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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1987)
PAGE 4 — The Georgia Bulletin, February 19, 1987 STATEMENT Teenagers Need An Advocate The state Senate has passed a bill that would require unmarried teens under 18 to provide some proof that one of their parents is aware they are seeking an abortion. The bill now moves to the House Judiciary Committee and then to the full House for action. It is not, in anyone’s mind, a simple resolution to the painful difficulties of teenage pregnancy. But it is, despite familiar arguments to the con trary, more concerned for teenagers and their well-being than the present situation of simply letting them proceed without the advocacy of their family. Arguments against requiring that parents be notified of a minor's planned abortion focus on the difficulties that teenagers can have talking honestly to their parents. They also focus on ex treme cases where parents are irresponsible. However, these arguments imply that there is some “painless" way to proceed when a teenager becomes pregnant. That “painless” route is, of course, abortion. In fact, the situation is difficult, the position the young person is in is a painful one. and the teenager needs all the mature, responsible assistance she can get. She needs the help of people who love her and can advise her appropriately. Strangers do not fit the bill. Neither do people who are in the abortion business, whether they are in it for what they consider to be humane reasons or not. In all other cases we admit that medical pro cedures can have serious, even life-changing consequences, and that parents have every right and responsibility to know what is being prescribed for their children and if any kind of surgical procedure is being considered. In the case of abortion, we suddenly flip-flop and say it is “compassionate” to let teenaged girls proceed on their own, despite the evidence that abortion has lasting effects on the mental, spiritual and physical well-being of women. This bill does not require a parent's consent, but simply provides a means for them to know if their daughter is seeking an abortion. It deserves support because of the ways in which it will aid some young people in the difficult situation of teenage pregnancy. They need advocates. --GRK RESOUND Songs From The Heart To the Editor: I have to agree with Antoinette Bosco that beautiful music played with style and skill is a joy to the ear. When I attend a concert I would expect, and accept, nothing less than this perfection. When I go to church, however, there is another kind of joy I seek. Beautiful music can certainly be a part of it. but words of praise sung from the heart can bring a joy to the soul regardless of the ability of the singers. Several weeks ago I visited in a military church in south Georgia. The choir was a handful of untrained voices, volunteers from this transient congregation. The accom paniment was non-existent — the organist wasn’t there. Yet, when the congregation joined with these few willing leaders and raised their voices with the words, “Speak. Lord, I’m listening, plant your words down deep in me,” a feeling arose in me, a closeness to God, that could never be achieved by listening to even the greatest organist and choir. My own small mission church in Madison could never af ford an organist or trained singers. Our humble group has little skill, but we make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Our ef forts are appreciated by all because they inspire others to praise God in song, whatever their abilities may be. Judy O'Rourke Madison Prison Chaplain Saluted To the Editor: I am an inmate at the Jackson Diagnostic Center in Jackson, Georgia. I wanted to write to you to salute and acknowledge the work that Father Tony Green of the Man chester parish, has done for us and especially for me. There are quiet people in our lives who through their love and devotion have gone unnoticed. I had been raised a Catholic in Detroit, Michigan and completed a Catholic education through my college years. Somewhere in my twenties I fell away from the Church for what now seems to be very trivial. I led a Christian life as best as I could, but made a serious mistake over a year ago that caused me to be imprisoned as I am now. My time in here will be short, but when I arrived here I was informed of Catholic services that were available to us. I attended my first Mass here at the prison, and I cannot recollect when the last time was. I had no idea what to expect. The first two times 1 attended were very difficult for me. Memories came up inside of me and the tears tried their best to pour out. I had been a good Catholic for so many years and now I stood looking back at all those empty days and months that I had missed by turning my back on Catholicism. Needless to say the pain that went through me was so unbearable, but through the grace of God and the guidance of Father Tony I have now been able to make my life full again... My blessings and prayers reach for Father Tony and I want to thank him for what he has done for me and some ol the men in here. He doesn't give up. He believes in us as God's people. I thank him for this and I know the handful ol the men in here applaud Father Tony's good work. Arthur I. Olszewski EF 200079 Jackson An Alternative For Life To the Editor: Today, 1 received Life Issues which is published by the Georgia Right to Life Committee, Inc. It noted the change in the date to march for life, which was cancelled due to weather. How many times will it be that those concerned have marched to the State Capitol steps? Does this year make it 14 times, or is it the crystal anniversary of legalized abortion'’ How many times and how many miles must a man walk before the sanctity of life message is understood by our governmental leaders?... Might I suggest that we think about the Giver of Life, if we want this plea to be answered. The government is not the Giver of Life, God is. It is He who has the right to give, and to take away. As a Catholic, I would put forth this alternative to the walk for life... Let us open our doors of God’s dwelling place to our non- Catholic laity, to believe in the power of the Sword of the Word of God, and the strength of common intercessory prayer and fight this cause on the battlefield where it originated. Let us storm heaven and evoke our petition to Our Lord and the Church Triumphant through the power of love and life in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, the recitation of the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, Adoration and Benediction with recitation of the full rosary, fifteen decades. Our non-Catholic laity should welcome to join us in the spirit of ecumenism, which we Catholics have endeavored to extend to them with our acceptance and participation in their invitations to us to join them in their worship services. This is an invitation to them to pray with us in the most universal way, for life. Yes, this is a challenge, it is a challenge to perfection. It is the challenge that Christ calls us to, to love to sacrifice for His Love. This holy battle plan would take about an hour and a half... Is an hour and a half of prayer too much to ask of the faithful, or are we a people who pay lip service? Many of us have spent hours in the labor room preparing for birth of our children. Many have waited and prayed for hours in the waiting room in expectancy of meeting face to face God's special gift to us, our children, His children. Ponder it, and pray. Are we a weak or strong nation of faith in our crucified and risen Lord? Kristine C. Kravis Ac worth The Week In Review NAMES AND PLACES — Bishop Thomas V. Daily of Palm Beach. Fla., has been elected the ninth supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant announced Feb. 13. Bishop Daily, 59, suc ceeds Bishop Charles P. Greco of Alexandria-Shreveport, La., who died Jan. 20 and had been supreme chaplain for 26 years. Bishop Daily, the second bishop to hold the position in the 1.4 million-member association, was elected at a meeting in New York of the Knights’ board of directors. Bishop Daily’s father, the late John F. Daily, was state deputy of the Knights in Maine in 1918-21 and then worked full time for the association for 33 years as a program con sultant. CITING STRESS and fatigue. Bishop Lawrence H. Welsh has taken a leave of absence from his duties as head of the Spokane, Wash., diocese. He left Spokane Feb. 3 to check in to a church-related facility for an indefinite period of treat ment of stress, the diocese announced. During his absence, the vicar general of the diocese will handle his respon sibilities. Bishop Welsh, 52, who was named a bishop in 1978, chaired the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Vocations until November 1986 and has serv ed on the bishops' Administrative Committee, which super vises activities of the conference. He has been involved in a variety of social justice and church projects since becom ing bishop of Spokane. He was also among those who public ly expressed concern last year about the case of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle. ***** AROUND THE NATION — Pro-lifers have split over ma jor new legislation proposed by the Reagan administration to bar federal funding of abortion and to bar funding of family planning agencies that support abortion. The pro posal also states that the Constitution provides no right to abortion. The proposed legislation is considered to carry President Reagan’s specific endorsement and contain his own views. It is expected to be introduced in Congress sometime in mid-February. Specifically the bill declares that Congress “finds" that: “Scientific evidence demonstrates that abortion takes the life of an unborn child who is a living human being”; “a right to abortion is not secured by the Constitution"; and “the Supreme Court er red in not recognizing the humanity of the unborn child and the compelling interest of the several states to protect the life of each person before birth." It also mandates that no federal funds may be Used for abortions except where the life of the mother is endangered and no federal funds may be awarded by grants or contracts to groups providing abortions or referrals except where the life of the mother is endangered. Douglas Johnson of National Right to Life Committee said the federal government already has the right under existing law to deny funds to groups like Plan ned Parenthood and that the bill would be referred to "dead end committees" where it would die. Correction In the article about the Southeast Center for Justice which appeared in the Feb. 5 issue of The Georgia Bulletin, Kathy McNulty was identified as being a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Marietta. This is incorrect, she is a member of Holy Family Church in Marietta. (USPS) 574880 Catholic• Archdiocese of Atlanta Business Office U S A. $12.00 680 West Peachtree, N. W. Canada $ 12.50 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Foreign $14.00 Phone. 888-7832 Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan Publisher Gretchen R. Keiser Editor Rita Mclnerney Associate Editor DEADLINE: All material for publication must be received by MONDAY NOON for Thursday's paper. Postmaster: Send POD Form 3579 to THE GEORGIA BULLETIN 601 East Sixth Street, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Send all editorial correspondence to THE GEORGIA BULLETIN 680 West Peachtree Street N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Second Class 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 East Sixth St., Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
