Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org March 22, 2015 www.archokc.org Go Make Disciples Film showcases prison dog ministry By Sally Linhart For the Sooner Catholic On March 11, the fi rst screening of the docu- mentary “Bassett Tales” was held at Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. The documentary showcases the prison dog training program that was started by Sister Pauline Quinn in Washington State in 1981, and brought to Oklahoma in 1990. The pro- gram, called Friends for Folks, brings rescue dogs that have been abused and neglected into Lexington and Mabel Bassett correctional cen- ters and pairs them with select inmates who train them. Each of the approximately 30 inmates – 12 at Lexington and 18 at Mabel Bassett – who par- ticipate in the program, are required to meet and maintain strict criteria in order to train the dogs. Upon completion of their 12-week train- ing, the dogs are available for adoption. Some of the recipients of the trained dogs in- clude senior citizens, handicapped individuals and veterans. Norman veterinarian John Otto now spear- heads the project, which also was featured in an Emmy-nominated fi lm titled “The Dogs of Lexington.” Dr. Otto is a parishio- ner at St. Joseph in Norman. The program Sr. Pauline Quinn and her dog, Pax, with Dr. John Otto. Sr. Pauline began the prison dog ministry in 1981. Dr. Otto currently heads the project. At left, WWII veteran Clarence Walters with Sarge. Photos Sally Linhart. originally started in rate with these animals. They’ve really done Sarge attended the screening at Lexington Lexington very well,” Otto said. where he was reunited with his trainer for the Correctional Among the attendees of the Oklahoma City fi rst time. Sarge currently spends most of his Center and screening were Sister Pauline Quinn and her days at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Nor- expanded dog Pax as well as Nala, the dog featured in the man, where he has made many new friends, to include documentary “Bassett Tales.” Also in atten- including WWII veteran Clarence Walters. Mabel Bas- dance were Star and Sarge, two of the dogs “We just really love having Sarge around. sett about a featured in the fi lm “The Dogs of Lexington.” He’s a good dog,” Walters said. year ago. An additional screening was held for the in- For more information on the showings of “We’ve mates at Lexington Correctional Center. “Bassett Tales,” visit www.friendsforfolks.org or had about a “It is so important for these inmates to see contact Dr. Otto at (405) 329-6889. 92 percent the homes where the dogs they have trained Sally Linhart is a freelance writer for the success end up,” Otto said. Sooner Catholic. Willy’s Story: The homeless man buried in the Vatican By Angela Ambrogetti Alongside the monsignors, sisters, Catholic News Agency cardinals and Romans that live in the Editor’s note: Willy Herteleer, a neighborhood, there are many home- homeless man who lived on the side less people. You can see them every streets outside Saint Peter’s Basilica, morning at Mass at the Pontifi cal Par- ish of Sant’Anna, just off the Borgo made headlines after his death, when inside the Vatican walls. he received a special burial in the Vati- Willy was one of them. can’s Teutonic Cemetery. The following His austere appearance, the cross is an account of his story as told by around his neck and the pull-cart he Msgr. Amerigo Ciani, a canon of Saint had turned into a piece of luggage Peter’s Basilica and painter who had to carry everything he owned left an become friends with Willy. imprint. He participated in Mass every VATICAN CITY – Everyone in the morning. “My medicine is Commu- neighborhood outside the Vatican nion,” he always said. He was always knew Willy Herteleer. well-groomed, but didn’t seek much The “Borgo” – as the area that bor- conventional medical attention. ders Saint Peter’s Square to the north Willy Herteleer, Dec. 21, 2007. Photo Credit Willy was one of the many men and is called – has a small-town feel. Paul Badde/CNA. continued on page 7 2 March 22, 2015 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic Commentary March 22, 2015 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more Undoing a chemical abortion news on the In 1978, Charles E. Rice, a RU-486 itself is often described On the other hand, the abortion The death penalty is morally obsolete former professor of law at Notre as a “progesterone antagonist” or pill itself has notable side effects website Dame Law School made this pre- as an “antiprogesterone.” These and risks associated with its use. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear argu- seeking the abolition diction in his book “Beyond Abor- names indicate the extent of its Common side effects include: uter- Father Tad ments in a case out of Oklahoma (Glossip v. Gross) of capital punishment; tion: The Theory and Practice:” hostility toward the vital hormone, ine cramps, high blood pressure, Pacholczyk By Sooner Catholic Staff that challenges the widely used lethal injection pro- among them are cost “The abortion of the future will progesterone. What this means is bleeding not related to the men- National Catholic tocol in carrying out the death penalty. This comes a and potential innocence. be by pill, suppository, or some that RU-486 blocks progesterone, strual period, overgrowth of the Bioethics Center year after the high profi le fl awed execution of convict- First, the process of Additional coverage of other do-it-yourself method. At a hormone needed to build and uterine lining, stomach cramps, ed killer Clayton Lockett. At that time, I called for a capital punishment is Church and archdiocesan that point the killing of a baby will maintain the uterine wall during dizziness, reduced blood potas- reexamination of the use of the death penalty in our news and events, only on extremely expensive, be wholly elective and private. We pregnancy. Thus, RU-486 can sium, and nausea. Some women of these required follow-up surgi- state and a moratorium that might lead ultimately to www.soonercatholic.org: and resources spent on have, fi nally, caught up with the either prevent a developing human also experience fever, chills and cal abortion. its abolition. the appeal process for pagan Romans who endowed the embryo from implanting in the infection. Time is clearly of the essence: The Summer 2015 condemned criminals Archbishop Paul S. Coakley father, the pater familias, with the the longer a woman waits after schedule for Pastoral Minis- right to kill his child at his dis- could be spent on crime taking RU-486 before attempting a try classes has been re- cretion. We give that right to the prevention and restorative justice for those convicted reversal, the lower the likelihood of leased. Visit www.archokc. mother. But it is all the same to of lesser crimes. Second, there is the real possibility success. Health care professionals the victim.” of condemning the wrong person. For example, DNA org for more information. should become informed about the His prediction was prescient, evidence, unavailable only a few years ago, has led possibility of using progesterone given that “chemical abortions” are to at least 25 exonerations of those who had been The Catholic Pastoral to reverse the effects of RU-486 in now widely available in the form of wrongly convicted and sentenced to death. This Center will be closed March women who have begun the chem- the French abortion pill, RU-486. certainly should give us pause when considering the 27, April 2, April 3 and ical abortion process and then The abortion pill has been avail- unimaginable injustice of mistakenly executing an April 6. Check the online changed their minds. able in the United States since innocent man or woman. calendar for more details. The website for the Abortion 2000. By 2008, approximately Though the moral weight of capital punishment, Pill Reversal Program, a national Do you know someone 25 percent of abortions prior to abortion, euthanasia, war and human traffi cking may 9 weeks relied on RU-486, also effort to encourage and support who is entering the Church differ, they are all fundamental life issues. At a mo- known as mifepristone. A 2010 abortion pill reversal, can be found at Easter? Remind them CNS fi le photo. ment when the tide of violence is rising globally and scientifi c review on RU-486 noted at: http://abortionpillreversal. that every member of the we are witnessing inhumane atrocities committed that chemical abortion “has been Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, poses with Chris Caicedo, com/. As noted on the site, “The daily by violent extremists, our moral opposition to archdiocese receives a Soon- used successfully in the medical Andrea Minichini and their son, Gabriel Caicedo Feb. 23. Gabriel was saved by the Abortion Pill Reversal Program has I want to reaffi rm my opposition to the use of the these acts, and credibility as witnesses to the sancti- er Catholic! Turn to page 4 termination of pregnancy for over reversal of an RU-486 chemical abortion. CNS photo/Priests for Life. a network of over 200 physicians death penalty and call upon Catholics, and all people ty of life and the dignity of the human person will be for subscription information 25 years, and the method is regis- worldwide that assist the women of Oklahoma, to work together toward the abolition of enhanced immeasurably if we can unite our voices in or visit www.soonercatholic.