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TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK April 18, 2000 vol. 11, no. 77 SECTION THREESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant:
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The Vatican is preparing to publish a "Social Catechism" which will be an invaluable aid to all Catholic leaders. Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who led the Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia, has been a big help in preparing it. The intent of this book is to help Catholics everywhere and, in particular, those Catholics who hold positions of responsibility in their country, that all may be true leaders as Christ commanded of all His followers. continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, APR 16 (ZENIT.org).- Archbishop François Xavier Nguyên Van
Thuân, president of the Vatican Council for Justice and Peace, confirmed
that the Holy See is preparing to publish a "Social Catechism" toward
the end of the Jubilee.
The document, which will cover the social doctrine of the Church, was
first announced by the Vietnamese Archbishop during the Synod of Bishops
for Europe, which took place in Rome last October. The Catechism's
preparation was entrusted by John Paul II to the Archbishop and the
Council he presides. The consultation of Bishops, scholars and experts
from around the world has taken much time and turned out to be
especially complex.
In exclusive statements to the Spanish newspaper "La Razón," Archbishop
Nguyên Van Thuân commented today that "this Catechism comprises a very
special aspect of this Jubilee celebration, as it can help the world to
discover a new perspective of Christian wisdom."
This concern has led the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace to hold congresses throughout the world to inform, coordinate and assist in greater understanding and diffusion of social doctrine. Thus, an appeal has been made to recover the spirit of the national "social weeks," which for many decades made possible the study and understanding of the social doctrine and which have been abandoned in many countries, or have entered into frank decline in terms of content, participation and interest.
"This is the first time that the Church has written a succinct and official compendium on the social doctrine in keeping with what has been said in the Catechism, though many studies and thick volumes have been written. We will especially keep in mind the contributions of Karol Wojtyla's writings from when he was a professor in Poland and the volumes of Cardinal Hoffner. Our objective is to make a compendium that will contain the universal principles on which the social doctrine is based and from which one must start to analyze the different individual situations. We must synthesize and extract the conceptual and universal form of the principles," Archbishop Nguyên Van Thuân said.
Archbishop Nguyên Van Thuân said that "technological development has improved the situation of the world, but on the other hand it has broadened man's powers to the point that he can think he is independent of God. Here is where the problem of the unity of science and conscience arises. Science and conscience must walk together, they must not be separated. The separation of science and conscience makes humanity, and the contemplation of God and his work, suffer."
Therefore, the Social Catechism will have as one of its key themes "to reestablish the unity between the spirit of men and social development: Jesus Christ has loosed the chains of the soul and body of men." The Social Catechism thus shows with clarity how for a Catholic social action cannot be separated from the announcement of redemption, because "it is the Lord who has reestablished the unity between the soul and social development, and this is the road that we must follow as saving mission," the Archbishop emphasized.
Finally, Archbishop Nguyên Van Thuân revealed that the Social Catechism will insist on "how the human person is ennobled and fulfilled when he collaborates to improve the created, since in this way he assumes a central and just condition in the vertical relation with God." ZE00041606
One of those Catholic leaders who is leading the way is Thomas Monaghan. The founder of Domino's Pizza, who divested himself of all interest in the chain, vowing to "die broke" in order to support his Catholic Faith, has founded the Ave Maria School of Law which will open in August. He is a co-sponsor for a conference on "St. Thomas and the Natural Law Tradition" from June 2-4 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. His vision of the school is to integrate Catholic teachings into every course so as to produce lawyers guided by faith.continued inside.
DETROIT, APR 16 (ZENIT.org).- The "Ave Maria" Law School is
co-sponsoring a conference on "St. Thomas and the Natural Law Tradition"
from June 2-4 at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
The conference is divided into a series of presentations by eminent
scholars punctuated by responses by other scholars. The topics cover St.
Thomas' theory of natural law, discussing how this medieval theory
relates to the U.S. theory of natural law. Some of the speakers include
Dr. Janet Smith of the University of Dallas, Dr. Robert George of
Princeton, Dr. David Novak of the University of Toronto, Fr. Robert
Sirico of the Acton Institute, and Dr. William May of the John Paul II
Institute.
The "Ave Maria" Law School is the brainchild of Tom Monaghan, best known
as the founder of Domino's Pizza. After selling all his interest in the
chain, he has vowed to "die broke," devoting all his wealth to support
his Catholic faith and other charities. He has provided $50 million up
front to get "Ave Maria" off the ground.
Monaghan's vision for the school, which will officially open this
August, is to integrate Catholic teachings into every course, so as to
produce lawyers guided by faith as well as reason. He attained the
backing of several conservative politicians and started hiring
professors last April.
He hired Bernard Dobranski to be the dean of the new school. Dobranski
left his position as dean of the Catholic University of America's law
school to join the fledgling effort. He explained that his decision was
in part brought about by the resistance he had found to making changes
in universities with established faculties.
"Over the years, a lot of Catholic law schools began to hire people who
didn't care about the Catholic mission of the school, and these people
are now tenured, full professors," explained Dobranski to the Chronacle
of Higher Education. "In this situation, it's difficult to reaffirm your
mission because faculty governance is so important."
The school is presently hiring world-class professors to teach its
students. Perhaps the most "splashy" hire was that of Robert Bork, whose
1987 nomination to the Supreme Court was rejected by the Senate. This
fall, he will be co-teaching "Moral Foundations of the Law" with
Dobranski.
Monaghan says he talks to faculty recruits about the school's mission,
but doesn't directly ask for their views on specific topics such as
abortion. "We talk to them about the teachings of the church and ask
them whether they're comfortable supporting them," he says. "If someone
indicated in their discussion that that was not a commitment they could
make, it would be a strike against them."
The first-year classes at Ave Maria read like those at any law school.
There are courses in contracts, torts, civil procedure, legal writing,
propert, and criminal law. However, students will also take courses on
the law and ethics, considering "not only what the law permits, but
whether, in light of the moral law, the law should be amended,"
according to the school's web site, http://www.avemarialaw.edu .
The new school has also announced that it will conform to the standards
of Pope John Paul II's "Ex corde Ecclesiae," which addresses the
Catholic identity of the colleges and universities connected with the
Church.
ZE00041620
A new book by Sister Margaret Marchione reveals Pope Pius XII's role during the Nazi period. She is a renowned author of more than 30 books on historic figures. In this work, she clarifies the Pontiff's position regarding Hitler and makes it perfectly clear that Pius XII was one of the most invaluable protectors of the Jews in countries dominated by national socialism. This is just another item of proof piled on top of a plethora of other affidavits that have poured in vindicating the much maligned Pope who is being considered for beatification. continued inside.
ROME, APR 16 (ZENIT.org).- In order to clarify Pius XII's role during
the Nazi period, address the accusations of silence, and shed light on
historic facts, Pantheon is publishing the Italian edition of Sister
Margaret Marchione's latest book, "Pius XII: Architect of Peace."
The book looks directly at the Holocaust, and praises Pius XII's work in
support of the persecuted. The author, who is internationally known for
her numerous (more than 30) publications on historic figures (she
already published a book on Pope Pacelli, which appeared in both English
and Italian, entitled "Pius XII and the Jews"), maintains that this
Pontiff was one of the most invaluable protectors of the Jews in
countries dominated by National Socialism, whose atrocities he
condemned.
In addition, Pius XII was the Church's spokesman in history. In an
address given on June 13, 1943, he said: "Our speeches and messages will
not be able to be crossed out or run down by anyone, neither in their
intention nor essence. Everyone has been able to hear them as words of
truth and peace... The Church is not afraid of the light of truth,
neither of the past, the present, nor the future."
Among the different initiatives in which Pius XII engaged, the book
refers to his effort to center his ministry in the 1939-46 POW's. At
that time, the Vatican was the only refuge for thousands of persecuted,
and its Information Office was the only means of communication between
the prisoners and their families. From the pages of this book a
universal, generous, constant and paternal Christian figure emerges, who
is returned to his rightful place in history.
ZE00041604
Jesse "the Body" Ventura, the liberal leader of the state of Minnesota has shown his disrespect for the human body - the person - by vetoing a bill that would have placed a 24-hour moratorium on all abortions. Republican leaders in the state's house question Ventura's about-face since his own staff had helped draft the bill which would have given all doctors, nurses, and women a 24 hour window to decide the fate of the unborn before any abortion could take place. It would be a time in which every second counts in order to save a life, but Ventura body slammed pro-lifers by going back on his word. In other words, he's a flat-out liar! continued inside.
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CWNews.com) - Minnesota Gov. Jesse
Ventura on Friday vetoed a bill that would have set up a
24-hour waiting period before an abortion, despite a
campaign promise to sign any such proposal to come before
him.
Ventura said he reserved the right to change his mind and
added that he consulted friends, family, and advisers
before making his decision. "Listening to the people has
brought me back to the convictions that have always been
the centerpiece to my administration," he said.
"Convictions like personal responsibility,
self-sufficiency, and limited government."
Lawmakers who sponsored the bill said they worked with the
governor's staff on the bill, leading them to believe he
would sign it. "This agreement had been worked out with the
governor and his staff, and to dishonor the agreement brings
forward real questions of honor and trust," said Republican
House Speaker Steve Sviggum.
Under the bill, women seeking abortions would have had to
receive information that described medical risks,
alternatives to abortion, fetal development, the father's
responsibilities and pregnancy prevention. Physicians or
nurses would have provided the information at least one day
before a scheduled abortion.
The BBC is under attack for scheduling religious programming during Holy Week in the "graveyard shift" - after midnight. Such a schedule certainly shows that religious morals, values and the very heart of religion is at risk when little importance is given to such an important week while a plethora of programs promoting the culture of death get prime time. Relegated to the wee hours of the morning, the Holy Week services and religious programming can take heart that Our Lord rose gloriously from the dead in the "wee hours" of the morning. We can only pray that He will help protesters to BBC to triumph over the hard-hearted who deny Him time on their TV airwaves. continued inside.
LONDON (CWNews.com) - Britain's national television
corporation has come under fire for scheduling its Holy
Week religious programs during the "graveyard" shift.
The cast and producer of "Easter Tales," a series of short
religious dramas, have accused the BBC of shunting the
series to just before midnight because it deals with
religion. Norman Stone, who produced the new series, told
The Sunday Telegraph that it had suffered from "an ancient
knee-jerk reaction that religion must be put on late
because it won't attract an audience."
"The order came from the highest echelons of BBC1," said
Stone. "Once it had been clearly categorized as religious,
there seems to be an unwritten rule that whatever comes out
of that department is pushed back to as late as can possibly
be. But given the fact that this is Easter and these are
top-quality stars, they could hold their own any time from
7:30 pm. I think television has to wake up to the fact that
religious programs can be of sufficient interest and quality
to get major audiences."
The veteran actor Joss Ackland, who plays Barabbas, said he
was saddened by the fact that his episode will be shown at
11:40 pm on Holy Thursday. "So many things are thrust aside
because they are too intelligent," he said. "Religion is a
dangerous subject, as far as they are concerned, because it
considers something more than just car chases. My piece was
a thrill to do because it was such a wonderful piece. But
it has got me really riled because there has been no
promotion of it."
The Rev. Ernie Rea, the head of BBC religious broadcasting,
said: "It was felt that because these dramas are considered,
thoughtful pieces, they suit the later evening slots when
the audience has time to sit and enjoy them."
For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and the Dossiers, features and Daily Dispatches from ZENIT International News Agency CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC, but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.
