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PAGE 3—The Southern Cross, July 17,1975
BY MSGR. JAMES T. McHUGH
For those who expected the
International Women’s Conference to
produce a thorough examination of
women’s rights in a world of women
and men, the results of that two-week
conference were frustrating and
confusing.
From the standpoint of Third World
nations, the Mexico City conference was
a launching pad for a new and organized
effort to assert claims for a new
worldwide economic order based on
international justice. They had some
success.
For those primarily concerned with
assuring equality of opportunity for
women in all spheres of human
endeavor, the achievements of the
United Nations-sponsored conference
were more limited.
The World Plan of Action, consisting
largely of reforms to be urged upon the
governments of the world, was drafted
at UN headquarters in New York from
inputs supplied by regional meetings. It
was presented to the delegates for their
consideration, revision and approval
during their June 19-July 2 conference.
In the opening days of the conference
more than 895 amendments were
proposed to this relatively short
document of six chapters and 206
paragraphs.
Clearly, a fortnight was too short a
time to study the amendments and
totally revise the document. The
conference settled for a revision of the
Introduction and Chapter I, and
acceptance of the remaining chapters in
their original form, along with the
declarations and resolutions.
The conference worked through three
committees: 1) the plenary, where
national statements were aired and
major decisions finalized; 2) the first
committee, where the Plan of Action
was partially revised and important
declarations formulated; 3) the second
committee, where specific resolutions
were formulated.
Beyond the Plan of Action were the
hidden agendas of individual nations
and groups of nations. The best example
was the declaration proposed by
“Group 77,” that is, by the majority of
developing nations, and correspondingly
the majority of nations participating in
the conference. This declaration was a
manifesto of the claims of the Third
World for social and economic justice
and a new international order. It was
carefully formulated, well managed, and
supported by the majority. But it was
also a point of confrontation between
the developing nations and the Western
powers, and efforts by Great Britain,
the United States and Western European
nations to discuss the document or
propose changes were completely
ineffective. Ultimate acceptance of the
declaration by the overwhelming
majority was an important assertation
of self-identity for the developing
nations, but the process created
hostility and division among the
participants.
The Holy See participated actively in
the conference, and a resolution on
women and poverty, introduced by
Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a member
of the Holy See’s delegation, was
approved by the plenary committee.
The resolution called on all women to
join in solidarity with the poor of the
world, and urged women who enjoy at
least some of the world’s benefits and
privileges to become “coworkers” with
the poor.
But ultimately, the Holy See was
unable to join the consensus in
accepting the Plan of Action. This was
due to the introduction of a so-called
principle stating: “Individuals and
couples have the right freely and
responsibly to determine the number
and spacing of their children and to
have the information and means to do
so. The exercise of this right is basic to
any real equality between the sexes and
without its achievement women are
disadvantaged in their attempt to
benefit from other reforms.”
At first glance the proposal seems
moderate, but the discussion in the
work group made it clear that this
amendment was meant to establish that
“individuals,” married or unmarried,
have the same right to decide on
child-bearing and child-rearing that has
commonly been accorded to married
couples.
The Holy See rejected this proposal
because it conflicts with the view of
marriage as partnership, and it ignores
the fact that responsible parenthood
involves decision-making and mutual
acceptance of responsibility by both
partners.
Those in favor of the proposal argued
that the traditional family often
restricts the freedom of individuals, and
that sexual activity is no longer
confined to marriage. They also argued
that child-bearing often deprives women
of other opportunities for
self-fulfillment.
But these arguments ignore the fact
that parenthood involves both men and
women, and that when the woman is
totally free to decide on child-beaming,
she will almost inevitably be faced with
the total responsibility for child-rearing
also.
The language of this amendment was
picked up from last autumn’s World
Population Conference, in Bucharest,
Rumania, but it is a radical departure
from previous UN declarations and
policy statements. Moreover, it is
language that was hotly debated at the
Bucharest conference.
Though the final formulation was
accepted by the majority, a number of
nations stated their opposition to any
interpretation denying that the family is
the basic social unit and that decisions
concerning the size of the family or
frequency of births belong to the
couple.
Although the participating nations
strongly emphasized that all
recommendations of the conference are
subject to national laws and policies, the
Holy See sees these issues as matters of
principle, and thus cannot adopt a
compromise position. Though
recognizing other positive achievements
in the Plan of Action, the Holy See
could not join the majority in its favor.
On balance, the International
Women’s Conference reaffirmed the
equality of women and men, and
highlighted the role of women in
achieving justice and peace in society.
But a detailed articulation of specific
rights and their implications and the
effort to harmonize rights of women
with those of men, of children and of
society were not achieved in this
conference.
Shortness of time, and incohesive
agenda, and the preoccupation with
development needs of the Third World
partially explain the unfinished business
of the conference. But it may also be
that the full recognition of women’s
rights requires more of the working
experience of equality between women
and men that was proclaimed by the
participating nations and was readily
apparent in the work of the delegates at
this conference.
(Msgr. McHugh was a member of the
Vatican’s delegation at Mexico City. He
is director of the Bishops’ Committee
for Pro-Life Activities of the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops in
Washington.)
FR. RON PACHENCE of St. Benedict’s leads the Benediction at the
service sponsored by ECHO, an ecumenical group of churches, on
Savannah’s East side.
CONFIRMATION CLASS at Savannah’s Sacred Heart pictured with Bishop Lessard, Fr. Costigan, Fr.
Smith & Sr. Joseph.
Vatican Praises U.S. Charismatics
VATICAN CITY (NC) ~ The
charismatic movement in the United
States is a renewal of spirituality,
Vatican Radio said in an editorial
comment broadcast July 4.
“The flourishing of charisma in the
people of God testifies today -
alongside the vast renewal sparked by
Cathedral and St. Benedict’s
(Savannah) helped to begin the Fourth
of July celebration in Savannah by
participating in an ecumenical service on
Friday morning. Whitefield Square, in
Savannah’s historic down-town section,
was the scene as 80 to 100 people
gathered in the morning sun to lift their
voices and their hearts in worship to the
Lord. Especially well-represented were
the residents of the Rose-of-Sharon
Apartments.
The service was sponsored by ECHO
(Eastside Community to Help
Ourselves), a group of some twelve
churches on the Eastside who have
gathered together not only to pray, but
to support such programs as a credit
union and a food co-op.
The different ECHO churches,
representing a number of Christian
traditions, each took responsibility for a
part of the service.
Rev. John Beam of Savannah Baptist
the Second Vatican Council -- that the
springtime of the Church, often wished
for, is taking place already,” Vatican
Radio said.
“Among the most significant
expressions of this flourishing it is
sufficient to note the charismatic
movement in America which, even if it
Center was there to lead the prayer.
Rev. Levi Moore of Macedonia Baptist
read from the Scriptures.
Rev. Neil Mosley of First
Congregational preached a powerful
sermon on the Epistle of James.
Fr. Ron Pachence of St. Benedict’s
gave the benediction, and Fr. Lawrence
Lucree of the Cathedral of John the
Baptist presided over the service.
There was music, too, as John Lyons
and Lenora Porzio, working at St.
Benedict’s for the summer, and Ken
Howard, of Savannah Baptist Center,
led the congregation in “Lift Every
Voice,” “This Land is Your Land,” and
“My Country ’Tis of Thee.”
The service was an example of the
need for and the benefit of the different
Christian traditions getting together and
sharing their Christian experience, an
example that will hopefully be repeated
again and again.
can be made more perfect, testifies to
nothing else than a rejection of
materialism and a renewal of
spirituality, especially among the
young.”
Vatican Radio said: “The value of
charisms was explicitly recognized by
the council, which saw in them a gift of
the Holy Spirit to individual faithful,
according to the teaching of the
Apostles and the experience of the first
Christian communities.”
Vatican Radio added: “But the
personal experience of the Christian is
not without uncertainty or ambiguity.
In the intense postconciliar climate that
the Church is going through there is a
swarm of new ideas, of new principles,
of audacious and sometimes
disconcerting proposals which disorient
one.
“The edifice of the Church, as it was
built through the centuries past, seems
shaken to its foundations.”
The Vatican broadcaster stressed:
“Where there is bitterness, where a
critical spirit is transformed into a work
of irresponsible and arbitrary
demolition, where there is open
rebellion to pastors, certainly no one
can speak of the spirit of God.”
And he concluded:
“In reality, charisms in the prophecy
of the Church are never separated from
the charism of holiness, which, is
charity, humility, the giving of oneself,
faithfulness to the Gospels and to the
whole Church, a joy to be part of the
Church, bearing too its travails and
weaknesses.”
ECHO Ecumenical Service
For The Fourth Of July
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DORIS
JEWELERS
AUGUSTA, GA.
FR. LUCREE of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist gives the order
of service for the July Fourth ecumenical service held in Savannah’s
Whitefield Square.
SOUTHERN CROSS ADS BRING RESULTS!
The Daughters of Charity
invite the public to join them in honoring
the canonization of their foundress
(Sflizabeth dim jSeton.
at one of the Eucharistic Celebrations in the
Chapel, St. Joseph’s Provincial House
Emmitsburg, Maryland
on Sunday, September 14, 1975
Time Principal Celebrant
9 AM .... Bishop Joseph H. Hodges, diocese of Wheeling/Charleston
11 AM Bishop Michael J. Begley, diocese of Charlotte, N. C.
1 PM Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, diocese of Richmond, Va.
3 PM Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler, dioceSe of Charleston, S. C.
5 PM Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, diocese of Raleigh, N. C.
7 PM ... Bishop T. Austin Murphy, archdiocese of Baltimore
Clergy are invited to concelebrate. Notice of the intention to participate,
stating the preferred time, would be appreciated. Please address the Plan
ning Committee, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Emmitsburg, Md. 21727.
Participating clergy are requested to bring their own albs and cinctures.
SHRINE TOURS • SHRINE CENTER • GIFT SHOP
Light refreshments will be sold in the Student Center.
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International Women’s Conference
Is Reviewed By Vatican Delegate