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The Southern Cross, Page 2 Cardinal Mahony CRITICIZES VAGUE USE OF “choice” for abortion Los Angeles (CNS) T he Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles has criticized politi cians’ use of the phrase “a woman’s right to choose” when what they mean is “a woman’s right to choose to terminate her pregnancy, that is, to get an abortion.” “If political leaders are proud of the fact that they support the termination of a pregnancy, the taking of the life of an unborn baby, then why can’t they simply say so?” asked Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. “What’s with all the wishy-washy ‘choice’ language?” He suggested that political leaders and abortion advocates don’t tell the truth “because they are trying to hide the reality of the inherent evil in abor tion.” Cardinal Ratzinger says third Fatima secret “not essential” Rome (CNS) T he Vatican’s top doctrinal offi cial, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said the third secret of Fatima con tains no dogma of faith and, as other private revelations, is “not essential” for Christians. While praising Pope John Paul II’s courage in announcing the secret May 13 and ordering its publication, Cardinal Ratzinger said Fatima needs to be kept in perspec tive to avoid “sensationalism.” The cardinal commented in an interview in the May 19 Rome newspaper La Repubblica. He said his doctrinal congregation was working on a com mentary on the Fatima messages and expected to publish it and the full text of the third secret by mid-June. Church leaders pay TRIBUTE TO FORMER ARCH BISHOP of Canterbury Manchester, England (CNS) A nglican and Catholic leaders paid tribute to a late former head of the worldwide Anglican Commu nion for his sensitive church leader ship and ecumenical work. Arch bishop Donald Coggan, a noted bibli cal scholar, was archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980. He died May 17 at age 90. Pope John Paul II, in a telegram to the current Anglican leader, Archbishop George Carey, offered his condolences to the Anglican community and praised the late archbishop’s efforts in Anglican- Catholic relations. “Remembering Archbishop Coggan’s presence at the ceremony inaugurating my own pon tificate, I thank God for his signifi cant contribution to Anglican-Catho lic relations. May the memory of the late archbishop inspire us to trust that ‘he who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ’,” he said. Freeze in U.S. aid to Haiti suspends funds for CRS, OTHER AGENCIES Washington (CNS) uspension of millions of dollars in U.S. government aid to Haiti has frozen funding for some Catholic Relief Services work in schools and has forced other U.S. aid agencies to close down projects, said the CRS country representative to Haiti. The money frozen is “part of about $4.75 million frozen for education,” said Chris Hennemeyer, country represen tative for CRS, in a May 15 inter view in Washington. In mid-March, Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ordered more than $30 million in U.S. aid to Haiti suspended after the Haitian government fined the U.S.-owned Rice Corp. of Haiti $1.4 million for allegedly evading customs duties and smuggling rice into the country. Anglican, Catholic BISHOPS MEET IN CANADA TO REVIEW DIALOGUE Mississauga, Ontario (CNS) housands of miles from London or Rome, 35 bishops from the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches met May 15-19 to discuss how to get past a 466-year-old split Hopseottdh started by a king of England who could not get an annulment. Anglican Archbishop George Carey of Can terbury, England, head of the world wide Anglican Communion, and Cardinal Edward Cassidy, head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, led the meeting, which included bishops from around the English-speaking world. The bishops were to review 30 years of dialogue. Close observers said they were unlikely to focus on areas of contention such as women’s ordina tion. Instead, they would explore how to get their previously released docu ments down to the grass roots of parish life. Guatemalan judge COMMITS THREE ARMY OFFICERS TO TRIAL Guatemala City (CNS) Guatemalan judge has ordered to trial three Army officers accused of the killing of Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera. First Penal Court Judge Flor de Maria Garcia said May 18 she found suffi cient evidence against retired Col. Byron Disrael Lima Estrada; his son, Capt. Bryon Lima Oliva; and the for mer presidential bodyguard, Obdulio Villanueva. They face charges of “extrajudicial killing” of the 72-year- old bishop, bludgeoned to death on the doorstep of his parish home April 26, 1998. Bishops to vote on DEACON FORMATION, LIFE, MINISTRY NORMS Washington (CNS) he U.S. Catholic bishops in June will be asked to approve a “Nati onal Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Dea cons in the United States.” The pro posed directory, a 220-page docu ment, would establish comprehensive U.S. norms for the formation, life and ministry of deacons for the first time. It is to replace current national guidelines, approved in 1984, which did not have the force of norms. The directory must receive approval by Thursday, May 25, 2000 two-thirds of all active U.S. bishops and confirmation by the Holy See before it takes effect. U.S. DELEGATES NAMED TO NEXT BISHOPS’ SYNOD IN Rome Washington (CNS) T wo cardinals and the two top officers of the National Con ference of Catholic Bishops are the elected U.S. delegates to the next world Synod of Bishops, to be held in Rome in October 2001. The four are: Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, NCCB president; Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belle ville, Illinois, NCCB vice president; Cardinal William H. Keeler of Balti more; Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago. Pope canonizes 27 Mexican saints, INCLUDING FIRST MEXICAN WOMAN Vatican City (CNS) I n a ceremony that alternated between solemnity and soccer-sta dium enthusiasm, Pope John Paul II canonized 27 Mexicans, including the first Mexican woman saint. “With pleasure I proclaim today the sanctity of various witnesses of the Gospel in the 20th century, all belonging to the beloved and noble nation of Mexi co,” the pope said at the beginning of the Mass May 21. “They are the saints of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,” he said, as more than 50,000 pilgrims cheered and waved som breros and green, white and red ' Mexican flags in an overcast Saint Peter’s Square. Johnnie Ganems Package Shop Complete Line of Imported and Domestic Wine & Beer Gaston and Habersham 912-233-3032 Savannah To Subscribe Send this in to your parish, together with your check for $15. made out to the parish. For more information call The Southern Cross (912) 238-2320 "I Name Address I Phone ( ) i ■ Parish I J (USPS 505 680) Deadline: All material for publication on Publisher: Thursday must be received at the latest by noon Most Rev. J. Kevin Boland, D.D. on the previous Friday. Director of Communications: Mrs. Barbara D. King Editor: Rev. Douglas K. Clark, S.T.L. Editorial and Business Office: Catholic Pastoral Center 601 E. Liberty Street Savannah, GA 31401-5196 (912) 238-2320 FAX: (912) 238-2339 E-mail: DCiark5735@aoi.com or Southerncross@;x.netcom com Internet Home Page: http://www.dioceseofsavannah.org POSTMASTER: Send Change of Address to circulation office: Chalker Publishing Southern Cross Subscription Department R O. Box 948 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Subscription Price: $15 per year Periodicals Postage Paid at Waynesboro, GA 30830 Published weekly except the second and last weeks in June, July and August and the last week in December. At 601 E.' 6 th Street Waynesboro, GA 30830