Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8—THE BULLETIN, December 26, 1959
CATHEDRAL MEETING — The most Rev. Thomas J. Mc
Donough, D.D., J.C.D., is pictured as he addressed the December
meeting of the Cathedral Home and School Association.
Decent Literature Head Talks
To Periodical Distributors
Bishop Hyland Would Deplore
Closing Georgia Public Schools
Over Racial Segregation Issue
Bishop Tells U, N. Meeting
Pope’s Concern For Refugees
Stems From Own Experience
CHICAGO — The community
standard of decency is the yard
stick used by the National Of
fice for Decent Literature, in
judging the moral content of
reading material for youth,
Monsignor Thomas J. Fitz
gerald, NODL Executive Secre
tary told the Mid-America Peri
odical Distributors’ Association
at its annual convention in
Chicago. Contrary to popular
conception, NODL does not at
tempt to judge reading material
for adults, he said.
“Certainly, the average par
ent wishes his offspring to grow
up in an environment of de
cency,” said Monsignor Fitz
gerald. “Webster defines ‘de
cent’ as ‘that which is proper or
becoming.’ This environment
should include a proper respect
for law and order, a love for
country, a sincere appreciation
of the sanctity of family life,
a pride in personal integrity,
a concern for the welfare of
neighbor, and a willingness to
work for the good of the com
munity.”
He noted that the paperback
book business must be handled
entertainment, are in fact a
powerful educational force.”
Monsignor Fitzgerald compli
mented the majority of pub
lishers and distributors “who
exercise this grave sense of
social awareness and moral re
sponsibility,” but declared that
there is abundant evidence that
Need Dedication
(Continued from Page 1)
discipline, dedication and re
sponsibility by Americans.
He said the responsibility
should cover education, and cit
ed the weakness in foreign
languages of 70 per cent of the
candidates for foreign service
examinations.
Gen. Gruenther said the con
cept of military security is now
manifested in U. S. pacts with
42 nations. But military means,
he added, are insufficient.
He said that of the world’s
2,800,000,000 people, one third
are free, one third Red captives,
and one third, “the swinging
third,” uncommitted.
“How this last third commits
itseelf will determine the future
of our civilization,” he said.
He called attention to an ex
ample of American concern —
the poverty of India and the 32-
year life-expectancy of its cit
izens.
Cardinal McIntyre said that
in an age of “progressive ma
terialism” the success of a
downtown chapel was a tribute
to the influence of religion.
He also discussed the con
troversy involved in what he
called “the propaganda phase”
population explosion.
Human nature," he said,
"had always turned its back
definitely and demonstrably
upon those who would invade
the privacy of human life it
self."
“Defiance of Divine Provi
dence,” he said, “brings only
evil and remedies no problems.”
The Cardinal discussed ef
forts to bring compulsory edu
cation in state-supported
schools of all American chil
dren.
“The spirit of America re
tains its acknowledgement of
God’s law,” he said, and for this
reason efforts to restrict free
dom have been resisted and de
feated.
an increasing number of pub
lishers are contemptuous of
community standards. “Many
decent citizens refrain from ap
proaching publication racks al
together because they are so
disgusted ' with the titles they
too often see on sale,” he said.
The NODL spokesman said
various signs seem to indicate
that local distributors are think
ing along the lines of industry
self-regulation to bridge the gap
between legal norms of decency
and the accepted standard of
community decency, and point
ed out that the comic book in
dustry has shown that it can
be done.
He charged that the publish
ing industry would remain
“steeped in mediocrity” if it
does not work with educators in
the schools, through forums,
through articles in its own
magazines and through adver
tising so that it can “over a
long period of time succeed in
turning the face of America
away from the television screen
into the pages of books that
represent the finest in our
culture.”
(Continued from Page 1)
the city law, “though aimed at
obscene matter, has such a
tendency to inhibit constitu
tionally protected expression”
that it must be struck down.
Mr. Brennan noted the court’s
earlier ruling that obscene
speech and writings have no
protection under the constitu
tion but he argued that the Los
Angeles anti-possession law
would tend to penalize book
sellers “even though they had
not the slightest notice of the
character of the books they
sold.”
“If the bookseller is criminal
ly liable without knowledge of
the contents and the ordinance
fulfills its purpose, he will tend
to restrict the books he sells
to those inspected and thus the
state will have imposed a re
striction upon the distribution
of constitionally protected, as
well as obscene literature,”
Justice Brennan maintained.
Parish Council
Meeting At
St. Patrick's
AUGUSTA — With a theme
of “Christmas is Christ’s Birth
day” for their December meet
ing, the ladies of St. Patrick’s
Parish of Catholic Women and
Altar Council Society exchang
ed baby garments which were
then collected to be sent to the
Holy Father’s warehouse for
distribution to needy infants
throughout the world.
Mrs. H. S. liuckley extended
thanks to all for their contribu
tions of clothes and help with
the recent rummage sale the
proceeds of which will be used
for replating a chalice.
Mrs. Raymond Campbell out
lined plans for the altar decora
tions for Christmas.
Monday, December 14th, was
set as the date to pack for ship
ment overseas the used cloth
ing collected during the Bi
shop’s Thanksgiving Drive.
Mrs. Wm. D. Moore was in
structed to purchase shoes for
a needy child, with the balance
of the fund voted for Christmas
charity to be disbursed by Rev.
A. A. Weitzer, pastor.
Mrs. John T. Buckley gave an
informative account of her re
cent European travels.
ATLANTA, (NC) — Bishop
Francis E. Hyland of Atlanta
has said that he would deplore
the closing of public schools,
“even temporarily,” in Georgia.
A Federal District Court has
ordered the Atlanta Board of
Education to end racial segre
gation in the schools. Under
present Georgia law, the ad
mission of Negroes to schools
which now are white would
force their closing.
“This issue, however, will
reach a crisis when the General
Assembly of Georgia convenes
next month,” Bishop Hyland
said. “The time to speak out,
therefore; has come.”
The prelate issued a state
ment which said: “As Christians
and as Catholics we would de
plore most earnestly the severe
handicap under which the chil
dren of our fellow citizens, and
some of our own children as
well, would labor were their
education to be interrupted
BUENOS AIRES, (Radio, NC)
—A Paraguayan priest, detain
ed here by police after his
country’s embassy accused him
of plotting against Paraguay’s
government, is now free to leave
Argentina.
Police had earlier taken Fa
ther Ramon Talavera off a
plane bound for Asuncion,
Paraguay’s capital, at the em
bassy’s request. He was told he
would have to remain in this
country during am investigation
of the embassy’s charge that
his return to Asuncion was to
be a signal for a revolt against
the regime of President Al
fredo Stroessher.
Father Talavera said he was
returning only to resume his
pastoral work.
After the priest took his case
to court, the Argentine Ministry
of Foreign Affairs announced
he was free to leave the coun
try. It also rejected the Para
guayan government’s request
that he be interned.
The priest, however, did not
leave on the plane that was
scheduled to take him to Asun
cion (on Dec. 12). His departure
was delayed by reports reach
ing here that a revolution had
broken out in Paraguay and
that armed contingents had
crossed the border from Angen-
tina in an effort to overthrow
the Stroessner government .
Paraguay has been the scene
of much recent unrest. In June
the nation’s Catholic Action or
ganization protested against
“uncontrolled and inexplicably
violent” police repression of a
student strike. Last year Arch
bishop Juan Mena Porta of
Asuncion called on the Stroes
sner government, which rules
under a state of siege, to restore
freedom to the people.
TRIBUTE TO
BRAVE BOY
PHILADELPHIA, (NC) — A
Communion class of 120 young
sters marched in solemn pro
cession in Our Lady of Good
Counsel church in suburban
Southhampton, but only one of
the group, Christopher Drebes,
7, received his first Commun
ion.
There was a good reason. It
was a tribute to a brave boy.
Three days before the Drebes
youngster was scheduled to
make his first Communion with
the class on October 30, he in
jured his eye while playing near
his Southhampton home. The
eye was removed.
While the Drebes boy was re
cuperating from the operation,
the first Communion ceremony
went on as scheduled October
30 — the girls in white dresses
with fingertip Chantilly lace
veils, the boys in blue suits,
white shirts and ties.
Two weeks later the brave
boy returned to his second
grade classes at the parish
school. Then plans were made
for his first Communion.
The procession was formed
again, just as at the original
ceremony, but this time Chris
topher Drebes marched with the
boys and girls to the altar rail
ing. He approached the railing
alone and Father Francis P. Mc-
Nelis, the pastor, gave Chris
topher Drebes his first Com
munion. Then the rest of the
class received the Sacrament.
even temporarily or curtailed or
impeded in any way.”
He said that while the first
consideration in this matter
must be of the children affected
and of their parents, “we would
deplore with equal earnestness
the inevitable harm and the dis
repute which would come to the
state of Georgia through the
closing of the public schools.”
Bishop Hyland said he had
been hesitant to comment on
the situation because most of
the Catholic children of Georgia
attend parochial schools, but
that the time had come to speak
out. He said that Catholics, as
citizens and taxpayers, “desire
ardently” the preservation of
public education.
“We hope and pray that our
state,” the Bishop declared,
“will take her stand before the
rest of the nation and the world
on the side of the law and with
a keen Christian sense of justice
to all her citizens without ex
ception.”
AUGUSTA — The members
of St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary
were fortunate indeed if they
attended the December meeting
of St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary.
A highly entertaining morning
was in store for them, as Mrs.
John Buckley gave a delightful
account of her recent trip
abroad. No one could have en
joyed the sights and events of
her travels any more “than she,
and no one could have imparted
it to others more delightfully
than she.
Mrs. Buckley’s informal talk
was introduced by Mrs. William
Bush, program chairman.
The program followed an in
teresting meeting at which Mrs.
Louis Battey presided. Of great
interest to the ladies was the
presence of the new hand-
carved figures which had just
arrived from Italy for the
creche to be erected at Christ
mastime. They were ordered by
Msgr. Bourke when in Ireland,
and each figure is a work of
art by Italian craftsmen.
. Mrs. S. K. Brown reported
for the ways and means chair
man that there were 75 fruit
cakes left to be sold. Mrs. Dav
id Hanson announced that the
clothing for the Bishop’s Drive
would be packed the next day,
and would be sent to the needy
families abroad.
Mrs. Joseph O’Connell said
that the bazaar sponsored by
Aquinas High School was high
ly successful.
Mrs. William Barrett, as Dio
cesan Chairman of Family and
Parent Education, announced
that Mr. Charles Keating,
founder of the National Com
mittee of Citizens for Decent
Literature, would speak here in
February. The annual Deanery
luncheon, as reported by Mrs.
L. J. Ward, Deanery president,
will be held on the second Wed
nesday in January.
Mother Seton
Possessed Virtues
Of Heroic Degree
(Radio, NCWC News Service)
VATICAN CITY — The
Church has declared that Mo
ther Elizabeth Seton, who may
become the first U. S.-born
saint, practiced the Christian
virtues to a heroic degree.
This finding of the investiga
tion into the virtues of the Pro
testant convert who founded the
Sisters of Charity in the U. S.
was approved by a general as
sembly of the Sacred Congrega
tion of Rites. His Holiness Pope
John XXIII took part in the as
sembly.
Following the assembly there
remained only the public read
ing of the decree proclaiming
the heroic nature of her virtues
before she could be called “ven
erable.”
Mother Seton was born Eliza
beth Ann Bayley in New York
City in 1774. A devout Episco
palian, she married William
Seton when she was 20. After
his death in 1803 she was left
with five children. She became
a Catholic in 1805 and four
years later she founded the
American Congregation of the
Sisters of Charity. She died in
1821.
Although the cause for her
beatification was started before
World War I, it was held up be
cause of the war and was not
officially introduced until 1940.
In December, 1958, at the first
public consistory of cardinals he
called, Pope John gave formal
consent to proceedings for her
beatification.
UNITED NATIONS, N. Y„
(NC)—To His Holiness Pope
John XXIII, the plight of refu
gees is “no abstract political or
social problem” but rather “the
haggard and haunting memory
of days and nights, of years of
the personal work of binding
up the wounds of uprooted hu
manity,” a United Nations
meeting was told.
The Pope’s personal concern
for refugees was recalled by
Auxiliary Bishop James H.
Griffiths of New York in his
capacity as representative of
the Holy See at the 1959 U. N.
Pledging Conference for refu
gee aid funds.
The Bishop told the confer
ence that “rarely has there been
any project so readily and
wholeheartedly given the moral
support and encouragement”
which Pope John has given to
the UN’s World Refugee Year.
He also reminded the delegates
of the Pontiff’s intimate work
in behalf of refugees during his
years as the Holy See’s repre-
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO,
(NC) — Mexico’s Cardinal has
praised its President for speak
ing out for religious liberty.
His Eminence Jose Cardinal
Garibi y Rivera, Archbishop of
Guadalajara, was referring to a
speech made in Cayetano Rubio
in Queretaro state by President
Adolfo Lopez Mateos. The Presi
dent declared there that abso
lute freedom of religion now
exists in Mexico.
The President made his state
ment despite the fact that anti-
religious laws are still on the
books in this -overwhelmingly
Catholic nation.
For decades religion has suf
fered from discriminatory laws
in Mexico. Persecution of the
Church, begun during the early
stages of Mexico’s revolution,
was legalized by provisions of
the 1917 constitution. Vigorous
ly carried out as persecution
continued into the 1920s, the
laws are no longer strictly en
forced.
In recent years Mexican
presidents have rarely spoke on
religious matters, except for
former President Manuel Avila
Camacho (1940-46) who stated:
“I am a believer.”
President Lopez made his
statement during a tour of
strongly Catholic Queretaro
state in answer to a question
by a labor leader, Fermin Nieto,
Mr. Nieto claimed his union
was the victim of discrimination
because he and most of its
members are Catholics. He then
asked if religious beliefs ex
cluded a person from taking
part in the social and labor
aspects of the revolution.
The President, who belongs
to the Institutional Revolution
ary party, replied:
“I wish to tell you here in
Queretaro where the constitu
tion was formulated that abso
lute freedom of belief exists in
Mexico and that in the vast
constructive work of the revo
lution there is a place for all
men of good will.
“There is a place for all those
who have epgraved in their
hearts the conviction that only
under the rule of social justice
can men in Mexico reach hap
piness, that the revolutionary
struggle is a redemptive one
and that in every field which it
enters it does so only to satisfy
better the aspirations of every
human being.
“In education, in labor and
the rights of labor, in the dis
tribution of land, in granting
credit to comrpunal land work
ers, in every activity which the
sentative in Istanbul, Athens
and Paris.
The Pope's representative re
minded delegates to the confer
ence of Pope John's June 28
radio address, opening the ob
servance o fthe World Refugee
Year. The prelate also noted
the work of Catholic organiza
tions in promotion and support
of WRY in all parts of the
world in cooperation with the
International Catholic Migra
tion Commission.
A special Vatican City com
memorative postage stamp
series to be issued in observance
of the Refugee Year was also
noted by the Bishop. Proceeds
from the sale of the stamps will
be added to the Holy See’s con
tribution to the High Commis
sioner’s program
The Pledging Conference re
ceived contributions for both
the High Commissioner’s pro
gram and the U. N. Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees.
revolution undertakes, it acts
only to satisfy amply that de
sire for justice which rests in
the hearts of every Mexican.
“I made this clear again so
that in ypu convictions you may
hold onto this unchanging
principle which neither time
nor intrigue, nor opinions nor
vested interests, can erase: the
fact that the Mexican revolu
tion is a redemptive revolu
tion.”
In lauding “the public ac
knowledgement made by the
President of our right to profess
our religion and cooperate in
all fields for the advancement
and prosperity of the nation
and the establishment of social
justice,” Cardinal Garibi also
praised “the statement of Ca
tholicity made by the Queretaro
workers.”
The Cardinal added that the
Church “has always proclaimed
the basic principles of social
justice and for years has been
striving for a Christian social
order in Mexico.”
Archbishop Miguel Miranda
y Gomez of Mexico City also
commented on the President’s
speech, saying:
“Among its most precious
treasures Mexico counts , the
Christian Faith of its people,
the inexhaustible source of its
well-being, peace and pros
perity.”
“To disavow the existence of
this treasure,” the Archbishop
said, “to ignore it, to impede its
development or, what is worse,
to destroy it, is to work against
the most sacred interests of our
country. But to make it fruitful
is to contribute effectively to
the true growth of Mexico.”
“We feel certain,” he con
cluded, “that we Mexicans, with
unity and honest, generous and
systematic work, inspired by
justice and charity, can solve
our many and complex prob
lems.”
TOTAL LOSS
Dreaming of the opportuni
ties lost in the past is a good
way to lose your chances for the
future.
BREAKDOWN
Worry about today’s problems
and those that may come tomor
row is too much of a load for
any man.
FOUL PLAY
The underhanded means some
people use to get ahead in this
world probably , means they are
getting behind in the next.
OPTIONAL
Carefulness and carelessness
on the highways are both ha
bits—you can have your choice.
Third Picture
In A Month Is
Denied Seal
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., (NC)—
For the third time in a month
the Motion Picture Association
of America Production Code has
denied a seal to a Hollywood-
made movie.
“Private Property” has been
denied a code seal. Its makers
will not appeal the decision. In
stead, they said, they wanted
the film to go without a seal.
Reason for denial of a code
seal is that the story deals
“frankly and in detail with the
implications of a long, tho
roughly planned seduction,” it
was reported.
Writer-director Leslie Stevens
and producer Stanley Colbert
said their only reason for sub
mitting the film to the code of
fice was to satisfy a require
ment by four major distributors
who had expressed an interest
in the film.
Now, they said, they will ex
plore other areas of distribution,
independent art houses and in
dividual theater managements.
The director and the producer
said they were in complete ac
cord with the code’s decision.
They said the film was not for
children and that, without some
means of age group classifica
tion, “there could be no other
decision.”
Pray Family
Pope Urges
VATICAN CITY, (NC) — His
Holiness Pope John XXIII has
urged Ecuador’s Catholics to
pray the family Rosary.
He addressed them by radio
in connection with ceremonies
marking the coronation of Our
Lady of the Rosary of Agua
Santa de Bannos. The statue
was crowned “Queen of the
Missions of Ecuador” during the
National Missionary Congress
held in Quito.
The Pope declared that “the
vitality of a nation’s Catholi
cism is measured in a special
way by the sacrifices it makes
in favor of the mission cause,”
and urged Ecuadorians to sup
port “the needs of the Church
in your country and also in the
whole world.”
The Pope’s message (Dec. 13)
closed with a blessing to all at
the coronation ceremony and all
the people of Ecuador.
Following is a translation of
the Pope’s message.
Like the child in the lap of
his mother, you have gathered,
very beloved faithful of Ecua
dor, at the foot of Our Lady of
the Rosary of Agua de Bannos,
and climaxing this pilgrimage,
you have gone to her throne
today to place a royal crown on
the head of the Most Blessed
Mary and to proclaim her
Queen of the Missions in East
ern Ecuador.
The spectacle offered by
your nation today is comforting:
a Rosary in hand and a prayer
on the lips.
Mary is the Mother of God
and our Mother. Her divine ma
ternity gives her the title of
Queen that sums up all her
greatnesses: she moves the
heart of the Saviour and is in
possession of the heart of men.
She is the Mother of the
Church and contributes with
her powerful prayers and with
the graces spread by her hands
on the world to the sowing and
spread of the seed of the Gos
pel. Does she not always keep
alive the flame of the mission
aries in her apostolate, that dur
ing her earthly life was so in
timately associated with ■ the
work of Christ and of His dis
ciples?
How. many pains have been
softened by Mary’s glance! How
much fervor has been awaken-
with a sence of social awareness
and moral responsibility since
the products of this industry,
though “intended largely as
Supreme Court
Paraguayan Auxiliary Hears
Priest Detained, Mrs. Buckley
Is Now Free
Cardinal Lauds President Lopez
For Saying Absolute Freedom Of
Religion Now Exists In Mexico
First Holy
Communion At
Saint Mary’s
AUGUSTA — On Sunday,
December 13th at eight o’clock
Mass at St. Mary’s Church in
here fifty-three children re
ceived their first Holy Com
munion. The Mass was offered
by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. D. J.
Bourke, pastor, who was robed
in traditional rose vestments,
symbolic of the hope of Gau-
dete Sunday.
Serving as Altar Boys were
Albert Gary, Joseph Schmitz,
Edward Holmes, Tom Bailey,
James Folk, Crain Garren, John
Rucker, Michael Kearns, Walter
Eubanks, and John Sherer.
The occasion was marked by
solemnity and beauty as the
procession of boys in white suits
and girls in white dresses and
veils took their places at the
rail before the altar, which was
beautifully adorned. Providing
music for the Mass was the
children’s choir of Mt. St. Jos
eph.
Pertinent is the fact that this
group of boys and girls is the
last to receive their first com
munion as students of Mt. St.
Joseph. Next year it is planned
that a new parish school, known
as St. Mary’s School, will be es
tablished.
Those receiving their first
communion in this final class
were Worth Andrews, Frederick
Andrieni, Bernard Bailey, Louis
Battey, Chris Bowles, Thomas
Brittingham, Charlotte Brown,
Mary Bush, Marion Clifton, Pa
tricia Eubanks, K Tr k Folk,
Michael Fehrenbach, Carol Fen
der, Paul Fieri, Russell Barn-
bill, Joseph Garren, Mary Gary,
John Halloran, Ann Heffernan,
Jane Holmes, Chris Hummel,
Bruce Jackson, Carol Jacobson,
Pilar Jaramillo, Christine John
son, Maureen Kearns.
Laura Lackas, Patrick Lange,
Edward Leclair, James Logan,
Veronica Maguire, Lauren
Mark, Peter Menk, Alfred Mon-
salvatge, Cynthia Mulherin, Joy
Mulherin, Mary Murphy, Susan
Orlando, Thomas O’Rourke, Ad-
elia Philpot, Cathy Reynolds,
Aubrey Rhodes, Michael Ruck
er, Danny Sherer, Katherine
Schmitz, William Sitler, Danny
Sheehan, Rebecca Skinner, Mar
garet Smith, Joseph Staak, Ca
thy Thompson, Peter Ulbrich,
Frank Ward.
Rosary,
In Broadcast
ed among the fearless heralds
of the Gospel by that holy im
age that you adorn with a gold
crown! What history of kind
ness and generosity is found in
the shrine of Agua Santa, en
trusted to the loving zeal of
the Dominicans!
We are certain that the sol
emnity of this day is not to be
only a passing event for you.
It expresses the constant devo
tion of a whole nation and also
can be seen as a pact, a pledge.
If Mary is Queen, each one of
you belongs to profess yourself
her servants. You hope for
grace from her kindness. Then
give her your love; promise per
fect obedience to the law of
Christ.
This is why, before giving
you Our benediction, We wish
to invite you to live a Marian
life. May the family recitation
of the Holy Rosary be the bal
sam of peace for your homes.
May your children go to Mary
to protect their innocence and
purity. May youth receive from
Mary the urge to work well and
to safeguard carefully their
purity. May the suffering hope
for comfort from the Virgin,
and those who govern hope for
wisdom and prudence from her.
Last, do not forget that the
vitality of a nation’s Catholi
cism is measured in a special
way by the sacrifices it makes
for the missions. Raise your
eyes, then, dearly beloved peo
ple of Ecuador. With a Catho
lic spirit attend to the needs of
the Church in your country and
also in the whole world. The
geographical line which, passing
through your land goes around
the whole earth, carries every
where the aroma of your chari
ty, spread to the most distant
corners the gifts that you re
ceive from heaven reciting Ave
Marias.
May there descend on all of
you, on Our beloved cardinal
legate, on the episcopate, the
authorities, the clergy and on
the Catholic people of Ecuador,
the special apostolic benedic
tion. We give you in the name
of Mary and as a pledge of her
material help.
Take good care of the present
and trade it in on a better fu
ture.