The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 61, Issue 10 - November 28, 1983

Loyola Mary mount University November 28, 1983 Volume 61 Issue photo b> Michael M. Rivero A Peaceful Thanksgiving catches mama pigeon guarding her loved-one that resembles this season’s valuable goslings. Pastoral Letter Still Drawing Controversy Edited by MICHAEL M. RIVERO . Editor-in-Chief ■ he fate of most religious documents, whether from pope or council, board or denomination, is a quick and dusty burial on the back shelves of libraries after the initial flurry of publicity accompanying their release. But not so the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops* controversial pastoral letter, “The Challenge of Peace.’* Student Reactions "Day After" Bombs Away On Campus By MARY C. DOLAN Loyolan Features Editor & KATHLEEN VILLARREUL Contributing Writer In many respects, the pastoral letter, which outlines church teaching for ap- • plication to a host of nuclear war-related issues such as first strike, deterrence and the disarmament, is a unique document in U.S. church history. No religious statement in recent years has attracted as much controversy ~- both inside and outside the Catholic church p or been the subject of such close scrutiny by politicians, including some of the highest rankings officials of the Reagan administration. Nor has any statement received the kind of ecumenical praise and study that “The Challenge of Peace” has received. Six months after its approval and publication last May , the bishop heading a special follow-up committee aimed at implementing the statement’s teaching, estimates that up to 1 .5 million copies of the pastoral have been distributed in the United States and -abroad. Bishop George Fulcher Lafayette, Ind., a member of the committee that drafted the letter and now heading the Dr. Callahan's Finisher ►page 2 Candlelight for Peace ►page 5 KXLU Airs Basketball ►page 14 Star's Close Encounters ►page 25 Advice on Safe Driving • ►page 28 Ladies Run as Champs ►page 30 I Ш Eere not talking about Hiroshima anymore. Hiroshima was peanuts,” from the ABC Theater Presentation The Day After. Time-lapse photography reveals the flight £ath of another jetliner as it departs LAX on its way to a distant port-of-call. | See “New LAX” ►page 6 Following weeks of national media attention and increasing public in¬ terest, the ABC Theater Presentation, The Day After, was* televised during prime time Sunday, November 20. Depite the intensely controversial treatment of the subject matter, nearly 70 percent of the nation’s television au¬ dience that had a set on at the time were watching a movie that had been billed as the st or у of Am erica’s “great est nightmare. Between 75 and 100 million people lived the frightful depiction of nuclear war and its aftermath by tuning in Sunday night. The ABC television network as well as many nationally recognized organiza¬ tions including the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) along with many doctors and experts cautioned against viewing the movie alone (and the allow¬ ing of young children to view) due to the reportedly graphic portrayal death dur¬ ing and life after a nuclear exchange.. Group viewing was recommened by most of these organizations. Such an opportunity for community viewing was sponsored by Pi Gamma Mu, Campus Ministry and Peace follow-up committee, also "said the 103-page document is being translated in several languages for distribution abroad and will be made available in Spanish for the U.S. church’s growing Hispanic population. “The ecumenical response has been unprecedented,” Fulcher said, “and in some instances it is being received, studied and acknowledged with fervor.” Both the Synagogue Council of America and the Natioanl Council of Churches have praised the bishops’ ef¬ forts. “In some cases such as in the states of Arkansas, Washington and Texas,” (continued on page 4) Studies. The gatherings at both the Recreation Center in Malone Student Center and Campus Ministry were well attendedby faculty and students. Also, joining the millions of others, viewers in the dorms and apartments in their healthy organiz¬ ed watchings. While many * criticized the technical flaws of the film, most seemed to realize as overall message of the film. “I was shocked. I had no understan¬ ding of the potential of a nuclear war. I know htere was more to it than they showed. I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep toninght,’> stated Mark Hechinger, graduate Biology student. A similar viewpoint was that of senior accounting major, Angelo . DiFusco, “People should reflect on the viewing and try to put themselves in the position of the people shown in the film . ” David Cofinaughton, a senior theology/philosophy majoy, stated, “the film was very powerful. It makes you think about how and when it might happen. The.film gave you an experinece (continued on page 3)