Newspaper Page Text
"TSUI
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 28 NO. 41
Thursday, November 22, 1990
$15.00 Per Year
FIELDING QUESTIONS - Baseball was a
topic, as was women’s ordination and girl altar
servers, when Bishop James Lyke met informally
Advent: Do We
BY BISHOP JAMES P. LYKE, OFM
My dear sisters and brothers:
As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, and
as we look forward to the beginning of Advent next week,
it occurs to me that this is the time for all of us to do
some soul-searching with regard to how we allow Christ
to come into our hearts and homes as our King and Lord.
This is not an easy task, but it is one that the celebration
of the leadership of Christ urges us to undertake.
Announcement
Most Reverend James P. Lyke, OFM, Ph.D.,
apostolic administrator of Atlanta, announces the
following priestly assignment:
Reverend Edward D. Branch, priest of the Dio
cese of Louisville, Kentucky, most recently serving
in the Office of Campus Ministry at Catholic Uni
versity and completing his doctoral studies at How
ard University in Washington, to campus minister at
the Catholic Center of the Atlanta University Com
plex in Atlanta, effective November 16.
In addition, Bishop Lyke announces the Incardina-
tion to the Archdiocese of Atlanta of Reverend
Francis Pham Van Phuong, effective November 16.
with youth and parents of the archdiocese Nov.
18. See story on page 6.
Choose Christ?
In my own life, I am daily made aware of the some
times big difference between what I intend to do and what
I end up doing. In the best of lives there should be no
difference between the two, but we believe that our
natures can never attain good on their own, but only with
the sustaining assistance of Christ.
At this time of year we recall Christ’s actual and
physical coming among us. We renew our belief in the
gift of God, by which He comes among us in the flesh.
The mystery of this union relights our faith, and revives
in us a sense of our own “saveability.”
We also close the current liturgical year, celebrating on
the last Sunday of Ordinary Time the feast proclaiming
Christ’s kingship over heaven and earth. This is the Christ
Who is to come at the end of time, and Who will meet
and judge us face to face. Let us renew our acquaintance
with Him, and refocus our love towards Him as we
consider some aspects of our life within.
When we buy something new, something that has to be
assembled - a kitchen appliance, for instance, or toys for
the children - our usual course of action is to study the
diagrams, assemble the parts, and put the finished product
into use.
In many ways, this same process governs the manner in
which we pursue our inner spiritual lives. As we arise
each day, we put Christ on, choosing Him as our leader,
(Continued on page 5)
Church Leaders
Military Option
Opposed In Gulf
BY JERRY FILTEAU
WASHINGTON (CNS) ~ The U.S. bishops, the pope
and other religious leaders, while continuing to condemn
Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and holding of civilian hostages,
have urged a path of caution and diplomacy in response to
the crisis.
In Washington, the U.S. bishops Nov. 12 endorsed a
letter arguing against use of military force except as a "last
resort" after all peaceful means of resolving the conflict
have been exhausted.
In another letter to President Bush Nov. 15, Archbishop
Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, president of the Nation
al Conference of Catholic Bishops, warned that ‘‘clear
moral criteria must be met to justify the use of military
force.”
(Continued on page 7)
Bishops Call Drugs
'Urgent Crisis'
BY INES PINTO ALICEA
WASHINGTON (CNS) - By a 221-3 vote Nov. 13, the
U.S. bishops approved a pastoral message that addresses
the nation’s dnig and alcohol abuse plight and calls for
bringing "the values of our faith to this urgent crisis."
Titled "New Slavery, New Freedom: A Pastoral Message
on Substance Abuse," the document was developed by the
U.S. Catholic Conference committees on Domestic Policy
and International Policy after the committees sponsored two
listening sessions last January and June with lawmakers,
recovering addicts and drug abuse experts.
The 18-page document said it "seeks to offer a word of
compassion and support to those struggling with substance
abuse and a call to our church and to bring the values of
our faith to this urgent crisis."
Archbishop Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles, head of
the Committee on International Policy, in presenting the
document said, "This message is not a declaration of war,
but an expression of faith, a word of hope and a call to
action."
Bishop James W. Malone of Youngstown, Ohio, heads
the Domestic Policy Committee.
Archbishop Mahony said the bishops’ conference was
opposed to legalization of drugs, but added that government
and business leaders need to focus more on prevention,
education and treatment.
"The bishops also do not believe that we can make major
inroads into drug trafficking unless we address the
underlying problems of poverty, unemployment and
hopelessness existing in too many neighborhoods,"
Archbishop Mahony said.
Bishop James P. Lyke, apostolic administrator of Atlanta,
praised the document and said it was an important piece
of work.
"This problem of drugs undermines all else we are trying
(Continued on page 5)