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PAGE 4—THE BULLETIN, October 13, 1962 Perseverance And The Council After almost three years of preparation, the Second Vatican Council, 21st such council in the Church’s history of almost two thousand years, is now in session in The Eter nal City, Rome. Newspapers and television screens are filled with the colorful panoply and ancient ceremony surrounding the Council’s solemn convocation by His Holiness, Pope John XXIII. \ And for some time to come the news media of the world will be filled with the more important work undertaken this week by almost 3,000 Cardinals, Archbishops Bishops, Abbots and General Superiors of religious orders and congregations - the work of presenting to the world the Church as Christ founded her - presenting the Church with the Truth and Simplici ty of her Divine Founder. Heaven has literally been besieged by the prayers of millions, Catholic and non- Catholic alike, that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this historic Council may bring men closer to God in the spirit of true Faith, and closer to one another i n the spirit of Justice and Char ity. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent bear it away.*’ Surely, the deluge of pray ers, now rising to the Throne of God is the Holy violence of which He spoke. There may be a tendency, as the weeks go by, particularly if there are no startling state ments from the Council Fathers (and it is commonly conceded that there will be none) to lose interest in the proceedings, to rise from our knees and unfold our hands. To yield to such a natural impulse would indeed be most unfortunate, and would betray a weakness of faith and per severance, without which the work of the council can only be hindered and its success diminished. Moses raised his arms in prayer beseeching victory for the people of God. So long as his petitions rose to heaven, the efforts of the Israelites were rewarded with success. We may confidently expect that so it shall be with us, if only we are convinced that “With God all things are pos sible’’ and that 1 every Grace that comes to man is loosed from the Hand of God by pray er. THE MAIN TOPIC AT THE COUNCIL? Sum and Substance In discussing the coming Council, many Catholic theo logians r say that the question of the rights and privileges of bishops will be given top pri ority. The Amer ican Catholic may imagine f $ Zjl that this topic Laf ggjnlP is related to t nedy’s Hous- when, as a candidate for the presidency, he denied that a Catholic president would be subject to dictation from the American bishops. The Council topic, however, will have a much broader scope. It will deal mainly with the bishops’ rights and privileges in relation to the power of the Pope. The First Vatican Council dealt with the subject of papal power and concluded its consid erations by defining the primacy and infallibility of the Pope. The Council intended to take up next the matter of the rights of bishops but the Fran co-Prussian war broke out sud denly and the bishops returned home, leaving the question un touched. In the course of their discus sion of Church government, however, the Fathers of the Council did make a brief ref erence to the fact that bishops are genuine pastors of their flocks and so the full signifi cance of this statement willun- REV. JOHN B. SHEERIN. C.S.] doubtedly be clarified at this coming Council. ,. The. Rope has immediate and ordinary jurisdiction over every member of the Church but the bishop has immediate and ordinary jurisdiction over every person in his diocese. How are these two facts re conciled? Again, the Pope has full and supreme jurisdiction over the whole Church but an Ecumenical Council of bishops presided over by the Pope also has full and supreme jurisdiction over the Church. How are these two principles reconciled? The Orthodox and the Angli cans are more interested in this whole topic than in any thing else that might come up for discussion. For it involves the question of papal primacy and infallibility. The Orthodox feel that there has always been a trend towards centralization of power in the Roman Catho lic Church, and that this trend reached its apex when the First Vatican Council defined the pri macy and infallibility of the Pope. Most Orthodox seem to admit this centralization of power at the Vatican has made for efficiency and unity but that it has been a radical departure from the plan of church organi zation established by Christ. They claim that Scripture and tradition both make it impossi ble for any bishop, even the bishop of Rome, to exercise a power or jurisdiction over another bishop or his flock. The Anglicans also feel that the decrees of the First Vatican Council, at least as far as they understand them, have down graded the successors of the Apostles, the bishops of the Church. In a recent article in Cross Currents, Stephen Neill of the Colgate-Rochester Divinity School states that "... the Anglican Churches firmly be lieve that they have preserved the catholic episcopacy in all its purity but tend to believe that the Vatican Council abolished it in the Roman Church.” He expresses the hope that the present Council will clarify the earlier decrees so that it will not seem that Catholic bishops have been rob bed of their Christ-given rights and have been degraded to the rank of papal clerks. The Council will not change Catholic teaching. There is no question of watering down the primacy or the infallibility of the Pope but the Council will probably specify the pastoral rights of a shepherd of a dio cese and his duties to the uni versal Church. As Yves Congar, O.P. re cently said: “For a diocese to be truly catholic, its bishop must govern it not as an in dependent unit but rather as a portion of the universal Church. This implies that the bishop actualizes in his diocese all the great causes of the universal Church.” 'INQUIRY CLASS WAS TREAT OF MY LIFE* SAYS CONVERT Sharing Our Treasure In seeking to share the precious treasure of our holy Faith with churchless friends, we can learn a lot from com mercial salesmen. They are courteous, kindly, zealous and tactfully p e rsist- e n t. They know that, ot her things being equal, the salesman who calls on the most p r ospects makes the most sales. No won der that Jesus said, “The chil dren of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.” Our popes, bishops and priests are appealing with ever REV. JOHN A. O'BRIEN increasing frequency and force to our laity for the assistance so urgently needed to reach the hundred million churchless or non-church-going people of our land. “It is necessary,” said Pius XI, “that all men be apos tles, that the Catholic laity do not stand idle but be united with their bishops” in the extension of Christ’s Kingdom among souls. In a message to the national congress of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in Buffalo in October 1956, Pius XII PRAISED "the invaluable ser vices which a zealous and well- trained laity can render to their bishops and priests in the vital task of making the truths of our religion better known and better appreciated.” This is illustrat ed in the conversion of Bernard M. Haley of Waterloo, Iowa. "I was reared,” related Mr. Haley, "as a Lutheran and at tended church and Sunday School quite regularly until I was about 20. But I seemed to be miss ing something and stopped going. Later I met a Catholic girl, Doris Kelly, and after some brief instructions was married in the rectory. During the first 15 years I would go to Mass occasionally with my wife and children. I’m sure Doris was praying for my conversion, but she was careful not to push me. "Occasionally she would in quire if I wouldn’t like to take instructions, but I wasn’t quite ready. But all this time the ex- (Continued on Page 5) Fill Them With Prayer! *ETW<l/hm ABOUT THAT DAILY. NOW It Seems to Me Despite the failure of past attempts to create a success ful "Catholic daily newspaper;; in the U. S., many American Catholics go on wishing for one. The sub ject got re newed atten tion a few weeks ago in several pub lications. Msgr. Sal vatore J. Adamo, exe cutive editor of the Camden Catholic Star-Herald, wrote that there is "room for a news paper that can and will tell the truth about vital things,” instead of letting "garish tra gedy” push important things to "obscure corners.” The Dubuque Witness replied that Dubuque had seen at close hand the failure of one Catholic daily, and that Catholics will not support such a paper. "ALERT CATHOLIC MEN,” organ of the National Council of Catholic Men, asked readers what they thought, and got un animous replies favoring a Ca tholic daily. Nobody wants growth and im provement in Catholic journal ism more than I do, but let’s look at some hard facts. The basic commodity of a newspaper is news; that is, information about current events while they are happen ing. Most news is not "Catholic” news.” Most news concerns everybody—earthquakes, space flights, epidemics, the stock tables, community affairs, sports, national and inter national problems, accidents and safety campaigns, and so on and on. THERE IS A “Catholic way” of handling news, but this boils down for the most part to be ing accurate, honest, truthful, capable, skilled and charitable. For those qualities, many a Catholic journalist could go to many of his colleagues in the general press for lessons. I’ve learned a lot from them my self. So much for the theory of the thing. Now for practicable con siderations. A daily newspaper must be delivered to readers while the news is news. But when people talk about a Catholic daily, they mean a national Catholic daily. THAT’S ALL RIGHT in the Netherlands, where there are several Catholic dailies. But the country is so small that the papers are on the doorstep within a couple of hours of printing. In the U. S. and Canada, with their vast distances, most read ers wouldn’t receive their paper until at least a day late--often two days. The news would be stale. Moreover, a national daily cannot provide local news, JOSEPH BREIG which is the news-backbone of a newspaper. So right there, the national Catholic daily has a couple of strikes on it- staleness of news, absence of the local news which readers need to be in telligent community members. ANOTHER HARD FACT — much of a newspaper’s income comes from local advertising. But local advertisers can’t use a national publication; they’ve got to have circulation con centrated in the area from which they draw customers. So out the window goes a main source of necessary income. So now we have our Catholic daily facing four colossal handi caps. First, if it were a real news paper, much of its news wouldn’t be "Catholic,” but just general news which readers can get elsewhere. Second, it couldn’t get the news to readers while it was news. Third, it couldn’t provide lo "NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART" Jottings By BARBARA C. JENCKS “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Apocalypse Loneliness comes to every man. To some, it comes often. It wears different disguises. It steals upon us when we least expect it, when we are in congenial company, or have experienced some small triumph and we wonder at it. It comes striding boldly into the heart, settling, too, like a block of ice in the stomach. We understand its presence ... as twilight descends upon us in a strange city; in the wail of a train as it cuts through the night; sitting in a doctor's office awaiting a verdict; when we have been parted from someone we love — and amid the Autumn’s falling leaves. People confused alone and lonely. Someone recently wrote that the pathetic clown with his grease paint smile would be an appropriate symbol of the modern lonely man. * * * Although loneliness comes to each man, the solitary person is not always the loneliest ironically. There are certain types of people we would expect to be lonely the shut-in, the hospital patient, the prisoner, the old. Sometimes it is the person who is in continual contact with people and caught up in a whirlwind of activity who is loneliest of all. When one understands loneliness, it does not hold such terror. We are usually lonely because we are not complete in ourselves. In our age, the threat of nuclear warfare adds to our insecurities and fears — and lonelinessl Father Thurston Davis wrote in an article, “The Loneliness of Man”, ". . . often from what we see in the streets of our cities, something important can be deduced, namely that today’s world is being increasingly populated by inexpressibly lonely and confused people, persons who have not only lost touch .with a community in which they might hope to find meaning and fulfillment, but whose very search for such a universe has apparently ceased to exist.” * * * Many who experience loneliness are afraid to admit it; they fear it is a sign of weakness or unpopularity. Sociologists usually advise such people to go out and mix, join clubs, take up a hobby. This remedy would be an external one. The spiritual writers say that loneliness is a symptom of our incompleteness without God. Our DORIS REVERE PETERS nSwerd YOUTH WHICH SISTERHOOD? cal news. Fourth, it wouldn’s have the vital income from local adver tising. THE FINAL blow is this: if you’re going to have a Catholic daily, you’ve got to have a daily Catholic worldwide news serv ice, pouring in news around the clock. The cost of that would be prohibitive. The two big serv ices, Associated Press and United Press International, are supported by hundreds of dailies. What’s the answer? Well, our weekly publications supply us with plenty of food for thought and action. But American maga zine, for instance, has fewer than 75,000 subscribers. So has Ave Maria. Commonweal has fewer than 40,000. Many dio cesan papers are in a similar fix. Shouldn’t we begin by doing what we can do—support the publications we have--instead of talking about doing what we can’t do? Dear Doris: I am entering my junior year in high school in September and I feel I have a vocation. I have read articles and pam phlets but am torn between two orders. One is a mission society which is completely dif ferent from the other which is a teaching order. How can I be sure which one to choose? I would also like to know if you think I am too young to recognize a vocation or might this be a passing phase. Maureen You are never too young to recognize a vocation, Maureen. Thank God you did. Don’t worry about making the choice of orders now. Concen trate on your studies and make the most of the remaining year in high school. Reading and study will help. You will find that in two years your interest will develop and jell. Then you will be better able to choose. Talk to one of the Sisters— one who knows you well. And discuss your vocation with your pastor or a priest he recom mends. They are qualified to guide you. At the end of the two years, with spiritual gui dance, study, prayer and God’s help you will have no trouble making the right decision. TRAVEL WITH CHILD CARE Dear Doris: This June I graduated from high school. My goal is to get a job taking care of children in a family which travels a- round from place to place. Can you suggest any training I could take to fit me for this? I like children and am firm afid re liable with them. I have done quite a bit of baby sitting. Travel appeals to me also and it would be wonderful if I could combine my preferences in one job. Thank you for any help you can give. Joan E. Any training in child care and/or homemaking would be valuable. This kip4, ftf, training varies from area to area. Child caring institutions such as nurseries, orphanagesr “child ren’s hospitals, etc., some times offer a one year course. Colleges and some junior col leges offer this type of course in the home economics depart ment. Investigate these in your community. Perhaps you could get a job with a family while going to school. Lots of college girls do this. They take care of the children in return for room and board. It is a nice arrange ment and it is excellent ex perience. In the end it will be the combination of your training and experience that will get you the kind of job you want. Some families are willing to train young girls who love child ren and are willing to work with them. This attitude, plus some experience, are your best assests. RIGHT WAY Dear Doris: Is it permissable for a 15- year-old boy to invite a girl to an occasional parish- sponsored dance or to an af ternoon show? John K. Yes, John, it is permissable and quite the right way to be gin dating—occasionally, and in groups. That is, of course, if your parents approve too. CANNED CONVERSATION Dear Doris: I’m not a complete social success and it seems my big gest problem is saying dull things. With girl friends I have an easy time talking and kid ding and joking but when boys are included nothing comes out right. Could you give a few sug gestions of topics that wouldn’t sound matter of fact and stiff. Barbara All “canned conversations” are stiff. Rather than a list of topics or a canned conver sation (which is what you are asking for) I suggest that you relax and act natural. A good conversationalist is, first, last and always a good listener. You will have no trouble if you remember this—and practice listening. Maybe you are trying to say too much. For a little while just sit back and listen. When you do talk your cue will come from the boys conversation. You don’t have to be smart and witty or joking and kidding to. go over big with boys. In fact the boys will appreciate it if you just talk sense. It might be a pleasant surprise. And a good listener will be surpris ingly popular. Doris Revere Peters answers letters through her column, not by mail. Please do not ask for personal reply. Young readers are invited to write to her in care of The Bulletin. ! QUESTION BOX By David Q. Liptak Q. At an ecumenical council, as I understand it, each in dividual bishop really and truly has a vote, and his vote counts. What I can’t understand is this: Since basic Catholic doctrine cannot possible be altered, of what significance are the votes the bishops cast? A. In assessing the signifi cance of the votes cast by bi shops taking part in an ecumeni cal council, several distinctions must be kept in mind. One must first of all ascertain whether the issue voted is essentially doctrinal; or, on the other hand, whether it pertains to periphe ral Church matters such as canon law, the liturgy, general discipline or practice, etc. When the Fathers of a council vote on substantial issues of doctrine, they do so as wit nesses of the Faith received in tact, untainted by the ages, as from Christ himself. Cardinal Newman’s explanation with re ference to the First Council of Nicaea can be applied to every other general council that has ever taken place, as well as to any that will take place in the future: ". . . It must be borne in mind that the great Council of Nicaea was summoned, not to decide for the first time what was to be held concerning our Lord’s divine nature, but, as far as inquiry would come into its work, to determine the fact whether Arius did or did not contradict the Church's teach ing, and, if he did, by what sufficient tessera he and his party could be excluded from the communion of the faithful.” (Tessera is a Latin term for a "token” or a "watchword.”) Or, as St Athanasius put it (Continued on Page 5) 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 Atlanta. Subscription price $3.00 per year Subscription in cluded in membership in Catholic Laymen’s Association. 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 Kieman Editor Savannah Edition Editor Atlanta Edition John Markwalter, Managing Editor Rev. Lawrence Lucree, Rev. John Fitzpatrick Associate Editors, Savannah Edition Vol 43 Saturday, October 13, 1962 No. 10 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