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The Southern Cross -- '"1 v ~ *: ; , -■ * ^ f C; ■>. -f/ , -- \c-\- %* - ' , fgp'--' " <Tfs~ ^ '• - tr J f. y£-’ -5^2$ O 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 o f \ 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) O' o 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.