1. Friday, May 3, 1991—Dally Republican-Register, Ml. Carmel, IL—Page Thirteen
Religion Deckards start church here
Rev. Tom Deckard and his
wife Kay are the pastors of the
newly formed Abundant Life
the fourth church they have
established in the past eight
years.
day) at 7, and continuing Satur-
day at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5
p.m. Special music will be pro-
Church located at 231 East 2nd The others include: New Life vided by the music ministry
St. in Mt. Carmel. Word Church in Fairfield, Word from the New Life Church.
The Religion Beat They recently acquired the of ^ife in Evansville, and The There will be fellowship in
former church building owned Living Word in Mt. Vernon, the church basement after ser-
150-family sale to by The Gospel Assembly.
Rev. Deckard and Kay have
come back to their hometown
Ind. Rev. Deckard can be heard
daily on WVHI radio in Evans-
ville at 10 a.m. and WWVR in
vices tonight and Saturday.
Weekly services will begin
Wednesday night at 7.
help mission effort after pastoring three other chur-
ches of which they are still the
senior pastors.
Terre Haute at 9:20 p.m.
Abundant Life Church is an
inter-denominational church,
"Abundant Life Church would
like to welcome the people of
Mt. Carmel to attend one of
Three local people will be recipients of funds raised by a
Rev. Deckard and his family welcoming all faiths. The church their services," the ministers
150-family sale to be held on the parking lot of First Christian
have lived here for the past 24 will open with three evenings of said.
Church on May 11. Larry Peterson, Tonya Johnson and Scott Rev. Tom Deckard and Kay
years. Abundant Life Church is services beginning tonight (Fri-
Compton, all active lay leaders of the congregation, will represent
Moral morass or religious revival?
First Christian at a work camp to be held in August in Jamaica.
The Saturday sale will begin at 7 a.m. The parking lot is
located east of the church on Eighth Street. A rain date of May
18 has been set. The sale will include a wide variety of goods
By Ben Wattenberg number: 86 percent of Americans are religious. But leaning which way?
ranging from a large size rug loom to collectibles and children's Ben Wattenberg Christians. Roman Catholics a r e the I would argue that our moral de-
clothing and furniture, according to Anna Lucile Meyer, chairman Is America morally bankrupt? Re-
of the church's department of World Outreach and coordinator of cent evidence arrives to support op- reports today on a new largest single denomination (26 per-
cent), followed by Baptists (19
cline has been overstated. Scandal,
greed and sex are not new. Violence
the sale. / posite answers. survey that shows 9 0 percent). and drug use seem to be higher than
Work camp participants will include some from other Christian There has been scandal, or at least Strange. Americans a r e immoral.
Church congregations in Illinois and surrounding states. They will reports of it. Was there scandal in percent of Americans Americans are religious. What's go-
earlier, but it wasn't a bowl of cher-
ries earlier.
be involved in hands-on work refurbishing mission facilities on
Palm Beach? In the White House?
Was the White House scandal perhaps
identify themselves ing on? The surveys show Americans still
Perhaps our religion is not very re- believe that "family" is the most im-
the island location. about a writer who over-wrote? as religious. He notes: ligious and we are morally corrupt. portant thing in their lives, by far.
Contributions to the sale may be taken to the church. Persons Does it matter? Of course, say
interested in helping with the mission project are invited to stop those who maintain we're on a slip- 'Ninety is a lot of Perhaps our corruption is not very
corrupt and we are religious. Perhaps
That our politics has focused on val-
ues says we still c a r e about them a
by the lot on sale day. pery slope; it's all part of the fabric of percents.* we a r e both. great deal.
moral erosion. Just consider crime, Religious intensity does seem to Better than surveys was what we
drugs, promiscuity, illegitimacy, di- man), was based on a massive sample have diminished, or changed. There is
The First Baptist Church will celebrate its centennial on Sun- saw when we turned on television dur-
vorce and homosexuality, to begin a of 113,000 adults. It confirms earlier talk of religion of convenience, cafe-
day. Maurice Swinford, Executive Director of the Illinois Baptist ing the Gulf War. The American
long list that conservatives will hap- research, but because of its large teria Catholicism and pick-and- young people who c a m e into our liv-
Association, will be the guest speaker for the morning worship at pily provide. Liberals give the moral- sample offers insights about small choose piety. ing rooms were mostly nice speci-
10:35. ity lecture with a different spin: We groups in America, as well as large. The CUNY survey shows Catholics
had a decade of unspeakable greed F o r example: mens indeed: disciplined, well-spoken,
A music and recognition service, featuring former members about as likely to be divorced as other polite, patriotic, energetic and also
presided over by an amiable dunce — Most Asian-Americans are Americans. Other polls show Catho-
will begin at 1:30. The congregation invites all friends and former (who ended the Cold War). Christians, typically Catholics or better educated than those high-falu-
lics at roughly national norms regard-
members to join in celebrating their 100th aimiversary. And, next year, for the seventh con- Baptists. ing birth control and legal abortion.
tin' experts have been telling us. In
short, moral, doing both good and
secutive time "values" will be a big — One-third of Hispanic-Ameri- Yet all that conflicts with the teach-
In June several young people and adults from the Church of well.
political/presidential issue. Depend cans are not Catholic. ings of Catholicism.
Christ will spend a week at Harding University at Searcy, Ark. on it. — Most Americans of Irish descent The officialdom of some mainline © 1991 NKWSl'APKH K N T E n i ' H l S K ASSN
They will participate in the events of that week. However, there is the m a t t e r of re- aren't Catholics, but Protestants of Protestant denominations puts Marx- Ben Wattenberg, a senior fellow at the
Ladies Retreat will be this Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, ligion. Some years ago, emblazoned Scotch-Irish and Northern-Irish an- ist guerrillas in E l Salvador high on American Enterprise Institute, is author
on the cover of Time magazine, was cestry. the altar. of "The First Universal Nation," pub-
at the Little Egypt Youth Camp at Dahlgren, 111. Several area the question "Is God Dead?" Now we — More than half the Arab-Ameri- The chairman of a Presbyterian na- lished by The Free Press.
members will be attending. know: Not in America, He isn't. c a n j a r e Christians. There a r e fewer tional church committee says his joy-
Last Saturday several ladies from the Church of Christ attended A new survey shows 90 percent of Moslems than had been estimated. less coreligionists "all look as if they
Ladies Day at Oak Hill Congregation in Evansville. Americans identifying themselves as The unduplicated Arab/Moslem total were weaned on pickles" and that it's
The 61st Anniversary of the Church of Christ will be observed religious. Ninety is a lot of percerits. is about 2.2 million. Only 2 percent of time to "affirm eros." His commit-
on Sunday, May 5. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend Scholars say the American rate of re- blacks a r e Moslems, but 40 percent of tee's report is said to "question the BEN
ligiousness is a third to a half higher Moslems a r e black. importance that Americans place on WATTENBERG
the services. than in other modern nations. — About 11 percent of the 6.8 mil- marriage, " but endorses it for gay
CHICAGO (AP) — As Cardinal Joseph Bemardin begins his The study, from the City University lion "ethnic" Jews — are religiously and lesbian couples.
of New York (by Professor B a r r y Christian.
second quarter century as a bishop, he looks back on what he Kosmin and Dean Seymour Lach- And there is one overwhelming Of course, we can be both weak and
believes was a psychological mistake in liberalizing the Roman
Catholic Church.
" W e moved too quickly and didn't spend enough time explain-
ing why to make it easier for people to participate," said Bemar-
din, 63.
Pope denounces the 'consumer society'
Bernardin, who celebrated his 25th anniversary with a special By Frances D'Emilio after the failure of communism, complex," the pope wrote in the — "lighten, defer or even
service at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Sunday, was Associated Press Writer capitalism is the victorious 114-page document. He gave cancel" foreign debt.
ordained a bishop in 1966, just as the church began implementing VATICAN C I T Y (AP) — social system, and that capital- support for a capitalism that has — grant "fair access to the
the sweeping changes of Vatican II, which ended the previous Laying out his model for a post- ism should be the goal of the an ethical and religious core. international market."
year. communist world. Pope John countries now making efforts to John Paul urged the West, and — share technology and
" I t ' s still a little too early to make a final judgtnent on the Paul n Thursday acknowledged rebuild their economy and socie- especially Western Europe, to expertise.
extent to which the renewal is complete," he said. "Americans c a p i t a l i s m ' s s u c c e s s e s but t y ? " the Polish-born pontiff come to the aid of Eastern Eur-
like things to happen fast. To them, a generation is a lifetime, but denounced the "consumer socie- asked. ope but said this aid must not When the pope announced in
in the history of the church, one generation is a very brief period t y " as akin to Marxism for come at the expense of the Third January that he was preparing
of time." ignoring moral values. " I s ° this the model which World. the ninth encyclical of his
In an encyclical, the church's ought to be proposed to the 12-year-old papacy, speculation
first major pronouncement of countries of the Third World " A great effort is needed to began about whether he would
social doctrine since the down- which are searching for the path rebuild morally and economical- declare a preferred economic
fall of communism in Eastern to tme economic and civil prog- ly the countries which have and social model to replace
Europe, the pope warned the ress?" he asked, condemning abandoned c o m m u n i s m , " he Communism.
West against considering its way unfettered capitalism and its said. The pope shied away from a
of life vindicated by the collapse treatment of the poor as he has Among his suggestions of definite formula, declaring " T h e
of Marxist governments. often done in the past. how the developed world can church has no models to
"Can it perhaps be said that. " T h e answer is obviously help: present."
AAL begins $850,000 grant program
APPLETON, Wis. — Aid each of its more than 7,700 church cleaning crews, altar Earlier this month, AAL mail-
Association for Lutherans (AAL) branches nationwide for the guilds, flower committees and ed information about this one-
has initiated a new $850,000 program. many, many more," said Delores time grant opportunity to all of
grant program to help its local Local branches may choose to Kaiser, AAL benefit specialist. its branches. The informational
branches across the country rec- honor a single volunteer, a spe- "They do their work behind the packets also included grant
ognize outstanding local church cific service group or all the vol- scenes, usually without thanks request cards, appreciation certi-
volunteers during 1991. unteers of a congregation. Rec- and fanfare. AAL believes a ficates and blank thank you
The program, " J u s t Say ognition activities can range special thanks would be encour- cards for personal words of
Thanks," honors congregational from presenting the award at a aging and appreciated by the thanks.
"unsung heroes" — those volun- dinner to making a donation to volunteers being recognized. A A L , based in Appleton,
teers who quietly go about help- an honored person's favorite "Church volunteers provide Wis., distributes more than $4.4
ing their churches in their own charity. valuable services that support million annually to Lutheran
special ways. AAL is making "Volunteers recognized could the ministry of the church," churches and institutions through
idividual grants available to include trustees, librarians. Kaiser said. several grant programs.
Over 600 participate in CYO Convention
On March 16-17, The Student Archdiocese of Chicago servpri teenage spirituality, athletics, Awards Banquet where outstand-
Center of Southern Illinois uni- as Sunday's speaker. Albert has self-esteem, ministry to the eco- ing CYO members, moderators
At First General Baptist versity at Carbondale was the an extensive background in nomically ^sadvantaged, leader- and Parish groups were recog-
site for the 1991 Diocesan Youth Ministry and has been ship, multicultural ministry, and nized for their contributions to
Bob Hungerford, a former Mt. Carmel resident, and the New Catholic Youth Organization very involved in providing basic skills in youth work, as the Diocesan C Y P Program.
Life Quartet will be In concert at the First General Baptist (CYO) Convention for the Dio- multicultural programming for well as the development of the Sunday's content included the
Church, 120 West 12th St., Sunday, May 5, at 6 p.m. The cese of Belleville. youth. He addressed convention individual Parish C Y O groups. election of the 1991-92 Diocesan
group is from Newburgh, Ind. "We sing out of thanks for the Over 600 youth and adult delegates on developing mutual Convention delegates also CYO Executive Council mem-
new life we have In the Lord. We use a mix of songs - some chaperons, representing 28 coun- respect for all peoples' abilities. officially "kicked o f f their I99I bers, as well as the formal busi-
southern gospel and some contemporary. Come worship with ties of the Diocese throughout Both John and Albert also pro- Dedication which focuses upon a ness sessions. The Convention
us," a spokesman said. From left, are: Bob Hungerford, Bill Southern Illinois, participated in vided individual workshops for concern for our environment, by concluded with a closing liturgy
Smith, Del Beasley and Tim Judd. this two-day youth leadership Convention delegates on Satur- participating in an aluminum can celebrated by Most Reverend
event. In addition, there were day afternoon. recycling project, as part of the James P. Keleher, Bishop of
Religion B r i e f s =
youth from several out-of-state Workshop topics covered such convention activities. Belleville.
Dioceses present including Ken- areas as: concern for the envi- Other highlights of this event The c l o s i n g liturgy also
tucky, Indiana and the Archdio- ronment, "Youth to Youth," included the Saturday evening included a spccial tributed to
cese of Chicago. those serving in the Persian
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Newly consecrated Episcopal
Bishop Steven Charleston of Anchorage, a Choctaw Indian and
The theme for this event was,
"CYO: A B E T T E R YOU. A
Honorary degree questioned Gulf, as well as a slide presenta-
tion reflecting upon the past
native of Oklahoma, is the second American Indian to become an BETTER ME...A BETTER FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Grammy-winner Billy Joel wrote, C Y O year.
Episcopal bishop in a 12-montli period. T O M O R R O W . " This theme "Catiiolic girls start much too late" — lyrics some say should bar« Those youth and adults from
' His co-consecrators on March 23 were two other American highlighted the fact that each him from getting an honorary degree and giving a commencement St. Mary's Parish, Mt. Carmel
Indian bishops. Bishop Steven T. Plummer, a Navajo of Farming- youth has something very impor- speech at a Jesuit college. who attended this event were:
ton, N.M., himself consecrated in March 1990, and Bishop Wil- tant to offer his/her church and Joel was selected by Fairfield University to give the speech and David James, Jane Pfeister, Ann
liam C. Wantland of Eau Claire, Wis., a Seminole. community, at large. By combin- get the degree on May 19. Kieffer, Amy Harness, Robby
READING, England (AP) — More than 16 million Bibles ing our efforts, we can create " A n Itonorary degree says that this person is someone our stu- Dunkel, Jason Harness, Marlene
were distributed by national Bible societies throughout the world positive change. The Keynote dents should emulate," said the Rev. liiomas Regan, a philosophy Haase, Gary and Rita Harness
last year, a 3.5 percent increase, the United Bible Societies Speaker for Saturday's session professor. He called Joel "blatantly anti-Catholic." and Ron Peters.
reports. was Mr. John Poppe of Breese, Regan pointed to the 1977 hit "Only the Go<)d Die Young," in This convention celebrated the
It says at least one book of the Bible has now been printed in who spoke on "Self-Esteem." which Joel isings, " 1 ' ^ rather laugh with the sinners than cry with 31st anniversary of the Belleville
1,946 different languages and dialects, a year's increase of 18 John was bom without arms, but the saints. The sinneirs are much more fun." Diocesan Catholic Youth Orga-
new languages. shared how this has allowed him Joel's supporters argue that he also has written about suicide nization which was founded in
Complete Bibles were reported for the first time in four addi- opportunities to develop self prevention, enviionmentid and world peace. 1960 by the Late Albert R. Zur-
tional lan^ages, and full New Testaments in 15 languages for esteem. "Joel has a st^ial awaren^s that scores a lot of poinu in my oweste, former Bishop of
the first time. Mr. Albert Simpson of the boiok," said the Rev. Simon Harak, a Jesuit who teaches religion. Belleville.