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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1968)
M I tl II *• VOL. 6, NO. 36 ATLANTA, GEORGIA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1968 ACCW Lists Workshops For Saturday SISTER Mary Joyce adjusts the costume of one of the residents of the Village of St. Joseph who will take part in the drama “Behold the Man” Sunday at Atlanta Stadium. The poster in the picture tells the story. Federation Board Wants Mediation On ‘Fired’ Priest CHICAGO (NC) - The executive board of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC) requested that Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle of Washington set up a panel to reconsider the case of Father T. Joseph O’Donoghue, and called for the establishment of judicial panels “to safeguard the American right of due process” of all concerned in similar disputes between bishops and priests. The board’s statement was issued in response to a plea from the Association of Washington Priests that the NFPC represent the interests of Father O’Donoghue in the controversy with the cardinal. Father O’Donoghue, a parish priest in the Washington archdiocese, was relieved of his duties by Cardinal O’Boyle after he read from the pulpit a statement of theological dissent from the encyclical, Humanae Vitae. Father O’Donoghue was a founder of the Association of Washington Priests, Some of whose other members also face the possibility of disciplinary action by Cardinal O’Boyle for their public dissent from the birth control encyclical. The NFPC was formed last May from 120 priests’ senates and associations, including the Washington group, to give U.S. priests a coordinated voice in the affairs of the Church. Father Michael A. Morris is secretary of the organization. The NFPC board statement was released by Father Patrick O’Malley of Chicago, federation president. It did not pass judgment on the merits of Father O’Donoghue’s position, or on other aspects of the birth control debate in the Church, and acknowledged that Cardinal O’Boyle probably fulfilled the requirements of the present Code of Canon Law in handling Workshops and talks on scripture, the liturgy, aid to Biafra and open housing will highlight the annual convention of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women Saturday at the Marriott Motor Hotel. Mrs. A. A. Martin, chairman of the Church Communities Commission, will have three speakers. Father Philip Hanley, S.J., of Ignatius House will speak on “Scripture”. Father Ray Horan of St. Thomas More Parish will speak on “Liturgy”. James Linkdkoog, Program Director of the Community Relations Commission will speak on “Ecumenism”. Food Sought For Families Of City Garbage Workers A Catholic priest and an official of the NAACP have called on the public to provide food for families of Atlanta’s striking garbage workers. The food may be brought to St. Joseph High School auditorium, 320 Courtland St., N.E., said Father John J. Mulroy, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, and Robert Flanagan, executive secretary of the NAACP’s Atlanta branch. The two men issued the following statement: “There is no need to inform the public that the sanitation workers are on strike. The question is ‘How are we involved?’ “The issues may be clouded in the public’s mind, and the right to personal decision is respected. However, we have a common involvement. This Friday there will be at least 1,200 families in our city without a pay check. “Persons wishing to contribute food for the families, may leave it at St. Joseph High School auditorium. Families of garbage workers may come to the auditorium to receive the food. “Personal disagreement on issues is never an excuse for not fulfilling our Christian duty to feed the hungry,” the two men said. Mrs. Robert F. Hochman, chairman of the International Affairs Commission, said Rocco A. Sacci, director of Information of Catholic Relief Services, will speak on “Aid to Biafra”. Father O’Donoghue’s dissent. But, the statement said, “it seems clear to us that the directives of the Code, promulgated over 50 years ago, are not sufficient to insure a fair, investigative and judicial process for Father O’Donoghue or others involved in similar situations.” Mrs. Samuel McQuaid, chairman of the Family Affairs Commission, will have a panel discussion on the subject “As the Twig is Bent”. The panel will discuss how the presence of ever changing values in the world calls for examination of the influences that lead to healthy family relationship and Christian maturity. The panel will consist of Mrs. Jack Boyle, Mrs. Louis Erbs and Mrs. Sam McQuaid. Mrs. Maude Peeples, regional director for Women in Community Service will speak on the challenge of WICS. She will also discuss the Job Corps. Some of the girls who are taking training and some who have finished the training will assist Mrs. Peeples in showing the value of the program. Mrs. John Kesler, chairman of the Organization Services Commission, said three speakers will be featured. They are Father R. Donald Kieman, consulting editor of the Georgia Bulletin, Mrs. Ed. P. Faust, national director NCCW, Province of Atlanta, and Mrs. Bruce Bremberg from the Georgia League of Women voters. Mrs. James W. Callison, (Continued On Page 2} “For that reason the NFPC strongly recommends that judicial panels be established where needed to safeguard the American right of due process for both priest and bishop, it continued. “The panels would deal with cases of suspension of priests from priestly duties and other serious matters of clergy discipline. We suggest that panels follow the lines of the panel which the America bishops have provided for in matters of dispute between the bishops and religious orders.” The statement noted it is commonplace for many American institutions to insure certain rights for their members in disciplinary cases, including the right to have the case considered by an impartial panel, to know the specific charges, to face the accusers, to cross examine witnesses, and the right to counsel. “These rights are not safeguarded in the priesthood, but they should be,” the statement declared. “Such rudimentary justice would certainly be in keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, especially in its document on Religious Freedom. “We trust that Cardinal O’Boyle and the American hierarchy will agree,” the statement asserted. ‘Accordingly we have requested Cardinal O’Boyle to establish a panel to reconsider the case of Father O’Donoghue.” The statement said the 120 meiriber councils of the NFPC have been asked to consider the question of due process in clerical disputes at regional meetings to be held in the next two months. In addition to their request to the NFPC, the Washington priests who have publicly dissented from the birth control encyclical have also asked Archbishop John F. Dearden of Detroit, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, to intervene in the dispute.
