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PAGE 4 — The Southern Cross, April 30. 1987
Is There Light At The End Of The Tunnel?
Federal Communications Commission warn
ings to radio stations to curb obscene and offen
sive material is a most welcome action.
Specific stations have been warned, and the
medium now knows that broadcasts that merely
avoid indecent words, but are offensive of
themselves, are not to be tolerated.
It is hoped these warnings will have an effect
on television as well, especially those stations
that broadcast uncut movies rated R -- re
stricted.
Many have expressed disappointment, feeling
the commission only warned and did not pro
secute. Some fear there won’t be prosecutions
and that obscenity will not be off the airwaves
permanently.
If the FCC is serious remains to be seen. The
action they have taken is long overdue and if they
follow through, the days of “raunch radio” may
be numbered. Is there light at the end of the
obscenity tunnel? -jem
USCC Opposes Court Ruling On Go. Death Penalty
WASHINGTON (NC) — Expressing disappointment and
disagreement with the Supreme Court’s April 22 validation
of the death penalty, the U.S. Catholic Conference April 24
promised renewed efforts to fight capital punishment.
“We disagree with the court’s judgment in this matter,”
said Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye, USCC general secretary. “We
take this occasion to renew our commitment to speak out
against the death penalty and to work for changes in both
public opinion and law that will help create a more just and
humane criminal justice system.”
The high court, voting 5-4, upheld Georgia’s death penalty
law as constitutional, despite an academic study
demonstrating that in Georgia killers of white victims were
11 times more likely to be sentenced to death than killers of
black victims.
By its decision, the court upheld the death sentence
against Warren McCleskey, a black man convicted of the
1978 murder of a white Atlanta policeman.
“The fact that capital punishment is applied in a racially
discriminatory way has been one of the reasons for our con
tinued opposition on moral grounds to the application of the
death penalty,” Msgr. Hoye said.
He said that “the evidence submitted in the McCleskey
case strengthens our conviction that the death penalty is
frequently applied in an irrational and discriminatory
fashion.”
“The system under which criminals are sentenced is such
that race often plays a prominent role in determining
whether they will live or die,” the monsignor stated.
“Although there are equally strong moral reasons for its
abolition, we believe that capital punishment under these
conditions is surely ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ ”
“Cruel and unusual punishment” is forbidden by the 8th
Amendment to the Constitution.
The USCC official also noted the problem of dealing with
crime.
“Violent crime and the abuse of life that plague our socie
ty and frighten our people are deeply serious matters that
must be addressed,” he said. “However, taking human life
is neither an effective nor a morally acceptable response to
this violence. We need to be creative in our thinking, not
simply destructive in our response.”
The McCleskey ruling came a day after the court also
upheld use of the death penalty against accomplices in
crimes resulting in murder.
Coping With Rising Teen-age Stress
BY EFTHALIA WALSH
(Catholic University of America)
Adolescent stress appears to be on the rise, says Cynthia
Baum, a psychology professor at The Catholic University of
America.
Adolescents respond strongly to stresses both within and
without the family. “Adolescents are exposed to more
violence in the media, more sex, and less contact with ex
tended family than they were 20 or 30 years ago. The
knowledge explosion and social pressures also contribute to
making adolescent life increasingly stressful. There is
more to know and a greater demand for technical
knowledge.”
Social pressure is also rampant. “Teen-agers look to their
peers—which is highly stressful. Imagine a group of teen
agers all seeking their identity and using each other as mir
rors to reflect back what they are,” says Ms. Baum.
Psychological and physiological changes also contribute
to adolescent stress. “Not only is there a heightened
awareness of sexuality, but teen-agers begin to think dif
ferently, moving from concrete to abstract thinking and
seeing troubling inconsistencies in the world. Adolescents
often become disillusioned and uncertain about things they
always believed. And they discover their parents aren’t
always right,” explains Ms. Baum.
High rates of adolescent disorders ranging from depres
sion to conduct disorders and juvenille delinquency are
found in families of high stress, those with marital discord,
The Southern Cross
(USPS 505 680)
Most Rev. Raymond W. Lessard, D.I)., President
John E. Markwalter, Editor
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financial difficulties and parental psychological problems.
“A very common adolescent scenario is increased school
difficulties related to increased conflict within the parent’s
marriage,” says Ms. Baum.
How do parents cope and help their kids over these
adolescent hurdles?
“Good communication prevents or alleviates many
problems, but when teen-age crises occur it may be too late
for parents and children to start talking,” says Ms. Baum.
“If communication is bad or doesn’t exist, parents should
seek help in learning more effective parenting techniques
and see that their adolescent children also receive ap
propriate professional assistance,” she adds.
Her research finds that adolescent conduct disorders are
treated most effectively when both parents and adolescents
learn new coping skills and styles rather than simply
receive individual treatment.
“All families experience stress. But parents who are
stressed in their own right have special difficulty in dealing
with their children’s pressures. They need to learn how to
handle both the normal pressures that confront adolescents
and those from more difficult disruptions,” says Ms. Baum.
Warning signs that teen-agers are in trouble include
dramatic change in behavior, grades falling from the stu
dent’s usual marks, or drug or alcohol involvement. “If the
adolescent is uncommunicative, it’s time to take action,”
says Ms. Baum.
She notes that in families with slight disruptions,
adolescents may exhibit mild conduct disorders ranging
from lying to disruptive behavior in school, tantrums, ac
ting out against parents and authority figures or depres
sion. “Then, if your teenager won’t talk to you, ask if there
is someone else the child might talk to. If the adolescent
denies there is something wrong, as often happens, parents
can point out what they observe to be wrong. ‘I’ve noticed
you’ve been spending a lot of time in your room, is there
something wrong?’ ” she advises.
She finds that even when good family communication ex
ists, problems arise. Adolescents who are trying to
establish independence may not want to talk with their
parents. “The best we can do is to let them know we’re
available when they’re ready.
“Busy families should meet at regularly scheduled times
to ensure that opportunities to discuss issues are available.
For good discussions parents should listen more than give
advice and try to understand the adolescent’s behavior and
feelings.
“People who tell their children ‘This is the way to do it’
will meet resistance. Parents can help by aiding in defining
the problem, looking at alternative action courses and
dividing the process into manageable steps. Parents need
to remember that adolescents don’t always anticipate long
term consequences,” advises Ms. Baum.
She believes that sometimes parents expect too much of
themselves and try to solve all their children’s problems.
“Adolescents need to develop a sense of personal respon
sibility. Parents may have to back off and allow their
children an opportunity to resolve the problem
themselves,” she says.
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Heavenly Father, in the name of your
son Jesus Christ, you sent your Spirit to be
with your church. Pour forth on your peo
ple the fullness of His gifts, so that as we
gather in your name, we may be guided by
the light and power of your gospel Grant
to us hearts renewed in faith, hope and
love. Renew in our day your wonders, as in
a new Pentecost, so that this community
of your children, prayerfully gathered with
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, may bring to
pass your kingdom of truth and justice, of
love and peace Amen.