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Contents © 1997
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

NEWS
JULY/AUGUST 1997

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JUNE RADICCI OF CASTROVILLE IS AN EX-CATHOLIC WHO STUDIED in France and Canada to become an "interfaith minister" (she believes she is validly ordained as a priest, minister, rabbi, as well as functioning as an Islamic, Buddhist, Shinto and Hindu clergywoman). On April 14, Radicci went to Our Lady of Refuge Church in Castroville requesting Holy Communion under both species to distribute in her work as a hospital chaplain at Community Hospital of Monterey. Radicci, coming to the parish dressed in clerics and a Roman collar, was given five consecrated hosts, authorized by parish liturgy coordinator Paul Ruiz in the absence of the pastor. Ruiz reportedly informed concerned parish employees that this was the "usual procedure." Radicci claimed to be authorized by the Monterey Diocese to distribute Communion under both species, but was unable to produce the letter she claimed to have from the bishop.

In a May 29 phone conversation, Our Lady of Refuge pastor Father Rudy Ruiz said Radicci is a Eucharistic minister but is not authorized to distribute Communion under both species. He stated that she had been given unconsecrated wine by the parish in the past. "I guess she consecrates it herself," he said. Radicci did distribute Communion at Community Hospital of Monterey the week of April 14.

Sources say that the primary deterrent to Radicci attempting to function as a Catholic chaplain at Community Hospital is Father Felix Migliazzo, the official chaplain, who reportedly told Radicci not to come back.


IN THE APRIL 27 SUNDAY TO SUNDAY, THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO ARCHDIOCESE, Kenneth M. Weare, the co-director of the Archdiocese's School of Pastoral Leadership, praises the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's Common Ground initiative to placate dissenting Catholics. Writes Weare: "For some Catholics, change has been too much, too soon. For others, it has been too little, too late. In the Church we encounter the recurring central problem of the tension between traditionalists and progressives. Traditionalists want to hold on to the traditional foundations in faith and to guarantee that nothing of value be lost, even at the risk of opposition in the face of new knowledge. Progressives are concerned for proclaiming a faith that is both credible and relevant today, even at the risk of setting aside some aspects of traditional doctrine. While this conflict has escalated, it has also produced many postive responses. Archbishop John Quinn, in his lecture at Oxford, called for the continuation of reforms in the church worldwide, and for regular and frequent councils. In the United States, Chicago's late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin -- in what was seen as a bold and prophetic act in the last weeks of his life -- proposed what is called the Catholic Common Ground Initiative whereby Catholics of all viewpoints can come together locally in dialogue...In this, there is much hope and optimism."


THE AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS MAJOR AMERICAN NATIONAL AIRLINES, is suing the city of San Francisco over its domestic partners ordinance. The association argues that the city does not have the right to dictate the policies of national companies. Dennis Aftergut, San Francisco's chief assistant city attorney, countered in the May 14 San Francisco Chronicle that other national organizations such as Catholic Charities have accepted the policy without protest: "Chevron, Bank of America, PG&E and the Catholic Charities have all agreed to provide these equal benefits to domestic partners."


FATHER SCOTT MCCARTHY, PASTOR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH in Carmel Valley, has fulfilled his dream of "being" a Native American, according to a May 24 feature in the Monterey County Herald. The article said McCarthy was "adopted" by a Crow Indian family in a ceremony performed after McCarthy became a priest.

McCarthy uses Native American practices (including use of cedar, sage, and feathers) instead of traditional Catholic worship, according to the article. He also performs Catholic-Indian rituals that he devised at Native American religious gatherings. At an Easter Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel several years ago, he had an Indian "medicine woman," Bernice Torres, conduct a ritual. "She had a cocoon rattle on a stick," McCarthy told the Herald. "It's a new-life rattle, from a branch of a tree, with a very gentle sound. She wore her long dress and Pomo jewelry. In a booming voice, she sang about new life, from her tradition."


FOUR ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS JOINED ABORTION DEMOCRATS FRIDAY NIGHT, May 27, 1997, in unprecedented support for taxpayer-funded abortion. Brooks Firestone (R-Santa Barbara), Marilyn Brewer (R-Irvine), Jim Cuneen (R-Campbell), and Steven Kuykendall (R-Long Beach) voted against all nine floor amendments proposed by right-to-life legislators. Prior to the votes, Cuneen and Kuykendall were seen caucusing with lobbyists for Planned Parenthood.

Pro-life Assembly members, led by Steve Baldwin (R-La Mesa), proposed amendments to the budget bill that would block taxpayer funding for such items as: partial-birth abortion; abortions performed by doctors on probation; more than one abortion per Medi-Cal woman per year; abortions for illegal aliens; and abortion on babies older than 20 weeks. As each amendment was offered, Assemblyman Antonia Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), representing the will of the Democratic caucus led by Speaker Cruz Bustamante, demanded that the amendment be tabled so there would be no opportunity for debate.

The four Republicans voted each time with the pro-abortion Democrats. After all of the pro-life amendments were defeated, Firestone rose to offer a Democrat-sponsored amendment to allow for partial birth abortion public funding as prescribed by the Daschle Amendment from Washington, D.C. In a suprise move, even the Democrats voted against the amendment and it was defeated.

"Firestone, Brewer, Cuneen, and Kuykendall denounced their Republican principles and defied the Republican caucus," said Orange County Republican Bob Cilenicky. "The Republican Party must not give another dime to their political campaigns and they must be unseated. They're a disgrace."


THIRTEEN CATHOLIC MEMBERS OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY voted to approve the Wilson abortion budget bill, which forces the taxpayers to fund the abortion lobby with more than $120 million of public funds. Pro-life members of the state Assembly -- predominately non-Catholics -- presented right-to-life amendments to prevent public funding for abortion after 20 weeks, partial birth abortion, and abortions committed by doctors on probation for incompetence. Each time a vote was taken, about 29 votes were pro-life. In order for any amendment to pass, a simple majority of 41 votes was needed. If all 13 Catholic Assembly members had voted to protect the unborn children, each amendment would have passed.

One of the right-to-life lobbyists approached Deborah Ortiz, a Democrat from Sacramento and a friend of Monsignor Edward Cavanaugh. Ms. Ortiz firmly stated that although she is a Catholic, she is strongly for abortion. When offered a copy of the American Holocaust documentary, Ms. Ortiz said she would not read it and would throw it into the trash. She has a solid, pro-abortion, anti-Catholic voting record.

When pro-life lobbyists met with Assembly speaker Cruz Bustamante, he told them that he "is personally opposed to abortion and would not advise his children to have an abortion, but would not impose his beliefs." He also said that he would not be voting on any amendments. Not only did he vote on the amendments, he voted solidly pro-abortion and advised the entire Democrat membership to vote pro-abortion. (His bishop is Bishop Steinbock.)

"Unless the Catholic bishops call a halt to this injustice," said a prominent Assembly staff member, "it would be hypocrisy for them to continue to speak out against abortion."

The following legislators have identified themselves as Catholic and then voted for the Wilson abortion budget to fund all abortions up to the moment of birth
for any reason:

Dion Aroner (D-Oakland), Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino), Cruz Bustamente (D-Fresno), Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles), Jim Cuneen (R-Campbell), Martha Escutia (D-Huntington Park, Los Angeles area), Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), Martin Gallegos (D-Irwindale), Michael Machado (D-Stockton), Diane Martinez (D-Alhambra), Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk), Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles).

In the state senate::

Jim Costa (D-Fresno), Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), Theresa Hughes (D-Stockton), Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton), Jack O'Connell (D-Santa Barbara), Hilda Solis (D-El Monte), Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles).


JOHN QUINN IS GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. The Archdiocese and the University of San Francisco have jointly established the Archbishop John R. Quinn Social Justice Colloquium. San Francisco Archbishop William Levada has written that the colloquium will help "organize efforts to bring Catholic values to the workplace, the media and government."

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