Diocese offers suitable charity for ALS challenge

Published: August 22, 2014

Father John Marconi (left), pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, Father Robert Cigainero, associate pastor, and seminarian Martin Siebold receive an ice water bath from students Aug. 22.

Father John Marconi (left), pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, Father Robert Cigainero, associate pastor, and seminarian Martin Siebold receive an ice water bath from students Aug. 22.

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Thousands of people have taken the Ice Bucket Challenge in the past three weeks, but Catholic leaders are urging donors to understand more about the ALS Association, where most people are sending their donations.

The ALS Association has admitted to supporting embryonic stem cell research, which destroys human life at the embryonic stage. To honor the spirit of this challenge, the Diocese of Little Rock is suggesting donations be sent to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, which does not support embryonic stem cell research.

At St. Joseph School in Conway, teachers and priests got into the act. On Aug. 22, pastor Father John Marconi, associate pastor Father Robert Cigainero and seminarian Martin Siebold all received an ice water bath from middle school students. Earlier in the day elementary principal Matt Tucker got doused along with several teachers and staff. Father Marconi and others promised to send their donation to the John Paul II institute as suggested.

In North Little Rock, Immaculate Conception School principal Marcia Brucks took the challenge Aug. 22 in memory of former parent Leigh Green, who died of ALS in 2013.

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