ave. the present: 'How can we help you Our Lady of Lourdes * today?' is our main interest." Academy, 5525 SW 84 St. Notre Dame Academy, 130 NE * U.S. BISHOPS TO MEET 62 St. The housing crisis in the United St. Brendan High School, 2900 States is one of the issues the U.S. SW 87 Ave. Catholic bishops are expected to Even children such as these seem more aware of Our Lady's presence at According to Father Vincent consider when they meet in outdoor shrines as recitation of the Rosary highlights devotions during Kelly, Acting Superintendent of Washington, D.C. Nov. 15-21. It is October in South Florida parishes. Education, prospective students possible they will approve a should contact the schools for statement on the ways housing applications. problems affect various groups in Examination date for other society—e.g., the elderly, the poor, high schools of the Archdiocese of % minorities, migrants —and some 'I'm eager to start/ Miami will be Feb. 7, 1976. V things the church might do about this. In the midst of the U.S. recession, the problems of housing are growing and the pastoral needs says Bishop Gracida generated by these problems are becoming more apparent. Among other matters the "I'm eager to get started," said Municipal Auditorium where 3,000 bishops are expected to consider: a Bishop Rene H. Gracida, soon to be persons are expected to participate. pastoral plan for pro-life ac- installed as the first bishop of the Sacred Heart Church in Pensacola, tivities. .a resolution urging more new Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese. elevated to the rank of a Cathedral, Inside Plans for the installation of only has a capacity for 800 people, he bilingual and bicultural education in Classified.. .21 Catholic schools and other Florida's newest Ordinary, who has said. A reception will follow at Editorial... 6 educational facilities. .a statement served as Auxiliary Bishop to Arch- Sheridan Inn. Gospel Trutt) 14 on Catholic-Jewish relations for the bishop Coleman F. Carroll for the Following the ceremonies of Know Your past three years, are being rushed to installation, at which Archbishop Faith 11 tenth anniversary of Vatican Us Movies .... 10 declaration on relations with non- completion in Pensacola. Carroll as Metropolitan of the News Briefs . 2 Christian religions. .guidelines for Msgr. James Gallagher, pastor, Province of Miami will officiate, Pacesetter. 4 religious men who wish to become St. John parish, in the See city, told Bishop Gracida will be the principal Prayer .... 14 The Voice this week that in order to Question .. 6 permanent deacons. and a celebrant of a Concelebrated Mass So.Fla.Scene 15 pastoral statement on the in- accommodate a large number of and will also preach the homily. All Spanish . 22-24 ternational eucharistic congress to be guests at 8 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, members of the hierarchy attending TV . g Nov. 6 the installation will be will concelebrate with him. Walsh 6 held in Philadelphia in ] 976. Youth conducted in the Pensacola continued on page 5 18 WASHINGTON WIRE 'Reforming' the criminal code Class B felonies. Class A felonies By JIM CASTELLI criminal code. McClellan, Hruska and The second major "Watergate" Mitchell largely ignored the would receive either life imprisonment feature of S.I would create a new The major focus of congressional recomendations of two national or the death penalty and Class C, D, felony —unauthorized disclosure of attention in the criminal justice area commissions in writing S. 1. and E felony sentences could be ex- "classified" information. today is a massive bill drafted in part, tended for "dangerous special of- Such a law, critics charge, would as the ecumenical weekly Christian Death penalty: S. 1 would fenders." have greatly hampered press Century put it, by "a convicted felon," mandate the death penalty in a wide Parole: S. 1 would require longer coverage—and uncovering — of former Attorney General John Mitch- variety of circumstances, particularly time served before eligibility for parole Watergate. ell. for certain types of treason, espionage and would place heavy burdens on a S.I has been reported out of a The bill, S.I, often referred to as and sabotage. judge to justify parole. Similarly, S.I Senate Judiciary Committee sub- "Nixon's Revenge" or the "Watergate the death penalty. Many legal experts would shift the burden on a judge committee. The full, committee will Memorial Act" is a complex, 753- also oppose mandatory sentences on justify probation, while most deal with it shortly and some major page effort to "codify, revise and principle because they give pro- enlightened criminal justice experts changes are expected. The House has reform" the so—called federal criminal secutors too much power in the plea- believe incarceration should be used not yet begun hearings on a bill code—the Federal Rule of Criminal bargaining process. only as a last resort. identical to S.I, and final action by Procedure of the U.S. Code. Sentencing: The American Bar both Houses is certainly more than a Legal experts have long favored Association and the National Ad- Two provisions in particular have year away. the concept for updating and visory Commission on Criminal earned S. 1 its association with But the question concerning S. 1 eliminating inconsistencies within the Justice Standards and Goals have Watergate. One would allow defen- seems to be not whether it should be federal criminal code. But many urged limiting maxim un sentences to dants to use as an acceptable defense amended, but whether it is possible— leading legal groups and scholars for law-breaking "that the conduct physically as much as politically—to oppose S. 1 as repressive and five years, with up to 10 years for charged was required or authorized by amend the bill enough to make it regressive. unusual cases and even longer in law to carry out the defendant's acceptable. S. 1 was drawn up largely by especially offensive cases. authority as a public servant or as a The American Civil Liberties Senators John McClellan (D-Ark.) and S. 1 provides for a three-year person acting at the direction of a Union, Ralph Nader's Congress- Roman Hruska (R-Neb.) who were in maximum sentence for a Class E public servant." That, critics charge, Watch and the National Committee the minority of a national commission felony, the least serious felony, with was the attempted defense of many of Against Repressive Legislation are that made progressive recom- seven years for Class D felonies, 15 those convicted in Watergate-related working on a "liberal alternative" to mendations for revising the federal years for Class C and 30 years for activities. make S.I acceptable;they found 2,600. WITH ANALYSIS FROM Inside the news-briefly VOICE EDITORS HEW considering "Vf — funding abortion MINI-BRIEFS The Department of Health, Education and Welfare is considering allowing states Fetus a person the option of funding abortions through Medicaid, The Catholic League for Re- as a means of family ligious and Civil Rights has criti- planning.