LITTLE NOTES
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Contents © 1996
by Jim Holman.
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May 1996 LITTLE NOTES
CONFUSING. A Mira Mesa Catholic couple, David and Kathleen Bell, started a business in their home several years ago, publishing a family magazine and catalog, The Cheerful Cherub, and later printing books about Catholic family life. They have published a book about St. Therese's mother, as well as books about family observances of the liturgical year. Their latest effort is The Easter Book, a reprint of the original by Fr. Francis X. Weiser, S.J. (who was spiritual adviser to the Von Trapp family). The Easter Book is a study of the development of Lenten and Easter practices. The Southern Cross has refused to write about the Bells and their new book. The Bells were told that the Southern Cross had submitted the book to the diocesan liturgy committee for approval, and were told by the committee that they could not write about it because it would be "confusing to the laity" and "may not be in keeping with post-conciliar changes." To order The Easter Book or the Bells' catalog of books and religious items, contact Firefly Press, P.O. Box 262302, San Diego, CA 92196, 549-3802.SIGNS OF HOPE stirring under San Francisco's new archbishop, William Levada. A conference on pastoral and therapeutic care of homosexual persons has been held in San Francisco April 27 at St. Cecilia's Church (2555 17th Avenue). Speakers include Msgr. Steven Otellini and Fr. William Marshall on pastoral perspectives, Dr. Joseph Nicolosi on causes and treatment of homosexuality, AIDS ministry leader Jim Johnson and David Morrison on Courage. Call (415) 664-8481 for more information.
TIDE TURNING AT USD?... USD law school's paper, Motions, has been in trouble lately because of the actions of its editor-in-chief, Belinda Rachman. Her November 1, 1995 article encouraging people to use their bodies to earn money (posing nude, donating sperm to a fertility clinic) attracted attention from the administration. Then, in an editorial, Rachman mentioned that she was going to run an ad for a fertility clinic. According to a March 6 Motions editorial about the controversy, USD Law School Dean Kristine Strachan read this and asked Rachman to consult with USD administration and a campus priest before running the ad. Rachman said she was told that several of the activities of a fertility clinic are contrary to Catholic moral teachings, including the masturbation required for collection of sperm, laboratory fertilization of embryos, and the destruction of "extra" embryos. According to the editorial, Rachman was asked not to run the ad because President Alice Hayes was just coming in, and it would "bring disfavor upon Hayes from conservative alumni and Catholic newspapers in the area."
...MAYBE NOT YET. The March 28 issue of the Vista, University of San Diego's student paper, featured an article praising political involvement of USD students. The article was accompanied by two photographs of a National Organization for Women address at USD (for some reason, the large "Sacred Heart Hall" sign had been removed from its usual spot near the NOW speaker's podium). The caption to the photographs said, "The National Organization for Women is one of the many political organizations that students support on campus."
COURT PACKED. Governor Pete Wilson is packing the state supreme court with more pro-abortion judges. Wilson has nominated Ronald George, formerly an associate justice, as chief justice (replacing prolife Malcolm Lucas). George wrote an opinion against the March court ruling upholding the parental consent law. George's confirmation hearing is set for May 1. To replace George as associate justice, Wilson has nominated his secretary of legal affairs, Janice Rogers Brown. Brown, who received an "unqualified" rating from the California Bar Association, has little judicial experience, having been appointed by Wilson to the 3rd District Court of Appeals a short time ago. Her confirmation hearing will be held May 2. Pro-lifers should write or fax separate letters regarding each appointment to the Commission on Judicial Appointments, State Supreme Court, 303 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, FAX (415) 396-9572. State Attorney General Dan Lungren, one of the members of the commission, presents himself as pro-life, though he voted to approve Wilson's last supreme court appointment, Ming Chin, another abortion supporter. Contact Lungren's San Diego office at 645-2001.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, in its March 20 Family Issues Alert, urged prolifers to download the transcript of a BBC documentary exposing the dangers of Norplant (http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/ty/horizon/hlabint.html) and send it to state and federal legislators. Readers were also referred to the American Life League, to obtain a copy of their brochure, "What is Norplant" (call ALL at 540-659-4171).
SURPRISED. A San Bernardino man phoned Father Borowiak, editor of Lincoln, Nebraska's diocesan newspaper, to express his gratitude for Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz's March 22 announcement of excommunication of Catholic members of groups opposed to the Church (including Planned Parenthood, Call to Action, Catholics for Free Choice, Society of Pius X, and Freemasons). Fr. Borowiak told the man that the diocese was surprised by the nationwide interest in the bishops' move. He stated he was amazed at how many Catholics know nothing of their faith, which is partly why the statement caused such an uproar. Fr. Borowiak, who also runs two parishes in Lincoln, decided to start holding classes in his parishes and to modify his sermons. He says he will use the new Catechism in his classes, "starting at the front and going straight through it." (Meanwhile, in San Diego, the local Call to Action group is going strong, with diocesan employees and parish workers involved in the group; the last meeting held at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.)
ROGUES' GALLERY. Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties' April 23 annual fundraising dinner featured speaker Molly Ivins, soon to be a 60 Minutes regular. Chula Vista abortionist Fred Schnepper was given the Margaret Sanger Award, with PP media awards given to Gloria Penner/Dan Erwin of KPBS, and Maricarmen Hernandez of El Latino. The Honorary Committee included Audrey Geisel, Our Lady of Peace Academy's 1994 commencement speaker.
ONE MORE GONE. The Southern Cross is losing yet another employee: Todd Aglioloro, a young graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, has left the paper to pursue his further education.
HOMESCHOOLER CONFABS. The Pasadena Catholic Culture conference (which was being held in conjunction with a Catholic homeschooling conference) has been canceled. The next closest Catholic homeschooling conferences will be Seattle, Washington (with speakers including Fr. Joseph Fessio and Dr. James Stenson) and Denver, Colorado (with speakers including Bishop Charles Chaput, Laura Berquist, and James Leek). The Washington and Denver conferences are both being held Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6. For information about the Seattle conference, contact Julia Fogassy at (206) 725-9026. For information on the Denver conference, organized by the National Association of Catholic Home Educators, contact Lesley Payne in San Diego at 538-8399 or Christine Tucker in Denver at (303) 366-3970. The Denver conference is being held at a university, with inexpensive dormitory rooms available. The full conference package (including dorm room, all meals and the conference) is $100 for one person, $150 for a couple.