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The Georgia Bulletin
November 15,1979
The Klan
Only fools laugh at the foolish
clowns clad in sheets of white
parading their message of hate before
the world. They are most unfunny.
They are ambassadors of violence,
destroyers of community efforts to
build brotherhood.
It seems that every decade provides
a new upsurge in Klan activity. In the
last quarter of a century, this secret
society spewing messages of
immorality has gone from totally
acceptable and respectable to
disreputable, to a renewed popularity.
All because, in a fashion most usual,
good men do nothing.
Directly attributable to Klan
activity, were the killings in
Greensboro last week. The clash was
watched and allowed by local police.
Voices of protest went unheard. The
vicious nature of this outrage was
appreciated only too late. Four people
lay dead and the Knights of the Ku
Klux Klan had returned.
There was a time in the South
when a successful politician and
businessman was obligated to have
Klan connections. That day is gone.
So the idea persists that Klan activities
today are merely harmless
shannanigans of backward bumpkins.
Greensboro taught us differently. The
murderous streak historically
associated with these masked men and
women lives on.
The Greensboro clash was no
one-sided attack. Guns were present
on both sides showing us once more
the existing need in all segments of
the community for good, enforcible
firearm laws.
But let us be vigilant. When the
white, masked uniform of the Klan
appears, seeds of hate sprout and
grow.
-NCB
Working Women
Sheila Mallon
“We are a schizophrenic society . . . while
we struggle to save the life of a three-pound
baby in a hospital’s newborn intensive care
unit, obstetricians in the same hospital are
destroying similar infants yet unborn.” This
statement is a quote from a book by Dr. C.
Everett Koop, world famous pediatric
surgeon. Me is the doctor who in 1974
successfully separated Siamese twins in a
spectacular ten and one half hour operation.
Dr. Koop has for more than a quarter of a
century been engaged in the surgical care of
children, in particular the operative
approach to newborn babies who are born
with defects which are incompatible with
life.
In his book “The Right to Live; The
Right To Die.” he explores the logical and
theological arguments against abortion and
for the right to life. He states bluntly and
without apology that as a Christian he
believes in the sanctity of life.
In his explanation of the “logic” of the
pro abortion argument - he points out that
no one would kill a newborn baby the
minute he was born. He asks, “At what
minute can one consider life to be worthless
and the next minute consider that same life
to be precious?”
He addresses the specifics of the Supreme
Court decision in which the Court stated
”1 won’t ask where you were for your last
three checkups if you don't ask where 1 was
last Sunday."
that until a baby is “viable” or “capable of
meaningful life” (whatever that means) a
state has no “compelling interest” which
justifies it in restricting abortion. Even after
viability the developing baby is not
considered to be a person “in the whole
sense” so that even after viability the
growing baby is not protected by the same
guarantee that you and I have in the
fourteenth amendment.
The Court further ruled that “a state may
not protect a viable human being by
preventing an abortion undertaken to
preserve the health of the mother.” By this
statement, a fetus as old as nine months may
have his right to life subordinated to the
demand for abortion predicated on
“health.”
We all know by now that the definition
of “health” as interpreted by those seeking
and performing abortions in many states
amounts to abortion on demand.
Dr. Koop and Frank Schaeffer have
gotten together to bring a two day seminar
entitled “Whatever Happened To The
Human Race” to Atlanta. The seminar will
be held at the World Congress Center on
December 7th and 8th.
The seminar will be structured around a
series of five films and both Dr. Koop and
Frank Schaeffer, protestant theologian,
philosopher and author will be participating.
They will be educating people to the need
for a National Human Life Amendment and
to the realities of abortion and euthanasia in
our society. The series will be aimed at
marshalling support for the pro-life cause
among those previously uncommitted as well
as solidifying the support of those already
committed to the right to life.
I have seen a preview of the film series
and 1 promise you that it will be well worth
your time and money to attend the seminar.
The films are professionally superior and
compelling as well as beautiful.
Schaeffer and Koop have utilized some of
the most effective film footage I have ever
seen and have used them to explore the
terrible tragedy of abortion, infanticide and
euthanasia. They have managed this with
exquisite taste - even a young child would be
able to view these films with equanimity.
The two-day seminar will cost $28,
however groups of 25 or over can go for $22
a person. If you would like further
information call Henry Grosh or Steve
Hemphill at (404) 892-6947. There is a
special rate for students. $24.00 for those
attending individually. If you are interested
in the group rate contact the ProLife office
(404) 881-0956.
If you are not really sure how you feel on
right to life issues or if you fee! sympathetic
to the “pro-choice” side - I urge you to
come to this seminar and see these films.
The fact that we are “Christian” means
that we are called upon by God to act
according to our gifts on behalf of life. “I
have set before you life and death, the
blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, so
that you and your descendents might live.”
(Deut. 30, 19-20)
Catholic A rchdiocese of Atlanta
Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan Publisher
Rev. Monsignor Noel C. Burtenshaw - Editor
Michael Motes Associate Editor
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A Steam Bath On Wheels
Dave McGill
(Continued from last issue)
Actually, I knew in Greenville that we
were in for a 13-hour steam bath. The train
stopped, and I got off to get a breath of
any-kind-of-air. They had radioed ahead, and
there were two air conditioning experts
there waiting for our “caboose” (which
didn’t have to be painted red since it was so
hot already. Incidentally, if you don’t make
it to Heaven, you will be sent to a grey
railroad car. 1 have already been to
Purgatory.) The two experts went through,
around, and under the car, and pronounced
their verdict to the conductor, who was
standing there with me and the fellow who
had had the “conversation” with him as we
were boarding.
“I’m pretty sure it just needs freon,” one
of them said to the conductor. “How long
will that take?” the chief replied. “Bout
thirty minutes,” said the expert. “Can you
be POSITIVE it’ll work if we take that
amount of time?” the conductor queried.
(Say yes, oh please say yes, 1 begged under
my breath.) But our doom was sealed by his
intelligent reply: “Nope.” The conductor
then barked into his walkie-talkie, “Let’s
move on.” It was a brave stance to take,
actually, because that furious man from New
Orleans was on him like Earl Weaver after an
umpire. “WHA-A-A-A-A-AT? What’d you
say? Why you %$%*14@? @*% idiot... You
heard the guy say it just needs freon.” The
conductor was nonplussed: “We’ll get it
fixed next stop, sir. Hang in there ’til
Spartanburg!”
We spent the night walking through the
($109 cheaper) coaches all night to ward off
asphyxiation and dehydration. Because they
left the doors open at the front and back of
the car all night to help keep the
temperature under 100 degrees, our nostrils
were black with soot the next morning. It
was like climbing out of a mine shaft.
When I got home a week later, I filled out
an AMTRAK form, one of those “We
certainly hope your trip was a pleasant one,
but if for any reason . . . etc.” forms. I was
guaranteed a reply by law within two weeks;
I asked them for the sleeper car part of my
money back, figuring we were far worse off
than those with clean nostrils in the cool
coaches. Five weeks later, I had heard
nothing, so I wrote the Chief of the Rails,
pointing out that Amtrak was breaking the
law by ignoring my complaint. Nothing after
another week, so I brought out the heavy
artillery, and wrote to Senator Nunn. My
letter crossed in the mails with a check from
Amtrak for the strange amount of $42.50.
More than a token, but far less than what I
felt I was due. Sen. Sam took an interest in
my case, but was unable to pry another
nickel from ’em. Frankly, I don’t see how
the railroads went broke if they’re that tight
with their funds.
By the way, 1 called Amtrak in
Washington the morning after the night-long
sweat-a-thon. “What was wrong with that car
on the end of the Crescent yesterday?” I
asked. “Nothing much,” came the reply, “it
just needed freon.”
Still, I like trains. Arlo Guthrie wrote a
song bemoaning the demise of the train in
America, the chorus of which comes to
mind: “Good mornin’, America, how are ya?
Say, don’t you know me, I’m your native
son . . . I’m the train they call the City of
New Orleans; I’ll be gone 500 miles when
the day is done.”
Don’t let ’em die. But DO make ’em open
the windows.
Man Of Many Gifts
Teresa Gernazian
More than a century ago a prophecy was
written in poetic form by a man named
Slowacki:
“He has made ready the throne for a Slav
Pope,
He will sweep out the churches and make
them clean within,
God shall be revealed, clear as day, in the
creative world ...”
Does this prophecy find its fulfillment in
Pope John Paul II, man of Christ, man of
Mary, man of many gifts? While no one can
answer that with certainty, things are
definitely happening in a whirlwind fashion
and the truths of our Catholic Faith have
not shone as brightly in the secular world for
quite some time.
What l like about Pope John Paul II
(among thousands of other things) is his
straight-forwardness. He does not worry
about stepping on toes. He does not
compromise. He does not seek popularity.
One example, is his newly released
document, CATECHESIS IN OUR TIME,
which will probably not sit too well with
many modern catechetical developers in the
United States. It is useless, our Holy Father
states, to campaign for the abandonment of
serious and orderly study of the message of
Christ in the name of a method
concentrating on life experience.
H 1 repeatedly insists in the document
that no methodology or approach can
“endanger integrity of content.” He also
states, “In certain places, the desire to find
the best forms of expression or to keep up
with fashions in pedagogical methods has
often enough resulted in certain catechetical
works which bewilder the young and even
adults...” Our magnificent leader even
suggests that the Bishops of the world write
their own catechisms . . . Bravo!
While the Pope’s straight-forwardness is
one of his sterling qualities, another one is
the faculty of listening intently to others.
One biographer wrote of this quality: “Once
a group of lay Catholics button-holed him in
Warsaw and spent two hours pouring out all
their grievances - about theology and the
liturgy, cardinals, bishops and priests, the
Church in the world, the Polish Church and
every local parish. When they’d finished he
simply said: ‘It’s a very good thing for the
faithful to tell their bishops the truth.”
While his qualities, talents and charming
characteristics can be paraded lengthily,
from the written and visual focus of his life,
one can readily discern the primary feature
of his existence is his gift of prayer. The
hours on his knees in front of the Blessed
Sacrament are an example for everyone -- no
matter what the call in life may be.
After his exemplary devotion to Christ in
the Eucharist, comes his unashamed love of
our Blessed Mother. In consecrating his
priesthood to her Immaculate Heart; in his
outward devotion to all of her shrines and
sacramentals in her honor; and now in
leading the rosary over the Vatican Radio
every first Saturday, Karol Wojtyla, man of
destiny, is symbolically crowning the Mother
of Jesus, Queen of humanity and showing us
by prominent example the way to a
Christocentric commitment. In no way does
he confuse the role of Mary in our salvation
but illuminates it in an endearing and
persuasive manner.
“The rosary is my favorite prayer,” he
has told the world and then explained that
in a certain way it is a prayer-commentary
on the last chapter of the Constitution
“Lumen Gentium” of Vatican II, the
chapter which deals with the presence of the
Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and
the Church. It is obvious he is calling for the
praying of the rosary in connection with
world peace and in efforts for
evangelization.
In his letter to all priests last Holy
Thursday, he asked that they consecrate
themselves to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary. When he was in Poland in June, it has
been reported that he signed the petition,
adding his name to that of the Bishops of
Poland, requesting that the Pope call for the
Collegial Consecration of Russia to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is one of
the requests our Lady made at Fatima. Our
Holy Father is aware of the seriousness of
the times and the need for the
implementation of Our Lady’s requests.
We can thank God for giving us this
humble, brilliant man to guide us in this era.
He knows the cross; he knows suffering; he
understands the cravings of the human heart.
He lost his mother at the age of nine; he lost
an older brother and sister; and then at the
age of nineteen, he lost his father, leaving
him from that age with no family.
This man of many gifts yearns to guide us
in the footsteps of Jesus, with his hand and
ours, in Mary’s. May I add my voice to those
of others: “Pope John Paul II, I love you!
Resound... Resound... Resound... Resound
Sister Kane . .
ATLANTA - After some reflection, I
have decided to respond to Teresa
Gernazian’s column regarding Sister Theresa
Kane’s remarks to the Pope.
Throughout the article, it is both stated
and implied that Sister Theresa was rude and
impertinent to the Pope. To me, “rude” and
“impertinent” are terms that one uses when
describing a child who misbehaves. They
should not be applied to one adult who
addresses another in a prayerful, loving and
courageous way, as Sister Theresa did when
speaking to the Pope.
Having read some of the statements
issued after this incident, I wonder how
those who apologized to the Pope felt that
they were doing him a service. John Paul is,
after all, an intelligent adult human being.
As a former Archbishop of Cracow, he has
surely encountered” many people who do not
share his views. Undoubtably he has listened
to opposition with interest, attention and
profound respect for the speaker.
Since he is not a child in need of
protection, it is unlikely that he has ever felt
the need of being smothered with apologies
afterward. We would ali do the Pope a great
service if we treated him as a man who can
dialogue with all people, and not limit his
circle to those who are in total agreement
with him.
KATHLEEN MULCAIIY, GNSH
‘Fuzzy thinking . . .’
ATLANTA - As a weekly reader of your
paper, I find it necessary to write concerning
the column of Ms. Teresa Gemazian.
Her articles reveal fuzzy thinking at best.
Consistently she mistakes dogma for
tradition, her personal assumptions for facts,
and religious periphery for doctrine. Her
theologically unsound comments are an
embarrassment to a Catholic publication.
The resiliency of Christianity in dealing
with cultural change for the past two
thousand years is a major factor in the
survival and growth of the Church. Cultural
constructs, of their very nature, change. For
Ms. Cernazian, they ossify. Concepts of
cultural change are simply not within her
understanding.
In addition, from an educator’s
viewpoint, her articles are sorely in need of
unity and coherence. The organizational
development of her thought lacks logic and
the sentence structures barely qualify as
good English. I cannot help but question her
educational background and qualifications
for retaining the position of writer on your
staff.
It strikes me that her column contributes
to the status of the GEORGIA BULLETIN
as a rather second rate instrument for the
education and spiritual growth of the
Catholic populace. Your people have a right
to more than the religious minutiae she
presents. I would hope that some actions
could be taken to alter this situation.
MARIE CELESTE MILLER
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Spiritual needs . . .
ATHENS - Rude and impertinent? Let us
listen to the spiritual needs of all of those
serving God be they priests, nuns or laymen
- even column writers.
I believe our role is to pray that the Holy
Spirit will continue to guide the changing
“family” and that we always will grow by
respecting one another.
K. ROWAN
Pen-pal wanted . . .
OXFORD, WI -- I am presently
incarcerated in a Federal Prison, and feel
you could help me with my problem. I have
no family and have lost contact with the
outside world. I am in search for pen-pals
and friends to correspond with.
I am 6’3” tall weight 200 lbs., brown
eyes, black hair and black skin. I am
muscular built and enjoy physical fitness and
health orientated things. I enjoy music and
reading. If you would run my letter in your!
paper, I would appreciate it greatly. I’d like
to thank you for your consideration.
MICHAEL YARBROUGH no. 02057-190
BOX 1000
OXFORD, WISCONSIN 53952