Texas Gulf Coast Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 55, Ed. 1 Friday, May 7, 1971 Page: 1 of 26
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MAY - THE MONTH OF MARY <RNS>
Celibate Priesthood In Latin Church
Is Upheld By The American Bishops
DETROIT (RNS - The American Catholic
of a celibate priesthood as they ended their
Spring meeting in Detroit.
A discussion of optional celibacy, which
some bishops wanted, did not take place.
John Cardinal Dearder; of Detroit,
president of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops (NBBC), said:
“The consensus on the general issue of
celibacy and the priesthood is clearly in favor
of searching for and expecting the charism of
celibacy to be possessed by a person who
presents himself for ordination."
According to Cardinal Dearden, the bishops
generally thought the possibility of ordaining
married men should be “explored and studied
further.”
That action, plus others - including the
election of prelates as U.S. delegates to the
World Synod of Bishops in Rome this fall --
was seen by some observers as indicating
continuatio of a conservative trend within the
NCCB.
Celibacy was the big issue of the three-day
meeting. The agenda called for discussion of
the priestly life and world justice.
When the bishops ended their meeting, they
accepted a report of the discussions held by
the NCCB’s 11 geographical regions which
indicated -the general thinking of the 270
prelates.
Hie report said that of the nine regions
which talked specifically about celibacy, all
“agreed that the present discipline should be
maintained in the Latin Church."
Seven regions thought that the general
aspects of celibacy should be “openly
discussed" at the Fall meeting of the world’s
bishops in Rome.
Cardinal Dearden said he thought that
optional celibacy, a topic avoided by the
bishops, would come up at the Rome meeting
“in one way or another.”
"The general theme of celibacy and
priesthood opens up anything that affects the
charism of priestly life,” he said, adding that
the bishops recognized it is not good to con-
tinue in the present state of tension.
Asked if there was any formal mandate to
the delegates to the World Synod to express
the opinions of priests on celibacy, the car-
dinal said that in the report of regional
meetings the recommendation was made to
tell the Synod not only of the bishops’ at-
titudes but the ”de facto situation which
exists in the U.S. concerning this topic.”
Cardinal Dearden said that while an NCCB-
commisskmed survey of priests' attitudes
showed that most wanted the right to marry,
few would marry if they had the opportunity.
"The focal point here is freedom.” said the
cardinal. "They are not opposed to celibacy
as such, but they are concerned about the
extrinsic imposition that curtails their per-
sonal liberty.”
The survey of priestly life, which the
bishops authorized in 1967 and portions of
which were recently released, showed a wide
divergence of opinion between the priests and
the publicly stated stands of the American
bishops on such issues as optional celibacy,
artificial birth control, divorce and marriage.
Those survey results were discussed by the
bishops, as was a Vatican document on the
priestly life which will be the basis for
discussion at the Rome meeting. The Vatican
schema, in contrast to the survey, holds to the
traditional Church views about the nature and
function of the priesthood.
Cardinal Dearden said there was "no
question of choosing” between either the
survey or the Vatican document by the
bishops.
"We see the celibacy issue in a perspective
somewhat broader," he said. "We are sen-
sitive to the^ priestly feelings but we see the
issue in a broader way."
The cardinal said a committee probably
would be named at the next board meeting of
the NCCB Administrative Committee to
further refine the summary report of the 11
regions.
He also said a suggestion by Terence
Cardinal Cooke of New York, that regional
whole world,” he said. "We recognize our
moral responsibility to address ourselves to
these issues. We recognize the moral anguish
to address ourselves to these issues. We
recognize the moral anguish over Vietnam
and other areas of strife and tension in the
world."
During the press briefing following the
conclusion of the NCCB meeting, Cardinal
Dearden said it is up to the U.S. delegates to
reflect in Rome the American bishops’
thinking, “clearly, openly and candidly."
He added that the input for that thought
came from various sources: the surveys of
priestly life; the Vatican document and other
surveys.
He indicated that this material would be
shared with the other bishops attending the
Synod and that the Americans would foe open
to other viewpoints.
Before the bishops adjourned their meeting
here, official confirmation came from Rome
of the election of the four delegates to the
world synod.
They are: Cardinal Dearden; John Car-
dinal Carberry of St. Louis; John Cardinal
Krol of Philadelphia; and Archbishop Leo
Byrne of St. Paul-Minneapolis.
At the conclusion of the meeting, still
awaiting confirmation was the election of two
alternate delegates: Archbishop Joseph T.
McGucken of San Francisco and Archbishop
John F. Whealon of Hartford, Conn
texas gulf coast
CATHOL I C
Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
Friday, May 7, 1971 Vol. VI No. 55
From The Bishop’s Desk)
I
..................|
L ---------J came, namely, to speak personally with the
priests and to exchange ideas concerning the
Congregation over which he presides and the
relationship between that Congregation and
the individual priests laboring in the vineyard
of the Lord.
During this coming October, a Synod will be
held at the Vatican to give special attention to
the ministerial priesthood and to encourage
those of our splendid priests who have
remained faithful to their duties. Each
Conference of Bishops from around the world
will send representatives. Last week in
Detroit, we elected Cardinals Dearden and
Krol and Carberry and Archbishop Leo Byrne
to represent the priests of the United States.
Hie two alternates chosen were Archbishop
Joseph McGucken of San Francisco and
Archbishop John Whealon of Hartford, Conn.
In the meantime, we shall not cease to pray
for our beloved Holy Father, Pope Paul VI—
the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth—that he
may continue to be the recipient of God’s
special graces which enable him to guide the
Church and keep it from error.
27, i97i, w01‘be ‘ramraed in
the history of the Diocese of Corpus Christi as
one of special importance. On that day, His
Eminence, John Cardinal Wright, the Prefect
of the Congregation for the Clergy, with
headquarters in Rome, came to visit the
Bishop and bis Hock.
The ooncelebrated Maas at the Cathedral
drew an overflowing crowd including clergy,
religious. Papal honorees and a fine escort of
the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
hi an address to two thousand persons, a
few days later in San Antonio, the Cardinal
made reference to this wonderful gathering—
to the devotion of all the faithful who received
Holy Communion at the Mass and especially
to the "delightful and beautiful” children
whom he had met at the Corpus Christi
Cathedral.
Later, on the day of his visit with us, His
Eminence was the special guest of the priests
of the two dioceses of Corpus Christi and
Brownsville at a luncheon which was served
at the Officers’ Club of thegNaval Air Station.
It gave him the opportunity for which he
I
Bishop’s Schedule
Mays-ll;49a.m.
Bless St. Vincent de Paul Store No. 2.
May 14 -5:39 p.m.
Graduation ceremonies, Corpus Christi
Minor Seminary, Corpus Christi
May 14-7:44 p.m.
Attend installation ceremonies Diocesan
CYO officers in Corpus Christi
May 17-14
Attend Annual Convention of Texas State
Knights of Columbus, Brownsville, Texas
May 25 - 8:99 p.m.
Attend Graduation ceremonies. Incarnate
Word Academy, Corpus Christi
May 27
Attend installation ceremonies Bishop Jo!in
FitzPatrick, Brownsville
May 24-4:94 p.m.
Offer Mass; bless Mutualista Hall, St.
Martin’s Church, Kingsville
June 2-11:15 a.m.
Offer Mass - Workshop * Corpus Christi
Minor Seminary
June 8-11
Attend Sessions Summer School of
Christian A postdate in Corpus Christi
June9-li:00a.m.
Offer Mass - Workshop - Corpus Christi
Minor Seminary
June 13-11:40 a,m.
Offer Mass - Workshop - Corpus Christi
Minor Seminay, Officiate ceremonies Feast
of Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Attend Diocesan
Ultreya, Coliseum and Cathedral
June 15-6:00 p.m.
Preside at Mass - Silver Sacerdotal An-
niversary - Fr. Damian Hayes - Fremont
June 16-7:00 p.m.
Preside at Mass - Silver Sacerdotal An-
niversary Fr. Jose Navarro- Christ the King -
Laredo
June29 -4:40p.m.
Officiate Ordination to priesthood of Rev.
Thomas Piet on, C.Ss.R. - Rockport.
Lay Assembly
Discusses Church
Problems
Alice - The Alice Deanery Lay Assembly
met in St. Elizabeth’s auditorium on the
evening of April 29. The Lay Assembly in-
cludes representatives from each of the
parishes in the Alice Deanery. Dr. Mike
Speed of Kingsville is chairman, Mrs. Helen
Gillespie of Alice is secretary. Mrs. Vickie
Reyes of Alice is public relations chairman.
Items discussed included Campaign HOPE,
a Diocesan funding program which helps to
support a number of diocesan projects such
as Catholic Charities, Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Catholic Schools; a
diocesan financial report, the Human
Development program, an orientation
program to acquaint Catholic lay people with
the-structure of the Parish Council, Deanery
Lay Assembly and the Pastoral Council, a
discussion of the need to voice opinions
concerning the current abortion bill and the
bill to give State aid to non-public schools and
others.
Mrs. Geraldine Kuntscher of Kingsville,
and Walter Friedrichs of Alice both spoke on
the organization and structure of parish
councils in their areas.
Much attention was focused on whether or
not the Diocese of Corpus Christi should have
parallel committees of Spanish Speaking
personnel to match each of the Diocesan
divisions. The unanimous decision was that
the present programs could suffice all needs
but that a Spanish Speaking committee could
form sub-committees to disperse information
and help to build better understanding con-
cerning all areas and interests. "Each
Diocesan division at present is wet!
represented with people from all ethnic
groups;” stated Dr. Speed.
Attending the meeting were: Mrs.
Gillespie, Walter Friedrichs, Mrs. Reyes,
Miss El da Trejo, Mrs. Evangeiina Hinojosa,
and Pedro Garcia, ail of Alice.
Mauricio Gonzales of Benavides; Mrs.
Celia Villarreal, Ernesto Fierros of
Falfurrias, Mrs. Kuntscher, Dr. Speed, Miss
Jeanny Schoenfeld, Evan Gutierrez, all of
Kingsville, and one visitor, Sister Marie
Elizabeth of Alice.
CARDINALS CONFER
DETROIT - John Cardinal Krol Heft) of
Philadelphia and John Cardinal Dearden of
Detroit, vice-president and president
respectively of, the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops (NCCB), confer prior to the
opening session of the NCCB’s semkiBBil
meeting in Detroit. The bishops discussed the
ministerial priesthood and world justice
during their three-day meeting, subjects
which will be on the agenda of the World
Synod of Bishops this Fall.
(RNS).
REPORTS ON BISHOPS* MEETING
DETROIT - Father Robert Trisco (left) of
Washington, D.C., a press secretary, reports
on the morning session of the National Con-
ference are five of the bishops attending the
meeting. They are, from left: Bishop John
Quinn of San Diego. Archbishop John
Whealon of Hartford, Bishop John May of
Mobile, Bishop Alexander ZalesJti of Lattsfog
and Bishop Mark Hurley of Santa Rosa.
(RNS)
The Staff of Ihe
TEXAS GULF COASTCATHOLIC
Wishes all mothers a
Happy Mothers Day
PRAY FOR THEM
Priests of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
whose anniversary of death falls in May
are:
Rev. C. Alvarez
Rev. Manupl Viliar
Rev, Leonard Dougherty
Rev. John Ofic
Rev. Charles Or drier
Legislature
Honors Sisters
State Representative Joe Salem presented
a citation adopted by the state House of
Representatives to the Sisters of the In-
carnate Word and Blessed Sacrament <m
Sunday, April 26.
The citation was introduced to the House by
Sales on the occasion of the Slaters’ Cen-
tennial year. The citation commends the
Siste,-s for their work in this area for the past
100 years; it was adopted by the House earlier
this month.
The citation was presented to the Sisters at
a Centennial Celebration held at St. Theresa
Parish.
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Pena, Raymond. Texas Gulf Coast Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 55, Ed. 1 Friday, May 7, 1971, newspaper, May 7, 1971; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth835807/m1/1/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .