Newspaper Page Text
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 28 No. 29
Thursday, August 23, 1990
$15.00 Per Year
West Escalated Crisis,
Say Torn Arab-Americans
image of a strong Arab
state to a people who for
decades have felt power
less to control their own
destiny in the face of
Western interests.
Kuwait, on the other
hand, was unpopular, some
said. It was considered a
selfish nation run by an
autocratic family installed
by Britain and spoiled by
its oil wealth. One Arab--
American called it a "Dis
neyland" held together
only by money.
Hussein might not have
the stature of Gamal Abdel
Nasser, the late Egyptian
leader who personified the
dream of pan-Arab unity,
they said, but he is the
only leader of the region
who has thus far ap
proached that rank in the
view of average Arabs.
Hussein and Iraq are
also seen as standing alone
against Iran for eight
bloody years, and are
respected for it. Iran, al
though Muslim, is not an
Arab country. There has
been an historic enmity
between the Iranians and
the Arab world.
Arabs in the Middle
East feel that the West’s
only interest is in their oil,
not in promoting Arab
independence or economic
development, according to
those interviewed by CNS.
(Continued on page 9)
Georgia USO
Works Nights
BY RITA McINERNEY
At twilight, military vehicles began lining up in
precise rows in the parking lot. By midnight, the
large area would be filled and soldiers traveling in
the convoy would be catching a few hours sleep on
the floor of the adjacent large gymnasium.
This is Fort Gillem in Forest Park, a stopover for
men and women of the 101st Airborne Division
from Fort Campbell, Ky., heading for Saudi Arabia
by way of the seaport at Jacksonville, Fla.
Soldiers were tired, hot and thirsty as they began
arriving in small groups about 7 p.m., Aug. 17.
They perked up on learning there were cool drinks
and snacks available for them in the small USO
room off the gym.
After setting up shop as soon as the military
convoys began moving south from Fort Campbell,
on Aug. 15, the USO staff and volunteers were on
duty until early morning hours for several nights.
For soldiers feeding on field rations, it was a wel
come sight.
Mary Lou Austin, executive director of the USO
of Georgia, Inc., directed the quickly-organized
effort. Her usual area of operations is the USO
center at Hartsfield International Airport. Here the
non-profit international organization is open every
day to assist military personnel and their families.
She said businesses and individuals responded
immediately when it was known convoys of Opera-
continued on page 9)
BY BILL PRITCHARD
Laghi Calls Marino Case "Human Tragedy"
CNS AND GEORGIA BULLETIN STAFF REPORTS
ROME (CNS) - Archbishop Eugene Marino "is the
victim of a human tragedy" resulting from his pastoral
willingness to aid people in need, said Archbishop Pio
Laghi, Vatican official involved in choosing Archbishop
Marino as the first black archbishop in the United States.
He was the "right choice" in 1988 to head the Atlanta
Archdiocese, and the current controversy surrounding him
will not hinder the naming of blacks to high U.S. church
posts, he said.
An interview with Archbishop Laghi appeared in the
Aug. 19 Rome daily newspaper, La Repubblica. It was the
first public statement by a Vatican official on the Arch
bishop Marino case.
Archbishop Laghi has refused other requests for
interviews about Archbishop Marino, who resigned as
head of the Atlanta Archdiocese because of an intimate
relationship with a woman.
Archbishop Laghi was the pope’s representative to the
United States from December 1980 until this summer.
Papal nuncios are responsible for suggesting candidates to
the Vatican to fill vacant sees. Currendy, Archbishop
Laghi is head of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic
Education.
Archbishop Marino’s pastoral concerns made him
"vulnerable" to an emotional human relationship from
which he could not escape, said Archbishop Laghi.
The case shows that bishops are not immune to human
feelings as they pastorally minister to many different
people, said Archbishop Laghi.
"But when the heart enters in the sphere of vulnerabili
ty, things become more difficult, even for a bishop. It’s
something human," he added.
"Let’s pray for him and for his forgiveness," he said.
Archbishop Laghi defended the naming of Archbishop
Marino to Atlanta.
"It was the right choice. This was shown by the great
enthusiastic welcome he received from the faithful of
Atlanta," he said.
Regarding increased leadership positions for U.S. black
bishops, "the road started with Archbishop Marino will not
be interrupted," said Archbishop Laghi.
In Atlanta, Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, called upon
the media to “exercise responsible journalism and to
(Continued on page 6)
AMERICAN SOLDIERS - U.S. soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., prepare
to board transport planes that will carry them to Saudi Arabia. Catholics
throughout America, responding to President Bush’s request, have offered
prayers for peace in the Middle East, for continued international
cooperation, and for members of the U.S. armed forces and their families.
(CNS photo from UPI)
WASHINGTON (CNS)
- Arab-Americans, both
Catholic and Muslim,
expressed frustration and
tom feelings over the U.S.
response to Iraq’s takeover
of tiny, oil-rich Kuwait
and the powerful Arab
state’s alleged threat to
Saudi Arabia.
In telephone interviews
with Catholic News Ser
vice they wondered why
their government reacted
so strongly and swiftly to
Saddam Hussein’s invasion
of its tiny neighbor, yet
raised no similar fuss over
Israel’s 1982 invasion of
Lebanon or its occupation
of Gaza and the West
Bank.
At the same time, they
emphasized they are citi
zens of the United States
and loyal to their country.
They said they hope for a
peaceful ending to the
U.S.-Iraq face-off.
They also said that
while many Arabs might
not approve of Iraqi presi
dent Saddam Hussein’s
action or like him person
ally, Iraq has the welcome