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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Vol. 41, No. 14 MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1960 Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year 7 0. r er- *et, *le- tiat ;le- ate ?ad the al- ied “Who II! Bell The Cat” sdn Editorial On Sunday, December 11th, Catholics throughout the na tion will renew their “Legion of Decency Pledge,” declaring their intention to promote the cause of morally wholesome motion picture entertainment by patronizing only those films which are produced and exhibited in accordance with the traditionally accepted and respected norms of Judaeo- Christian morality. Perhaps at no time in the past thirty years has there been a greater need for re dedication to the unchanging principle • that no one can claim God’s reward for “Good Stewardship” over his im mortal Soul, who- willfully ex poses himself or those in his care to circumstances which present to average, normal people, a solicitation to serious sin. , For only the most naive and shallow mind can maintain that the r ec en t Hollywood “binge” of “adult-oriented” films glorifying adultery, be littling marital fidelity and personal integrity, portraying brutality and violence solely for its “shock-value,” and graphically picturing seduc tion and rape for the sake of “sensation,” present no real danger to the moral welfare of impressionable youth, and to the soul-life of the nation, itself. The rate of production of Hollywood “q u a 1 i t y” films which can only be considered as representing proximate oc casions of serious sin has now reached 25% of the film capi tal’s total annual product. More and more, the voices of clergymen, educators, journal ist, and even some responsible Hollywood producers, are be ing raised in protest and warning. But if the apathy of the general populace during the past few years is indicative of the future, Catholics will likely find themselves, for the most part, in the hapless posi tion of the little mouse who set out to do something about a dangerous situation, while the other mice stood about, wringing their paws and cry ing, “Who will bell the cat?” We hope that events will prove us wrong in this sur mise, and that Americans of all religions will take firm ac tion to demand an end to moral and sooial irresponsibil ity in the production and ex hibition of motion pictures. We hope that there are great numbers who will face up, with Christian Faith and For titude, to the cries of “Censor ship,” raised whenever it is suggested that the entertain ment industry is not exempt from moral and social obliga tions; or that the norms of decency and morality in hu man conduct derive, not from popular demand or suffrage, but from the immutable Will of God as revealed in the Ten Commandments. When foolish people object, “Movies can’t harm good peo ple. Evil only appeals to a dirty mind,” we hope there will be enough wise ones who remember the words of Sa cred Scripture, “If any man thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed, lest he fall.” Finally, we hope there are few, indeed, with whom “The Roman Catholic judgement of movies through the Legion’s public listings has not gone over too well,” and that the majority of American movie goers will demonstrate, by conscience-directed and dis criminating patronage of fu ture motion pictures, that members of the Legion of Decency and other similar groups are not alone in val uing their souls above all else in this world, and zealously guarding them against all that is calculated to keep them from their eternal destiny. Florida Priest Cites F, B, I, Reports, Student Riots C.Y.O. Warned of Red 'Brainwash' Campaign RECEIVES PAPAL HONORS — The Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, Bishop of Savannah, and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Toomey, S.T.L., examining official papal docu ment naming the Savannah pastor a Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. —(Carroll Burke Photo) Rev. John D. Toomey Domestic Prelate PRAY FOR OUR SAVANNAH — His Excel lency Bishop Thomas J. Mc Donough has announced the conferring of papal honors on a Savannah priest. The Very Rev. John D. Toomey, S.T.L. has been named by Pope John XXIII a Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. Son of Mrs. Mary S. and the late Mr. Pierce Toomey of Au gusta, Monsignor Toomey has been pastor of St. James Par ish, Savannah, since 1956. The newly named Prelate was or dained in 1941 and received his degree in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America. After serving two years as Assistant Rector of the Sav annah Cathedral, Monsignor Toomey was named pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Mil- ledgeville, Ga., where he re mained until he was appointed the first pastor of St. James. Monsignor Toomey is a member of the Board of Dio cesan Consultors, the Bishop’s Administrative Council, the Parish Priest Consultors and is Director of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Diocesan Director of the Holy Name Society, Vicar for Re ligious and Diocesan Director of the Legion of Decency. Since coming to St. James, Monsignor Toomey has built a convent and school, recently finished construction of a new school wing of 8 classrooms, kitchen and auditorium, which presently serves as the parish church. Since the beginning of his pastorate the parish has in creased in number from 60 families to 560. The new Monsignor will be invested by Bishop McDon ough at St. James on Thurs day, December 15th at 8 p. m. PRIESTLY DEAD I 1 REV. RICHARD JOHN O'BRIEN Dec. 12, 1894 REV. BERNARD J. DOYLE Dec. 14, 1879 REV. EUGENE V. O'NEILL BOYD Dec. 17, 1916 RT. REV. MSGR. JAMES GRAHAM Dec. 17, 1842 O God, Who didst give to thy servants by their sacredotal office, a share in the priesthood of the Apostles, grant, we im plore, that they may also be one of their company forever in heaven. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. ★ ★★★★★ ELECTION AND AWARDS HIGHLIGHT CONVENTION SAVANNAH — Highlight. of the recent Diocesan Cath olic Youth Convention was the election of new Diocesan offi cers and the presentation of awards to outstanding CYO mem bers and Adult Advisors. Delegates from Parish CYO organizations throughout the diocese named Charles Bun ton of - Blessed Sacrament Parish, Savannah, president, succeeding -Miss Julie Miller, of St. James, Savannah. Elected vice-president was Miss Helen George of St. Fran cis Xavier Parish, Brunswick. The posts of secretary and treasurer were taken by Miss Linda Pelli of St. James, Sav annah and Lee Etheredge, St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill, respectively. Parish Moderators and Parish • Adult Advisors named the following CYO members to Diocesan;Activity chairmanships: Miss Mary Ann McManus, Our Lady of Lourdes, Colum bus; Miss Linda Hall, Immaculate Conception, Dublin; Miss Joan Sack, St. Matthew’s, Statesboro; and Miss Barbara Wright, Most Pure Heart of Mary, Savannah. “Pro Deo et Juventure” medals — for outstanding service to the youth of the Diocese — were awarded to five adult advisors. They are Mr. Edward Lutz, Blessed Sacrament, Savannah; Mrs. Claudia Bryan, St. Benedict’s, Savannah; Mrs. Walter Smith, St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill, Augusta; Mr. Charles Bell, St. Teresa’s, Albany; and Mrs. Nora McCoy, also of St. Teresa’s, Albany. In presenting the awards, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, Bishop of Savannah, expressed “Profound and sincere thanks, not only in my own name and that of Father, Wellmeier, our very capable Diocesan Youth Director^ but also in the name of all our priests and of the young people, themselves, who have benefited so much from your unselfish service.” CYO members who have demonstrated outstanding lead ership in youth activities received “Eagle of the Cross” awards. Honors went to William Shealy of St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill, Au gusta; Miss Elaine Harding, St. Joseph’s, Fleming Heights; Miss Mary Ann McManus, Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbus; Miss Ann Leonard, Nativity of Our- Lord, Thunderbolt; and John Jurgenson, Sacred Heart, Savannah. 'Know Your Faith — Know Communism' BISHOPS’ COMMITTEE ON MOVIES CHARGES FILMS HTH DEPARTURES FROM STANDARDS; ASKS PROTESTS (N.C.W.C. News Service) WASHINGTON — A com mittee of U. S. bishops has added flashes of lightning to the storm gathering over al leged sensationalizing in Hol lywood films. The five bishops who guide the work of the National Le gion of Decency charged Hol lywood with “bold departures” from decency and called for “an unmistakable national pro test” by the country’s 40 mil lion Catholics. The Bishops noted that they are not alone in concern over the moral quality of movies today. “We cite the widespread criticism which recent Holly wood films have provoked throughout the entire coun try,” they said. The appeal to Catholics to help clean up movies was made by the Bishops’ Commit tee for Motion Pictures, Radio and Television little more than a week before the day, December 11, when Catholics are invited to subscribe to the pledge of the Legion of De cency. The bishops charged Holly wood with allowing its own production code to be compro mised and. boastfully ignored by some filmmakers. Noting the U. S. hierarchy’s support of self-regulation, ra ther than legal action, the pre lates called for reform of the code administration. They also said Hollywood must come up with a system of self-classification to protect youths from material they are not yet mature enough to, un derstand. The bishops specifically cri ticized Hollywood for the “subtle and insidious introduc tion” into movies of “the sen sational presentation of relig ious as well as for its new found predilection for porno graphic and perverted subject matter.” The committee urged Cath olic pastors to explain the Le gion of Decency pledge care fully to parishioners, showing that it means both support for worthy films and lack of sup port for morally bad movies. Parents were asked to check legion listings of films. “Par ents must be reminded that they are seriously delinquent in the fulfillment of their par ental duties if they permit, their children to attend films not approved for them,” the bishops said. They asked Catholics not to support films that fail to seek approval of either the Holly wood production code or the legion. These films are chief ly independent or foreign-pro- duced movies. The bishops noted that in 1960, the Legion of Decency rated 24.33 per cent of the U. S. films it reviewed as mor ally objectionable, compared with 14.59 per cent in 1959. While these percentages alone , are distressing, the com mittee said, “deeper concern must be expressed over the fact that the moral quality, both in theme and treatment, of this year’s objectionable film product represents a bold and unprecedented departure by Hollywood from previously accepted and respected stand ards for a mass medium of en tertainment.” It accused Hollywood’s “qua lity films,” not just cheap ex ploitation films, of containing objectionable material. “Far SAVANNAH — A Jackson ville pastor told several hun dred delegates and members of Parish Catholic Youth Or ganizations here that the world-wide Communist Con spiracy is seeking to “take over the youth of the country” as a prelude to establishment of a Soviet America. The warning came in a speech delivered by the Rev. William T. Larkin, S.T.D., pas tor of Christ the King Church, Jacksonville, Florida. Citing recent charges by J .Edgar Hoover, F.B.I. Chief, Commu nist influence in the San Fran cisco student riots, and an in creasing number of court cas es attacking religious observ ances in public schools, Fa ther Larkin declared that Communists seek to subvert the nation’s young people by a two-pronged attack. The Soviets are making a concerted attempt to break down moral standards by in filtrating the entertainment in dustry, particularly motion pictures and television, he said. The Florida priest also charged the Reds with at tempts, by propaganda and court action, to fashion an “atheistic system” of public education. Father Larkin urged his lis teners to “answer the chal lenge by strengthening your Faith, through prayer and fre quent reception of the Sacra ments. Know your Faith and know Communism.” Delegates were urged to pre pare for and accept positions in public service and to “try to bring to those positions a true and vital Christian influence.” Father Larkin’s address was delivered at a Communion Breakfast, climaxing the sec ond annual Diocesan Catholic Youth Convention. SAVANNAH YOUTH ELECTED DIOCESAN CYO PRESIDENT SAVANNAH — Delegates to the second annual Savannah Diocesan Catholic Youth Con vention have elected Charles Bunton of Blessed Sacrament Parish, president of the Dio cesan Catholic Youth Organi- too many of Hollywood’s 1960 quality films have not only poisoned the entertainment of our public, but have slaughter ed the innocence of American youth,” it said. The bishops urged Catholics to support a protest “against the continuing production and exhibition of films which gla morize adultery, which advo cates free love, which belittle and debase the sacred state of matrimony, which ridicule per sonal integrity and which deaden human sensibilities by submerging them in a boiling sea of brutality and violence.” The bishops said they are joining voices with others, some in the industry, who are calling for reform of the pro duction code. “The code can be and should be a bastion of strength for the industry against morally and socially irresponsible pro ducers and exhibitors who, if unchecked, will feed and pan der to the baser instincts of the public,” they said. “No nation in history has ever been able to survive the domination of the reason of its people by their baser pas sions,” the committee said. The bishops said Hollywood cannot have it both ways with the code. “It must desist from that hypocrisy and duplicity whereby it self-righteously hides from public censure be hind a code which is presently largely ineffective,” they said. The prelates made four sug gestions to contribute to a re turn “to responsible produc tion and exhibition.” 1. Finding a way to protect youth. “A system of self-class ification of films by the in- (Continued on Page 8) HIGHLIGHTS OF CONVENTION was the election, and installation of new Diocesan of ficers. Lee Etheredge of Augusta, treasurer, on left, and Miss Helen George, Brunswick, vice president, pose with the Rev. Herbert J. Wellmeier, Diocesan Youth Director and His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough. Standing to the Bishop’s left are Charles Bunton, Savannah, Diocesan president and Miss Linda Pelli, Savannah, treasurer. OUTSTANDING ADULT ADVISORS and CYO members received awards at Com munion Breakfast. They are shown above with Bishop McDonough and Father Wellmeier. L. to R., Mrs. Claudia Bryan, St. Benedict’s, Savannah; William Shealy, St. Mary’s, Augus ta; John Jurgenson, Sacred Heart, Savannah; Miss Ann Leonard, Nativity, Thunderbolt; Miss Elaine Harding, St. Joseph’s, Fleming Heights; Mr. Edward Lutz, Blessed Sacra ment, Savannah; Mrs. Nora McCoy, St. Teresa’s, Albany; and Mr. Charles Bell, St. Teresa’s, Albany. Mrs. Walter Smith, award winner for St. Mary’s, Augusta, was not able to be present for the award. . CHARLES BUNTON zation, succeeding Miss Julie Miller of St. James Parish, Savannah. The son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Bunton of 2817 V2 Dixiji Ave., “Charlie” is a senior at Benedictine Military School. He was appointed co-chairman of the Cultural Activities Com mittee of Blessed Sacrament Parish in October, 1959, and named president of his parish CYO two months ago. Rioters Wreck Prelate's Car CARACAS, Venezuela, (NC) —The automobile of the Arch bishop of Caracas was wreck ed and burned during a dem onstration staged by thou sands of anti-government riot ers. The rioters swept through the main streets of Caracas denouncing President Romulo Betancourt as a traitor. Arch bishop Joes Humberto Quin tero had appeared in the streets (Nov. 27) to ask the roiters to disperse. Book Reviews 7 Editorial Comment 4 Marriage Notices 2 Obituaries 3 Question Box 4 Doris Answers Youth 5 Calendar of Feast Days 6