South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, June 26, 1992 Page: 3 of 20
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AROUND THE STATE
El Paso jury finds priest guilty of obstructing passageway
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By Delmar Leidy
EL PASO-An El Paso jury of six, (four of them Roman
Catholic), found Jesuit Father Richard Thomas guilty J une
9 of blocking the passageway to an abortion clinic.
Thecharges stemmed from an incident which took place
on Feb. 23,1991, at Reproductive Services located at 73Q
E. Yandell. Police records indicate that about 40 people
tried to block the entrance to the building. The jury
deliberated less than one hour before delivering its verdict.
The trial, which began June 8 and ended the next day,
was held in El Paso County Court-al-Law No. 1 with Judge
David Briones presiding. Father Thomas represented him-
self while the prosecutor was Assistant County Attorney
Julia Martin.
The trial was unusual in several aspects. For the last 28
years Father Thomas has been ministering to the poor in El
Paso and its sister city across the Mexican border, Juarez,
feeding those who live in the garbage dumps of Juarez.
The prosecution presented only two witnesses, both
policeofficers, who testified that FatherThomas was using
his body to block the passageway of the abortion clinic,
while the priest presented 10 witnesses who said he was not
at the entrance, that he was in the parking lot talking with
the police officers. The jury apparently believed the police
officers.
“All of our institutions-elected
government, the courts, the media,
the medical profession, and, in some
cases, the churches-are afflicted
with this spiritual blindness and
its resulting paralysis. ”
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Another unusual aspectof the trial was that several limes
during the proceedings, the prosecutor, Ms. Martin, re-
quested that the judge declare a mistrial. Each lime the
motion was made. Judge Briones denied it.
After the verdict, with the permission of Judge Briones,
the priest’s supporters held a religious celebration in the
courtroom. FatherThomas read from Romans 8:28: “All
tilings work together for good to them that love God.”
Father Thomas told his supporters, “All of us have been
on trial. The judge has been on trial. The prosecutor has
been on trial. You all have been on trial.” He told them that
he was not worried about the verdict because “ for those
who love God, everything works out for the best.”
In an interview. Father Thomas appeared to be more
upset at the state’s motion in limine which forbade him
from mentioning to the jury medical evidence concerning
abortion or religious or theological testimony relating to
the sacrcdness of human life. Also excluded was testimony
relating to the number of abortions performed at Reproduc-
tive Services and any mention of the possible complication
of an abortion procedure or the type of consent form
LOOKING FOR A FINE HOME
IN WHICH TO RETIRE?
■fiiaahi
This home is intended for retired people who
desire a quiet and peaceful environment in
congenial surroundings with the charm of home
and a cheerful atmosphere delicately considerate
for the welfare of all. Beautiful landscaped
gardens, patio and fountain. All rooms are private,
with private or semi-private bath, suites or double
rooms for married couples. Applicants must be
ambulatory, and in normal physical and mental
health to be admitted.
Mt. Carmel Home
4130 South Alameda
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
__855-6243_
utilized by that clinic.
The motion also prohibited any introduction in the jury’s
presence of the defenses of necessity, justification, protec-
tion of life or health, public duty, or defense of a third
person, as well as the state’s filing and the court’s ruling on
the motion in limine.
Father Thomas said that “an unjust law is no law.
Abortion is a stronghold of evil in this country and one of
the ways you recognize a demonic stronghold is that it
causes spiritual blindness and paralysis.
“All of our institutions—elected government, the courts,
the media, the medical profession and, in some cases, ihfc
churches—arc alii it ted with this spiritual blindness and its
resulting paralysis,” he continued.
Father Thomas has not indicated whether he will appeal
the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 25
by Judge Briones. The priest could be jailed for up to 180
days and fined up to SI,500.
A solution to the Catholic
school finance problem
By Brother Richard Daly, CSC
Director, Texas Catholic Conference
All over the slate of Texas, indeed the entire country.
Catholic schools are doing a marvelous job.
Almost every one of them, however, faces serious
financial problems.
While church leaders including bishops, school superin-
tendents, principals, board presidents and other concerned
Catholics search for solutions to the fiscal problems, one
glaring fact is obvious. Catholic schools are at the present
time “user dependent.”
With rare exceptions, the schools are supported by those
Catholics whoarc using them. That has never been the case
in the past, especially during the years of rapid expansion
in the ‘50s and early ‘60s.
During those years of rapid expansion the schools were
supported not only by the parents who were using them but
also by the religious orders which staffed and sometimes
owned the schools.
It is no coincidence that the growth of Catholic schools
in the United States was related directly to the growth of
religious orders, especially the leaching orders of nuns and
brothers.
Only now arc Catholics beginning to realize the signifi-
cant financial contribution that those women and men
made to the Catholic school system in this country.
Now many of the orders arc in decline and so are the
Catholic schools.
If church leaders want to look forasolutiontothecurrent
dilemma facing Catholic schools, they need to look no
further than the replacement of the support of the schools
by the religious. The answer to the dilemma isobvious. All
Catholics, not just those who have children in school at the
present time, need to at least in some minimal way .support
the Catholic school system.
Many people hope that somehow public support for non-
public education in the form of tuition lax credits or
vouchers will become a reality. That may happen some-
day, but it probably won’t be soon.
It is also possible that the courts will revisit some of the
cases which have struck down public support for private
religious schools, but that could be a long process.
For now, Catholics need to look at the situation realisti-
cally. They must take up the financial burden that for
decades was carried by the religious orders and congrega-
tions. Many of them are paying a price for that generosity
as they face mounting retirement costs foraging religious
with little or no financial reserve.
This is not a new message. It is an old message that needs
to be articulated throughout the church.
MACC celebrates its 20th anniversary
SAN ANTONIO-The Mexican AmcricanCulturalCen-
ter (MACC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary of service
to the U.S. Hispanic community. MACC is a pastoral
education and language institute which prepares ministers
to work in the Hispanic community and Latin America. It
is a center for pastoral leaders in the U.S. and Latin
America receiving a regular interchange of theologians
and missionaries from both regions.
MACC is world-wide in scope: today's participants
come from throughout the world to learn Spanish and
prepare themselves to work in Hispanic communities.
Claretian Father Rosendo Urrabazo, MACC president,
staled “They come to MACC because in every region there
is a growing Hispanic population." By the year 2000, half
of the Catholics in the United States will be Hispanic.
The anniversary celebration will take place on Friday,
Cemetery Manager
wanted for Catholic-owned cemetery
On 65+ acres in Laredo, Texas
Business Administration degree needed, 1-3 years of cemetery
operations experience. Accounting Education and background
is also needed to oversee general ledger, revenue and
nses. Successful candidate will supervise work crew and
to din
to sp
King t
limited travel. Submit resume and references to Human
Resources, P.O. Box 2620, Corpus Christi, TX 78403-2620.
expei
office staff. Will provide monthly financial reports to director
and board. Will deal with public and must be able to speak
and read Spanish. Successful candidate must be willing to do
June 26. beginning with a Mass at 6 p.m. The main
celebrant will be Archbishop Patrick F. Flores of San
Antonio, and other bishops from Texas will be in atten-
dance. After the liturgy, there will be a reception and a
folkloric dance explaining the tapestry of U.S. cultures by
Rosa Guerrero, a dance instructor from El Paso.
The public is also invited to the Hispanic Pastoral
Ministry Conference on Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m.- 4
p.m. There will be a morning panel on the socio-cultural
conditions of the Hispanics and their ministry. The after-
noon panel will be on the theological reflections and future
Hispanic ministry.
The next three-week intensive pastoral /Spanish classes
will be June 22-July 10 and July 13-31. The English mini-
pastoral course will also be July 13-31.
Other important courses for the preparation of Hispanic
ministries arc: Basic Christian Communities in the United
States, (in Spanish), from June 15-19; Evangelziacidn en
el Siglo XX, conducted by Paulist Father Bruce Nieli, (in
Spanish), from June 22-26; and Culture and Religion,
conducted by Dominican Sister Dorothy Folliard from
June 22-26.
For further information,call (512) 732-2156, or write to
MACC, 3019 W. French PL, San Antonio, TX 78228.
Annual Rummage Sale
Sponsored by
Catholic Daughters of
Holy Family Church
Sat. June 27
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
at Bonilla Plaza, Morgan & Port
Volunteer Coordinator
Needed to implement a registration
and education program to over 2,000
volunteers. Will coordinate and host training
sessions and be resource to volunteers. Must
be able to travel and do own computer entry
of collected data,
• • • •
Volunteer needed to fill position
Will volunteer 25-30 hours weekly and will be
reimbursed for mileage. Apply to
Human Resources, P.O. Box 2620, Corpus
Christi, TX 78403-2620
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Graywolf, Lucas & Ramon, Rachelle. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, June 26, 1992, newspaper, June 26, 1992; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855686/m1/3/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .