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« i PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, December 16,1976 The Church And The Death Penalty -- Part II BY JIM CASTELLI American churches which had opposed the death penalty held activity on the issue in abeyance during the nine years since the last execution, said the Rev. John Adams, an activist Methodist minister now involved in the National Coalition Against the Death Penalty. When the Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty in 1972, most people thought the issue was settled. But the court’s reversal this summer, restoring the death penalty under some conditions, caught church people by surprise. One priority, according to the Rev. Adams, is to “reeducate” the memberships of the churches. A number of churches are working through the National Coalition to do this and to work politically against the death penalty. Three Catholic groups — the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, the National Coalition of American Nuns and the U.S. Jesuit Conference - are members of the coalition and others may join, although Catholic groups are also working outside of the coalition. The U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) committee on social development and world peace will discuss the death penalty at its Jan. 19 MICHAEL SEAN COLLINS, of North Augusta, a graduate of Aquinas High, Augusta, and Susan Barnes of New Ellenton, S.C., were honored as the first recipients of the Thurmond Scholarships at the Medical University of S.C. at a banquet at the Thunderbird Inn in Augusta, Ga. recently, for alumni and friends of the Medical University. The Thurmond Scholarships were established by Senator Strom Thurmond to honor his two brothers, Dr. George A. Thurmond and Dr. J. William Thurmond, graduates of the Medical University at Charleston, and prominent physicians in the Augusta area for many years. Pictured, 1 to r, Collins, Dr. Geo. A. Thurmond, Senator Thurmond, Miss Barnes and Dr. J. William Thurmond. (N. Augusta Star Photo) COLUMBUS ‘Winning Habit’ At Lourdes The last two years have been good ones for the athletic program at Columbus’ Our Lady of Lourdes parish. They’ve developed a winning habit. Teams representing the church have brought home nine trophies during this period. The men’s slowpitch softball team made the latest additions. They finished first in Division I of the Adult Church League and captured the Columbus Church Invitational Tournamnet. The team was coached by David Hollis and managed by Henry Pasko. The church’s first trophy was brought home by the ladies of the parish, who were undefeated in 1974. They added two more trophies in Volleyball in 1975. The ladies softball team were trophy winners the summer of 1975, with the men’s basketball team winning three trophies during the 1974-75 season. Prospects for the future look good. At present the OLOL Co-ed Volleyball team is in first place with a 7-1 record and the Ladies Volleyball team is in second place with a 3-1 record. TROPHY CASE at Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbus, filled with nine trophies garnered during past two years. Season's Greetings To Columbus Area Parishes jftontuany, /Of5 Sfoeet (fa meeting, according to Francis Butler, associate secretary for domestic social development. Butler noted that the bishops’ bicentennial “Call to Action” conference called on all levels of the Church to take action against the death penalty. He said his office will distribute to dioceses resource material such as Catholic statements of opposition to the death penalty. Butler said the committee might recommend that the USCC staff assist local church groups organize on the issue, file a friend of the court brief in pending death penalty cases before the Supreme Court, or both. But whatever the committee does, Butler said, “if the Church is going to work as an advocate for life, it will have to be on an interfaith basis and in coalitions.” Much Catholic activity in recent months has already been in such coalitions. In fact, the death penalty has already produced some surprising bedfellows. Pro-life groups which have battled the MONSIGNOR ELWOOD VOSS American Civil Liberties Union over abortion have worked with the ACLU in opposing the death penalty. Also, some anti-war groups such as the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation are active in opposing the death penalty. The Gilmore case surprisingly focused attention on the Utah death penalty law, but a larger number of people face executions in Texas, Georgia and Florida, the three states whose laws were specifically upheld by the Supreme Court. Church groups have been active in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Tex. In Dallas, Bishop Joseph Durick, who resigned his post as bishop of Nashville, Tenn., to become a prison chaplain, has spoken out strongly as an individual against the death penalty and Bishop Thomas Tschoepe of Dallas has named an official representative to the Dallas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Similar activity is going on in Florida and Georgia. Coalition actions generally follow this pattern: — Collecting petitions and testifying in state legislatures to stop the death penalty. — Providing legal services for inmates on death row. Opponents of the death penalty argue that most people condemned to die have not had adequate legal defense because they could not afford it. Dr. Ellen Burns of the Atlanta archdiocesan social services office claimed that while there are 66 people on death row in Georgia, “we can only find 33 of them. The rest are scattered around the state.” The National Coalition of American Nuns, is seeking to help provide legal counsel for people on death row, beginning with the handful of women now condemned to death. — Linking death row inmates to ministers of their religious denomination and providing counseling. Public protests and vigils are another element in the strategy, as is pressure on governors and pardon boards. Henry Schwartschild of the ACLU said he has been told that Utah Gov. Cecil Rampton’s mail has run nine to one against the Gilmore execution. The National Council of Churches is also planning a national day of mourning on the day of the first execution. The various coalitions fighting the death penalty are not yet as well organized as they would like to be, but; they are moving fast. There is even a relative degree of optimism about their efforts. Deborah Leavy of the ACLU noted, for example, that people are more likely to favor the death penalty in the abstract than to favor any specific execution. The closer an execution gets, she and others believe, the softer people’s feelings get. “I don’t think it will be difficult to regenerate interest” in opposing the death penalty, Rev. Adams said. “I know what the polls say, I know what the mood of the country is. But I think we can restore a morally informed response. ' Theresian’s National Director Visits Columbus Area Monsignor Elwood Voss, National Director and founder of the Theresians of America met with Columbus and Phenix City Theresians at a joint-meeting recently at Our Lady of Lourdes School. Monsignor was accompanied by Sister Patricia Mullen, Associate Director, and Sister Michaelanne, International Director. The group traveled to Columbus from the National Office which is located in Scottsdale, Ariz. The joint-meeting was highlighted by the presentation of official charter plaques to Mrs. Emmy Otero, and Mrs. Rosalie Beach, Presidents of the Columbus and Phenix City, Ala., Theresian groups. Theresians is a group of lay women dedicated to the Sisterhood Vocation Apostolate. It is a Catholic organization of women who are dedicated to a deeper appreciation of the vocation of the Christian woman - and this vocatibn is lived in the religious and lay states in the world today. The movement was founded in Pueblo, Colorado in 1961 by the Rev. Monsignor Elwood Voss. In his Columbus talk Monsignor Voss described the purpose of the Theresians. He said the five dimensions of the Theresian way of life are: Spiritual, Education, Vocation, Community and Ministries. He spoke on three of the dimensions: education, vocation and ministries. Speaking of education, he stressed having speakers at each monthly meeting, who were in tune with Vatican II in order to keep informed on what is going on in the Church and the Christian world, saying, “If we know what is going on in the Christian world, we are enriching ourselves and as a result we are becoming enthusiastic Christians.” In the area of vocation, he told of the need of serious study of the Christian vocation regardless of life style, career or mission. “This is a beautiful concept,” he said, “if we can all realize we have a Christian vocation, the work of the Church could get done better than ever before.” Discussing ministries, he said that in a Theresian Community the members are encouraged to work with the handicapped, the aged, women in prison and an apostolic work to the extent there is time, talent and interest. He said people have so many needs and new needs come up all the time. “The whole idea,” he continued, “is sharing in the work that has to be done. This is the whole concept of the Theresian communities.” Sister Patricia Mullen spoke on the highlights of the National Theresian Conference the trio attended in San Antonio, Texas. The conference was well attended by members from Theresian groups throughout the United States and Canada. Programs were planned and ideas exchanged for the coming year. Several topics of interest were discussed at the National Conference, such as Evangelization of the Christian Community, Teenagers problems today, Campus Ministry, Equal Rights Amendment - from the Christian point of view; world hunger; Birth Right: World Social Concern, Peace and Justice, The Abortion Issue, World Religion, Apostolate to Senior Citizens, Family Services, Women’s Equality, Marriage Counseling, Charismatic Movement, and many others. Sister Mullen commented on the Spiritual Dimension - emphasizing communication with God through private prayer at home, and praying together at monthly meetings. The Theresians pledge a weekly holy hour for the intention of Sisterhood vocations. Their motto is “Without God we cannot, without us God will not.” Iri conclusion Sister Mullen said the< Community dimension is to encourage and promote spirituality, learning and mutual support of one another, of going out of your way to help one another, of listening to one another to be able to share joys and sorrows with one another. Sister Michaelanne Kasper asked for names of persons in other parts of the world who would help in setting up! Theresian groups. Her personal goal is to establish Theresian communities outside of the United States and throughout the world. She urged all to be missionaries and share with the people of the world the prayer life and the community spirit that they have. Thomas Merton Symposium In Macon BY REV. THOMAS HEALY On January 18-19, 1977, St. Joseph’s Church, Macon, will sponsor a symposium on Father Thomas Merton entitled “The Desert of the Heart.” At the time of his death in 1968, Thomas Merton was the most famous monk of the Western World. 'The proposed program will, hopefully, introduce us to Father Metron in all his dimensions - contemplative monk, spiritual writer, poet, essayist, and servant of God. Beginning the symposium on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 8 PM in the Social Hall (basement) of the church, Father Thomas Healy of St. Joseph’s will speak on “Thomas Merton, The Man and The Monk.” This talk will deal with the personal dimensions of Merton’s life. The heart of the talk will be a discussion of Father Merton’s contemplative vision. After this talk, all those attending are invited to the church to conclude the evening with Compline. On Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM, Dr. Victor A. Kramer, assistant professor of English at Georgia-State University in Atlanta, will discuss “Merton’s Art and Non-Western Thought.” This will be a presentation of some of Merton’s writings and poems. Emphasis will be placed on the influence of Oriental Thought on Merton’s later works. Dr. Kramer’s talk will be followed by questions. After a coffee break, Julius Lester, professor in the department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass., will speak on “The Monk in the World.” This will be a personal appreciation of Thomas Merton. It is scheduled for 10:40 AM. Another break and question period will follow. From 12:10-1 PM the group will break for lunch. Sandwiches can be ordered during the morning for those wishing to remain in the Hall for lunch. At 1:00 PM, Father Thomas Fidelis, monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Ga., will take “Merton On Prayer” for his topic, giving an expose of Tather Merton’s thoughts on prayer. A break and the final question period will follow. BENEDETTO LAUNDRY 3061 Houston Avo. Macon, Go. Phono SH. 2-2361 At 3 PM, Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church with the Mt. de Sales Choir and the St. Joseph’s Folk Group providing the music. In preparation for the symposium, it is recommended the following books be read: NEW SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION (A New Directions Paperback. New York, 1961) This is one of Father Merton’s best loved works. It consists of a collection of thoughts about the interior life. THOMAS MERTON ON PRAYER by John J. Higgins, S.J. (A Doubleday Image Book, New York. 1975) This is a most valuable book. It will form a background for the talk to be given by Father Thomas Fidelis on Merton’s understanding of prayer. THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF THOMAS MERTON (A New Directions Book. 1968) Posthumously published, this book is a record of Father Merton’s illfated pilgrimage to the Orient. It also contains the text of Merton’s final address. It is a telling witness to Merton’s own personal spiritual growth and development. charge for the j There is i symposium. The speakers promise to be stimulating and should present us with a mosaic of spiritual insights. All in all the symposium should be an invaluably replenishment of our spiritual resources. Johnnie Ganem Steak Ranch CHARCOAL BROILED STEAKS PRIME STEAKS DINNERS LUNCHEON COCKTAILS DINNER MUSIC Gaston and Habersham AD 3-3032 !HaiBii@ilBiiisaigiBiii^iaamigiiigiiisaaigii@BgEBgr For Wedding I nvitations The Acme Press Phone 232-6397 1201 Lincoln Street Beytogh Construction Co. RESIDENTIAL REMODELING LIGHT COMMERCIAL 1537 Montgomery Crossroad EC 4-3556 — Savannah, Ga. Secteaa (faceting UNION-CAMP Union Camp