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The Southern Cross
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Newspaper Of The Diocese Of Savannah
Vol. 70 No. 20 Thursday, May 17, 1990 $12.00 Per Year
n Mexico: Diplomatic Ties Won't Muffle Church's Voice
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BY AGOSTINO BONO
MEXICO CITY (CNS) - Pope John
Paul II visited Mexico’s shrines and shan
tytowns to serve notice that his desire for
diplomatic relations does not mean the
church will muffle its voice on political
issues.
Throughout eight days in May, the pope
mixed praise for improved church-state
relations in Mexico with pinpointed
criticisms of government policies, ranging
from sterilization programs to restrictions
on Catholic education.
Although papal criticisms during a
pastoral visit are nothing new, in Mexico
they came against the backdrop of anti
clerical laws that prohibit clergy involve
ment in politics.
The situation is the result of a 1917 Con
stitution that denies legal status to the
church and punishment for church
leaders’ support of opposition political
movements.
Another factor is general Mexican skep
ticism, even among Catholics, of a church
role in politics. During the 18th century,
church leaders favored dictators and
oligarchs hoarding power. The fear is that
the church would use its new political clout
to seek privileges.
Amending the anti-clerical Constitution
is a major issue in current church-state
relations, and establishing diplomatic
relations revolve around this.
The May 6-13 visit came shortly after the
pope and Mexican President Carlos
Salinas de Gortari decided to exchange
personal representatives as a formal chan
nel for negotiations.
The decision, less than two months
before the papal visit to the country with
the world’s second-largest Catholic
population, caused speculation that
diplomatic relations were imminent,
sparking a revival of national debate over
the church’s role in politics.
In Mexico, the pope added to the debate
by reasserting the church’s right to pass
moral judgment on contemporary affairs.
Although the church does not favor any
political ideology or system, “this does not
mean that the church has nothing to say to
the political community,’’ he said.
The pope showed what he meant during
22 speeches in 10 cities. He criticized the
ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party’s
widespread corruption and monopoly on
labor power. He also asked for better
recognition of the rights of hundreds of
thousands of Central Americans living in
Mexico after fleeing fighting in their
homeland.
At the same time, he signaled that his
main aim was to improve the atmosphere
of church-state relations rather than solve
specific problems. The pope also indicated
that his criticisms were not a deliberate ef
fort to embarrass the government.
The pope even softened his criticism of
the Central American refugee situation by
not isolating it in Mexico. He did it at a
meeting with diplomats accredited to Mex
ico and put it in the context of an interna
tional problem.
The pope did not raise these criticisms
when he visited the southern border area
near Guatemala, where there are many
refugees. Instead, he pledged church com
passion for uprooted people and praised
diocesan refugee aid programs.
Mexicans also got a papal reminder that
church law forbids priests from holding
government posts. The reminder was aim
ed at soothing fears that a drop of legal
bans against priestly involvement in
politics would mean partisan political
meddling by the clergy.
Under current Mexican law, priests are
not even permitted to vote. A poll of
Catholics conducted in February showed
(Continued on page 2)
ZACATECAS VISIT — Pope John Paul II blesses the crowd May 12
during an open air Mass in Zacatecas, Mexico. (CNS photo from UPI-
Reuters)
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Rev. Mr. James B. Walker
James B. Walker's Ordination May 26
At Cathedral Of St. John The Baptist
The Rev. Mr. James B. Walker, who is
currently serving as a transitional deacon
at St. James Parish in Savannah, will be
ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ray
mond W. Lessard at the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist at 11 a.m. on May 26.
Rev. Mr. Walker, a native of Macon, is a
convert to Catholicism who decided to
become a priest after serving in a number
of careers ranging from Navy officer to
restaurant owner to marketing executive.
A 61-year old widower, Deacon Walker
entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore,
Md. in 1986 to prepare for the priesthood.
He entered the seminary from St. Mark’s
Parish in Westbrook, Conn, where he was
living at the time, but made a decision to
serve the Diocese of Savannah after
attending his 40th high school reunion in
Macon in 1986. Several of his former
classmates suggested that he come home
to Georgia after his ordination.
Deacon Walker’s 23-year marriage to
the former Virginia Daly ended in 1979
with her sudden death from a heart attack
at their home in Connecticut.
At the ordination, Fr. John Kenneally,
pastor of St. James, will present Deacon
Walker to the bishop. Fr. William O’Neill,
pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, will
vest Walker in his priestly vestments.
The newly ordained Father Walker will
celebrate his first Mass at 11:45 a.m. on
May 27 at St. James Church. He will short
ly receive his assignment for his work in
the Diocese as a priest from Bishop
Lessard.
Deacon Walker is expecting some of his
cousins, members of his wife’s family, and
friends from several places in the United
States and around the world to attend his
ordination.