Newspaper Page Text
JANUARY 25, 1047
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
THREE
News Review of the Catholic World
Myron Taylor Calls for
American Aid to Italy
0 _
President's Representative
to the Vatican Speaks at
New York Luncheon Honor
ing Italian Premier
NEW YORK.—(NC)—Myron C.
Taylor, the personal representa
tive of President Truman to the
Vatican, called on America and
all nations to aid in rebuilding
Italy, which he called the “old
cultured, artistic and historically
Christian background of all west
ern civilization.’’ Mr. Taylor, who
is also chairman of American Re
lief for Italy, was the principal
speaker at a luncheon given in
honor of Premier Alcide de Gas-
peri of Italy, then in the United
States to secure'material help for
his country.
Earlier in the day the Italian
Premier, who at one time was an
employe in the Vatican library,
had attended a Solemn Mass in
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, at which
His Eminence Francis’ Cardinal
Spellman. Archbishop of New
York, presided:
Cardinal Spellman, who with
Mayor William O’Dwyer of New
York, flanked Premier de Gas-
peri at the luncheon, gave the in
vocation, praying that “as God
has been good to our land and
people, may America be good to
all other people.”
Addressing the 1,800 guests in
the Waldorf-Astoyia ballroom,
Mr. Taylor declared: “Our effort
in America has been to help the
Italian people to help themselves.
The Italian people and their gov
ernment are not without resources
of faith and aspiration to build
their nation again if help can be
given. In no part of (he world
which the scourge of war has
touched has the'determination to
survive, to regain the status of
respect in the world and to be
come accepted with the principles
of a democratic world been mdre
active than in Italy.
“We in America, regardless of
all other nations but cooperating
with all nations of like mind as
ourselves, could easily cement
the friendship of Itfrly. which has
raised the banner Of independ
ence and freedom against all un
desirable influences' by acting
now, Now is the time to support
the forces of humanity and good
in Italy where the people now
seek a peaceful, democratic and
healthful life, which our forces
have helped to make free.”
Premier de Gasperi. who spoke
first in English and then in Ital
ian. declared that America and
Italy have common Christian
ideals, and added that he was
happy to note that in times of
crisis in the past, American lead
ers have invoked divine guid
ance.
At the Mass in St. Patrick’s Ca
thedral the Italian. Premier os-
cupied a seat of honor in the
sanctuary opposite the arehiepis-
eopal throne. With him were Al
berto Tarchiani, Italian Ambassa
dor to the United States, and
Pietro Campilli, Italian Minister
for Foreign Trade.
in welcoming Mr. de Gasperi to
the cathedral. Msgr. Joseph F
Flannelly. cathedral ndministra-
lor. declared: “We are familiar
with your record of service to
Italy. Christ’s principles have
ever been your principles.
“Some 1.900 years ago the Med
iterranean became a Christian
sea. The kind, peaceful and sooth
ing hand of Italy has contributed
much to maintain it so. For the
preservation of our Christian civ
ilization that sea must never be
reddened by the brutal, death
dealing clenched fist of atheistic
communism. We appreciate your
magnificent . contribution to this
sacred cause.”
In the afternoon the Premier
and members of his entourage
were guests for tea at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and in
the evening they were guests of
Cardinal Spellman at a dinner in
the Archbishop’s residence. Other
guests at the dinner included
Governor Thomas E. Dewy of
New York. Mayor O’Dwyer, Sena
tors Robert F. Wagner and Irving
Ives of New York, and Bishops of
the metropolitan area.
“SILENT IS THE VISTULA”,
a story of flic Warsaw uprising :n
1944, by Irena Orska. has been
named as its current book selec
tion by the Catholic' - Book Club in
New York.
VICAR OF CHRIST URGES DEFENSE OF FAITH
Before nearly 300.000 people of Rome, His Holiness Pope Pius XII speaks from the balcony over
the main door of St. Peter’s Basilica and warns the faithful that they must st&nd in the struggle
against anti-clericalism and hears the crowd pledge their unshakable loyalty to the church and de
votion to the Holy See. , (NC Photos)
TO TAKE CENSUS OF
RELIGIOUS BODIES IN
THE UNITED STATES
(Special to The Bulletin)
WASHINGTON, D. C.—J. C.
Capt. Director of the Bureau of
the Census, of the Department of
Commerce, has announced that
active preparations are now be
ing made for the 1946 Census of
Religious Bodies.
The Department of the Census
plans to mail the schedules to
the individual churches early in
1947, and the director states that
it is felt that il is very important
lor pastors and clerks of the
churches to be informed in ad
vance of the taking of the cen
sus.
The Director ol the Census is
authorized by Congress to take a
Census of the Religious Bodies in
the United States every ten years,
(he first census in this decennial
series having been taken in 1906.
The information is collected
through the use of a simple
schedule of questionnaire, which
is mailed to the individual
churches, filled out by I he pastor
or clerk, and returned to the Cen
sus Bureau for tabulation. This
census provides the only official
government figures with respect
to the membership in the various
religious denominations and or
ganizations.
Preparations are now being
made for the 1946 census and the
schedules Will be mailed to the
churches early in 1947. This is a
most important inquiry and tor its
success it is vital that the Bureau
of the Census have the utmost co
operation from the pastors or
clerks of the churches, as well as
from all religious leaders and of
ficials. The schedule for this cen
sus includes a question on the
number or members of each local
church, with a supplementary-
question on the number under 13
years of ’ age. The second ques
tion on membership will facilitate
comparison among denominations
having different provisions for
inclusion of young children as
church members. There,; are also
questions on church expenditures,
Sunday, Schools, etc.
If the statistics of religious or
ganizations are to he of maximum
value, it is essential that the re
turns be accurate and compute
and cover, as nearly as possible,
every church or religious organi
zation in the United Stales. The
census can be completed prompt
ly only if each pastor will par
ticipate wholeheartedly in the
work by filling out the schedule
for his church and returning il
promptly to the Bureau of the
Census. It is a tremendous task
to obtain returns from the more
than two hundred and fifty thou
sand churches scattered through
out the United States, but it can
he done and it is hoped that the
church leaders will realize the im-
300,000 Romans Hail Holy Father as He
ffarns Against Anti-Clerical Agitation
VATICAN CITY—-(Radio, NC)
—The people of Rome—300,000
of them — gave stirring testimony
where they stand in the struggle
for Christ and against Christ, for
the Church and against the
Church.
On a cold but sunny morning
they gathered in SU Peter’s
Square to pledge to the Vicar of
Christ their unshakable loyalty
to the Church and their devotion
to the Holy See, and to repudiate
those who seek to defile the cen
ter of Christendom by a vicious
campaign of anti-clerical agita
tion.
Hundreds of thousands shouted
“Viva il Papa”, interrupting again
and again the address of llis Holi
ness Pope Pius XII who told the
multitude from the balcony over
the main door of St. Peter’s:
"It is with sorrow and with
indignation that you see the sacred
character of Rome—of this holy
place which serves, by Divine dis
position, as the See of the Vicar
of Christ—besmirched in • ig
nominy and besmeared with mud
by impious unbelievers in God,
by profaners of things Divine, by
idolators of the senses.”
Again they hailed the Pope
when he continued, his words car
ried by loudspeakers to the farth
est ends of the Square:
“But behold: Rome shows it
self today before your eyes ni
all its splendor, in all its un-
diminshed and inviolable beauty.
Perhaps never before has the mis
sion of Home been greater, more
beneficent and more indispensable
than al the present hour.”
Hundreds of thousands cnelt
on the cobblestones of St. Peter’s
Square to receive the Apostolic
Blessing imparled on those who
carry the banner of Christ in such
an important sector of “the great
spiritual battle of our times.” and
•also on those “who strive against
and vilify religion and its min
sters, because the love of the
Church is even greater than their
guilt.”
The Holy Father gave expres
sion to the “indescribable emotion”
filling him at the sight of hun
dreds of thousands of fellow Ro
mans, who “moved by the power
ful, irresistible impulse of their
devotion and filial affection,” had
gathered to pledge their loyalty.
He recalled a similar gathering
on March 12, 1944. when Romans
joined by untold numbers of
refugees and homeless wanderers,
begged through and with the Holy
Father for (he protection of their
beloved city.
The Pope reminded his listeners
how three months later, “on the
portance of the census and will
do everything in their power to
help tlie Census Bureau secure
prompt reports from all the
churches
shining day of June 6, 1944,’’ Ro
mans came again to St. Peter’s to
rejoice with the Holy Father in
the first hours of Rome’s libera
tion and to thank God for having
spared their city. He spoke of
that "memorable Passion Sunday
of 1945,” when he exhorted Ro
mans, gathered to invoke the pro
tection of Heaven, not to forget
their Christian duties of piety, of
virtue and of brotherly love, and
to guard the heritage left to them
by their forefathers.
In the war year of i944, it was
the eity and the people of Rome
w'ho faced grave dangers. In 1946.*
it was the Church, her visible
head and her ministers who were
being attacked. And today’s dem
onstration left no doubt in. the
minds of all observers that Ro
mans have not forgotten to whom
they owe their salvation.
They were deeply stirred when
the Holy Father, told them that
(lie fate of the sons and daugh
ters of Rome is always the object
of his thoughts and prayers, his
care and solicitude, in days of ad
versity and prosperity.
“You have come,” Hie Holy
Father said, “to proclaim before
your fellow citizens of Rome, lo
the nation and to the entire Chris
tian world that you are closely
hound to the See of Peter and
to the Catholic traditions of your
native city, bound in a holy unity
that overcomes all hostility and all
obstacles.”
Again, tremendous cheers arose
when the Pontiff appealed to Ro
mans to prove them-elves worthy
of the ‘innumerable ranks of your
martyrs and your saints (that)
are watching you,” and to ae
guided by a consciousness of their
grave responsibilities and duties
arising from Rome’s “singular
mission.”
The Holy Father repeated the
stirring summons of St. Peter,
who “surrounded by the threats
of a perverted imperial power,”
called out:
“Resist, ye strong in the Faith.”
In the struggling between two
opposing camps: “For Christ and
again Christ, for the Church, and
against the Church,” Romans must
again heed this call of the first
Peter, the Holy Father said, add
ing:
“Awaken, Romans! The hour
has sounded for many of you to
awaken from a sleep that has
been too long, the hour to arise
and act, and to suffer bravely, as
becomes Romans.”
Long before the appointed hour,
St. Peter’s Square began tr fill.
The crowds came by car and truck,
by streetcar and bus, but most
of them came afoot, carrying
Papal flags and national banners
of r eligious organizations and
posters proclaiming their devo
tion to the Holy So-*
INSTITUTE INQUIRY INTO
LIFE AND VIRTUES OF
NEW JERSEY RELIGIOUS
BAYONNE, N. J. — (NC) — A
search for discourses, letters,
diaries and other writings by or
about Sister Miriam Teresa, a Sis
ter of Charity who died at the
age of 26 in May, 1927, has been
started under the direction of
Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh of
Newark and Bishop Thomas IL
McLaughlin of Paterson, in con
nection with an Episcopal court
investigation of her sanctity,
which eventually may lead to tier
canonization.
The search for information is
the latest move in a campaign in
her behalf which has been grow
ing throughout the United States
and in Europe, where many re
ports of favors and cures effected
through the intersection of Sister
Miriam Teresa have been receiv
ed. Youngest of seven children of
Alexander and Johanna Demjano-
vich, she was born in Bayonne on
March 26. 1901. and baptized
Teresa., She wanted to be a Carme
lite nun, but a lingering illness of
her mother kept her at home as a
nurse and housekeeper. After her
mother’s death in 1918, she enter
ed St. Elizabeth’s College at Con
vent, N. J., and graduated with
highest honors in 1923. She taught
school after graduation until Feb
ruary, 1925, when she entered the
Sisters, of Charity.
Sister Miriam Teresa’s life in re
ligion was short, but was filled
with much work and suffering. Af
ter her death, her confessor dis
closed that she had suffered Un-
pain of the Crown of Thorns from
the time she entered religious life
until her death. The Holy See au
thorized Bishop McLaughlin to in
stitute an informative prove-.
concerning her life and virtues in
1945.
TROOPS AND CIVILIANS from
many lands crowded into ltibiya
Hall, the largest hall in the Japa
nese capital, for the celebration
of Christmas Midnight Mass, at
which Archbishop Peter Tatsuo
Doi of Tokyo presided. This cos
mopolitan congregation, dramati
cally pointing up the universality
of the Church, included soldiers
from the United States, Australia,
Britain, New Zealand, the Philip
pines, Canada, France and Pun-
jabs ifom India. WACs. WAVES,
Marines, soldiers and sailors knelt
side by side with Japanese na
tionals and Allied civilian person
nel and their children.
“PAPA NATALE.” the Santa
Claus for Italian children, made
his headquarters in Rome in the
American Catholic Community
Service. Thousands of young
sters came to the American
Christmas parties. There was an
enormous Christmas tree and
stacked up around it were thous
ands of parcels filled with gifts
from American Catholics: cakes,
candy, peanuts, soap, toys, all very
rare and expensive things in war-
ravaged Italy. Each child enjoy
ed a fine luncheon, entertainment,
and received gifts.
DIVORCE for any cause would
not be allowed in Massachusetts
under a bill filed with the legis
lature by Representative Edmond
J, Donlon of Boston, who in giv
ing his reasons for filing (he bill
said “Recent reports of mounting
divorces indicate that this dread
disease is rapidly spreading and
will reach epidemic proportions
here unless realistic measures are
taken. The only way to stop this
mass hysteria and prevent dis
aster is to abolish divorce alto
gether.”
A CATHOLIC PRIEST is to be
one of four war heroes honored in
a Baptist memorial. The Civilian
Production Administration has ap
proved plans for the construction
of a chapel to be built within the
Baptist Temple in Philadelphia in
commemoration of the four U. S.
Army chaplains, Father John P.
Washington, a priest of the Arch
diocese of Newark, a Jewish chap
lain and Iwo Protestant chaplains,
who went lo their deaths afler
giving their lifebelts that others
might survive the sinking of the
transport Dorchester in the North
Atlantic in'February of 1943.
CONVEYING TO THEM his
Christmas and New Year’s wishes,
His Holiness Pope Pius XII re
ceived in private audience the
Ministers from Venezuela and
Costa Rica, -the charge d’Affaires
ad interim from Argenina. and
Franklin C. Gowen, of the staff of
Myron Taylor. President Tru
man's personal representative al
tile Vatican