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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) Address- Parish City