CNW - News Digest 11/19/00

11/19/00

This week, The Catholic New World features several articles on the aftermath of the presidential election, and this month’s edition of Exciting Senior Perspectives for Mature Catholics.

News :

Exit polls suggest Catholic vote

Without a definitive result in this year's presidential election, it was too early to know whether Catholics extended to eight straight elections their streak of voting for the winner.

According to exit polls conducted by Voter News Service, a cooperative venture of five broadcast news outlets and Associated Press, Catholics nationally voted by a 50-47 margin for Democratic Vice President Al Gore over Republican Gov. George Bush of Texas. Gore also held a narrow lead in the overall vote tally.

Bishops comment on election

With still no clear presidential winner by Nov. 14, Catholic bishops from the three most hotly contested states in this year's presidential election looked in amazement at it all, like much of the rest of the American public.
In Oregon, “it was interesting to see how it shifted” from Republican Gov. George W. Bush of Texas to Democratic Vice President Al Gore, said retired Bishop Thomas J. Connolly of Baker, Ore.

Holiday rooted in religion

Long before there were parades, football games or commercial turkey farms, Thanksgiving had a religious focus.
In 1621, 50 Pilgrim immigrants and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered for three days to celebrate the harvest and peace.

Catholics, Muslims call for unity

CUA honors founder of Focolare Movement

Catholic and Muslim leaders said unity is more important than peoples’ differences at a large interreligious gathering Nov. 12 in Washington.

At least 6,000 Catholics and African-American Muslims attended the final session of the “Faith Communities Together’’ weekend at the Washington Convention Center.

Ecumenical declaration aspires to support marriage, fight divorce

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops and three large Protestant organizations have issued a joint declaration of support for the institution of marriage and concern about the nation’s high divorce rate.

Bishops vote on immigration, justice issues; recommit to life

The U.S. bishops called the American criminal justice system “broken’’ and urged a “profound conversion’’ in the way Catholic institutions welcome immigrants in documents approved during their fall general meeting Nov. 15.

They also recommitted themselves and the church to protecting human life, saying that the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Nebraska’s ban on partial-birth abortion has brought the legal system “to the brink of endorsing infanticide.’’

Exciting Senior Perspectives:

Retirees not sitting in their rocking chairs

With many experiencing good health and financial stability, retirees today are ready for interesting, challenging and meaningful pursuits.

Commentary:

The election is over. Now what?

Augustinian Father John Paul Szura writes:

What do we do now as Catholics and as citizens? For the past several months we have been using the United States bishops’ voter education guide Faithful Citizenship to examine our Christian responsibilities as citizens. ... We have responsibly participated in the political process. We have done what we had to do. Is there anything left to do now?

Around the Archdiocese:

William Ferris Chorale Holiday Concert: 8 p.m. Dec. 1, including traditional carols, Renaissance works, chant and premiere of cantata, "Cum Novo Cantico,” directed by Michael Teolis, tickets $20, $18 and $16, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 690 W. Belmont, call (773) 325-2000.

Parish Pride:

St. Alphonsus
Liguori Church
411 N. Wheeling Road,
Prospect Heights

Like a medieval Christian building plan, the sprawling L-shaped complex here links the church, rectory and school. This contemporary church, when dedicated in 1958, was named for the late Cardinal Samuel Alphonsus Stritch. A blend of its 1,500 families—Poles, Irish, Italian, Haitian and Asian—will gather for Mass on Thanksgiving Day. Using a roving microphone, parishioners will witness to what God has bestowed on them during the past year. It’s a tradition here to say thanks.

Briefs:

Interim school leaders named

Sister of St. Joseph Judith A. Cauley and Janet Sisler will serve as co-superintendents of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago effective Dec. 1, announced Chancellor Jimmy Lago. They will replace Elaine Schuster, who resigned earlier this year.

Cauley and Sisler have served as associate superintendents of the largest non-public school system in the country for the past year.

Cauley, who has more than 35 years of experience in Catholic education, served for three years as superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. She will be responsible for service teams that administer externally funded programs and Catholic school advancement.

Sisler, who has worked in the archdiocese’s schools for 20 years, will be responsible for service teams that oversee evangelization, catechesis and educational quality.

Meanwhile, the archdiocese will conduct a nationwide search to find a new permanent superintendent.

Schuster had served as superintendent since 1991. She will become the chief executive officer of the Chicago-based Golden Apple Foundation in January.