University of Virginia Library

St. Thomas Hall Parishioners
Plan O'Boyle Correspondence

By Mike Russell
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Responding to the disciplinary
actions taken by Cardinal O'Boyle,
the Archbishop of Washington
D.C., against the priests opposing
the Pope's encyclical on birth
control, members of St. Thomas'
parish have formed a "Committee
to Support the Association of
Washington Priests."

Public expression of strong
support for, "the courageous stand
on behalf of freedom and
conscience of the forty four
Washington priests who are facing
disciplinary actions..." is the
impetus behind a letter to be sent
to Cardinal O'Boyle.

St. Thomas' parishioners will
have an opportunity to sign this
letter on Sunday morning
September 30. The members of the
committee are also planning to take
up a collection to help defray the
expenses of the priests.

Noting the fact that Cardinal
O'Boyle is practically alone among
all the bishops of the world in his
adamancy on a rigorous
interpretation of the Pope's
encyclical, the committee has
recommended that all disciplinary
actions against individual members
of the Washington clergy be
withdrawn, and that arbitration be
instituted to effect a just
distinction between accuser and
judge, both roles now being filled
by Cardinal O'Boyle.

Members of the parish
initiated this letter under the
auspices of the clergy, but the
priests of the parish declined
comment on the encyclical itself,
saying only that whatever the
outcome of the Washington
situation might be, they hoped that
it would be just.

Forty-four priests in the
Washington area are presently
facing disciplinary actions in lieu of
their stand on birth control.

These sanctions vary from
complete revocation of the priestly
powers, which include the
celebration of the Eucharist, the
hearing of confessions, and the
privilege of preaching to the
congregation, to lesser punishments
involving the removal of the priests'
powers in any one of the three
areas already mentioned. Sanctions
depend totally on the amount of
opposition which the priest has
given to the encyclical and have
been arbitrarily imposed by the
Cardinal.

Cardinal O'Boyle's order that all
priests read a letter supporting the
encyclical met with mixed
reactions. In the Washington
Cathedral, there was a walkout on
Sunday morning as Cardinal
O'Boyle read the prepared
statement to his own congregation.