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FEBRUARY 28, 1948
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LA YMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
FIVE
I
WITH OTHER EDITORS
SPAIN—AND SWEDEN
Non-Catholic writers on the re
lations between Catholics and
Protestants, even those who are
presumed to bo interested in im
proving these relations, seem un
able to avoid presenting Spain as
an example of what is called Ro
man Catholic intolerance."
The fact that there are num
erous Protestant churches through
out Spain ministering without in
terference to the limited number
of Protestants in the country is
ignored in their discussion of what
they term the absence of religious
liberty there.
In such discussions when inci
dents of reported intolerance are
considered, it would seem funda
mental that comparisons should be
made between areas similarly sit
uated — between the Protestant
North and the Catholic South of
Ireland, for instance, between Ire
land and Scotland or England, be
tween the Catholic and Protestant
cantons of Switzerland, between
Catholic Quebec and Protestant
Ontario, between Catholic Belgium
and Protestant Holland, between
the areas in the United Slates
which are predominantly Catholic
and those predominantly Protest
ant.
Spain should be compared with
some country which is as Protest
ant as Spain is Catholic—Sweden
lor instance. In Sweden, where
Church (Protestant) and State are
united, Catholics cannot, be mem
bers of the State Council or teach
in the stale schools. They must
pay taxes for the maintenance of
the state church. Marriage be
tween Catholics must be an
nounced three times in a Lutheran
Church. Those wishing to be re
ceived into the Church must first
Inform the appropriate Lutheran
pastor of their decision. The Cath
olic Church cannot without spe
cific authorization, purchase prop
erty.
We suggest therefore, that those
discussing intolerance give some
consideration to Sweden as well
as Spain. They might even devote
a little attention to the British law
which requires that the King be
a Protestant. — (The Catholic
News).
DON’T SAY THAT
Protestants have some funny
ideas about us Catholics. And one
of the most common is that we
are religious because we are afraid
to be different. As one of them
put it recently, Catholicism is a
religion of fear.
It’s no wonder they have that
impression. In no small way,
have we Catholics brought this
condition about. We thought of
all this recently when we heard
some very practical and devout
Catholics use the expression: we
have to go to Mass.
It’s a fact. We find ourselves
saying ... we "have” to go to
Mass; we “have” to go to Con
fession; we “have” to eat fish or
eggs on Friday; we “have” to be
lieve this or that. Now, we know
exactly what is meant by such
expressions, and we realize that
the words do not really mean what
they connote. But, they do have a
reaction on the ears of our non-
Catholic listeners and it’s seldom
a good one.
Invariably, when a non-Catholic
hears a Catholic say ... “I have
to go to Mass” . . . there arises
in the mind of the Protestant
listener the thought that the only
reason that the Catholic is going
to Mass because he is afraid not
to go . . . that he is going because
someone is making him go. Catho
lics know differently, of course.
It’s a little matter, and some
may say that we'are being quite
picayune in mentioning it, but we
believe it important. Much better
would it be to have Catholics
mindful of what a great privilege
it is for them to attend Mass, to
frequent the Sacraments of Con
fession. If that were the case,
perhaps the non-Catholic would be
interested enough to find out
what he is missing in not being a
Catholic; perhaps, loo, the non-
Catholic would have a more ap
preciative concept of things Cath
olic.
Make no rifislake about it, we
Catholics have every need to be
cautious in speech and act around
non-Catholics. They are most ob
servant. The least hint of bore
dom, lack of enthusiasm, or un
familiarity with things of our re
ligion . . . just that quick is it
picked up by the non-Catholic and
twisted and fashioned out of
shape. Be careful.—(The Catholic
Standard and Times.)
CHRISTIAN CENTURY’S LOGIC j
The Christian Century said re
cently that after taking a good
look at the Constitution it finds
that the First Amendment does
not mean separation of religion
from the state or the separation of
religion and politics. Further
more, separation docs not mean
that the state must be strictly
secular-, that it may not recognize
the Deity or include the study of
religion as an integral part of the
curriculum of state supported
education. It finds, too. that the
First Amendment definitely pro
OUR STRONG RIGHT ARM!
hibits any governmental favorit
ism for any one religious sect or
denomination. No religion is to
be put under a ban by the slate
and no religion may be given spe
cial recognition by the state.
Catholics agree with all this,
says Rev. William McManus of
the N. C. W. C. But just when
may the state be said to give spe
cial recognition to one religion
over another? Here are a few ex
amples from the Christian Cent
ury. When parochial school chil
dren ride on public school buses,
eat tax-subsidized lunches and use
textbooks furnished by the state
and when the president sends a
personal representative to the
Vatican. There is no special recog
nition when the public school pro
gram includes devotional study of
religion as an integral part of the
public school curriculum under
the instruction of regular public
school teachers. “There you have
it,” says Father McManus. “Church
and state interlock when the pa
rochial school children ride on a
public school bus, but do not in
terlock when public school pupils
are required to recite the Protes
tant version of the Lord’s Prayer
or to read the Protestant Bible.
Students of logic may find in this
reasoning the classic non sequilur
of our day.” (The Ave Maria)
1948 Edition of
Catholic Almanac
Has Gone to Press
TO THE CATHOLICS OF GEORGIA
With the approval of His Excellency the Most Reverend
Gerald P. O’Hara. D. D„ Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta. and
that of the Right Reverend Mdnsignor Joseph E. Moylan, *
Vicar General, who is administering the affairs of the Diocese
in the absence of Bishop O’Hara, the annual membership
campaign of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia
was launched on Sunday. February 15. throughout the Diocese.
In order that the work of the Catholic Laymen’s Asso
ciation may lie continued and expanded during the coming
year, the support of the Catholic laity of Georgia is needed
and solicited.
Members of the laity in the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta
who arc already members of the Laymen’s Asssociation are
asked to renew their memberships for this year, and any
Catholics in Georgia who arc not contributing members are
urged to add their names to the membership rolls.
When we recall the events which brought the Catholic
Laymen’s Association into existence thirty-two years ago, and
the successful result of the Association’s efforts to combat
anti-Catholic prejudice in this state, we should make a de
termined endeavor to keep out of Georgia the new spirit of
anti-Catholicisin that is becoming evident in other parts of
the country.
Operation under present conditions may be expected to
reduce the income of the Laymen's Association from other
sources, so it will have to depend to a greater extent this
year upon contributions from the Catholic laity of Georgia.
Consider how much you can afford to contribute, if you
have not already enrolled this year as a contributing mem
ber, fill out one of the pledge card-envelopes, which should
be available at your parish church, or the form which ap
pears on this page of The Bulletin, and see that it is de
livered, with your contribution, to the local branch of the
Association in your home city or to your pastor, or send
it to the headquarters of the Laymen’s Association, in the
Southern Finance Corporation Building, in Augusta.
Every Catholic in Georgia should be entirely familiar
with what has been accomplished by the Laymen's Associa
tion in the past. Its work has brought renown to the Cath
olics of Georgia, and has promoted better feeling among
Georgians, irrespective of creed.
With sincere good wishes to the members of the Cath
olic Laymen's Association of Georgia and to the patrons of
its publication. The Bulletin,
ESTES DOREMUS, President
Catholic Laymen's Association of Georgia.
“SECRETARY OF RELIGION”
Eight years ago a Protestant
minister suggested that a "Secre
tary of Religion” be appointed as
a member of the President’s Cabi
net. When the founders of the na
tion provided for the separation of
Church and State, “they had no in
tention of separating religion prop
er from government,” he said, “or
of crystallizing distrust in religion.
On this point we have gone astray.”
This ministerial advocate of a
Cabinet Member as Secretary of
Religion eight years ago is’ I he
Rev. Dr. Edwin McNeill Poteat,
one of the leaders in the group
which issued the “Protestant Man
ifesto” charging Catholics with
seeking to breach “the American
principles of Separation of Church
and State.” (The Catholic News)
THE FRENCH Grand Prix du
Cinema has been awarded by
unanimous vote to the film. “Mon
sieur Vincent,” which deals with
the life of St. Vincent de Paul.
WASHINGTON — (NC) — The
1948 edition of the National Catho
lic Alamanac, which now’ is in its
42nd year of publication, has gone
to press and shortly witl appear
on the book stands of the nation,
it has been announced here by
tl>e Franciscan clerics of Holy
Name College who prepare the
annual.
Frater Urban A. Cain, O. F. M„
editor of the '48 edition, said it
will contain 832 pages of basic
Catholic and general information
and an 83-page summary of 1947
news events of Catholic interest.
News and feature articles cover
the Papal Encyclicals, status of
the Church in various countries
and European difficulties, while
the permanent background- sec
tions dealing with the Liturgies
of the Eastern and Western
Churches, Catholic apologetics,
marriage legislation, Catholic
literature, Catholic Action, the
Hierarchies of Canada and Mexico
and youth activities have been re
vised and expanded.
Dealing at greater length with
activities and life of the Church
in the United States, the Almanac
will include the latest available
facts on Catholic education, mis
sions, societies, science, social
movement, sports and a complete
listing of all seminaries, universi
ties, colleges, normal schools and
retreat houses. All articles are
completely catalogued in a 22-page
index.
Deanery Council
of Catholic Women
Meets in Charleston
Special to The Bulletin)
CHARLESTON, S. C.—Father
Donald Hamburger, assistant past
or of St. Joseph’s Church, was the
guest speaker at the quarterly
meeting of the Charleston Deanery
Council of Catholic Women held
on January 23 in the assembly
room of Bishop England High
School.
Father Hamburger, who was in
troduced by Mrs. Jennings Caut-
lien, recalled the message deliver
ed to ttie members of the Diocesan
Council at their convention last
year by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh
of Charleston, and urged that the
members visit the Convent of the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, at
Batesburg: study the stand of the
Catholic Church on matrimony,
and inform themselves and others
on pending legislation.
Mrs. John B. Hartnett, president
of the Deanery Council, conducted
the meeting, at which reports w^rc
submitted by the various officers
and committee chairmen and by
representatives of affiliated or
ganizations.
Attention of the members was
directed to the observance of
Catholic Press Month during Feb
ruary, and all were urged to parti
cipate in the promotion of the cir
culation of Catholic newspapers
and magazines.
Mrs. Raymond Thompson was
appointed chairman of a commit
tee which will arrange a card
parly for the benefit of the Sisters
of the Good Shepherd, who arc-
opening a training school for girls
in the Diocese of Charleston.
Announcement was made that a
Day of Recollection will be held
on March 11, at the Convent of
Our Lady of Mercy, under the aus
pices of the Deanery Council, anti
that the next meeting of the Dean
ery Council would be held in May.
at which time there would be the
annual election of officers. Miss
Jeannette Lowry, Mrs. Virgil D.
Svendsen and Mrs. George R. Wil
liams were appointed as a nomi
nating committee.
Mrs. Hartnett also announced
that a certificate of service has
been presented to the Deanery
Council by the USO.
At the conclusion of the busi
ness session, refreshments were
served by members of the Parent-
Teacher Association of Saint
Joseph's School.
40 Hours Devotion at
Blessed Sacrament
Church in Savannah
K. OF C. IN AUGUSTA TO
RECEIVE COMMUNION AT
NORTH AUGUSTA CHURCH
AUGUSTA,. Ga.~Members of
Patrick Walsh Council, Knights of
Columbus, will receive Holy Com
munion in a body at Our Lady of
Peace Church, in North Augusta,
S. C., on February 29, and after the
Mass will be served breakfast in
the parish hall.
Paul R. Hayes, grand knight of
Patrick Walsh Council, is a mem
ber of the parish in North Augus
ta.
SAVANNAH, Ga.—Forty Hours
Devotion were held at the Blessed
Sacrament Church January 18-21,
with Father Albert McEvoy and
Father A. E. Grant delivering the
sermons at the evening services.
At the invitation of Father
Thomas A. Brennan, pastor of the
Blessed Sacrament Church, mem
bers of Savannah Assembly,
Fourth Degree Knights of Colum
bus. headed by Hugh II. Grady,
faithful navigator, attending ttie
closing exercises of the Forty Hour
Devotions, and in full regalia,
served as a guard of honor dur
ing the procession of the Blessed
Sacrament.
Following the services at the
church, the Knights returned to
the K. of C. Hall, where they had
assembled, and where refresh
ments were served by a committee
headed by Joseph F. OL'loughlin,
Sr., and John E. Buckley.
Catholic Laymens Association of Georgia
19-
As a member of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia. I agree to contribute
for its work during the current year the sum of $ : , payable,
Cash $ Monthly $ Quarterly $
(Kindly check method of payment)
It is understood that this contribution includes the payment of a subscription to The
Bulletin for one year.
(Signed)
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Parish
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