Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 31, 1945
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASRnriATrnM
_ — 1 ■ —OF GEORGIA THREE
News Review of tire Cathoii^~w™-iff
GOVERNMENT STATES
PERMIT POLICY FOR
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS
(By lit Ur ions News Service)
WASHINGTON. D. C.—The pol
icy of I lie War Committee on Con
ventions on church meetings and
religious gatherings has been
slated in a letter from the Com
mittee to the Federal Council of
Churches.
No permit is required for the
holding of any. meeting for reli
gious worship or for ecclesiastical
ceremony, the Committee stated.
No permit is required for any
conference or meeting attended by
not more than 50 persons from
beyond the local commuting zone
or. in the case of rural com
munities. beyond the normal!
trading area of the locality
which the meeting is held.
The Committee said application 1
must be made for permission to
hold other types of church meet
ings and that it will act on such!
applications in accordance with 1
the following principles:
If an application is filed for
permission to hold a church legis
lative meeting, the policy of The
Committee is to grand a permit
with the understanding that at
tendance must be held to the
minimum number necessary for
the group properly to function
The Committee defines a church
legislative meeting as one called
to transact business essential to
the continuance or survival of
the church organization. Among
distinguishing characteristics of
such meetings are:
The fiscal operation and con
trol of church properties:
*1 he amendment of canonical
laws;
The election of a bishop,
moderator or other chief execu
tive officer of the church in the
district, synod, diocese, presby
tery. etc.;
The selection or examination
of candidates for ordination;
The assignment of pastors-
and ’
The allocation of funds.
Meetings of auxiliary groups
such as women’s organizations,,
youth groups and missionary so
cieties held concurrently with a
church legislative conference re
quire separate application for a
permit. Meetings of denomina
tions that have no central govern
ing body are not eligible for per
mits as church legislative meet
ings.
Permits are required for meet
ings of missionary societies
organizations of laymen, and for
ministers’ conferences. youth
group meelhigs and various other
church auxiliary bodies. The pol
icy of the Committee is to deny
such permits.
Special courses of instruction
tor ministers or laymen require
a permit unless they are part of
the- regular normal curriculum of
the educational institution in
which they are held.
Church camps and summer as
semblies following the normal
vacation pattern do not require a
permit. But any convention or
meeting held at a camp or sum
mer assembly ground does require
a permit.
HOLY WEEK IN THE ETERNAI env
[ Holy Father Grants
Private Audience
to Edward J. Flynn
(Radio. N. C. W. C- News Service)
VA IIGAN CITY.—His Holiness
Pope Pius XJI received in private
audience March 22 Edward .1,
Flynn, accompanied by Myrpn C
Taylor. President Roosevelt's per
sonal representative at the Vati
can.
Following a visit to the Italian
war front, Mr. Flynn will fulfill a
long cherished desire to spend
Holy Week in Rome, it was said.
Mr. Flynn, former chairman of
the Democratic National Commit-
lee, accompanied President
tloos'cvcll on his outward journey
to the Yalta Conference, and then
continued on to Russia. While Mr.
Flynn was in Moscow secular
press reports said he was seeking
a rapprochinent between the
Holy See and Soviet Russia. Vati
can circles said at that time that
nothing was known there regard
ing Mr- Flynn’s trip, and, conse
quently, that nothing was known
about its purpose.
BAPTISTS SEEK PROBE OF
UNITED STATES-VATICAN
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
ATLANTA. Ga.—The Associated
Press reports that a resolution has
been adopted by the executive
committee of the Georgia Baptist
Convention here calling for the
investigation of the relations be
tween this country and the Vati
can.
In a telegram to Senator Thomas
Connally, chairman of the Senate
foreign relations committee, the
Baptist group asked that special
attention be given to the appoint
ment of Myron C. Taylor as Presi
dent Roosevelt's special represen
tative to the Vatican, saying “We
consider this a violation of the
historic principle of the separation
of church and state.”
HUS XII, who entered the seventh year of his Pontificate, March 12, 1945'. (NCWC) P
Monsignor Dolan, of Greensboro,
Writes Letter to TIME Magazine
Protestant Objects to
1600 Fellow-Ministers’
Attitude on Peace Table
(R “di°- & yv. C. News Service)
NEW YORK.—The Rev. L. M.
* ® a ^'. a Protestant minister
and national director of the
B riends of Democracy, in a state
ment made public here, cited “two
major objections” to the dcclara
tion signed by 1.600 Protestant
ministers and religious leaders op
posing religious representation at
the peace tabic.
It is a mistake to oppose the
representation of any interested
religious groups,at the peace con
ference,” Dr. Birkhcad said. “Cer
tainly Catholics. Protestants and
Jews will be and should be repre
sented at the conference. They
have major interests which should
be considered.
“The second major objection lo
the view of the 1,600 Protestant
ministers is that religion has an
obligation to aid in the effort to
establish a decent and durable
peace.”
TIIE IRISH RED CROSS has
expended about $940,000 in for
eign relief, including about $400.-
000 in Italy, in the last nine
months, says a Vatican report.
(Special to The Bulletin)
GREENSBORO, N. C.—The Very
Rev. Msgr. Hugh Dolan, V. F„ pas
tor of St. Benedict’s church here
has .addressed a letter lo Time!
commenting on an article which
appeared in the issue of that mag
azine, dated January 22, which dis
cussed a series of articles on “Can
Catholicism Win America?” which
were written for The Christian
Century, Protestant interdenomi
national journal, by its editor,
Harold Edward Fey.
Monsignor Dolan’s letter read
as follows;
“I read with interest the religi
ous column in your issue of Janu
ary 22 concerning the increasing
prestige of the Roman Catholic
church.
“Assuming that (he Catholic
church is increasing in prestige
and influence, an assumption
which might well be questioned, 1
sec no reason for Catholics to be
over-elated about (he fact or for
non-Catholics to be over-depress
ed Social prestige or political in
fluence have not always been the
best tools for the church’s real
mission, the transformation of
souls. On the contrary, history
testifies only too well that these
very tilings have, alas too often,
begotten the softness, laxity, and
complacency that eventually lead
to spiritual detriment rather than
spiritual improvement. In these
the good Catholic sees a positive
danger unless they are well coun
teracted by a powerful other
worldly spiritual anti-dote.
“The remarks or the learned edi
tor of the ‘Christian Century’
comes as no surprise to Catholics.
No matter which way the church
turns, she will be subject to criti
cism. If she maintains a stoic
aloofness from cultural or educa
tional projects, she will he classi
fied as the church of the ignorant.
If she throws her energies oil* the
side of an educational system that
will inevitably lead to the uplift-
ment of mankind, she will be ac
cused of having some sinister or
selfish motive. If she takes no in
terest in the problems of the poor
man, she is indifferent to human
ity. On the oilier hand, if she
raises her voice to protest against
legislation unjust to /the working
man, she is accused of meddling
in politics. In other words, put-
it bluntly, she’s condemned
if she does and she’s condemned
it she doesn’t.
IN IMITATION OF CHRIST
Thus has it always been. Never
theless, she expects no better
treatment than her founder, Jesus
Christ. He could not be left
alone to carry His' great mission
lor said His contemporaries: ‘If
we leave him alone, the Romans
will come and take away our na-
tion (John 11:48) Moreover, He
promised no bed of roses to His
followers for said He: ‘You shall
be bated by all men lor My name's
sake (Malt. 10:22). ‘Yea, the hour
cometh when he who kills you will
think that he does a service lo
God (John 16:2). History testifies
only loo well to the truth ol this
prediction.
We, nevertheless, can sympath
ize with unfeigned charity with
those who fear Roman domination.
Not understanding the complete
picture of the Catholic church,
they sincerely believe that sub
jection or obedience to the church
would be slavery to a foreign po
tentate for to them the church is
mererly an organization. To the
Catholic, however, the church is
not an organization but a 'Living
Organism.’ To the Catholic the
church is the extenuation of
Christ’s life oil earth mystically,
teaching through (he instrumen
tality of human agents even as He,
Christ, taught ■ on earth through
the instrumentality of human
body. To the Catholic the voice
of the church is the voice of Him
who said: ‘fie who bears you hears
Me’ (Luke 10:16).
’’Those who understand that
church in this light sincerely be
lieve that they are not slaves but
son and free men who have be
come free with that truth which
alone can make us free (John 8:32,
36), a freedom purchased not with
corruptible things, such as gold or
silver, but with the precious blood
of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:18. 19).
“Respectfully submitted for your
kind consideration.
Monument Erected in
Memory of Father Tabb,
Southern Priest-Poet
(By N. C. W. C. News Service.)
CATONSVILLH. Md—The cen
tenary of America's post-priest,
John Banister Tabb, was commem
orated at St, Charles college her"
the exercises including didication
of a monument to the poet on the
college campus, and an address
by Dr. Francis E. Litz of the Cath
olic University of America.
.Father Tabb was born on March
As a youth be served
the Confederate states on the Rob
ert E. Lee. a blockade runner. He
was captured by Union troops in
June, 1864, and imprisoned for
seven months, with Sidney Lanier
m the ‘‘bun pen’ at Point Look-
oul Md. After the war he en
rolled as a music student in Balti
more.
Conversations be had with an
Anglican clergyman led cven-
tuaUy to his rceeptiofi intp (he
Catholic Church by Bishop (later
Cardinal) Gibbons. The clorcv-
man. Dr. Alfred Curtis, also on-
tercel the Church, was ordained
and ultimately became Bishop of
Wilmington. Father Tabb began
ms studies for the priesthood at
St. Charles College here, finish
ing at St. Mary’s, Baltimore,
where he was ordained by Cardi
nal Gibbons. He served as a pro
fessor at St- Charles’ until liis
death in 1909. His remains were
interred in Hollywood Cometerv
Richmond. Va.
lather Tabb was a master of
lyrical verse. Although his verse
is still lacking the recognition it
deserves, the passing of Hie years
is bringing an ever increasing
appreciation of its beauty and
enduring character.
DR. GUIDO COMBA. Italian
Waldensian leader, lias been ap
pointed to the advisory committee
of the National Organization for
Relief Distribution in Italy. The
appointment came after three
Protestant leaders from the Unit
ed States had conferred with My
ron Taylor, President Roosevelt’s
personal representative to the Vat
ican. requesting Protestant repre
sentation in tlic National Organi
zation. which handles all relief
supplies from America.
The three Protestant church
men from this country, who called
on Mr. Taylor to enlist his aid,
were the Rev. P. .1. Zaecara, pas
tor of the Broome Street Taber
nacle in New York City: Dr. Rob
ert IV. Anthony, delegate of the'
Federal Council of Churches, and
Dr, Dewey Moore, representing
the Southern Baptist Convention.
HOMAGE, reverent but jubilant,
was paid “to the first Pope in his
tory who has known at first hand
the length and breadth of our own
United States” in the Nation's
Capital on the sixth anniversary
of the coronation of His Holiness
Pope Pius XII. His Excellency the
Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Ci-
cognani. Apostolic delegate to the
United States, presided at a Solem
Mass in the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception on the
campus of the Catholic University
of America. The distinguished
congregation included members of
the diplomatic corps., senators and
representatives, members of the
judiciary and other high ranking
government officials.
AT A SPECIAL MEETING of
the Board of Directors of the
Catholic Press Association of the
United States, held in Milwaukee,
the president, the Rev. Patrick
O Connor, Editor of The Ear East,
announced that the board had un
animously decided to cancel plans
for the annual convention sched
uled for Boston in May. The de
cision is in conformity with the
request of War Mobilization Di
rector Byrnes.
THE MILITARY ORDINARIATE
lias issued a memorial leaflet giv
ing the names of forty-three
priests who died while serving as
commissioned chaplains with the
nation’s armed forces and thirteen
who succumbed while serving as
auxiliary chaplains. The list, ns
oi February 10. 1945, also gives
the names of six priests serving
as chaplains who *are reported
missing, and the names of twenty-
eight who are prisoners of war
The listing stated that twenty-six
chaplains serving with the Philip
pine Scouts are also prisoners and
gives the names of four chaplains
who were prisoners but have been
liberated.
GROWING TENSION between
Catholics and Protestants is re
placing anti-Semitism as the ma
jor inter-faith problem in this
country, Dr. Willard Johnson, as
sistant to the president of the Na
tional Conference of Christians
and Jews, told a recent meeting
on religious, racial and industrial
relations in Washington, D. C.