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5^^?- ssssHssewSS** \f- Courier-Journal Thursday, February 9, 1989 Columnists ?J$J Recollecting with 'young' P^t By Father Paul J. Cuddy In 1955, young Pat Resen was a little boy who served Mass -when I was chaplain at Biggs Air Force Base, El Paso, Texas. He was the only son of Capt. and Mrs. Jack Resen. His mother, Ellen, was equally enthusiastic about her Catholic faith and her Irish heritage. Capt. Resen was a convert, and also active in the base's church activities, I have always remembered young Pat. He was bright-eyed, eager, inquisitive, dependable — and quick to be of service. After I left the Air Force in 1956,1 kept in touch with many mili- tary friends through a fine Christmas folder which included a beautiful Christmas front page, a short autobiography, some inspirational articles, a bit of humor — and usually a recom- mendation of certain books and the (Archbishop Fulton J.) Sheen tapes. Many years ago, Ellen had written that young Pat had tested the seminary and decided that was not his vocation. He went to law school, and my little Pat became six feet two inches tall. Recently, a letter came from him in California that thrills my soul. Dear Father Caddy, \My parents have often forwarded to me your Christmas bulletin-letter-card which I have always enjoyed. Since you ask, 'What of young Pat?' I can tell you that he is not so young any- more — to be 43 this year. Busy with my practice (mostly family law *— or rather anti-family law, and with a bit of mili- tary law) and have built a practice after these many years which is gratifyingly successful. I enjoy the heavy emphasis on personal contact in my practice and the satisfaction of helping peo- ple during a difficult time (even if they don't always appreciate it).\ Comment: Letters and written articles have long been a keen apostotate for me. Note how the nice Christmas bulletin to his parents was if- On the tin Right side shared with such good results/And note his happiness in being of assistance. \Recently Tread KaYLpsating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism. Liked it so much I have bought six more copies as/gifts for friends.'' Comment: The book <Mholicism and Fun- damentalism, published by Ignatius Press, was recommended in the Cnrlstmas folder. It is a good book, explaining the Catholic faith to fun- damentalists who attack tHS church with such vehemence. Jimmy Swaggart is such. But it is not an easy book to read: And the fact that young Pat Resen bought iti: read it, and bought six copies for friends indicates that he is a strong Catholic, has an intellectual bent which is so necessary in sophisticated circles, and since he bought six copies .For friends, that he has the apostolic spirit. ; ; | \Your note re Miss Elder struck home. A couple of years ago I began recollecting on several teachers who had a particular impact on me, and I contacted them,, One was Sister Ann Vincent, SL, who taught me in the sixth grade in El Paso. Unfortunately she was suffering from Alzheimer's and could not communicate. Also contacted Father Heneit, SJ, who (attemp- ted) to teach me Latin in-M Jesuit school in El Paso. It led to-a fine reunion when he was out visiting relatives in Oakland: If only I had con- tacted Sister Ann sooner!\ ? Comment: The note re Miss Elder was me • preface to a series of Suggestions of things to do, entitled: \Do it N6V!Here is Danger in Delay!\ It is a charity to,t»Ji Others of the«good they have done. It gives courage, so needed to- day. =: X, Democrats and the pro-choice line By Father Richard P. McBrien Joseph A. Califano Jr. served as President Lyndon Johnson's assistant for domestic affairs from 1965 to 1969, and as President Jimmy Carter's secretary of health, education and wel- fare from 1977 to 1979. Currently die senior partner in a prestigious Washington law firm, Califano is one of the nation's most prominent Democrats. His article, \Tough Talk for Democrats\ in the January 8 issue of The New York Times Magazine deserves a wide and careful reading by his fellow Democrats. Califano's thesis is that the Democrats have been losing most of die recent presidential elec- tions because a decisive majority of American voters have lost confidence in the Democrats' ability to' govern from the White House. He does not counsel the party to abandon or even temper its commitment to social and economic justice, but to do something about the wide- spread perception among white Americans that the Democrats are the party of blacks and spe- cial interests, are soft on crime and naive about defense. He spells this out clearly and convincingly, and with commendable balance. His is no sounding of a retreat to neo-conservatism. On the contrary, Califano insists that government still has \a sacred obligation to help the vulner- able.\ Its abiding agenda includes the stamping out of racism and the ending of discrimination, the providing of shelter for the homeless and health care to the uninsured, attending to the elderly with dignity, offering quality education to chil- dren and job training to the millions ' 'trapped in the pincers of industrial restructuring,\ helping to balance \die fearful disparity between rich and poor among our people and among die world's nations,\ and leading \a monumental crusade against die addictive drugs that threaten our society.\ . But die Democrats will never get die chance to work on such an agenda from die White House if they continue to avoid open debate on \dicey issues like busing, affirmative action, crime, the use of military force.'' Under die present system, Califano com- plains, candidates for die Democratic presi- dential nomination have to pass liberal \litmus tests\ to win in die primaries. One of those tests, which, unfortunately, lie mentions only once in an otherwise comprehensive article, has to do with abortion. A Democrat who would be president, he points out, \has had to be pro-choice and sup- port federal funding of abortion\ even though Jimmy Carter, the only recent Democratic win- ner, was pro-life and opposed such funding. •M Essays in The abortion issue, I would suggest, is as sig- nificant a factor in Democratic defeats in recent presidential elections as are the issues of race, special interests, crime) taxes, and national de- fense. Accordingly, the Democrats had better get dieir political act together soon if they are to have any realistic hope 'of stopping die hemor- rhage of Catholic votef^ fr68i their ranks every four years. • JS* The Democrats mustjaddjfess the abortion is- sue head-on and face down the liberal tobby that demands a ritual pro^chofee line from every candidate for national dtRc&r. Given die extraor- dinary advances in medical technology, the problem is likely to get wor|gJrauier man better. On Christmas day, ifor example, The New York Times published £ frojit-page story on a major change in medical attitudes and practice. Many doctors are nowvproylding pre-natal di- agnoses to pregnant women who want to abort a fetus on the basis of sexaldne^ In typical cases, women from ethnic groups-that favor male off- spring want to abort a female-fetus and try again for a male. A woman \who-^lways wanted a daughter chooses to abort a male fetus. \Doctors say only vfiry rarely is there a me- dical reason to determine a-fettis's sex,\ die Times reported. But evSn doctbrs who will not provide this service* mSrhselvfes will often tell women where to go to g6t•'&!>\ ' Many geneticists are disturbed by this trend. ' 'What we are talking about,;'' one of diem told uie Times, \is a collision,course,, which pits a patient's autonomy and the right \to do what she wants with her own body against the broader is- sue of social responsibility!\ 1 On The other side, one Detroit obstetrician saw no ethical problem Whatever. \I dunk that abortion should be available on demand,\ he said. A professor of medicine at the University of California in San Francisco conceded that \it is very hard to make a moral argument about ter- minations for sex when youican have abortions for any reason.\ If, in uie face of such outrageous abuses as abortion-for-sex-selecti6joi;'DenK>cratic candi- dates for die presidency sirnply repeat uie line that \It's the woman ...who has to make that judgment\ (Governor &$&«&,: St. Louis, July 24,1988), Democratic losses will continue. The Democrats shodd listen to Joe Califano. The I COURIER-JOURNAL will present its . . . Wedding Supplement f Thurs., Feb. 16th, 1989 Serving the Rochester Catholic Diocese More weddings are performed in the Catholic Church than in any other. , Our most popular issue every year is our Wedding Supplement. This section, in addition to appearing as a supple- ment in the issue of February 16, is also distributed to couples attending Pre-Cana instructions throughout 1989. Included in this Package are 12 one inch ad inser- tions in a Wedding Guide apearing monthly in the Courier-Journal where your company name will be seen throughout the year. Space Reservations: t February 3, 1989 Copy Deadline February 10, 1989 Phone: (716) 328-4340 \Balloons Over Letchwtfrth\ •cafes jvjitob/ e for jJ/ o< casmns KEEP YOUR SWEETHEART FLYING HIGH ON VALENTINE'S DAY This 3-4 hour experience will always be remembered as one of life's truly great moments! See the park as you have never seen it before. c BALLOONS OVER LETCHWORTH specializes i n flights over the sou hern section of. the park, flying twice each day: sunrise and evening. Our pilot and crew assure you an exuberant and memorable trip, a celebration of your senses. Each flight is unique and can include Champagne Breakfast at the Glen Iris! Certificate valid for one year: $170.00; $325.00 per couple. Call tida y to order or schedule the voyage of your dreams. 51 S. STATE ST., NUNDA, NY 14517 Just one number. 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