The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 6

MAY 29, 2003 RELIGION THE RECORD L-5 MEL PHOTOGRAPHER Bergenfield residents gathering for a an I interfaith prayer service at Veterans Plaza. The service marked the National Day of Prayer, President Bush's announcement of the end of hostilities in Iraq, and the newly unveiled U.S. peace plan for the Middle East. The Bergenfield Clergy Association sponsored the event. Unity in prayer Bill Bennett debacle is a sign to clean house The revelation of culture czar Bill Bennett's America's highways each year.

gambling habit has liberal columnists salivating, God intends sex to be experienced within the acting as judges, juries, and executioners. Some confines of marriage, yet consenting adults are have compared his behavior to legally free to engage in it, whether married or not. that of Bill Clinton. The repercussions of this "legal" behavior take on "Bill Bennett has been ex- many forms. The incidences of sexually transmitposed as a humbug artist who ted diseases continue to rise.

Unwanted pregnanought to be pelted off the public cies lead to illegitimate births, abandoned babies, stage if he lacks the decency to and abortions. And adultery tears families apart. slink quietly away, as he is con- Kinsley points out: "Empower America, one of stantly calling on others to do," Bennett's several shirt-pocket mass movements, wrote Michael Kinsley. officially opposes the spread of legalized gambling, GREGORY William Raspberry of the and the Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, one RUMMO Washington Post million hyperventilat- of Bennett's cleverer PR conceits, includes 'probed: "I mean, $8 in losses lem' gambling as a negative indicator of cultural AN EVANGELICAL in a decade! Surely that's im- health." VIEW moral and just as surely it must Kinsley is right on this count also. The Citizenmake Bennett a hypocrite." Link Web site reported earlier this year on the reAll this over something that Bennett said start- sults of a study on the social costs of gambling in ed with "church bingo." southern Nevada.

The report, which was released I thought gambling was legal in places like At- at the 2003 annual meeting of the Far West and lantic City and Las Vegas. And over the last American Popular Culture Association, concluddecade, liberals have knocked themselves out try- ed: "Gambling addiction's impact on marriages ing to persuade Americans that public figures' pri- and families is substantial." vate lives are their own business and that personal Nearly a third of the problem gamblers interpeccadilloes have no bearing on their effective- viewed were either divorced or separated, many ness as public-policy makers. I guess such reason- blaming gambling as the main source of discord. ing applies only to liberals. For conservatives, Many owed money to spouses or children.

The there's a different standard. average debt was $57,160. They are right, of course. A person's walk talks Bankruptcy, stealing, and suicidal thoughts also louder than his talk. When you are a man Ameri- were common experiences to a majority of reca looks up to as a role model for virtue, "legal" is- spondents.

n't enough of a standard to define your behavior. Former Sen. Paul Simon, who now Gambling is legal in many places. And Bennett works for the Public Policy Institute, calls gamused his own money. But not every activity sanc- bling "the only addiction promoted by governtioned by lawmakers and judges is morally accept- ment." able.

To compare Bennett to Clinton i is a stretch. To Deep down inside most of us, a little voice Bennett's credit, he admitted his behavior was whispers what's right and wrong. It's called a con- wrong and has said he would stop gambling a science. It's that little nagging tug at our souls far cry from proclaiming on national television: "I when we engage in behavior that may be deemed did not have sexual relations with that woman, acceptable by society's ever changing mores but is Miss Lewinsky." against our inherent nature as spiritual beings cre- This all goes to prove what the aposile Paul ated in the image of God. wrote 2,000 years ago: "All have sinned and fall A properly functioning conscience provides short of the glory of God." This includes liberals moral clarity on activities such as smoking, alco- and I conservatives.

But if the latter intend to morhol use, sex, and gambling. alize from the bully pulpit of virtue, they had betSmoking cigarettes is legal, yet there's nothing ter make sure their own house is swept clean first "good" about it. One report concluded smoking is and not just within the confines of the law. responsible for 400,000 premature deaths in America annually. Alcohol is legal, yet it is a cul- Gregory Rummo is choir director at Madison Avenue prit in obesity, liver disease, spousal abuse, count- Baptist Church in Paterson.

You may e-mail him at The less crimes, and approximately 25,000 deaths on CALENDAR From Page L-4 Wallington. Live music and games with prizes also will be featured. An outdoor Mass at 11 a.m. will precede the festivities. Information: (973) 779-4329.

LECTURES CONTINUE Dr. John McCullough, executive director of Church World Service, will be the next speaker in a series sponsored by the Community Church of Upper Ridgewood, Fairmount and Hillcrest roads. McCullough will discuss the changing role of the church in the world community at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in Hess Hall. An abbreviated service will precede the program.

Information: (201) 445-4082. BARGAINS GALORE I St. Rocco's Church will hold an indoor flea market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the social center, 42nd Street and Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen.

Admission is free. FINAL LECTURE IN SERIES The Rev. Randall C.K. Day of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Teaneck will discuss Mark at the final program in the ecumenical series "Favorite Folks in the Bible." All are welcome from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

on Wednesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 61 Church Teaneck. Information: Elizabeth Jordain, (201) 836-8043. COUPLE RECEIVES AWARD I The Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Awaid will be presented to Ronnie and Edward Grossmann of Cresskill at a testimonial dinner at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Thaneck.

Steven Morey Greenberg of Bergenfield will receive the ADL's Americanism Award. Information: (973) 669-9700. THEATER PARTY SET I Teaneck's Temple Emeth will spon- HENRY A. BEDNARCZYK 85, of Fairfield died Wednesday. Before retiring in 1993, he was a residential and commercial painter for 40 years and owned Henry Bednarczyk Painting, Fairfield.

He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Rosul-Dul American Legion post, Passaic. He was a parishioner of St. Thomas More R.C. Church, Fairfield. Arrangements: Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, Fairfield.

CHRISTINA W. BEHRENS, 88, of Bergenfield died Wednesday. Before retiring 10 years ago, she worked for the Bergen County Housing Authority. Arrangements: Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood. JEFFREY BELL, 46, of Spring Hill, formerly of Fair Lawn, died Tuesday.

He had worked with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 15, Hackensack, for 18 years. He was a Navy veteran. He was a member of Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church, New Egypt. Arrangements: Vander Plaat Colonial Home, Fair Lawn. CLINTON J.

BROWN of Teaneck died May 21. Before retiring, he was an assembly worker for General Motors Corp. in Tarrytown, N.Y. He was a member of Emanuel Pentecostal Faith Temple, Mount Vernon, N.Y. Arrangements: Earl I.

Jones Funeral Home, Hackensack. FRANK CAMPEAU, 81, of Dumont died Sunday. He had been a salesman. He was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II. Arrangements: Riewerts Memorial Home, Bergenfield.

PETER L. CAUWENBERGHS 83, of Allendale died Wednesday. He was born in Belgium. Before retiring in 1984, he was a superintendent of the Allendale Department of Public Works, where he worked for 36 years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Allendale.

He was a member of Archer United Methodist Church and a life member of the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, both in Allendale. Arrangements: Olthuis Funeral Home, Midland Park. PEARL VAN BLARCOM COVERT, 80, of Midland Park died Sunday. She was a former member of the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department auxiliary. Arrangements: Olthuis Funeral Home, Midland Park.

MATTHEW J. FREI, 2-year-old son of Brian and Cindy Kenerson Frei of Hawthorne, died Wednesday. Arrangements: Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, Hawthorne. MARIANNA G. EVERETT FRITSCH, 65, of Rutherford died Tuesday.

Arrangements: Macagna-Diffily Funeral Home, Rutherford. FLORENCE TALVINSKY GOLDSMITH, 93, of St. Petersburg, formerly of Fair Lawn, died Monday. Arrangements: Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn. CHARLES GROSSI, 77, of Summerfield, N.C., formerly of Paterson, died Tuesday.

Before retiring, he was an attorney for Union Camp Corp. and previously for the Army Corps of Engineers. He was a graduate of University of Georgia. He was a member and national vice president of the Federal Bar Association. Arrangements: Brooke Funeral Home, Stokesdale, N.C.

BENJAMIN JOHNSON of Paterson died Friday. Before retiring, he was a driver for Allan Trucking, Rahway. He was a Navy veteran. Arrangements: Scillieri Funeral Home, Paterson. ELEANOR V.

KING, 91, of Whiting, formerly of Ridgefield and Fair Lawn, died Saturday. She had been an executive secretary for Michael Machine Little Ferry. Arrangements: Manchester Memorial Funeral Home, Whiting. EMILY V. of Lodi died Wednesday.

Before retiring, she was a sales manager for Lauder at the Garden State Plaza, Paramus, where she worked for 25 years. She was a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales R.C. Church, Lodi. She was a member of the Lodi Senior Citizens and AARP.

Arrangements: Alesso Funeral Home, Lodi. AMELIA LAPICCOLO, 91, of Westwood died Wednesday. She had been a clerical worker. She was a parishioner of St. Andrew R.C.

Church, Westwood. Arrangements: Becker Funeral Home, Westwood. ELEANOR LAWRENCE, 93, of Glen Rock died Tuesday. She was a member of First Reformed Church, Ridgewood, and its Bible Study Group and choir. She also was a member of Life Opportunities Senior Citizens Day Program, Glen Rock.

Arrangements: Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood. HELEN SCHWARTZ LEVINE, 93, of Oakland, formerly of Fair Lawn, died Wednesday. Before retiring, she was a registered nurse at Beth Israel Hospital, Newark. Arrangements: Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn. RUTH KNOX McCLEAVE, 90, of Smithfield, formerly 1 of Paterson, died Wednesday.

She was a member of the United House of Prayer for all People. Arrangements: Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel, Newport News, Va. SANELLA BURNHAM McDOWELL, 60, of Passaic died Tuesday. Before retiring last year, she worked for Toshiba Consumer Products, Wayne.

Previously, she had worked at Jefferson School 1, Passaic. She was a member of Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Passaic, where she was a Sunday school and Bible class teacher, a member of the Deaconess Board, a Woman's Day committee adviser, and director of the church travel agency. Arrangements: Bragg Funeral Home, Passaic. ROBERT M. NELSON, 82, of Harrington Park died Sunday.

He had been a physician with a private practice, and was senior attending pediatrician at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, associate director of pediatrics at Pascack Valley Hospital, physician to the Harrington Park and Norwood schools and the Holy Family School, and consulting physician for the River Vale school system. In 1980, he founded the Meland Foundation to educate patients on health and medicine. He was a graduate of Upsala College and received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He was an Army veteran, serving at Andrews Air Force Base Hospital. He was an elder for the Community Church of Harrington Park, where he founded the Coffee House for Young People.

He was a trustee and officer of the Bergen Community Regional Blood Center, and founded the Harrington Park Blood Donors Association. He served on the Board of Welfare and the Shade Tree Commission, both in Harrington Park. During his lifetime, he was a recipient of the Bergen Scout Award, the Clinician of the Year from the Health Sciences Library Association of New Jersey, and the Citizen of the Year Award from Harrington Park. Arrangements: Barrett Funeral Home, Tenafly. RITA B.

COLEMAN O'BRIEN, 89, of Point Pleasant, formerly of Hasbrouck Heights, died Monday. She was a member of the Rosary Society and a former Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher at Corpus Christi R.C. Church, Hasbrouck Heights. She also was a Girl Scout leader in Hasbrouck Heights. Arrangements: O'Brien Funeral Home, Brick.

LILLIAN BUTULA PALUS, 88, of Franklin Lakes died Monday. Arrangements: Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, Franklin Lakes. SIMACO PARCIASEPE, 74, of Hackensack died Tuesday. Before retiring, he was a lieutenant in the Hackensack Fire Department. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.

He was a parishioner of Holy Trinity R.C. Church, Hackensack. Arrangements: G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, Hackensack. MARGRETHE "MIGGY" RHYNE, 86, of Glen Rock, formerly of Ridgewood, died Tuesday.

She had worked for Dorothy Carroll dress shop, Ridgewood. She was a graduate of Duke University. Arrangements: C. C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home, Ridgewood.

FRANCES A. DOMINIC ROPPATTE, 62, of Wayne, formerly of Totowa, died Wednesday. She had worked in the human resources department of Bloomingdale's department store in Hackensack. Arrangements: Festa Memorial Funeral Home, Totowa. HARVEY M.

ROSENSWEIG, 65, of Henderson, formerly of Fair Lawn died Monday. He was a self-employed limousine driver in New York City. Arrangements: Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn. LOUIS J. TABASCO, 77, of Sarasota, formerly of Maywood died Tuesday.

Before retiring in 1986, he was a pressman for The Record, where he worked for 20 years. He had been active with the Boys Club, Maywood. Arrangements: Vander Plaat Memorial Home, Paramus. RUTH H. BURNS THOMPSON, 99, of Carlstadt died Wednesday.

Arrangements: Kimak Funeral Home, Carlstadt. JOHANNES TULLING, 85, of Manahawkin, formerly of Rutherford, died Tuesday. He was born in Holland. He had been a maintenance worker for Hoffmann-La Roche Nutley. Arrangements: CollinsCalhoun Funeral Home, Rutherford.

CARL B. WASHINGTON, 77, of Englewood died Tuesday. Before retiring in 1994, she was an educational assistant for the Englewood Board of Education, where she worked for 25 years and was a member of the New Jersey Education and Englewood Teacher's associations. She was a former parishioner of St. Cecilia R.C.

Church, Englewood. She was a member of the 369th Veterans Wives Association. Arrangements: Nesbitt Funeral Home, Englewood. RAE SJAARDEMA WILKINS, 90, of Allendale, formerly of Prospect Park, died Tuesday. Before retiring, she co-owned Wilkins Photo Studio, Prospect Park, for 30 years.

Arrangements: Vander Plaat Funeral Home, Wyckoff. PHILIP L. WISNIEWSKI, 84, of River Vale died Wednesday. Before retiring, he was an installer for New Jersey Bell Telephone, where he worked for 45 years, and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 827. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy R.C. Church. He was a member of the St. Cecilia Choir, Englewood, and the St. Joseph Choir and Chorale Polonaise, both in Hackensack.

He was a charter 1 member of the Polish Youth Club. Arrangements: Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Park Ridge. sor a theater party featuring The Garage Theater Group in the premiere of "More Than a Soap Opera," a musical by Ray Davies and Michael Bias. All are welcome at 8 p.m. on June 7 at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Becton Theater in Teaneck.

Cost of $40 includes a reception afterward. Send name, address, check, and number of tickets requested to the synagogue, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck, N.J. 07666. Information: (201) 833-1322. REGISTRATION OPEN Glen Rock Jewish Center Religious School, 682 Harristown Road, is accepting registration for the school year that will begin Sept.

7. Classes are available for 3-year-olds through seventh-graders. Membership is not required through second grade. Call (201) 652-6624 or visit grjc.org. LORRAINE MATYS Look for additional religion listings Monday in the Local News section.

BOOKS SPECIAL FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS JOSEPH SMITH, by Robert V. Remini; Mormonism's founder was born into a "cauldron of religious frenzy," writes Remini, a noted historian of the Jacksonian era. Upstate New York in the early 19th century was the birthplace of several sects and religions. Smith was born, in 1805, into a religious family. Fourteen years later he had his first vision, but he did not act on it until he was 22.

He unearthed golden plates that he had been told of by the angel Moroni. Preaching what he called a reformed religion, Smith quickly drew followers. Community pressure, caused by economic success as much as by unusual beliefs, drove the group, now called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first to Ohio, then to Missouri, then to Illinois. There Smith was killed at age 38 by an armed mob. Remini has written a respectful and objective biography.

While noting that Smith "had a deeply controlling temperament and brooked no opposition to his leadership," he also calls him "a charismatic leader and an organizing Bob Trimble ON THE WEB SPECIAL FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS For the spiritual sampler, this site is a smorgasbord. It offers an extensive archive of texts about religion, mythology, legends, folklore, and occult and esoteric topics. In addition to Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist texts, visitors can scan writings from worldviews ranging from Wicca and shamanism to theosophy. Texts are presented in English translation and, in some cases, in the original language. The site's administrator says he has no agenda other than to promote religious tolerance and scholarship.

Mary A. Novices take shot at beating party insiders By SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER Political observers rank it high on the lists of legislative district races to watch this fall. In one Republican corner, you have the would-be Assembly speaker and current minority leader, Paul DiGaetano, 49, of Nutley, and his first -time running mate, Richard DiLascio of Lyndhurst. They want to help state Republicans wrest control of from the the as- Campaign sembly 2003: Democrats.

Trying to help maintain that majority for the Dems would be Nutley Deputy Fire Chief Frederick Scalera recently sworn in to fill a vacant Assembly seat and former Passaic City Business Administrator Imre Karaszegi 42. The party machines are primed. The campaign dollars are flowing. But before the fighters are introduced, two political outsiders will take a shot in next week's primary elections at knocking off at least one of each party's contenders in the 36th Legislative District. Republican Matthew R.

Hamel of Nutley and Democrat David Henry Pinkney of Passaic say that while they may spend less on campaigning than their opponents spend on their cellphone bills, they come with fresh ideas with which voters can relate. If anything, says Hamel, a commercial banker making his first run for public office, being a political novice after two wall-to-wall years of political corruption scandals could be a good thing. "Obviously with all the corruption in politics, you don't need a lot of Hamel said. Here is a brief look at the candidates: REPUBLICANS DiGaetano: The six-term assemblyman did not respond to requests for interviews for this story. A spokesman characterized DiGaetano as the GOP's best "foil" to Governor McGreevey's administration.

"He's gotten under the governor's skin by speaking the truth about the governor's said the spokesman, Ammirato. DiLascio: The 47-year-old Lyndhurst resident, and counsel to the township school board, could not be reached for comment. Ammirato said he would be a champion for more equitable school funding from the state. He said DiLascio also would push for ways to fund local schools other than property taxes. The current funding system, he said, pits tax-burdened seniors against local school officials.

Hamel: The slogan that will run next to his name on the ballot Will Donate Salary To Our District sums up his biggest promise. To help struggling senior citizens, Hamel, 29, said, seniors who own their homes should be able to defer property tax payments until they are deceased. After that, taxes owed would be paid by their estate, he said. DEMOCRATS Karaszegi: The former Passaic business administrator and Passaic Valley Water Commission president, who now practices law, said he would bring a lot of know-how to Trenton on municipal and environmental issues. "Certainly the towns in the district need an effective spokesperson to be down and to discuss those issues and act on those issues," he said.

Pinckney: The 41-year-old a sixth-grade social studies teacher, who is black, has taken Democratic party leaders to task for not selecting a minority candidate for the 36th District. Pinckney also said he would call for more state scrutiny of local school finances. Before raising taxes, he said, school boards should be required to show that at least 50 percent of the budget would be spent in the classroom. Scalera: A firefighter for 23 years and founder of Nutley's hazardous materials team, Scalera, 45, said he wants to see more state coordination of New Jersey's emergency response units. He said he also would champion more funding for such efforts from all levels..