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PAGE 10 — The Georgia Bulletin, October 12, 1989 Convention Postscript Bishop Says Bingo, Fairs Enemies Of Stewardship BY FLORENCE L. HERMAN council for supporting the concept of Chris- NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — Church fund raisers gathered in New Orleans were told by a bishop they should be rid of “gam bling money” and by a priest that the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter on economic justice “hung an albatross around the necks of diocesan administrators.” More than 600 people attended the Na tional Catholic Development and Steward ship Conference in New Orleans. The meeting was the annual joint convention of the National Catholic Development Con ference and the National Catholic Stewardship Council. Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux of Houma- Thibodaux, La., said the two enemies of good stewardship were bingo and fairs. “We are supporting our church with gambling money,” he said. “We have to get rid of bingo and fairs or people will never have a proper relationship with God.” Three years ago Bishop Boudreaux gave his parishes five years to stop using bingo and 10 years to discontinue fairs as money raising methods. “I don’t know how I got the courage to do it,” he said, “but the people in my diocese have completely supported it.” Tithing, the bishop said, was an obliga tion of early Christians to give their first fruits to the church. And the Council of Trent in the 16th century addressed the issue, he said, “which shows that it is not a Protestant concept.” “Tradition proves tithing is a part of Catholic morality in conscience,” he said, and unless Catholics learn proper steward ship “we are lacking an element in our relationship with God.” In his address Msgr. Joseph Champlin, a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y., told meeting-goers that “when the U.S. bishops issued their pastoral on the economy, and called for just salaries, they hung an albatross around the necks of diocesan administrators.” Msgr. Champlin, an author and retreat master, spoke at a luncheon at which he accepted an award from the stewardship tian stewardship. “How can you pay just salaries, how can you evangelize, how can you support the Third World,” he asked, “when there is not money?” „ “Catholics on average make $1,000 more a year than Protestants, yet give only 1.2 percent to the church, while Protestants give 2.2 percent,” Msgr. Champlin said. “The potential is there, and we need to develop it.” Xavier University President Norman Francis questioned the belief that funds can be raised when needs are great. “Successful development is a byproduct of good management,” Francis said. “The organization must make sure the development concept is appropriate, and that the concept is understood by everybody,” he said. “And fund raising is a team effort in which everyone raises funds for the same objective.” He warned against allowing parts of an institution to raise funds individually for their own needs. During the Sept. 18-21 meeting, the Na tional Catholic Development Conference gave its Good Samaritan award to Sale- sian Father Lawrence Bohnen, who organized an educational system and pro vided food for children living in the slums of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he has worked for 31 years. Father Bohnen runs 140 “mini-schools,” four central schools and one technical school, and provided more than 17,000 hot meals a day to the children. Commissioner Andrew S. Miller, na tional commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, received the develop ment organization’s distinguished service award for contributions he has made to “the cause of religious and charitable fund raising in the spirit of Jesus Christ.” The National Catholic Development Con ference, based in Hempstead, N.Y., works with organizations and the religious com munity, and the National Catholic Stewardship Council, in Washington, is made up of representatives of dioceses. Chicago tusrt iiocesar. irchl;,; 0 VOLUNTEERS — Anne Moore of St. Oliver Plunkett, Snellville, seated, and Margaret Norris of Sacred Heart in Atlanta, standing, are briefed by Sally Harrs, program director for NCCW in the communica tions room. Justice Quits In Abortion Case WASHINGTON (CNS) — Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced Oct. 2 that he would not par ticipate in deliberations over an upcoming Illinois abortion law case. Also Oct. 2, the court announced the schedule for arguments on abortion cases and a so-called right-to-die case to be con sidered this term. Stevens did not specify the reasons for absenting himself from court action in Turnock vs. Ragsdale, involving Illinois abortion clinic restrictions. His plan was announced on a routine list of upcoming court business and confirmed by Supreme Court public information of ficer Toni House. Stevens, considered a firm vote for abor tion rights in Supreme Court cases, is a former Chicago lawyer. Court judges often excuse themselves from cases that involve acquaintances or other connections from their earlier professional life. Also Oct. 2, the first day of its 1989-90 . term, the court listed the dates for arguments in the Turnock case and others it will hear this year. On Nov. 29, the court will hear oral « arguments in Ohio vs. Akron Center for Reproductive Health and Hodgson vs. Min nesota, both involving state laws that demanded notification of parents before 5 teen-age girls get abortions. The Ohio case will be heard at 10 a.m. EST and the Hodgson case at 11 a.m. EST. The Turnock case, dealing with three * separate statutes regulating abortion clinic activities, will be debated in oral arguments at 10 a.m. EST Dec. 5. p On Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. EST, the court will hear arguments in Cruzan vs. Harmon, in volving a request from Lester and Joyce Cruzan to remove feeding tubes from their ^ comatose 32-year-old daughter, Nancy Beth Cruzan. The latter is described as be ing in a “persistent vegetative state” following a 1983 auto accident. * M iian fa, nad?v he[,- CELEBRANT — Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, celebrant of the Sept. 28 liturgy, is shown with two delegates attending the National Council of Catholic Women convention in Atlanta. KEYNOTER — Sister Thea Bowman is shown while addressing the convention as it opened Sept. 28. Women from the audience surround her. that ’iK; Slbeska % in!" in tonics •Isas Met whether Wll’St Hi an at; The 1 Mid those so fc«n tedtti Hsu in Sc* * Some with”- (TOT: * state.» tat WH Usivert ►Arts
