The record, 28 avril 2005, jeudi 28 avril 2005

THE- RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 A MURDER MYSTERY COMEDY BY PAT COOK Yen Have t the Ifafil to B&riai'n April 28, 29.30 - 8 P.M, 11 nac " ‘ v A PRODUCTION OF > Galt Drama Alexander Galt Auditorium $8 Reservations: DeeDee and Terry Howell at 81W75-5133 BCS and the Vision schools have a plan.See Page 3 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040007682 Thursday, April 28, 2005 Hollywood Of The Great White North PHOTO COURTESY OF REG GAUTHIER Knowlton real estate agent Reg Gauthier managed to get a moment in between scenes for a photo with the star of The Secret, David Duchovny ofX Files fame.Duchovny, the cast and crew of the film wrapped up filming in Knowlton Wednesday and are set to begin filming scenes in Sherbrooke Thursday and Friday.Cell phone blamed for fatal East Farnham car crash By Maurice Crossfield The distraction of a cell phone is being cited as the main cause of an accident that killed a man in East Farnham Wednesday morning.Christian Falardeau, 39, of Cowansville was a passenger in the Chrysler Sebring convertible.Police say his 35-year-old wife was driving towards Granby when she either went to answer her cell phone or make a call.See Crash, Page 4 ETSB bus drivers feel they work in unsafe environment By Leah Fitzgerald Magog The Eastern Townships School Board’s bus drivers have requested a meeting with the administration and the council of commissioners to discuss their jobs.The bus drivers feel they work in an unsafe environment, where riders threaten and abuse the drivers and where drivers face accusations without much recourse.The bus drivers have a list of possible solutions they want to discuss with the board.Chair of the council of commissioners Magi Faulks said the council would get back to the bus drivers, and their union, about a meeting.One per cent below goal The school board has completed its plan to deal with diversifying hiring, as required under Bill 143.That law was passed in 2002.Director of human resources Jeff Pauw said the board used plenty of resources on what was “a big make work project.” Snapshots of all the employees were submitted to the government for evaluation, and job categories where the board is lacking women, aboriginals or visible minorities were identified.Pauw said the evaluation was based on the hiring basin of the school board, and that for the most part, the board was only one per cent below goal.As well, he said, the snapshot is nearly three years old and some of the demographics have changed at the school board.The plan will be presented to the council at the May meeting for resolution.Bank The school board will be switching financial institutions for the coming school year.The board sought offers from four local banks and ended up going with the National Bank over the Caisse Desjardins, their previous provider.See ETSB, Page 3 ¦cwraiMi aPJjJjAJ visit bu 0 ! ALL OUR NEW .• on?.nov?uwrote Alo fnvV.noro I ncvon ?-03 Fte-'lrnntl St STAOT www.beiiwea ucomeaucbry iier.com Tel.: tsYEWT/iJS Certified m: page 2 Thursday, April 28, 2005 > i—THE — ¦ RECORD Protecting the landscape through awareness By Paul Hanson Special to The Record Many townshippers have a deep attachment to the unique landscape in which ^hey live their lives.A conference taking place in Rock Forest aims to formalize the relationship.On May 10, the Paysages Estriens organization will be hosting a conference on laying out the foundations for a possible "landscape charter” to be adopted in the region.“We want to sensitize people to the importance of the rural and urban landscapes around them,” says Jean-Louis Blanchette, who is heading up the project.The proposed charter would not be a legally enforceable tool but more of a system of guidelines and priorities that represent a general consensus.“It’s more about educating and raising awareness among the population.” Towards that end, the conference will emphasize interaction and brainstorming with panelists closely interacting with other attendees.Organizers are hoping for a wide swath of the public to come out.Both of the local universities are contributing expertise to the forum as well as representatives from several municipal governments and local community organizations such as historical societies and environmental groups.Paysages Estriens is also hoping that the idea Brief piques the interest of a lot of nonaffili-ated regular Joes and Janes as well.Blanchette emphasized the inclusion of several developers, emphasizing that all stake holders must be included in the process.The Eastern Townships are renowned for the unique character of the area.Blanchette says the mix of bucolic countryside and vibrant urbanism really makes the area stand out and deserves preservation.The fact that the land was divided using the township system and not the seigneurial system as elsewhere in Quebec has blessed the area with a more closely spaced network of rural routes and small settlements that have maintained a strong anglophone flavour — another reason the Townships stand out in contemporary Quebec.But all is not well.Blanchette points to several imminent threats to the landscape in the area such as excess signage and the homogenizing effects of big-box retailing.Another major concern are environmental issues revolving around pollution.Blanchette points to a local example of how these forces can be mitigated by community action and consensus.The recent Loblaws development in Sherbrooke was heavily influenced by resident pressure, resulting in the developers conserving surrounding foliage and adopting a more muted design for the building.“it’s a quality of life issue as well as an economic one,” stresses Blanchette.“It’s very important both economically and culturally.” The idea of a landscape charter isn’t without precedent.A charter was adopted by seven of eight MRC’s in the Laurentian region of the province last November.The panelists for the conference will be David Belgue, president of the Conseil du Paysage Québécois, environment writer Normand Cazelais from Le Devoir and Robert Fortin from the provincial government's ministry of Economic Innovation and Export Development.Gym Gives $1,000 to Heart Foundation M VVv : ' St fclftfeifii .4 I COURTESY HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA For years Sherbrooke's Centre Medico Sportif Maxi-Club has invested time and money to develop fitness programs adapted to the needs of a diverse clientele suffering from health problems, including heart conditions.Thanks to its La Vie à Coeur program and a partnership with Bell Canada, the gym was recently able to raise $1,000for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.Pictured are Marc Jalbert (left) and Serge Audet presenting a cheque to the Foundation’s local director, Brigitte Lambert.Police bust marijuana operation in Barnston West Two men from Barnston West and Sherbrooke are awaiting court appearances in connection with a drug raid Saturday night in Barnston West.Police seized about 25 kilograms in bulk of marijuana and 1,800 marijuana plants during the raid on a house on Way's Mills Road.Sûreté du Québec spokesman Louis-Phillipe Ruel said the marijuana in bulk was found in the house and the plants were found in a garage next door.One man 28, from Barnston West and the other, 23, from Sherbrooke were arrested by SQ.They will appear in court in June.Weather Today: Rain.Amounts expected of 15 to 25 mm.Winds becoming west to 20 km/h in the afternoon.Temperature steady near 7.Friday: Periods of rain.Low 4.High 10.Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud.Sixty per cent chance of showers.Low 4.High 17.Sunday: Showers.Low 10.High 12.Ben by Daniel Shelton THERE.THIS IS RATHER NICE-NICE AW QUIET., SOMETIMES, A LITTLE TELEVISION IS JUST WHAT YOU ' NEELV r- EMM ml u Li wm IpM .RECORD Thursday, April 28, 2005 page 3 BCS, Vision School work out promotional agreement By Leah Fitzgerald It’s a case of you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours for two Townships private schools.For one, the prestige of being associated with a well-known and established private school.For the other, a guaranteed market of elementary students ready to head into the world of private high schools.Lennoxville’s Bishop’s College School and the Vision Schools will be promoting each other — the former to the siblings of students, the latter to their current students looking for an option for high school.Vision Schools focus mostly on elementary school education, with one high school in Victoriaville.The focus is on a family atmosphere — one class per grade in a small school setting — in three languages, English, French and Spanish.Bishop’s College School offers a comprehensive high school education with athletics, and community and international service making up a large part of the curriculum.Lewis Evans, headmaster of BCS, said the two schools share a common vision of providing an international calibre education to its students.“We prepare our students for the world they are moving into — a world that is beyond Sherbrooke, or Quebec or Canada — it’s a world that includes every continent, maybe even Antarctica,” Evans said.Yvon Courcy, who founded the Vision Schools with his wife Diane, says the promotion is just a way of providing another opportunity to his students.“We’re aiming for between 10 and 15 students a year to go to BCS,” he said.“About one from each of our schools.” Vision Schools currently operates 10 schools around Quebec, including in Drummondville, Quebec City and Thet- -jtfi V PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Lennoxville’s Bishop’s College School and the Vision Schools will be promoting each other.Pictured are Vision Schools founder Yvon Courcy (left) and BCS headmaster Lewis Evans.ford Mines.For the 2005-2006 school year, a Sherbrooke school will open under the direction of Marisa St-Pierre.Courcy said that the students get the best opportunity by sharing experiences.On a recent conference trip to France with his school, he said the Canadian delegation was the most popular because they were able to communicate equally well with the French, U.S.and Mexican delegations.“The Mexicans didn’t speak French,” he said.“My daughter acted as translator, it opens up the world to the students.” Evans stressed that BCS, through its membership in Round Square, an international organization of private schools, has been stressing internation- al challenges with their students Students have climbed Mount Kilamanjaro, trekked on dog sleds and gone on exchanges and service projects in South Africa, Costa Rica and China, among others.“We have students from all over the world,” Evans said.“We stress integration rather than assimilation.They are open to our culture without losing their own.It’s important for us, though, to have a good base of Canadian students.” Evans said BCS’s greatest boast is also its greatest fear — that it’s Canada’s best kept secret.By promoting itself in the region, Evans hopes to increase awareness of BCS within the local community and the province.The partnership came about because Courcy has enrolled his son at BCS for the coming school year.Once BCS realized who they were dealing with — and that they already had a Vision School alumni from Drummondville at the school — they offered the partnership.Courcy said that it’s an opportunity to offer another great chance to his students — even at a much higher cost.Vision School tuition runs in the $3,000 per year range.BCS is about five times that for day students.Courcy already has a partnership with a private school in Victoriaville, offering a program that continues the trilingual curriculum offered in the elementary schools.“We won’t be promoting BCS in Victoriaville,” he said with a smile.lfi tzgerald @sh erbrookerecord.com ETSB: CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 Angelo Marino, director of finance, said the change, which includes a reduction of about 10 cents per transaction, is expected to save the board $28,000 over three years.Invoices School tax bills will be payable at any financial institution in 2005.The new invoices will provide a number that will allow payment through telephone or Internet banking as well.Book fairs during day ARE ALLOWED Commissioner Mike Murray wanted to dispel certain rumours about restraints on schools.He said several people had expressed confusion about book fairs, and whether they were allowed during the day at schools under the new laws preventing promotion to minors.Director-general Ronald Canuel said they are allowed.Murray said there was also confusion surrounding the nutrition policy.Canuel said that there is a year where schools will be able to continue with their chocolate bar campaigns while they look for alternatives, but that teachers will not be able to use candy to reward students.On the other hand, exceptions will be made for events like Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day.Commissioner Gordon Bennett said that Alexander Galt High School in Lennoxville is already having a hard time finding an alternative to their chocolate bar campaign./\ luVtf/.Dui'u/ Advertising Consultant Tel.: 819-569-9525 Fax: 819-821-3179 production@sherbrookerecord.com GALAXY FILM CIRCUIT Movies from around the world in English will land in the Eastern Townships Fidelity Card - 3 movies: $15 C5AI_^SOCY General admission $6.50 w Information: 821-4481 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Drama by Michael Radford with Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Mackenzie Crook, Lynn Collins, Allan Corduner.An adaptation of Shakespeare’s play set in 16th century Venice.Shylock (Al Pacino), a Jew, has grown wealthy by loaning money with interest.Antonio (Jeremy Irons) is a Christian merchant who undermines Shylock by offering interest-free loans.Antonio’s best friend Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) needs money to court the lovely heiress Portia (Lynn Collins), with whom he has fallen in love.Antonio, whose money is tied up in trade ships that are away at sea, goes to Shylock to get three thousand ducats for Bassanio.Shylock agrees to lend them the money interest free, with the stipulation that if the loan is not paid back on time, he'll be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s own flesh.All profits will be handed to the Bishop’s/Champlain Refugee Sponsorship Committee ? page 4 Thursday, April 28, 2005 Record Coke not helping local tourism, says Taste of the Townships promoter By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record The head of the Eastern Townships food industry council has denounced the exclusion of one its products from the Lennoxville Golf Club, arguing it is a threat to the region’s commerce and tourism.“It is because of our special products that people come to the townships,” said Idriss Ettabaa.“To have any club or other popular establishment say our local products are not welcome shows they do not care about their own region.They only care about quick money.” Ettabaa was responding to news that the club will no longer sell Bull-shead Ginger Ale because of an exclusive contract it has made with the Coke Corporation.In exchange for Coke refrigerators and some other benefits the club refuses to talk about, Coke gets to dictate what soft drinks are sold there.Club manager Bert Collins confirmed that a contract to sell Bull-shead has now been cancelled and only Coke products will be available at the club.Crash: Cont’d from Page 1 “The car ended up in the oncoming lane,” said Sûreté du Quebec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel.“The passenger took hold of the wheel to pull it back into the right lane.” But the pull was a little too hard and the car veered off of the road, rolling over into the ditch.Falardeau’s death was confirmed later at the Brome-Missisquoi Perkins Hospital, while his wife suffered only minor injuries.“Apparently it was the cell phone that led to the loss of control,” Ruel said.Route 139 was closed for about three hours while emergency crews and accident scene specialists worked in the area.While some US states have banned the use of cell phones while driving, no such rule exists in Quebec.“It is certain that regardless the first priority is to pay attention to your driving,” Ruel warned.In fact Transport Canada suggests shutting your cell phone off while driving, or pulling over whenever you make or take a call.The Canada Safety Council takes a softer stance, suggesting not to dial while driving and letting voice mail take the call if you are in a difficult driving situation.”.avoid unnecessary calls and always make the driving task your top priority,” the CSC says on its Internet web site.Get Your Garage Sale Kit And Make Your Event a Success! $15.00, plus taxes ,j includes 1 day advertising , » t# * * ** m ** if ,3 .w » jM >?* ** « «• >f y ! jv ?** ‘ » » r* >f ** > ,V ! 2# tfi, tf ,3 *» s> » '• »v » * - *"l ‘9 No Parkii Works Crest! Works Créai! Pay ; .Mere RECORD Each Kit Includes: • 4 Bright 11 ” x 14” All-weather Signs • Over 275 Pre-Priced Labels • “No Hassle” Package including: • Successful Tips for a “No Hassle” Sale • Pre-Sale Checklist • Sales Record Form • Oversized Price Labels • “No Parking" Sign • “Sorry No Restrooms Available" Signs • "Pay Here” Sign Come to our office at 1195 Galt St.East, Sherbrooke or 88 Lakeside, Knowlton to pick up your kit and place your ad Info: (819) 569-9525 / (450) 242-1188 Kits must be picked up at the office (no mailing) Bullshead owner Peter O’Donnell said the contract cancellation means a sales loss of about 1,000 bottles of his ginger ale, as well as his cranberry and orange drinks, per year.“I had thought big corporations such as Coke and Pepsi were going to leave us local guys alone,” he said.“Now, I found out they want to shut me out of regular establishments.What other small, regional company will be shut out next?” Ettabaa said the snub by the golf club of a Taste of the Townships product will only make his organization that much more determined to promote local products and fight the anti-competitive practices of the big multinational soft-drink corporations.“We have about 250 companies that make food and drink products here, so we will have to collectively speak out against outside corporations that want to shut us down,” he said.“I can’t believe that a treasure such as Bullshead, with its great taste and its century-old history here, could be be snubbed by a golf club that is also steeped in Townships history.“Consumers are getting tired of the lack of choices these multinationals are trying to impose on them.The Coke corporation image does not improve when they do things like this.” Ettabaa also argued the Bullshead drinks are not even the same tastes and textures as other soft drinks and should not be considered in the same league as Coke drinks.“The Schweeps ginger ale sold by Coke is dry, clear and light tasting, whereas Bullshead is a dark, sweet ale that is similar to the traditional ones made in New Brunswick.The cranberry and orange drinks are not made the same way and have a different taste and texture than the drinks offered by Coke and Pepsi.If Coke thinks Bullshead is competition, they have obviously not come to the Townships to taste our townships ginger ale.’ Officials for Coke have not yet commented on the golf club contract or any other exclusive contract at E.T.establishments.Sherbrooke woman murdered in U.S.By Brion Robinson A woman from Sherbrooke living in Massachusetts was shot to death by her estranged husband, who then shot himself, just a few days after learning she was seeing someone else.The lifeless bodies of Sylvie Désilets, 31 and her husband, Ajit Chordia, 33 were found Monday evening in an apartment after a neighbour below heard gunshots and called police.The neighbour, a retired police officer, reported that drops of blood started falling from the ceiling after the shooting stopped.The Woburn Police Department and and an emergency crew from Woburn Fire department responded to the call around 6:39 p.m.and pronounced the man and woman dead on the scene.According to the Middlesex Distract Attorney’s office, Désilets received between three and four shots to the head and torso.Chordia had one apparent self inflicted single gunshot wound to the head.A semiautomatic weapon was recovered from the scene.Désilets and her husband moved from Canada to Woburn three years ago.She had been teaching English and Spanish at the Daniel Joyce Middle School.Chordia was working for a financial institution in Burlington, Massachusetts.But after moving, their relationship eventually dissolved and both were in divorce proceedings.A suicide note wasn’t found, but investigators suspect he began plotting the murder-suicide after he found evidence on his wife’s computer that she had been dating someone she met over the Internet.Chordia had no police record but police did respond to a 911 hang up call to their apartment in 2002.“When police responded to a 911 hang-up call they discovered it was just a verbal argument,” said Emily LaGras-sa, press secretary for the Middlesex District Attorney, during a telephone interview.Woburn police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office started a joint investigation into the circumstances involving the deaths.The office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) completed autopsies on bot-h bodies Tuesday.“It’s an open and close case,” LaGras-sa said.“The autopsy confirmed that it was a murder-suicide.” ¦ iM THE—i RECORD Thursday, April 28, 2005 page 5 Bail hearings, more arrests on way for car thieves By Maurice Crossfield Seven members of two stolen car rings will appear in court in Granby today for bail hearings.Those seven were among 29 people arrested Tuesday following raids at various locations across southern Quebec by some 130 police officers.In the process police say they shut down two car theft rings that stole hundreds of vehicles for auto recyders and rebuilders.Two of the seven are the presumed leaders of the groups, Martin Auclair, 28, and Jocelyn Beauregard, 30, both of Roxton Falls.In 2001, Auclair pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen goods and possession of theft tools -similar charges to what he’s facing now.All 29 appeared in court in Granby Tuesday, faced with a variety of charges related to the seizure of vehicles, car parts, all-terrain vehicles, trailers, snowmobiles, 100 marijuana plants and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.Most were then released on condition that they promise to appear in court Friday for the next step in the proceedings against them.“Those who stayed incarcerated were those with previous criminal records,” Sûreté du Québec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel explained.Tuesday’s crackdown came after a year-long investigation by a special team made up of officers from the SQ Granby Police and Bromont Police.What started as a response to a spike in car thefts in Granby and Bromont turned into a complex investigation into two groups capable of stealing three cars a day.In 2003, 674 cars were stolen in Granby, up from 461 in 2002.Police say the rings would receive specific orders from six “recyclers” in Drummondville, Joli-ette and Laval.Already in possession of a damaged vehicle of that make and model, the recyclers would use the stolen car or truck to rebuild the damaged one, or simply switch the serial numbers.Ruel said Wednesday police are still looking for several ring members, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.JfJ'% MAURICE CROSSFIELD On Tuesday, police shut down two car theft rings that stole hundreds of vehicles.President of Desjardins securities resigns CanWest News A month after being personally fined $300,000 for supervisory failures, the president of Desjardins Securities resigned Wednesday for “personal reasons.” The securities division of the Desjardins Group, the largest financial institution in Quebec, did not specify the reasons for Jean-Pierre De Montigny’s departure.Yves Néron, currently head of the Desjardins online brokerage division, will be interim managing director of the firm until a successor to De Mon-tigny is named.De Montigny, who served four years as president and chief operating officer, was sanctioned on March 16 by Market Regulation Services Inc.The supervisor of Canadian stock market trading said he had failed to address compliance issues and continued to expand the business despite concerns raised by the regulator.Amtrak president upset Amtrak president David Gunn said Wednesday he believes the makers of the Acela Express trains overestimated the life expectancy of their brake rotors, forcing Amtrak to pull the entire fleet out of service for repairs.Amtrak was forced to pull all of its 20 Acela trains out of service April 15 after finding millimetre-size cracks in 300 of the high-speed rail fleet’s 1,440 disc brake rotors.Makers of the Acela trains Bombardier Inc.and Alstom SA of France have said the brakes were to last one million miles.The current Acela fleet had about half of that mileage, Gunn said.Helene Gagnon, spokeswoman for Montreal-based Bombardier, said the brakes’ disc face — or front of the disc — showed normal wear.Dofasco riding high Hamilton-based Dofasco Inc.continues to ride the wave of last year’s record steel prices, earning $78.2 million in the first quarter of this year, the steelmaker’s highest first quarter on record.The profit amounted to $1.01 per common share, compared to earnings of $54.6 million or 71 cents per share in the same quarter of2004.As prices surged last year, many customers built up large inventories to protect themselves against further price increases.Those high inventories are still being worked through, dampening demand in the first quarter, which led to lower shipments and a drop in net income from the fourth quarter of last year.Canam reverses loss Construction products fabricator Canam Group Inc.made $3 million in the first quarter, reversing a loss a year earlier of $7.4 million.The Quebec company said Wednesday its earnings for the three-month period ended March 26 amounted to nine cents per share.Canam lost 22 cents per share in the first quarter of 2004.Consolidated sales for the company, which operates 13 plants that design and build construction products, rose 11 per cent to $141 million from $127.2 million a year ago.Reservations: DeeDee and Terrf Howell at A MUP-b6?.-MY?>T6F-Y GOMEPY &Y W GOD|C wrt lb.2A 70 r i aou ^lŒorium •W«»» ce Wi ùiütmr liUut liirscbr * ^Directed Nelsorfl page 6 Thursday, April 28, 2005 RECORD Community Forum Valium time for a Catholic “I’m sure in the end we all have the same values as human beings: We want to be more compassionate, more loving.We get into difficulties about the how.but there has to be a movement inside, — to accept that certitudes are not so certain.” (feanVanier) Back in the 1970s when anglo Quebecers were suffering post-election shell-shock after the first separatist government’s victory, Aislin of the Montreal Gazette eased tension with perhaps his most famous cartoon.René Lévesque, looking cool, calm and in control, extends a hand to us all and says: “Have a Valium.” Liberal minded Catholics in Canada could have used a similar cartoon when they learned last week that Cardinal Ratzinger was the newly elected pope.Other conservatives were in the running, but Ratzinger stood to the right of most.Ratzinger, with the new honour and title of Pope Benedict XVI, was the closest confidant of the late John Paul II and the two were as one in matters of Catholic faith and doctrine.So it is not surprising that his fellow Cardinals chose him, and Benedict’s time in office will undoubtedly be marked by continuity of papal policies.Not everyone is ecstatic about Ratzinger’s selection.I confess that I hoped it would be anyone but Ratzinger.My sister, stopped on the cathedral steps by a television crew in Kingston, Ont., suggested she was probably not the best person to interview because she was no great fan of the papacy.The interviewers agreed and left her standing there.Pope Benedict XVI is an archconservative and for two decades headed up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, known in history as the Inquisition.His role was to keep Catholics in line, and when appropri- ate (according to his lights) silence liberal Catholic theologians.The Catholic Church will never be a democracy, but I feel uneasy with a leader so schooled in the arts of silencing others.Ratzinger can be skilled and diplomatic, but no one denies he is a hardliner.He played an important role in chastising and silencing liberation theology in Latin America (Liberation theology argued for greater Church assistance and involvement with the poor and oppressed).As for a greater role for women in Church affairs, his views are uncompromising.It will not happen.The relegation and maintenance of more than half the world’s population in subordinate roles does not bother him.But it sure bothers me, and many others.An understanding of the disquiet over Ratzinger’s selection goes back at least to Vatican II (1960-65) and the goals and policies of the pope at the time, Pope John XXIII (That’s 23 for readers who do not follow Super Bowls, or whose Latin is shaky).Vatican II threw open the windows of the Church and allowed fresh air to blow in.Vatican II spoke for a more open, flexible, and liberated Church in a rapidly changing world.It was springtime for Catholics, a time of renewal.Input from people below was possible.The Latin mass gave way to the vernacular.Altar girls joined altar boys.Priests turned to face their congregations.In time, those little boxes for individual confessions were replaced by a general absolution service.Organs and choirs gave way (not always) to guitars and folk singers.The congregation was invited to join in.Some did.Some did not.Benedict XVI believes the winds of Tom Cavanagh RECORD P.0.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 5L6 or 1195 Galt E„ Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax: 819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Website: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Nelson Afonso Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-4856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)569-9511 Advertising.(819)569-9525 Circulation.(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax:{450)243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 114,40 8.01 9.18 S131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 $67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 $34.51 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7,1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke, QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA Vatican II blew too long and too far.He speaks for a hold-the-line besieged fortress mentality.He is particularly concerned and alarmed by what he describes as moral relativism.To counteract it, there will be no questioning or challenging of Church doctrine.He and the hierarchy will define the terms and point the way — from above._______ I think uneasily of my own time in a Catholic university, and the words of Cardinal Newman.He wrote of the need to develop character and intellectual maturity of young people (and old) by encouraging them to learn and judge for themselves, rather than simply accepting what others say.I don’t like to oversimplify, but we have major differences of opinion here.One example from many makes the point.The American priest, Charles Curran, a professor of moral theology at Catholic University in Washington was refused the right to teach.He is now a professor at Southern Methodist University.He disagreed with the Church on such issues as sexuality and medical ethics.So do millions and millions of Catholics.Forcing submission by silencing and punishment is not the best way to resolve differences, and it underlines the end of dialogue and openness of Vatican II.The moral leverage and credibility of the Catholic Church has sunk to an all-time low in recent years.Think only of the pedophile scandals and the inept action (and inaction) of the hierarchy.I would like my Church to concern itself more with making the world a better place, as opposed to meting out punishment, keeping the troops in line, and clarifying rules for the laity.Perhaps Benedict XVI will surprise us all.Perhaps he will show great flexibility.This has happened with other popes, but Benedict has staked out so many positions in uncompromising terms.Contraception is sin.So is sex without marriage.Practicing homosexuals will burn in hell.Women will remain in subordinate roles.As for married priests — forget it.So it comes down to an open minded more liberal Church, or an inward-turned and defensive Church.The latter seems to have won the day.We have a pope with the nickname “God’s Rottweiler”.Little reason for liberal Catholics to rejoice about that.I find it very discouraging.Benedict XVI asks for our trust.I will do my best.But I could use a Valium.(To be continued.)