Newspaper Page Text
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PEOPLE TO PEOPLE. President and Mrs. Nixon pause to chat with a group of Chinese youngsters during a visit to the Ming Tombs
near Peking. The Nixons were on a sightseeing tour which included a visit to the Great Wall of China. (RNS PHOTO)
AT A TLA NT A CA THERMO
\ Bishops To Open Meeting
To Newsmen, Observers
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WASHINGTON (NC) - Seventy-five
accredited newsmen will be admitted to
the general sessions of the American
bishops’ semi-annual spring meeting April
11-13 in Atlanta.
A limited number of clerical and lay
observers will also be admitted, it was
announced here by the executive
committee of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United
States Catholic Conference (USCC).
The bishops will hold at least one
executive session to which the press and
observers will not be invited, reported
Joseph L. Bernardin, NCCB and USCC
general secretary.
The decision to admit the press and
observers was made by the bishops at
their meeting here last November on the
recommendation of a committee.
In the past the bishops’ meetings have
been closed. In recent years, press panels
have provided reporters with basic
information and interpretation of the
bishops’ meetings. These will be
continued.
In providing for closed executive
sessions, Bishop Bernardin reported,
“there is no intention of emasculating the
open sessions. Everyone agrees, however,
that there are matters which might have
to be discussed in closed sessions.”
He said preliminary decisions regarding
items reserved for executive sessions will
be made at the NCCB administrative
committee and USCC administrative
board meetings that precede the
twice-yearly general meetings.
He added that a credentials committee
is being established to ensure that only
bona fide communications media
representatives are admitted.
The committee will be composed of
four representatives from the media, two
staff members of the USCC
communications department, and three
bishop members of the USCC
communications committee - Bishop
John L. May of Mobile, Ala.; Bishop
Edward A. McCarthy of Phoenix, Ariz.,
and Auxiliary Bishop John J. Ward of Los
Angeles.
The limit of 75 newsmen, Bishop
Bernardin said, is based on the physical
limitations of the facilities in Atlanta and
the number of reporters who normally
attend the bishops’ spring meeting.
Invited observers reportedly will be:
-Diocesan priests. One priest from
each of 12 geographical regions of the
NCCB/USCC, elected by official priests’
senates or councils of the dioceses in each
region.
-Religious men. The Conference of
Major Superiors of Men will be invited to
choose and send three representatives.
-Religious women. The Conference of
Major Superiors of Religious Women will
also be invited to send three
representatives.
-Laity. All of the laity will be chosen
from the NCCB/USCC Advisory Council,
which will be asked to designate five of
its lay members as observers.
Bishop Bernardin said that the
executive committee felt that to go
beyond the Advisory Council in the
admission of lay observers would create
difficulties with many other national
organizations, some of which have
already asked to be admitted.
“The Advisory Council is a very
appropriate body from which to choose
the laity,” he wrote, “for it is
representative of the different areas of
the country and various minority groups.
Overseas Relief—
(Continued from page 1)
the social welfare programs of this
American Catholic overseas aid agency.
Yet, in its nearly 30-year history, the
Pakistani refugee crisis has been one of
the most severe challenges to face the
organization. From the start of the crisis
in March, 1971, through to the end of
1971, Catholic Relief Services provided
over 70,000 tons of aid supplies, valued
at $11-million, to give food, clothing,
medical care' and sheltering to the
refugees. Much of these supplies were
rushed by special jet charter flights from
New York to India.
One of the most ambitious, and most
successful, aid programs for the refugees
was a bread-baking scheme. Daily, one
million refugees were given bread and
biscuit rations under the Catholic Relief
Services program. The bread and biscuits
were baked in Calcutta, each loaf heavily
fortified with acutely needed vitamins,
iron and protein-content - more than
could have been given to the refugees in
any form. Not only did the bread-baking
program readily take care of feeding the
refugees, but it provided many jobs to
Indians for the baking, transporting and
distribution of the bread.
The outbreak of war between India
and Pakistan, especially in the East
Pakistan area, meant greater devastation
to land and homes that had been
previously demolished or ravished by
storm and civil war activity. The task of
resettlement, reconstruction and
rehabilitation is one that will still take
months, even years.
It is an assignment that will call for
resources from all quarters, from
governments and private relief agencies. It
is a ready-made task for the personnel of
Catholic Relief Services, and it is one that
will utilize the structure of the Church to
help these people in distress, even though
the vast majority are Moslem or Hindus,
but very few Christians.
In the meantime, the ongoing programs
of Catholic Relief Services will continue,
feeding school children, helping the aged
and infirm, supporting adults in
community development programs
designed to improve their living standards
and increase their incomes.
Undoubtedly the emergency programs
are the activities that make the headlines
but, in the long run, it is the
socio-economic development programs
that will have a lasting effect on
eliminating world poverty.
Each year, during the middle of Lent,
Catholic Relief Services receives its
financial support for its global programs
through a nationwide campaign
conducted under the auspices of the
Bishops of the United States. The annual
Catholic Relief Overseas Aid Fund
Appeal, now in its 26th year, will be held
from March 5 to March 12, ending on
Sunday, March 12, with a special
collection in the Catholic churches.
Looking at a globe, place your finger on
any country outside of the Atlantic
community, and chances are that
Catholic Relief Services is there helping
someone today toward a better life
tomorrow. Work like that is worthy of all
our support. Think about it this March
12.
PAGE 7—The Southern Cross, March 2,1972
VETERAN MISSIONARY
Old China Hand Reviews
Nixon Trip To Mainland
BY LOUIS A. PANARALE
WASHINGTON (NC) — When veteran
China missionary Father Fred McGuire
heard that President Nixon was going to
China, he said: “Thank God, at last we
are going to admit that 800 million
people exist.”
The 67-year-old Vincentian who spent
18 years in China becomes animated
when he speaks about China and the
Chinese people. His years in China were
happy years, he says, despite the
hardships.
It was with more than casual interest
that he followed President Nixon’s arrival
at Peking and the other events viewed on
television by millions of people
throughout the world.
Father McGuire is director of the U.S.
Catholic Conference’s Division for Latin
America. His office here contains some
modest art objects from Latin America.
But also hanging on the wall behind his
desk is a cloth scroll painting of a Chinese
urn, a rememberance of other days.
“I am really happy that as a nation we
are opening up some form of
communication with a people who for
generations have endured so much and
suffered so much,” he said.
“I realize what has been done to the
Church in China, but we have to face the
realities of the day. China is a great
nation of great people.”
Father McGuire said he does not
believe in the slightest that communism is
a panacea for the ills of China - or for
any country -- because it is an ideology
that ignores the basic human desire for
freedom.
“But I have a lurking admiration for
much of what has been accomplished
even if I don’t believe in the Communist
ideology,” he remarked. He remembers
vividly the dark days of China, the
famines, the civil war, the political
executions by both Nationalists and
Communists.
He says that if what he has read and
what he has seen on television in recent
days is accurate, then he cannot help
being happy for the millions of Chinese
who now enjoy better standards of living.
He noted with interest while watching
television, the signs and banners in
Chinese which read: “Serve the People.”
“The Communist sense of service to
the Chinese people is something new to
me,” he said. “I don’t remember it as part
of the Chinese makeup when I was in
China.”
But other things that apparently
surprised journalists and television
commentators accompanying President
Nixon did not surprise Father McGuire.
For example, the absence of crowds to
greet the President when he arrived in
Peking should have been expected, Father
McGuire said. Nixon has spoken of China
in unflattering terms throughout most of
his political career, and it is only in recent
months that the President has changed his
posture.
The cool reception was more in
character with the Chinese people than
with their Communist regime, the priest
said. “The Chinese have a great sense of
priority. They chose not to give Nixon a
big welcome because they remembered
the things he said about them. They
would have considered themselves
two-faced to give Nixon a more elaborate
welcome.”
On the other hand, Father McGuire
says, it should have come as no surprise
that following the cool reception given to
Nixon and his entourage, they were then
treated to lavish banquets, entertainment,
and general warm hospitality.
Again, he explains, that was more in
keeping with the Chinese character than
with any Communist political intrigue.
He recalled his own missionary days in
China when conditions forced him to
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walk miles from one village to another:
“I could feel free to knock on the door
of any home and explain to the
householder that I was a traveller and
that I was tired and wanted some tea and
something light to eat. I was always
greeted warmly and no one ever refused
„ . »)
me.
In Chinese custom, Father McGuire
says, to refuse a traveller this hospitality
is the height of ill manners.
Whatever President Nixon’s motives for
going to China, that same kind of
hospitality has been accorded him by
Communist Party Chairman Mao Tse-tung
and Premier Chou En-lai, Father McGuire
observes.
The Vincentian says he does not know
what will be gained from the talks Nixon
has had with those two leaders, but he
agreed with the President’s speech at a
Peking banquet at which he exchanged
toasts with Chou En-lai and said:
“As we discuss our differences, neither
of us will compromise our principles. But
while we cannot close the gulf between
us, we can try to bridge it so that we may
be able to talk across it.”
As Father McGuire sees it, the
President has the opportunity to establish
better relations with China. “And this
doesn’t mean that he has to change his
ideological base,” the priest said.
Father McGuire’s link with China goes
back to 1930 when - on the night he was
ordained - he signed up for the China
missions. He spent almost 18 years there
as a pastor and later as an expert in
setting up relief programs.
His ability to cut through red tape in
administering relief work in the
immediate postwar years in China made
him continuously sought by major
organizations supplying aid.
Except for two brief trips to the
United States after World War II, he
stayed in China until his superiors
ordered him to Hong Kong in 1949 to
avoid his capture by the Communists.
His experience in relief work was put
to immediate use in Hong Kong, which
was thronged with Chinese refugees. In
1950 he was recalled to the United States
at the request of the American bishops.
For nine years he headed the mission
secretariat, a service organization and
coordination agency for all foreign
mission-sending societies in the United
States.
ANOTHER SECRET OF LONGEVITY:
Herman Gabel is one hundred years old
and is shown celebrating. When asked his
secret for a long life, the retired cabinet
maker responded, “Steam beer and late
hours.” He then entered the auditorium
of the Little Sisters of the Poor St.
Anne’s Home and showed his favorite
dance steps with Sister Collette. (NC
PHOTO)
HOW
TO
LENT
THE HOLT FATHER'S MISSION AID TO THE ORIENTAL CHURCH
With :he season of Lent, comes the question,
"How can I best Keep Lent?” The answer is we
must make sacrifices on our own and nothing is
a sacrifice unless it hurts. What will be your
sacrifice? . . . Just think of the missionaries in
our 18 emerging countries who keep Lent all
year long. Sacrifice something big this year.
When helping others hurts a bit, you know
you've made a sacrifice.
GOOD
WHEN
IT
HURTS
FEED
THE
HUNGRY
TRAIN
A
SISTER
HELP
A
CHILD
MASSES
FOR
LENT
JOIN
THIS
ASSOCIATION
□ In India, our priests and Sisters subsist on
ounces of rice each day so they can share what
they have with lepers and orphans. $10 will feed
a family for several weeks at least. $50 will feed
five families. $100, ten families . . . Only $975
gives a priest a two-acre ‘model farm’ to raise
his own food and teach his parishioners how to
raise more food. Archbishop Mar Gregorios will
write to thank you.
□ Enable a girl to become a Sister. For 41c a
day ($12.50 a month, $150 a year, $300 al
together) you can pay in full for her two-year
training, have a Sister ‘of your own.’
□ For only $14 a month ($168 a year) you can
make sure that an abandoned child has food,
clothing, a blanket and love . . . We’ll send you
a photo of the boy or girl you ‘adopt’.
□ Our priests will offer promptly the Masses
you request. Do you wish to remember a loved
one this Lent? Your Mass offerings are usually
the only income our priests overseas receive.
□ Enroll yourself, your family and friends in
this Association. You will be helping Pope Paul
in one of his most ambitious and heartfelt
works, while sharing in the blessings of thou
sands of Masses. (The offering for one year is
$2 per person, $10 for a family; perpetual mem
bership is $25 per person, $100 for a family.)
AX
Dear enclosed please find $
Monsignor Nolan:
FOR
Please name_
return coupon
with your street.
offering
city
STATE.
ZIP CODE.
THE CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
NEAR EAST
MISSIONS
TERENCE CARDINAL COOKE, President
MSGR. JOHN G. NOLAN, National Secretary
Write: Catholic Near East Welfare Assoc.
330 Madison Avenue* New York, N.Y. 10017
Telephone: 212/YUkon 6-5840