South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 40, Ed. 1 Friday, November 16, 1990 Page: 3 of 12
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November 16,1990-3
AROUND THE DIOCESE
SlC
Radio show offers message of hope to listeners
By Paula Espitia
STC staff writer
CORPUS CHRIST!—Take a break for
a few minutes this Sunday morning, sit
back,close yourcycs and listen to the story
of our creation. Well, first you have to turn
on your radio and tunc in to KLUX, 89.5
FM. The program you will be listening to
tried to keep up the professional tradition
they had,” said Mrs. Graves, adding that
the order remains supportive of the pro-
gram’s special ministry.
Each show carries a message in accor-
dance with a monthly topic. Themes of the
series have included everything from
“addictions” to “laughter.” A variety of
musical selections and scripture readings
enhance the show which strives to bring a
is “Crossroads,” the international and in-
spirational radio show produced by the
Catholic Communications Network.
The program airing Nov. 18 is the last of
a scries of shows on the pro-life movement
and will feature a recounting of the begin-
ning of all life with the narration of the
creation story found in the book of Gene-
SIS*
Earlier this month the 30-minutc pro-
gram, airing each Sunday morning at 10:30,
received a Proclaim Award given by the
Catholic Communications Campaign for
outstanding diocesan efforts using com-
munications media to proclaim Gospel
values.Cathy Graves, co-host and execu-
tive producer, received the award in Port-
land, Ore., on behalf of the rest of the staff:
Father Tom Goodwin, co-host and writer;
Marty Wind, technical director; Bill
Ehrhardt, scripture reader; and Don Hol-
ley, announcer.
Mrs. Graves said the “Crossroads staff
is small compared to other national Catho-
lic shows and she is “thrilled” the show is
able to compete with national and interna-
tional programming.
Founded and produced by the Passionist
Fathers in Springfield, Mass., the program
has been on theair since 195- and reaches
over 100 stations, including regions of the
Philippines and Caribbean Islands.
Mrs. Graves said she never imagined the
program would have such tremendous
success when she began working with it
over three years ago in partnership with
the Passionists, who were going to cancel
the program due to financial dilficulties.
Eventually the Catholic Communica-
tions Network took over the show with the
blessings of the Passionists. “We have
Mrs. Graves affirmed that thought. “It’s
incredible to touch the lives of so many
people and let them know the Lord loves
them regardless of what happens in their
lives.”
A listener from Massachusetts recently
wrote, “I started listening to your service
about two years ago when my husband
became so ill I could not leave him to
attend our own church service.,.. Although
my husband died this June I continue to
listen because I find it very helpful.”
According to Mrs. Graves, a source of
inspi ration for many 1 isteners is the weekl y
scripture reading by Bill Ehrhardt, the vol-
unteer member of the staff.
Active in the life of the diocesan Church
all of his life, Ehrhardt said he enjoys
“spreading the word of the Lord" and sees
this ministry as “an opportunity lo reach
out to the community and evangelize.”
Ehrhardt said he will continue to be part
of the -Crossroads” team “as long as my
voice keeps up and the Lord allows.”
This Sunday’s show will demonstrate
the range of the staffs talents as Ehrhardt
narrates the creation story, which will be
enhanced by special effects created by
Marty Wind, technical director, and Mrs.
Graves.
Mrs. Graves desribed the segment as
“ahighly produced and emotional picccof
work tied into the themes of life and crea-
tion.”
Each day is described—with the sounds
of light, wind and water being added as
God forms the universe. The tempo of the
music increases as each new stage of life
fills the earth leading up to the ultimate
creation of man.
The Nov. 18 show will also feature a
message from Body of Christ Rescue
founder Rex Moses, along with the regular
upbeat reflections written by Father Good-
win.
Mrs. Graves summed up the feelings the
staff has concerning their work. “I now
have friends all over the world. Even though
they don’t know us they tell us things (in
their letters) they wouldn’t tell their best
friend. Maybe they feel safe because there
will be no judgements or rebuking.
"There is a lot of pain people deal with
and Lhcy arc looking for the answer," she
continued. “Hopefully we can provide them
with the answer...or at least lean 'hem in
the right direction.”
r
““"ns^SS"w'lhetbab1''
AbOfliQtf is an unnatural choicsl
message of hope to its listeners.
Letters received by Mrs. Graves and
Father Goodwin indicate their message of
hope is being heard and taken to heart.
“The mail is incredible,” said Father
Goodwin, administrator of St. Andrew by
the Sea Church on North Padre Island and
St. Joseph independent Mission, Port
Aransas.
He recalled a moving postcard he re-
ceived which made him realize the impact
the show has on the lives of many listeners.
He said a young man had travelled to an
island in the Caribbean to commit suicide.
When he turned on his radio, “Crossroads”
was airing and the theme of the show was,
most appropriately, the hope and joy of
living.
“The guy decided things weren’t really
that bad,” continued the priest, “so he
stayed and had a nice vacation and wrote a
wonderful postcard telling us about his
experience.”
“The evangelical aspect of this ministry
is very important..this is the cutting edge
in evangelization,” he said. Paraphrasing
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, he added, “This
new electric medium is a marvelous tool to
spread the Gospel.”
Father Goodwin emphasized the diver-
sity of the people “Crossroads” reaches by
airing on secular, commercial radio sta-
tions as well as those sponsored by dio-
ceses.
He said he believes many people who
hear the show on a secular station may
have no other contact with the message of
hope foundin the Gospels. “The aim of the
show is to be ecumenical and reach anyone
who has a need.”
“This is not a ministry I originally saw
myself in,” continued Father Goodwin,
“but 1 have come to enjoy it and claim it as
a very necessary part of my ministry.”
Statement by Bishop Rene H. Gracida
concerning excommunication
I have just been informed this after- rn™ ,rnm hrr nosl11
noon, Friday, Nov. 9, 1990, that Elva
Bustamante has released, to the med ia a
copy of the Decree of “Dcclariion of
Excommunication Having Been Auto-
matically Incurred” which 1 recently
mailed to her.
Elva Bustamante has in this instance migm do possunc .u. m
certainly exercised her freedom tocom- thcteachingoftheChursh and tor mc
municate this development to the media, to avoid the necessity ol officially
In the absence of such action by her 1 “declaring’ her automatically cxcom-
would not have made any public slate- muniealed.
withdraw from her position at the
abortuary.
Subsequently. Elva Bustamante did
engage in dialogue with me through
correspondence, a personal visit and
over the telephone. Because of that
dialogue I continued to hope that it
might be possible for her to accept
r\f tho and for me
WOULU UUl IU1VV ahj puunv
ment or comments about her relation
ship with or standing in the Roman
Catholic Church. 1 only do so now for
the sake of accurate reporting on this
subject.
On Jan. 26,1990,1 first wrote to Elva
Also, I wanted to give her the op-
portunity to study the Pastoral Letter
“Choose Life, Not Death,” which 1
had in preparation at that time and
which 1 published in September.
Having exhausted all means ol per-
B£^S!SS£t£ suading El va Bustamante through the
r teaching of the Roman Catholic the Church’s teaching on the subjec
Church and that her work as the direc- of abortion and to give up her work at
tor of the free-standing abortuary nec- the abortuary, I iound it necessary 10
essarily involved her in the procuring issue my decree ol Nov. 1.
of abortions to such an extent that it 1 am WItfl great sadness over
was possible that she might already these development. I h^ come to
have incurred the automatic excom- know and love Elva Bustamante as a
municarionfrom the Roman Catholic member of *c£ck emraste to my
Church which Canon 1398 of the Code care by Jesus Christ the Good bhep
nr ronnn l w provides. herd. 1 believe that she is sincere m
1 invited Elva Bustamante to engage her belief that human life does not
in dialogue with me within the next 30 begin until the baby is bo •
davs Failing to hear from her by March But, this view is so irreconcilable
f2 i 'write her again and warned her with the teaching or die Roman Cadio-
Jiat having given her a Tull exposition lie Church throughout the as 2£00
of the Church’s teachings on abortion years as to make it virtually mpa
in my letter of Jan. 26, there could be sible for us to find somu cownon
no doubt dial she now knew the differ- ground of understanding that would
encc between the Church’s teaching on enable us to avoid this present
the subject of abortion and her own ol aftairs.
"'Tadvised her of my responsibility for Sheand I have both agreed lo rev
the whole flock entrusted to my care, mam in contact with oncanothe. and
which would necessitate taking the action to pray foi_ one ano ther j u ope
of formally “declaring” her automati- that we might be able to effect a rec
cally excommunicated if she did not oncilialion.
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Freeman, Robert E. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 40, Ed. 1 Friday, November 16, 1990, newspaper, November 16, 1990; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth840652/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .