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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1987)
The Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Vol. 25 No. 29 ( Thursday, August 20, 1987 $12.00 Per Year Archbishop's Illness Prompts Election Of Administrator BY GRETCHEN KEISER The representative to the Vatican in the United States has been informed that Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, because of his illness, is unable at this time to fulfill his pastoral role as archbishop of Atlanta. The decision about this was made August 7 by the College of Consultors of the archdiocese, a group of priests who are a special advisory body to the archbishop and who have this responsibility under a particular provision of church law. The Consultors acted after receiving a medical report from doctors who have cared for Archbishop Donnellan since he suffered a stroke May 1. The medical assessment led them to conclude that “the physical condition of the Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan, Archbishop of Atlan ta, has deteriorated so that he is presently unable to fulfill his pastoral function fully." Under canon law, which guides the Church, the Con sultors then elected a diocesan administrator who will lead the archdiocese during this time when the archbishop is unable to carry out his duties. They elected Monsignor John F. McDonough, the vicar general of the archdiocese, who has been acting on behalf of the archbishop in leadership since May. The election took place Aug. 14. His new title of diocesan administrator carries different authority and additional power to carry out the daily work of the Church in the archdiocese. However, it is by its nature a temporary position of authority until such time as the archbishop is able to resume the work of his office or the Holy See makes other provision for the pastoral leadership of the archdiocese. Monsignor McDonough, as a member of the College of Consultors, took part in the Aug. 7 meeting, but was out of town on Aug. 14 when he was elected administrator. In a telephoned statement given through the chancellor, Father Peter Ludden, Monsignor McDonough said, “I have accepted my election by the College of Consultors to the task of governing the archdiocese during Archbishop Don- nellan’s illness. “I am conscious, however, of the heavy responsibility in volved and ask the people and clergy of the archdiocese the favor of a remembrance in their prayers for me and especially for our archbishop’s full restoration to health.” In his own statement, Father Ludden said that “as (Continued on page 11) Consultors' Statement On August 7, 1987, the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese, having reviewed a report of the attend ing physicians, concluded that the physical condi tion of the Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan, Archbishop of Atlanta, has deteriorated so that he is presently unable to fulfill his pastoral function fully. The Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States was advised of this decision. In accordance with the provi sions of the Code of Canon Law, canon 413, the College met on August 14, 1987 and elected Monsignor John F. McDonough, P.A., V.G., as Diocesan Adminis trator. Given in Atlanta, Georgia, August 14,1987 For the College of Consultors, Reverend E. Peter Ludden Chancellor Reverend Edward J. Dillon, J.C.D. Ecclesiastical Notary Warning: Arrive Early In Columbia COLUMBIA, S.C. — Travelers coming to Columbia for the Sept. 11 visit of Pope John Paul II are being advised to arrive no later than 1 p.m. even though the pope's arrival is later. H. Arthur Brown, papal visit transporta tion coordinator for the host Diocese of Charleston, said time elements are very critical. Early surveys indicate that travelers coming by bus or automobile have not planned to arrive early enough. The stadium site for the 6:30 p.m. inter faith prayer service will open its gates at 2 p.m. and gates will close at 4 p.m. for securi ty reasons and crowd control. Each person entering the stadium will have to go through a magnetometer (a physical searching device similar to that at airports) as well as a search of any items they are carrying. Magnetometers are not X-ray machines and will not damage film, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Parking for buses and automobiles will be allowed at the state fair grounds near the stadium. Those holding tickets to the stadium will receive passes allowing them to park there on a first-come, first-served basis. Crowds swelling along the route of a papal motorcade may cause some crosstown (Continued on page 11) • Edmonton CANADA San Francisco Detroit Montere' Carmel ^vlos Angeles Phoenix UNITED STATES Columbia New Orleans Sarr Antonio m Miami MEXICO Millions Ready For Pope's Visit BY JERRY FILTEAU WASHINGTON (NC) - Of the millions of Ameri cans who turn out to see Pope John Paul II in person on his U.S. tour Sept. 10-19, a lucky few many get close enough to exchange a word or a handshake with the pontiff or catch an instant of eye contact and a warm papal smile directed at them. For many more the big gest excitement of the papal visit may be seeing the pope from a distance and hearing him speak, or participating in a Mass celebrated by him. Tens of millions of Amer icans will probably remem ber the visit mainly from the times they see the pope on television, either live or on the evening news. But for Catholics who are looking for a deeper level of moral or spiritual inspira tion from the man who leads their church, the papal visit offers a rare op portunity to share in what could be a kind of nation wide spiritual retreat — a chance to pray and reflect, in the course of 10 days, on many of the most signifi cant aspects of their faith commitment and their life in the church. As the holder of the chair of Peter and a source and symbol of worldwide Cath olic unity, the pope com mands a thoughtful hear ing even from those who (Continued on page 12) COMING BACK — Pope John Paul II will make a return visit to the United States Sept. 10-19 to visit Miami; Columbia, S.C.; New Orleans; San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles; Monterey and Carmel, Calif.; San Francisco and Detroit. He will wind up his trip with a brief stop in Fort Simpson in Canada’s Northwest Territories on Sept. 20. (NC map by Michele Grandison Smith) Pope s North American Tourl Fort Simpson
