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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LA' YMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
JANUARY 26, 1946
Sullrttn
The Official Organ of tho Catholic Laymen'*
Association of Georgia, Incorporated.
HUGH KINCHLEY, Editor
£16-217 Southern Finance Building, Augusta, Ga.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 1945-46
BERNARD S. FAHY, Rome President
M. J. CALLAGHAN, Macon ••• A
Honorary Vice-President
ESTES DOREMUS, Atlanta Vice-President
J. B. McCALLUM, Atlanta Secretary
HUGH GRADY, Savannah Treasurer
HUGH KINCHLEY, Augusta.. Executive Secretary
MISS CECILE FERRY, Augusta Financial Secretary
A M. McAULIFFE. Augusta Auditor
Vol. XXVII
January 26, 1946
No. 1
Entered as second class matter June 15. 1921. at the Post
Office at Augusta. Ga.. under act of March. 1879 Ac
cepted for mailing at special rate of portage P r ? v ''|cd f°r
In Section 1103. Act of October 3. 1917. authorized Sept.
1. 1921
Member of N. C. W C. New. Service. Religious News
Service, the CathoUc Press Association of the United States
Uie Georgia Press Association and the National Editorial
Association.
Published monthly by the Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia. Inc., with the Approbation of the Most Rev
erend Bishops of Raleigh. C harleston and Savannah-At-
lanta, and of the Right Reverend Abbot-Ordinary of Bel-
mont.
A Decade in the Diocese
H IS EXCELLENCY the Most Reverend Gerald
P. O’Hara marks this month the tenth anni-
versary of his installation as the Ordinary of
this Diocese, having been solemnly installed as
Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta, by His Eminence Den
nis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia,
at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah,
on January 15, 1936.
While it is firmly believed that Bishop O Hara
would greatly prefer that no mention be made in
the columns of The Pulletin about this anniversary,
the fact that under His Excellency’s leadership and
guidance this Diocese has made most rfemarkable
progress and religion has flourished within it in the
past decade, impels us to bring at least a meager
recollection of some of the accomplishments which
the years since 1936 have witnessed in the Diocese
of Savannah-Atlanta.
Freshest in mind is the successful campaign for
funds to erect a Catholic hospital in Augusta, where
its citizens, Protestants and Jews, ns well as Cath
olics, generously responded to Bishop O’Hara's ap
peal so magnificently that a similar campaign is now
being launched to build a Catholic hospital in Co
lumbus. „ „ j , .
We have witnessed the erection of a Cathedral in
Atlanta and a number of churches throughout Geor
gia. We have seen new parishes established and
resident pastors assigned to old parishes that had
had the status of missions. Wc have seen new
parochial schools and a vocational school opened.
Wc have seen new Catholic hospitals in Georgia. We
have seen the Catholic youth movement go forward.
We have seen the Catholic Evidence Guild begin its
apostolic work in Georgia. Wc have seen new Re
ligious Orders, of men and women, come to serve in
this state. We have seen many other signs of a most
fruitful Episcopate.
Some months ago, upon the occasion of Bishop
O’Hara’s celebration of his Silver Jubilee in the
priesthood, some of the details of the material and
spiritual progress of the Diocese were recited, and
it should not be necessary to repeat them now.
Though we might not innumerate them now. we
can recall them, with blessed hope E3 well as gratifi
cation, for they stand as promises of what the future
will bring to t Ire Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta under
the continued inspiring guidance of our beloved
Bishop.
Speaking to Catholics in Georgia
W ITH the approval of His Excellency tho Most
Reverend Gerald P. O’Hara, D.D., J.U.D.,
Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta. the Catholic
Laymen's Association of Georgia will inaugurate its
annual membership campaign on February Tenth.
Under the leadership of Bernard S. Fahy, of
Rome, who was reelected president of the Laymen's
Association at its convention held in Albany last
October, the local branches of the Association in
the various cities of Georgia will seex to enroll every
adult member of the Catholic Church in this state in
the Laymen’s Association.
There should be no need to speak to the Catho-
Icis of Georgia about the work of their Laymen’s
Association, which will mark tho completion of three
decades of existence this year. The record of its ef
fort to promote a better feeling among Georgians,
irrespective of creed, through the removal of those
causes which foster anti-Catholic prejudice, should
be well known by this time to the Catholic popula
tion of this State.
The non-Catholic people of Georgia are not un
acquainted with the work of the Laymen’s Associa
tion, and evidence of their high regard for it has
often been testified to by editorial comment in the
secular press.
The latest, example of such commendation
is found in an editorial which appeared in a recent
issue of The News-Herald, published in Lawrcnce-
villo. Georgia, which declared that the letter writ
ten by the Laymen’s Association in reply to a com
munication published in the daily newspapers in
Atlanta, was “perhaps one of the finest things that
could have been said.” and that there could be no
finer basis on which Georgia and this nation 6an go
forward together than tho splendid sentiment ex
pressed by the Catholic Laymen's Association.
Members of the Hierarchy, editors of Catholic
newspaper throughout the country, and officials of
the National Council of Catholic men reel tiiat there
are indications which point to a violent outburst of
active anti-Catholic sentiment in the not very distant
future.
There are forces abroad in the world today that
are dedicated to the destruction of all religion, and
which will seek, if it be in their power, to drive the
very idea of God from this earth.
Assaults upon our Catholic faith are now so rare
in Georgia as to. be exceptional, but there may still
exist a latent intolerance Which could be aroused,
and we know that there is still a wide lack of knowl
edge of CathoUc doctrine ami practice, which might
A Sign of Catholicity
T HE creation of thirty-two new Cardinals by His
Holiness Pope Pius XII was generally interpret
ed by the secular press in this country as a demon
stration of the universality of the Church and a sign
that the Church, as a living organism, “knowing now,
as it has known in the past, how to adjust itself to
the changing needs of the ijtany millions who are
its communicants.”
Elsewhere in the pages of this issue of The
Bulletin, will be found several editorials on the sub
ject that appeared in newspapers in the territory
that Tlic Bulletin covers, which, it is believed, will
prove of interest to our readers. It is also believed
that our readers would like to have the opinion of
the secular press in other parts of the country and
would welcome a summary of such editorial ex
pressions, gathered by the N. C. W. C. News Service.
It is the Pope’s intention, writes the New York
llerald-Tribune, “in deciding to fill all the thirty-two
vacant seats in the Sacred College, to broaden that
ancient body in accordance with the expansion and
closer integration of our modern world society. ’ Ex
pressing congratulations of "New Yorkers of all
faiths” to Archbishop Francis J. Spellman upon his
elevation to the Cardinalate, the llerald-Tribune ob
serves that “the city will take a genuine pleasure
in the added honor and responsibility which have
come to him.”
The new appointments "reflect the rise of small
nations everywhere,” remarks the Milwaukee
Journal in an editorial headed “The New Cardinals
—One World,” which sees in the appointment of new
Cardinals in Germany and France who were ardent,
almost militant, anti-nazis.” a sign of “realism” and
a reflection “of the' now victorious resolution of the
world that the nations unite to end Hitlerism.”
The New York Times observes that the Pope In
making the College of Cardinals "a more nearly
global body that it has ever been before,” has taken
“cognizance of the new world that follows the war ”
In the broadening of the membership, The Times
said, "wc may expect an even morme forceful instru
ment to bring about that ‘collaboration, good-will
and reciprocal trust among all peoples.’ that the
Pope sees as one of the essential elements for last
ing peace throughout the world.”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, particularly hailing
the nomination of Archbishop Edward Mooney, says:
“It is only necessary to peruse the list of new
Cardinals—men who fought the nazis in every coun
try. men who have proven themselves diplomatics
of the first rank men like the other American nomi
nees, Archbishops Spellman. Stritch and Glennon—
to recognize the dawning of a new day.”
A larger recognition accorded to American Cath
olicism by the designation of four American Prelates
to be Cardinals gives cause for “pride and satisfac
tion” to Americans of all faiths, writes the Cincin
nati Enquirer, pointing out that the Pontiff has more
than doubled the number of those “who will speak
for the New World in the august body which guides
the destinies of the Roman Catholic Church.”
Dixie Musinqs
The Washington Post, commenting on the propor
tionate shift of strength in the College of Cardinals,
as between Europeans and non-Europeans, writes
“This appears to be a Papal recognition of the fact
that it is outside of Europe, devastated and demor
alized. that (he Church must look for its greatest
strength and support in the decades imm -diately
ahead. The appointments also seem to reflect the
triumph of that party within the Catholic Church
which has been steadily and bitterly opposed to com
promise with totalitarianism in any of its forms.”
The Chicago Sun. hailing the elevation of Arch
bishop Samuel A. Strict, says, “Pope Pius XII moved
wisely toward an improved international balance” in
the government of the Church as a whole.” The
paper sees a “wholesome indication” in the naming,
for tho first time, of Cardinals from Asia and South
ern Africa.
The St. Louis Globe Democrat interprets the nom
ination of Archbishop John J. Glennon as “a com
mendation to the Middle West that it should develop
a Christian scholar whose intelligence md high pur
pose merit the acclaim of the Holy See.”
“Pone Pius clearly has in mind a desire,” wrote
(he Washington Star, “to make the membership of
the Sacred College as internationally representative
as possible. In his own words, the Roman Catholic
Church is universal and supranational in character,
and his creation of the new Cardinals—men chosen
'for their outstanding virtue and signal merits’—
is desienod in nart to reflect that character outward
ly to the whole world.”
The reorganization of the College of Cardinals is,
from many standpoints, "revolutionary,” writes
George E. Sokolsky in his individual column. “It
rejects internationalism as much as nationalism: it
is a restoration of the doctrine of universalism which
is inherent in Christianity.” “The current appoint
ments disregard physical might,” Mr. Sokolsky con
tinues, “national power, military strength. They as
sert that Catholic means universal and that Christi
anity is for all who wish to accent its teachings and
disciplines.” The Pope “speaks for every man
that lives udoii the earth, of whatever race, creed,
color or faith. He speaks for man. That is univer
salism. It is an acknowledgement of the obligation
and duty of the Roman Catholic Church to assert
itself for man.’’
To which*Cditorial comments The Bulletin would
,vish to add expression of its unbounded joy> that the
Holy Father has named four other members of the
American Hierarchy to serve with His Eminence
Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Phila
delphia. in the Sacred College of Cardinals, and an
expression of the extreme pride and pleasure that
As a boy, he wanted to be a base
ball pitcher. He had speed, control
and a wicked curve. But he grew
up to be a priest, discarded the
curve while bettering the speed
and control, and today Father
Hubert E. Duren, pastor of St.
Boniface’s Church, Westphalia,
Iowa, has gained nation-wide re
nown as the man who saved that
thriving little town from oblivion.
Advocates of the rural life, for
some little time now, have been
advancing Father Duren’s program
as a model for small towns all over
the country. Latest of national
publications to notice his work is
Fortune Magazine, in its Decem
ber issue.
Father Duren came to Westpha
lia in June 1926 at a time when
he could stand on his front porch
and, hardly moving his head, see
the whole town. Westphalia is
located eight miles from the coun
ty seat, Harlan, which even then
was making inroads in attracting
the townsfolk with offering of re
creation, credit and commerce.
With a five-point program—re-
ligion, education, recreation, com
merce, and credit—Father Duren
put his speed and control to work
in selling Westphalia on the “com
plete life.” He cared for the re
ligious needs through his parish
He got the 100-odd families in and
around town interested in putting
up a new school to replace the old
three-room frame structure. The
modern new building now houses
more than 100 students in the
elementary and high school de
partments. Next came a recreation
center, with a grandstand seating
500, built with the idea of keeping
a hold on the youth.
The depression came along and
while one small town after another
throughout the country folded,
Westphalians listened to Father
Duren and continued their fight
for survival. He persuaded the
community to adopt the coopera
tive movement. The townsfolk now
run an up-to-date “co-op” store,
which offers merchandise at prices
that compete with mail-order
houses and chain stores. The store
did a gross business last year of
$200,000. A gasoline station is op
erated on the same basis.
Father Duren topped off his
program with a credit union, which
now has assets of $80,000 and Jias
its sights on a goal ol' half a mil
lion. Besides advising the town's
business ventures. Father Duren
has not neglected the youth. He
has the whole community singing;
lias three baseball teams; mixed
choirs; bands, garden clubs and
similar enterprises.
Despite these" activities, Father
Duren finds time to compose the
words and music of the songs
which the community sings and to
paint murals. In 1944 he journeyed
up to Chicago and came back with
the billiard championship of the
National Catholic Rural Life Con
ference.
He says that Westphalia can
absorb some hundred or so return
ed servicemen. The town’s philoso
phy is explained briefly on a hugp
sign at the entrance to the town.
The sign reads; “Westphalia, Home
of Complete Life: Religion, Educa
tion, Recreation, Commerce,
Credit. Democracy in Action.
Where The World Is At Its Best.”
At last, many months alter its
publication, Catholics in the Arch
diocese of Munich will become
familiar with the text of the Joint
Pastoral issued by the Germany
Hierarchy at their general meet
ing in Fulda.
A competent official of the
American Military Government
has informed Cardinal Michael
von Faulhaber, Archbishop of
Munich, that there are no longer
objections to the publication of the
complete, uncensored version of
the Bishops’ letter to German
Catholics,
Furthermore, it has become
known that Capt. John R. Roser,
who saw fit to blue-pencil three
passages of the document, has been
relieved from his duties as a mem
ber of the Information Control Di
vision, which issues licenses for
and passes upon all publications
in the American zone of occupa
tion in Germany. Captain Roser is
understood to be back in the Uni
ted States.
Cardinal Faulhaber, who had re
fused to permit reading of the
censored document from the pul
pits in his See, is known to be
greatly pleased at the interest tak
en by higher American authorities
and at their action to remedy the
situation.
wc in the South have in the honor that
Cardinal-designate Samuel A. Stritch
Tennessee.
■:»
as come to
native of
be the soil upon which a crop of bias and misrep
resentation might grow.
There is presented to the Catholics of Georgia in
this disturbed day just as strong a challenge as was
offered thirty years ago when a veritable avalanche
of intolerance descended upon us.
Having had more experience under fire than the
Catholics in other parts of our country have had,
the Catholics in Georgia, by continuing and expand
ing the work of their Laymen’s Association, can be
ready to resist the foes of God and country as shock
troops in the defense of their Faith
The sacrifices of a parish priest
of Namur, Belgium, who gave his
own bed to Jewish children and
hid them at the risk of his life,
saving more than 200 Jewish lives
during the nazi occupation, are re
vealed in a letter received by the
National Jewish Welfare Board In
New York from Capt. Harold
Saperstein, Jewish chaplain with
the U. S. armed forces.
The priest is Father Andre, pas
tor of St. Jean Baptiste Church,
Namur, whom Chaplain Saper-
stcin described as a "gentle, frail
man, humble in demeanor, with a
gentle handshake and bashful
smile.”
"He took Jewish children into
his own home and got Catholic
families to hide them in their
households,” Chaplain Saperstein
wrote. “He gave up his own bed to
Jewish refugees and during the
entire period slept on the floor of
his study. He carried food to fami
lies in hiding, and messages from
parents to children. All this was
done from his own home, next
door to the hotel used as Gestapo
headquarters.
“During the final months of na/i
occupation he was compelled to go
into hiding himself. In the course
of two years he saved more than
200 lives.”
After the liberation of Belgium,
the Jewish chaplain related, Fath
er Andre took measures to turn
the orphaned Jewish children In
Catholic institutions over to Jew-
i ish agenci?”
Prior to the injury he suffered
in an automobile accident in Ber
lin and which resulted in his death.
General George S. Patton had ef
fected restitution to the Bishop of
Metz of the treasures of the Cathe
dral which had been recovered in
Germany by the American Third
Army. The solemn ceremony took
place before the portals of the
Cathedral, in the presence of sev
eral American generals, on the
anniversary date of the liberation
of the town by General Patton’s
army. Among the objects returned
to the Bishop by General Patton
was an episcopal cross of the XIV
century.
Mother Saint-Jean, Superior p£
the Convent of the Holy Agony,
received the Croix de Guerre at a
military ceremony in Paris, with
the following citation: “From 1940
to 1942, Mother Saint-Jean helped
more than 1,000 French prisoners
escape from camps in the vicinity
of Paris; she furnished them with
clothing and money in order that
they might reach the free zone. In
1^42 her convent served as a liai
son for the secret network of the
Allied intelligence in Paris. There
the most important secret meet
ings took place, Numerous English
and American parachutists found
shelter there.”
Other Religious of the same
convent were warded the Resist
ance Medal, and the Croiz de
Guerre was also awarded to the
Superior ol' the Saint Joseph
clinic, in Paris.
Father Wilhelm Kleinshorge, S.
J.. of Hiroshima, who is known as
one of the few men who lived after
being 500 yards from an atom
bomb explosion, was a guest
aboard the USS Prairie in Tokyo
Bay, according to word received in
Honolulu. He had been invited to
spend* few days aboard the ship
as a change from the hospital rou
tine in bombed-out Tokyo.
Father Kleinshorge offered Mass
aboard the ship and delivered a
sermon. He left the ship laden
with gifts of clothing, including a
coat of an officer's best “blues”
minus the gold braid.
Another report stated that U. S.
Engineer units in the Hiroshima
area have erected from salvaged
materials in their spare time a
convent for the bombed-out Help
ers of the Holy Souls. The convent,
it is reported, will accommodate
forty-five Sisters. Father Joseph
Monahan of Boston is chaplain
with the Engineers in the erea.
American soldiers entering an
internment camp near Peiping,
China, to release prisoners were
greeted with a lusty “Gcd Bless
America” by a group of a hundred
Belgian Schcut Fathers. The en
thusiasm of their singing brought
tears to the eyes of many of the
soldiers.
THE HOLY NAME JOURNAL,
national Catholic ^magazine for
men, in its current Issue contained
the following item under the head
ing “Starting the New Year Tight:”
“In the telephone book we are
listed thus: Holy Name Journal
(a pub) ... As a consequence we
received a communication from
the State Liquor Authority to the
effect that if we intended to stay
open all night on New Year’s Eve,
we would have‘to obtain a speeial
license and pay a Am for the
same.” H. K.