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PAGE 4—THE BULLETIN, June 23, 1962
On Wisconsin
CAN THIS REALLY HELP FREEDOM?
Recently the United States
Senate decided to cut off ap
propriations for financial aid
to Poland and Yugoslavia. But
after protests from the Ad
ministration the decision was
amended so that, while these
two Red-ruled nations will
continue to receive U. S. aid,
it may be terminated at the
discretion of the President.
We do not claim to be ex
perts on foreign affairs, or
even to know the true nature
or extent of the so-called
“estrangement” of Poland and
Yugoslavia from Moscow.
The Administration claims
that continued American aid
to these countries will keep
them from falling completely
within the orbit of the other
Soviet Satellites and will show
their captive peoples that they
have not been forgotten or
abandoned by the free world.
Continued aid, they said,
will have the long term ef
fect of helping the cause of
F reedom.
But we wonder how it is
possible to hasten the Reign
of Christ in the world by
supporting governments
sworn to the utter destruction
of Religion and the religious
ideals of Truth, Justice, and
Liberty.
We wonder how history will
judge a nation, founded on
man’s desire for freedom of
worship and speech, which
aids and abets the brutal sup
pression of those rights cur
rently being carried out in
both Poland and Yugoslavia.
And we wonder if the cap
tive peoples will really see
in our continued aid to their
oppressors, a generous nation
which has not forgetten their
misery, or if, instead, they
will see a nation which by its
financial assistance helps to
feed, clothe, and arm the se
cret police and military forces
which may well be the only
barriers between the wrath of
betrayed peoples and the re
covery of their stolen
freedoms.
SAFE DRIVING A MORAL OBLIGATION
FOOD FOR THE PRESS
(By J. J. Gilbert)
The Catholic press of the
country is stepping up its ef
forts to bring greater traffic
safety to the United States.
With schools closing across
the land, placing more child
ren on the streets more hours
of the day, and with the va
cation season sharply in
creasing traffic everywhere,
the Catholic Press Associa
tion is urging its member
publications to take an active
part in community safety cam
paigns.
In a resolution adopted at
its recent annual convention,
the CPA pointed to “the
alarming highway traffic ac-
cedent toll,” and said the spe
cific contribution of the Ca
tholic press “should be to
emphasize the moral respon
sibility of both driver and
pedestrian.”
This serves to recall that
Catholic interest in traffic
safety has been long, practical
and continuing.
One of the strongest mani
festations of this interest was
given in 1957, when the
Bishops of the U.S. called upon
their fellow American citizens
“to join in a crusade to keep
our highways safe.” They
urged “with the utmost
seriousness” that every
driver “reflect upon the moral
obligations he assumes” when
he takes the wheel of a car.
They declared that “care
lessness, neglect or reckless
conduct” by a driver is “sin
ful.”
“The distinctive mark of
the follower of Christ,” the
Bishops’ statement said, “is
his love of his fellow man.
The mark of the upright and
conscientious man is his strict
regard for the rights of others.
On the basis of both justice
and Christian love we appeal
to our fellow American
citizens to join in a crusade
to keep our highways safe.”
The National Council of Ca
tholic Men and National Coun
cil of Catholic Women, repre
senting Catholic organizations
with a total membership of
2 0 million Catholic men and
women, have longbeen active
ly interested in traffic safety.
Since 1945, the NCCW has had
a vigorous traffic safety cam
paign. A headquarters staff
member has worked continu
ously on this project, and
the council has reached out
to every section of the country
with safety messages de
livered through its national
committees on Family and
Parent Education, Youth, So
cial Action, Legislation, Aging
and Public Relations. The
council has received repeated
commendations from pro
fessional authorities in this
field for the effectiveness of
its work.
Vatican City radio com
mented in 1958 that no amount
of traffic regulations can as
sure ordered traffic unless
drivers become conscious of
their moral responsibility.
The commentator called it a
“particularly serious moral
problem,” and listed as the
principal causes of traffic fa
talities: Violation of traffic
laws; imprudence, usually in
the form of speeding; neglect
in keeping one’s car in good
mechanical condition, and ir
responsibility.
VISIT TO CHURCH WAS TURNING POINT
Sharing Our Treasure
It Seems to Me
During a visit to Cuernavaca,
Mexico, I noticed over the doors
of a Catholic church the in
scription: Entra bueno, sal
mejor. --“Enter agoodper$on,
and you depart a better one.”
No one en
ters a Catho
lic church in
a spirit of
r everence
and humility
without re
ceiving some
grace or
blessing
from our Eucharistic Lord.
Bring a non-Catholic friend to
Mass or even on a simple
visit to the Blessed Sacrament
and not infrequently it will lead
to his conversion.
REV. JOHN A. O'BRIEN
This illustrated in the con
version of Daphne Churchman
of Adelaide, Australia.
“I was reared,’’ related Mrs.
Churchman, “a strict Metho
dist. I attended church regular
ly, taught Sunday School and
sang in the choir. My interest
in the Catholic religion was
kindled when Philomena Hef-
feran, now Mrs. Murphy, asked
me if I would like to go with
her during our lunch hour to
the cathedral.
“As I had never been in a
Catholic church, I decided to
go. It is hard to describe the
feeling that came over me when
I entered this stately church
and saw the beautiful altar,
holy pictures, statues, stained
glass windows and crib with
the shepherds and their sheep.
A spirit of quiet reverence
pervaded the place. Several
worshippers were kneeling in
silent prayer, their gaze focus
ed upon the altar, before which
burned a flickering red light.
“While Philomena knelt in
prayer before the crib, I walk
ed slowly down the aisle, look
ing at all the paintings, statues
and scenes depicted in the stain
ed glass windows. The life of
Christ was unfolded before my
eyes. Every object seemed to
make the presence of God so
real and tangible, that I felt
as though I could almost reach
out and clasp His outstretched
(Continued on Page 5)
I outlined here the other day
what I believe are the basic
right purposes of religious
journalism. Let me turn now
to a man who has challenged
the general press, the movies,
TV and radio,
and advertis
ers, to re
examine, for
the good of
mankind,
what they are
doing
and how they
are doing it.
Charles G.
Mortimer, chairman of General
Foods Corp., which does more
than a billion dollars in business
each year, addressed the 1962
convention of the American
Newspaper Publishers Asso
ciation in New York City.
He proposed some answers
to the question:
“Does Freedom of Speech
and of the Press Need Updat
ing?’’
He said it does—emphatically
so. He assured the publishers
that he would join with them in
fighting to the last ditch any
attempt to curb freedom of the
press. But he inquired:
“In our need to survive in
an increasingly hostile world
should we not, entirely of our
own volition, temper ‘freedom
of speech and of the press’
with 'wisdom of speech and
of the press’?’’
Mr. M ortimers
answer was yes—and so is
mine. And I suspect that he
would agree with me that we
ought to temper freedom with
wisdom even if we weren’t
living in an “increasingly
hostile world.’’ We ought to
do it because it is right.
Mr. Mortimer said that in
many cases newspapers, mov
ies and other forms of commun
ication are playing into the
hands of the enemy--the comm
unists—by “proving a damaging
picture of America to the whole
world.”
He quoted a letter from a
close friend in South America,
who wrote:
“While freedom of the press
is a fundamental right in the U.S.
harmful news items from the
U.S. press are intolerable...It
is foolhardy for us to dig our
own grave in this manner.”
Why, asked Mr. Mortimer--
with our genius for commercial
persuasion--are we not convin
cing other peoples of “our sin
cere interest in, and honorable
intentions toward them,” and
propagating among them “the
principles of freedom and the
dignity of man for which we
stand”?
One reason, he said, is the
“perniciously distorted pic
ture” which is “ceaselessly and
maliciously fostered....by our
communist adversaries.”
But, he added, part of our
trouble is of our own making.”
Sometimes “we seem to go out
of our way to put our worst foot
forward.” He said:
“It seems to me imperative
that we adjust our criterion of
JOSEPH BREIG
news worthiness, and make a
new evaluation of what deserves
front-page headlining.
“We cannot escape the fact
that the news that is sensat
ionalized. . .and treated in lurid
fashion by some of the
columists and feature writers
will inevitably be used against
us.
“Agitators whisper to the
critical and discontented mil
lions, whose friendship and
understanding we so sorely
need, “This is life in America,
and these are the cheap, super
ficial and sorid things all Am
ericans think important.”
More destructive material
for unfriendly propaganda
would be hard for the Russians
to come by, Mr. Mortimer com
mented. And not only does
this sort of thing hurt us ab
road; it hurts us at home.
Our newspapers and other
means of communication, he
said, should build self-respect
among readers. He noted that
“editing for sensation and cir
culation” creates a vicious cir
cle because-it “stimulates em
ulation and duplication by the
exhibitionists and the publicity
seekers.” Played down, it
would dry up.
Mr. Mortimer added, truth
fully, that we all share the blame
because “we devour the news
without serious thought of how
our almost thoughtless tolera
tion of the . . .sordid, the sen
sational, the silly and the tri
vial’ ’ is creating ■ a- distorted
picture of free people.
He quoted Jenkin Lloyd Jones,
editor of the Tribune in Tulsa:
Okla., who told editors it is time
to quit playing up “extra-mari-
tial junkets,” and to ask Broad
way and Hollywood columnists
if they can’t find something
“decent and inspiring going on
along their beats.”
Mr. Mortimer made the point
that crimes and stupidities
“form a very small fraction”
of everyday life, and said:
“I don’t see how any respon
sible paper can afford to con
tinue in the traditional rut of
editing deliberately and selfish
ly for sensation and circul
ation.”
MY FAVORITE THINGS
By BARBARA C. JENCKS
“When the dog bites and the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.”
From “Sound of Music”
“The Sound of Music,” the Broadway misical hit based
on the story of the Trapp Family Singers, now in its
1,000 plus performance shone like a star on a summer
night amid the sordid fare offered at nearby theatres.
It is still going strong. It is encouraging that a best
seller musical on Broadway is non-censorable. It makes
one rather happy to be a member of the human race,
a rather rare experience in theatre fare today.
There are several nun-sequences in the musical which
will cause the vigilant disapproval from the habited cen
sors. This is no nun’s story. The gloom of Sister Luke
of the screen is replaced by frivolity which will bring
censure, too. There are those who will say that there
never was such a postulant as Maria (Mary Martin) and
sadly no Abess has such an operatic voice as Patricia
Neway. 'Weddings of former postulants also do not take
place in abbeys. Yet the musical is joyous and whole
some and sheer delight. “Climb Every Mountain” and
“My Favorite Things,” two catchy numbers in the score,
give our some palatable philosophy.
“My Favorite Things” includes a homemade philosophy
I often use during many of my “blue periods.” In this
number sung 'by the abbess and postulant, Mary Martin,
it is suggested that when feeling blue ’’you simply re
member you favorite things and then you don’t feel so
bad.” Of course some will say the abbess should have
prescribed the rosary, litany of the saints or some spiritual
reading but then the musical would have lost one of its
happiest tunes.
The litany of favorite things could always be followed
up with the litany of thanksgiving. Think upon the favorite
things of your life when the snows are deep and the tem
perature high and the nose stuffed and the head aching
and maybe you “won’t feel so bad” either.
In compiling my list in non-rhythmic pattern in contrast
to the musical version, I did not know whether to list the
things helter-skelter or put some semblance of order into
them. Should I list things the way I think of them or in the
seasons they are evident or by the senses in whicLthey
come to me? «i*
Why not just let them tumble out as in the title song?
(Continued on Page 5)
Bus Rides For All
ST. LOUIS, (NC) - A citi
zens committee has been form
ed here, with a full-time exe
cutive secretary, to work for
tax-paid school bus rides for
all of Missouri’s school child
ren.
Called the “Missouri Com
mittee for Equal School Trans
portation,” the group will try
to secure changes in Missouri
Legislation which courts have
interpreted as denying bus rides
to children who attend parochial
and other private schools.
Governor Backs Aid
LEBANAN, Ill., (NC) - Illi
nois Gov. Otto Kerner said
here he favors giving state
scholarships to students attend
ing private colleges, including
those conducted by religious
groups.
Illinois “cannot afford to lose
invaluable educational institu
tions through callous and un
thinkable neglect,” Kerner said
in a commencement address
(June 10) at McKendree College,
a Methodist institution.
Deer In Church
PORTLAND, Maine, (NC) -
A Frightened deer found tem
porary sanctuary when Abound
ed into the Cathedral of the Im
maculate Conception here dur
ing the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
The animal had been chased
by dogs from the outskirts of
Portland up a mall leading to
the front door of the cathedral.
Once within the church, it
crashed against a rear pew.
Robert Kennedy
NEW YORK, (NC) - Atty.
Gen. Robert F. Kennedy, reci
pient of an honorary doctorate
of laws from Manhattan College
at commencement exercises
here, warned Americans that
there is no easy way to meet
the heavy burdens of world
responsibility.
“This is not the easiest time
in the life of the United States,”
Kennedy said (June 12), “be
cause the American people bear’
unusual and heavy burdens.
He said some Americans seek
“to find solace and comfort
and satisfaction in old slogans,
old theories and easy answers
rather than to examine the facts,
condiser the future and face up
to our responsibilities with the
full realization that there are no
easy answers.
Anti-Catholic?
BROOKLYN, N.Y., - A Ca
tholic organization has urged
that New York City officials
take appropriate action against
alleged anti-Catholic bias at
Queens College.
The recommendation was
made in a resolution adopted
at the convention here of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians of
Kings County.
“We have now passed the
fourth anniversary of the
charges of anti-Catholic bias
at Queens College,” the reso
lution stated, “and every ob
jective study by an impartial
organization has come to the
same conclusion: that the
charges are far from base
less.”
The charges had been made
four years ago by three Queens
College faculty members who
claimed that anti-Catholic dis
crimination at the college had
blocked their promotions to full
professorships.
The resolutioh said the Hi
bernians “do reaffirm our con
demnation of all forms of
bigotry directed against any
American because of his race,
creed or national origin.”
It added “that Mayor Wagner
be requested to do the same
by appropriate action in the
Queens College case or ex
plain—publicly--why not.”
Moslems
GAROUA, Cameroun, (NC) -
Bishop Yves Plumey, O.M.I.,
of Garoua has called for bet
ter understanding between
Christians and Moslems in this
West African See.
The Garoua diocese, in nor
thern Cameroun, is about the
size of Arizona. It has some
8,000 Catholics, 16,000 Protes-
tanta and 490,000 Moslems in a
total population of 1,230,000.
Refugees
HONG KONG - John McIntyre,
acting director of Catholic Re
lief Services, NCWC, Hong
Kong, has reported further
tragedgy among the attempted
escapees who were returned to
the mainland.
Many of the returnees had lost
or discarded their residence
and food ration cards while
they were in Hong Kong, and
consiquently were beeing de
nied housing and food by the
communists, according to the
report by McIntyre.
Red Kidnap Plan
VIENNA, (NC) - Hungary’s
communist chief vetoed a se
cret potice plan to kidnap
Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty,
from the U.S. legation, it was
reported here.
Ther report was made by a
former member of the Hun
garian secret police, Bela La-
pusnik, who escaped Hungary
in early June before he died
in Vienna under mysterious cir
cumstances.
The secret police kidnap
plans were called off in 1958
or 1959 by the chief of Hun
gary’s Communist party, Janos
Kadarj who reportedly wanted
to wait for a more opportune
moment to seize the Primate,
according to the report.
'Mass’ By Methodist
LONDON, (NC) - A new Mass
setting by a prominent com
poser who is a Methodist was
performed in public for the
first time in Westmenster Ca
thedral here.
Dr. Lloyd Webber, the com
poser, attended the perfor
mance. It took place on Whit-
Monday (June 11), a public holi
day in England. The Mass is
entitled “Prince of Peace,”
and is dedicated to Father Wil
frid Purney, who studied mu
sic under Dr. Webber. Father
Purney conducted the choir.
Alcoholism
SIDNEY, Australia, (NC) -
Alcholism is “one of the worst
diseases in the community,”
Norman Cardinal Gilroy, Arch
bishop of Sydney, said here.
He told 125 priests attending
a symposium on alcoholism to
reflect on the following: the
terrible thing that alcoholism
is, the pitiful condition of the
alcoholic, and “the marvelous
advantage to the alcoholic in
having such an organization as
Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Hospital Congress
THE HAGUE, (NC) - The
second world congress of the
International Federation of Ca
tholic Hospitals will be held
in Evian, France, August 29
to 31, it was announced here.
416 8TH ST.. AUGUSTA, GA.
Published fortnightly by the Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia, Inc., with the Approbation of the Most Reverend
Bishop of Savannah; and the Most Reverend Archbishop of
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Second class mail privileges authorized at Monroe, Ga. Send
notice of change of address to P. O. Box 320, Monroe, Ga.
Rev. Francis J. Donohue Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
Editor Savannah Edition Editor Atlanta Edition
John Markwalter, Managing Editor
Rev. Lawrence Lucree, Rev. John Fitzpatrick
Associate Editors, Savannah Edition
Vol. 43 Saturday, June 23, 1962 No. 2
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
GEORGE GINGELL, Columbus President
MRS. DAN HARRIS, Macon Vice-President
NICK CAMERIO, Macon * Secretary
JOHN T. BUCKLEY, Augusta Treasurer
ALVIN M. McAULIFFE, Augusta Auditor
JOHN MARKWALTER, Augusta Executive Secretary
MISS CECILE FERRY, Augusta Financial Secretary