Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

JULY 26, 1952 Bishop of Wheeling Blames Secularism For Birth Contrail WHEELING, W. Va.—(RNS)— Bishop John J. Swint of Wheeling asserted here that “the complete surrender to present-day secular- chiefly responsible for the increase in birth control. The Bishop was amplifying his stand against the establishment of a proposed birth control clinic in Parkersburg, W. Va., to be operat ed by the Planned Parenthood As sociation of Wood County. Birth control as advocated by the Planned Parenthood Associa tion, Bishop Swint said, “is sinful, not because the Catholic Church forbids it, but because it is against the moral law implanted by God himself in our very nature.” The prelate pointed out that un til a little more than fifty years ago practically all who considered themselves Christians were against birth control. “It is only now,” he continued, “with the complete surrender to present-day secularism and mod ern paganism, that many can no longer see the sinfulness of it. They allow themselves to be gov erned and guided, not by what God Wants or has commanded, but by their own feelings and their own ideas of what ought to be or what is right or wrong. “It is entirely incorrect to sup pose that all scientists and doctors approve of birth control as ad vocated today. Many of the most outstanding doctors are opposed to it and declare that it results in very definite physical and especial ly nervous and emotional evil con sequences. When you violate na ture, nature strikes back.” Bishop Swint said that “surely no one will be misled by the plea- that such birth control clinics as are planned are necessary for the poor who cannot afford to have large families.” “One would have to be exceed ingly naive,” he said, “to believe that these clinics would be pat ronized only, or even chiefly, by the poor. “Were the advocates of birth control to expend the same energy, zeal and money as they do on birth control or planned parenthood, in remedying the conditions that pro duce poverty, and in guaranteeing working people a family wage, much more would be done for the poor, without inducing them to use immoral, sinful and degrading means to limit the number of their children.” Because modern science has in vented easy and safe means of bringing about birth control, the bishop said, it must not be assumed that it is lawful. “Modern science,” he said, “has also invented many easy and safe means of putting people to death, but it is murder nevertheless.” Bishop Swint stressed that he was not “telling non-Catholics what they must believe or do.” “But it is our solemn duty to tell them what is right and what is wrong,” he added. “And, as regards our own Catho lic people,” the bishop said, “it is our duty not only to tell them what is wrong and sinful, but to safe guard them as far as possible from the dangers of sin sueh as are of fered them by establishing birth control clinics in their midst and the propaganda that goes with them.” Roman Ritual Published In Latin and English MILWAUKEE. (NO—The com plete Homan Ritual has been pub lished here in English and Latin, making available in the vernacular the great treasure of worship forms of the Chrch. Facing pages in the three vol umes issued by the Bruce Publish ing Company here are in Latin and English, with plain chant in Grego rian notation included where nec essary. This supplements the usual vest- pocket editions in Latin for the use of priests. The new edition may be used as a manual for priests or for reference, reading and meditation by all Catholics. Every modifica tion introduced in the Roman Rit ual since the last official Latin edi tion of 1925 has been included. The Rev. Philip T. Weller is the editor, annotator and translator of the new edition. APPROVAL has been given by the Sacred Congregation of Rites for the introduction of beatifica tion proceedings for Father Miguel Augustine Pro,. S. J. L who wa§ ex ecuted in Mexico City in 1927, THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA THREE AT CATHOLIC PRESS CONVENTION — Father Thomas A. Meehan, editor' of The New World, Chicago, newly elected presi dent of the Catholic Press Association, center, greets Ray Dono van, left, public information director, at the University of Notre Dame, where the convention was held, and Charles J. McNeill, general manager of George A. Pflaum Publishers, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, newly elected vice-president of the press association.—(NC Photos). Knights of Columbus Mode Known to Millions Through Advertising Program NEW HAVEN, Conn. — It was- not a selfish desire to benefit the Order which prompted the Su preme Council of the Knights of Columbus to assume sponsorship of the Catholic Advertising program. The primary purpose was to bring the truth of the Catholic Faith to the millions who might not other wise receive it ... to refute anti- Catholic propaganda ... to pro vide opportunity for large num bers of people to study Catholi cism in privacy and to embrace it if they wish. These objectives, of course, are being achieved on a magnificent scale. But not every Knight and every Council may realize the vast benefits which are accruing to the Order itself as a result of the ad vertising. Millions of people are now famil iar with the name of the Knights of Columbus who may never have heard of it before. Many of them now know that the Order is a so ciety of Catholic men dedicated to worthy purposes as indicated by their devotion to their Faith. It is highly probable that the name of the Order is. seen oftener, by more people, than that of any other or ganization in the United States and Canada. It is important to the Order to have the friendship, respect and co operation of the Hierarchy and the clergy in all phases of our activi ties. No other of its achievements has won such high praise from the cler gy as has the advertising program. These commendations range all the way from the Apostolic bless ing of the Holy Father himself to the warmest expressions of ap proval from the Bishops. From par ish priests and from missionaries in foreign lands. It is only natural for the clergy to urge members' of their parish to join an organization which is serving the Church in such a nota ble and practical way. And the re sult is that numerous new mem bers both priests and laymen, have come into the ranks of the Knights of Columbus in the last several years as a direct result of the ad vertising activity. Many new members also have come into the Order of their own volition because they like the type of Catholic action whjeh the adver tising represents. And it may be said without exaggeration that the advertising project has been an im portant factor in the Order’s mem bership rise of more than 100,000 in the last four years. The prestige of every Council is enhanced by it identification with this unique work, and this is espe cially true where the Councils sup port the international program with the publication of the adver tisements locally at their own ex pense. This prestige, both nationally in the United States and Canada and locally in each community, is a val uable aid to the Councils in what ever other types of Catholic or community action they may under take. It creates an atmosphere of confidence and good-will among people of all denominations and gains respectful attention for other projects which the Knights of Co lumbus may sponsor or oppose. The impact of the program among Catholics is impressive. It provides them with “ammunition” in their quest for converts. It en ables them to answer questions about their religion which they might formerly have been unable to answer correctly. In general they say, the Catholic action by any lay organization in the history of the Church—-which covers a lot of territory. Lutheran Educator Replies to Charge That Church Schools Are Devisive RIVER FOREST, 111—(NC)— A prominent Luthern educator madej a vigorous reply here to charges j that church schools are a threat to national unity. He was Dr. A. C. Stellhorn, sec retary of schools for The Luther an Church-Missouri Synod, who took particular exception to the re cent statement of President James B. Conant of Harvard University that “the greater proportion of our youth who attend independent schools, the greater the threat to our democratic unity.” Addressing the Synod’s educa tion conference at Concordia Teachers College, Dr. Stellhorn de clared that “under certain circum stances, or to certain audiences, in fluential men, like Dr. Conant, sometimes make statements for which they have no evidence, and, when pinned down, regret and modify them.” “Dr. Conant infers disunity in our national life, or at least a dis unity in the future, if we continue a dual system of education,” he said. “If he speaks of the future, he would have to base his prediction on the experiences of the past. Does he, then, charge that the private and church schools of the past have brought about an ob servable disunity. If so, where is the evidence?” Posing the question of what Dr. Conant meant by “disunity in our national life,” the Lutheran official inquired: “Does he infer that the products of public education are the genuine American article, while the products of non-public schools arc. not up to par, or. what would be worse, a disruptive, divis ive force? Or does he refer to the fact that we do not all belong to the same political party, or the same church denomination, or the same civic organization?” “Is he,” Dr. Stellhorn went on, “advocating a uniformity o f thought and action, such as that striven for by a Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini, or only a unity in all essentials of American citizenship? If the latter, does he not have it now? Or is he referring to com munism and similar subversive forces? If so, he should know that a church school is the last place to look for communist teachers, whereas the public school system is obliged, because of its nature, to purge itself of such teachers, and, as a precautionary measure, consider an oath of allegiance.” Referring to the “destructive bias” Often experienced by pri vate and church schools in the past, Dr. Stellhorn asserted: “Under American law, not the private and church school, but the biased, in tolerant or bigoted desire and at tempt to abolish it, is the un- American thing. Not a dictatorial decree by the State which directs parents to what school to send their children, but the sacred right of parents to decide this question themselves, is the thing that is constitutional and truly Ameri can.” Dr. Stellhorn declared that Lu therans do not oppose public edu cation, but “wholeheartedly sup port it, financially and morally.” However, he stressed that parents and churches have, a conscientious obligation to ensure that children FATHER THOMAS A. HEADS CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION fiy BURKE WALSH (Staff Correspondent, N. C. W. C. News Service) NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Rev. Thomas A. Meehan, editor of the New World, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago, was elect ed president of the Catholic Press Association of the United States here. The action came in the clos ing session of the organization’s 42nd annual convention, held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Charles J. McNeill, general man ager of George A. Pflaum Publish er, Inc., Dayton, O., was elected j vice president. The Rev. Philip L. Kennedy, managing editor of The Observer, newspaper of the Dio- j cese of Rockford, 111., was elected i treasurer. Father Kennedy, Mr. McNeill, j Msgr. John S. Randall, managing j editor of the Catholic Courier ; Journal, newspaper of the Diocese j of Rochester, N. Y., and David Host ] of the Marquette University School i of Journalism, representing the Catholic School Editor, Milwaukee were elected to the Board of dir- rectors. At the meeting of the board of directors, following the conven tion proper, Father Meehan, as president with the approval of the ( board, reappointed Monsignor Ran- \ dall to serve as secretary of the i Association. He also named An j drew B. McGivney of the New World, Chicago, to serve again as general counsel. Monsignor J. B. Lux, editor of Extension Magazine, Chicago, was i named chairman of the Assoeia-! tions’ magazine committee; F. A. Fink, managing editor of Our Sun- j day Visitor, Huntington, Ind., to be chairman of the newspaper committee, Mr. Host to be chair man of the school press commit tee. Retiring President F. A. Fink was presented with a hand-lettered “special citation” as a mark of the Assoication’s “esteem for his great contribution to the progress of the Catholic Press.” Mr. Fink is man aging editor of Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Ind. The presentation was made by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, Coadjutor of Dallas; Episcopal Chairman of the Press Department of the National Catho lic Welfare Conference, and hon orary president of the C. P. A. As the concluding business of the con vention, Bishop Gorman read the act consecrating the members of the Association to the Sacred Heart. The convention voted amend ments to the C. P. A. by-laws which admit Canadians members to full membership; fix the organization’s fiscal year to run from January 1 to December 31; call for the desig nation of an official agent for each member publication to vote on official actions of the Associa tion; gave recognition to proxy votes; empowered the credentials committee of the body to certify the registered agents of member publications before each conven tion; simplified the method of mak ing organization disbursements, and estabilshed a new regulation of expenditures from the Associa tion Literary Awards Foundation. The Association pledged the members “to fulfill the moral re sponsibilities of our own work by reporting, interpreting, comment ing upon and judging the state ments and acts of others with strict adherence to the demands of charity and justice.” The organization also called at tention to the importance of the coming national elections and pledged itself “to the task of urg ing Catholic readers to fulfill their civil responsibility of registering as voters and going to the polls to cast their votes according to their own prudent judgment.” If the Catholic Press does its work well “we may look forward to the brightest period of Christian civilization in all the history of the world,” His Eminence Samuel Cardinal Stritch declared. In thoughtful counsels to the editors of hundreds of Catholic newspapers and magazines gather- , ed here from all parts of the Unit ed States and Canada, the Arch bishop of Chicago advised them to use “all the techniques” available to them and to “talk the language of our times.” “Remember it is our modern world which must be brought to Christ,” he said. “Be clever, be untiring, be pro found, be courageous, be ready to say the unpleasant thing,” His Eminence urged. “You are engag ed in the great work for God and country. Remember always that to give to others what you have seen and heard you must first spend long hours of looking at it and hearing the words.” The Cardinal spoke at the banquet session of the annual con vention of the Catholic Press As sociation of the United States, held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. The various sessions of the four-day meeting are devot ed to the study of problems con fronting Catholic publications, and to the search for ways to increase their effectiveness. Present at the dinner were three American Bishops, all prominent ly identified with the development of the Catholic press in this coun try. One was Bishop John F. Noll of Fort Wayne, Episcopal Host to the Convention. Founder and editor of Our Sunday Visitor of Huntington, Ind., he has been one of the fore most figures in Catholic journalism for many years. Another was Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, Coadjutor of Dallas, Episcopal Chairman of the Press Department of the National Catho lic Welfare Conference, and him self a former Catholic editor. The third prelate was Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste of Belleville, 111., Assistant Episcopal Chairman of the N. C. W. C. Press Depart ment, who was also an editor at the time he was elevated to the Episcopate. are trained in moral and spiritual values. “Let it be known,” he said, “that the obligations are sufficiently real to our (Lutheran) people that they are willing to spend upwards of ten millions of dollars annually for their schools, besides supporting the public schools for the purpose for which they are being maintain ed; that while they save the State millions of dollars annually, they refuse to accept any public funds for their schools. But this is at the same time a service to the State. If good character, conscientious loyal ty and genuine patriotism are the chief traits of a good American citizens, we believe that we are doing the State a greater service without any loss or cost to the State, by maintaining our own schools.” Priests, Seminarians, Brothers to Attend Religious Congress NOTRE DAME, Ind. —(NC)— Accommodations for a total of 800 priests, clerical students and Bro thers will be available at the Uni versity of Notre Dame here dur ing the First National Congress of Religious August 9-13. All major superiors of male re ligious institutes in the United States and its possessions have been invited to attend the congress. They also were asked to send a number of delegates to represent their reliigous organizations—with a quota of about two per cent of their professed membership in this country. Sessions of religious men and re ligious women will be held separ ately during the congress’ three opening days. Topics treated will cover a wide range of subjects related to reli gious life in the United States. Abbot James Fox of the Trappist Monastery at Gethsemani, Ky„, will discuss the contemplative life in America. He has been granted special permission to attend the congress by his Abbot General. Other speakers will include Father Stephen Hartdegen O. F. M., of Washington, D. C., who will talk on secular institutes, and Father Gerald Kelly, S. J., of St. Mary’s College Kans., who will discuss the theology of religious vocations. Archbishop John F. O’Hara, C. S. C., of Philadelphia will address the delegates on the evening of August 9, and Benediction will be celebrated by the Very Rev. Arcadio Larraona, C. M. F., secre tary of the Sacred Congregation of Religious in Rome. On the following morning Bishop John F. Noll of Fort Wayne will pontificate at a Mass for the con gress delegates. His Excellency Archbishop Amelto Giovanni Cico- gnarri, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, will preside. Later in the morning- Archbishop Oico- gnani will address the delegates.