Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
About Southern cross. (Savannah, Ga.) 1963-2021 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1963)
> 1 WEEKtY NEWSPAPER SAVANNAH NIHIL SINE DEO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1963 BISHOP IN ROME—Bishop Thomas J. McDonough is pic tured with Bishop Coleman F. Carroll of Miami in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.—(Photocourtesy THE VOICE, Miami) Discrimination In Bus Rides Scored Orthodox Endorse Dialogue ATHENS, Greece (NC)—The 53 metropolitans of the Ortho dox Church of Greece reversed an earlier stand and unanimous ly endorsed (Oct. 15) a proposal to start a “theological dia logue” with the Catholic Church. . The Orthodox Church had earlier opposed a proposal by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenag- oras of Istanbul for such a dia logue with Rome “on equal terms.” A Pan-Orthodox con vention in Rhodes (Sept. 26- 29) accepted the Patriarch’s proposal. But the Greek metropolitans said that the dialogue should begin only after the ecumeni cal council ends. Archbishop Chrysostomos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, said during the debate on the proposal that when he opposed his Church’s partici pating in the Rhodes convention, he was acting on “written in structions from the Greek For eign Ministry.” Bishops Work On English Text For Mass (By Patrick Riley) VATICAN CITY (NC)—Ten Bishops from nine English -speaking nations are drawing up plans for a common English text for the Mass and the sac raments. The ecumenical council has already approved in principal the use of modern language in these rites. The council’s de cisions must be approved by Pope Paul VI before they go into effect. The council’s ac tion would give national or re gional groups of bishops the power to authorize the use of their area’s language in the Mass and in administering the sacraments. Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan of Atlanta, Ga., who along with . Auxiliary Bishop James H. Griffiths of New York repre sents the American Bishops, said: “It is reasonably estimated that this common text will be ready by the time the post- conciliar commission has com pleted its revision of the litur gical rites.” Other bishops working on the text are Archbishop Francis J. Grimshaw of Birmingham, En gland; Archbishop Denis E. Hurley, O.M.I., of Durban, South Africa; Archbishop Guilford Young of Hobart, Australia; Archbishop Joseph Walsh of Tuam, Ireland; Bishop Leonard J. Raymond of Allahabad, In dia; Archbishop Michael C. O’ Neill of Regina, Canada; Arch bishop Gordon J. Gray of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scot land; and Auxiliary Bishop Owen Snedden of Wellington, New Zealand. Archbishop Hallinan and Bi shop Griffiths were named to the group by Archbishop Pat rick A. O’Boyle of Washington, chairman of the administrative board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. The 10 bishops have called on liturgical experts to help them in their long range plan. They will bring in biblical schol ars, musicians and experts in English style to help produce an English text which meets both the needs of public wor ship and high standards of mu sical and literary taste. Archbishop Hallinan pointed out that many English texts are already available, and add ed: ‘‘As soon as the national conference of bishop authoriz es ‘ enabling legislation’ for its area, a suitable selection of these translations can be approved for Mass and the Sa craments.” MINNEAPOLIS, (NC) — “Shall Johnny ride a school bus to his private school, or shall the bureaucracy ride Johnny and his parents?” This question was posed by Timothy Fahey of Blaine, Minn., president of the Minnesota Fed eration of the Citizens for Edu cational Freedom (CEF), at the group’s first convention here. “Freedom of education” and “equitable distribution of the tax dollars in education” was stressed by speakers. David LaDriere of Clayton, Mo., CEF executive director, told the convention that “the conscience of the individual pa rent has the prior right in choos ing the type of schooling for the cultivation of the minds and soul of his precious children.” Government may, for the common good, compel educa tion, LaDriere said. ' ‘But this interest of the state is satis fied when the education is achie ved in accredited schools. The education children receive in accredited, independent schools serves the same public purpose as education in public schools. “The real issue is freedom versus conformity,” he said. “Seven million children in this country today are receiv ing their education in indepen dent schools,” he said. “These children should not be penal ized. There should be no denial of tax assistance to these chil dren.” Both LaDriere and Fahey Los Angeles Auxiliary ■Msgr. John Ward, 43, Vice Officialis of the archdiocesan tribunal of Los Angeles, has been named titular Bishop of Bria and Auxiliary to J. Fran cis Cardinal Me Intyre, Arch bishop of Los Angeles. A na tive of Los Angeles, the bishop -elect was ordained in 1946.—(NC Photos) said CEF was not opposed to the public school system it self. “We are opposed to these gross injustices done to our children,” Fahey said. Protestant Journal Asks Education Aid NEW YORK (NC)—A leading Protestant journal has called for stronger efforts to find a way of including children in parochial schools in Federal aid to education. Christianity and Crisis, an interdenominational Protestant bi-weekly, scored total opposi tion to any form of aid for paro chial school pupils. But it also said plans to assist them must avoid strengthening the cause of race segregation and injur ing public schools. In the lead editorial of its October 28 issue, signed by a group which includes three of American Protestantism’s leading liberals, the journal said Federal aid for educa tion is badly needed. Signers included Reinhold Niebuhr, John C. Bennett and Robert McAffee Brown. Nie buhr is a prominent theologian, Bennett is president of Union Theological Seminary here and Brown, a California professor, is well known in ecumenical circles, serving at present as a delegate-observer for Pres byterian and Reformed bodies at the Second Vatican Council. The journal pointed to a “new phase” of discussion over aid for pupils in church-related schools. It cited favorable stands by columnist Walter Lip- pman, educator Robert Hutchins and the New Republic Magazine. The change means, said the publication, “that the movement to help pupils in private as well as public schools cannot be dis missed as a sectarian power play aimed at raiding the pub lic treasury.” Christianity and Crisis was critical of the totally negative reaction of what it called the "professional Protestants.” “Often,” it said, “they sound like a broken record stuck in the 18th century. Even in the National Council of Chur ches, a source of fresh thinking of many subjects, the comments on this issue frequently seem to express a conditioned re flex rather than a thoughtful response to a major social problem.” Differs With House On Church-Related Institutions College Construction Aid Bill Approved By Senate Includes Judicial Review Amendment By Father Vincent A. Yzermans ROME (NC) — A prominent U. S. Scripture scholar has expressed concern about the image certain reporters are creating of American Bishops in the ecumenical council. Father Barnabas Ahem, C.P., prefect of studies at the Passionist seminary in Louis ville, Ky., and a former vice president of the U. S. Catholic Biblical Association, said in an interview here: “Although the press in gen eral has been both generous and sympathetic, I feel that some writers have often missed the true spirit of the council and have failed to measure justly the character and role of the American Bishops.” A council expert, Father Ahem has frequently addressed national hierarchies, including the American Bishops. “The recurring use of the convenient cliches ‘left and right wings,’ ‘liberal and con servative,’ ‘progressive and reactionary,’ ” he said, “has given a simple and understand ably human explanation of coun cil deliberations. This simpli fication, however, obscures the fact that most bishops belong to neither group.” He said the bishops “are seeking the best good and the most effective means of Church reform.” He went on to say that those who interpret the council as a struggle between two opposing sides do not see the total pic ture. Father Ahern, who goes to all the general meetings of the council, said that in the council hall one senses a real groping for truth * ‘through a pro cess of testing and sifting.” All the speeches in the coun cil, he said, are the means the Holy Spirit uses to enlight en the “minds of the council Fathers to formulate whatever is best for the life of the Church.” The American Bishops, he observed, are fulfilling the role of “impartial arbiters.” Those who minimize their contribution fail to take into consideration the distinctive American char acter of the U. S. hierarchy, he said. “To appreciate their contri bution,” he continued, “one must always bear in mind the unique qualities which the press many times has failed to place in proper focus.” Father Ahern said that these “unique qualities” are: 1. As bishops of a growing, developing Church, the Ameri can Bishops had to become buil ders, administrators and finan ciers. “To shirk these duties,” he pointed out, ‘ ‘would mean a real neglect of interests which are essential for the proper functioning of the Church in our country.” He said that the fervent spirit of Catholicism in the U. S. is a tribute to our Bishops who “have chosen to serve wholeheartedly accord ing to the demands of the par ticular way of life thrust upon AT NEUMANN BEATIFICATION—His Holiness Pope Paul VI greets Archbishop John J. Krol of Philadelphia in St. Peter’s Basilica following the beatification ceremon ies October 13 of Bishop John N. Neumann, C.SS.R., who was fourth bishop of the Phila delphia diocese. Archbishop Krol is under-secretary of the Second Vatican Council, now in session in Rome.—(NC Photos) PRAY FOR OlIR PRIESTLY DEAD REV. JOHN J. BESSMER Oct. 29, 1926 Oh Cod, IVho didst give to thy servants by their sacredotal office, a share in the priest hood of the Apostles, grant, u'e implore, that they may also be one of their company forever in heaven. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Anti-Christians Will As Created By Certain Reporters IRISH PRIME MINISTER IN U. S.—The White House lawn never looked greener than it did on October 15, when President John F. Kennedy welcomed the Prime Minister of Ireland to the United States. The two-day official visit was prompted by a personal invitation from President Kennedy when he visited Ireland earlier this year. Shown with Mr. Ken nedy. during a 20-minute welcoming ceremony are Mrs. Sean F .Lemass and her husband, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. (NC Photos) Evaluate Diem Policy (By Father Patrick O’Connor) Society of St. Columban SAIGON, Vietnam (NC)— Four of the seven governments sending delegates to investi gate charges that Buddhists have been persecuted in south Vietnam, are themselves fol lowing restrictive policies in religion. The delegation comes to Viet nam from the General Assembly of the United Nations on the invitation of President Ngo dinh Diem’s government. The mem bers of the delegation were chosen by the U. N. General Assembly’s President Carlos Sosa Rodriguez of Venezuela. Official representatives of the governments of Afghanistan, Brazil, Ceylon, CostaRica, Da homey, Morocco and Nepal comprise the delegation. The government of Ceylon, one of the most vocal in accus ing south Vietnam of religious persecution, has been guilty of flagrant, systematic discrimi nation against its Christian ci tizens. They form about nine per cent of the total population of some 9,600,000. Since the present government came to power in Ceylon, in July, 1960, it has pursued an openly anti-Christian policy. Since December, 1960, it has taken over hundreds of Catholic schools — their buildings, grounds, movable property and management. Some 55 Christian schools that escaped being tak en over were sentenced to grad ual death by being forbidden to charge tuition fees. A zoning regulation in Ceylon compels some Christian par ents to send their-children to schools that are predominant ly Buddhist. Buddhist mission aries from any foreign country are given visas and allowed to work in Ceylon, but no new Christian missionary will re ceive a visa, even as a replace ment for one who has died. There are indications that the government will force all for eign missionaries out of the country within two years, even though their services are evi dently needed by the growing Christian population. No non-Christian parent, be he Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu, may enroll his child in a Chris tian private school without gov ernment permission, which is now rarely given. Though there is supposed to religious equality in Ceylon, the government, byalawpassed in 1958, has given public money to the Vidyodaya and Vidyalan- kara universities, both strictly Buddhist. Some important Buddhist monks in Ceylon have allied themselves with one of the Mar xist parties. The present gov ernment came to power through a no-contest election pact with the regular Communist party and the Trotskite party. The Ceylon government has been widely criticized also for racial discrimination against (Continued on Page 6) Voices Image Concern About Of U. S. Bishops them in the American scene.” 2. The American Bishops are men totally dedicated to the good of the church. This dedi cation has made them, as a body, willing to listen and learn and accept ideas with open- mindedness. “They have shown,” he said, “a remark able diligence in studying the various propositions, and a de termination to choose whatever is best for the good of the whole Church.” 3. The American Bishops’ reluctance, if it can be called reluctance, is best explained by the american character it self. “An American,” he said, “prefers action to speech. He finds it embarrassing to cre ate tedium by voicing views which another has already ex pressed.” This national tem perament has restrained more than one American bishop from addressing the council assem bly, he said, 4. Father Ahern sees merit even in the reluctance of the American Bishops to speak. He says that when an American Bishop does speak, the others listen with special interest. ‘ ‘Aware of the strength of Ca tholic life in America, and aware too that American Bi shops are not given to much talking,” he said, “the other bishops know that the speaker feels he has something worth saying and they give him whole hearted attention. The dis courses given by some Ameri can bishops have been a real contribution to the council and have accomplished a great deal in directing the course of the council.” Father Ahern said he feels a “great injustice” has been done by those writers who fail to take these and other obser vations into consideration when writing about the American Bi shops. He said he feels that this false representation is due to the fact that writers “have not treated adequately the back ground, characteristics and spirit of eminently sincere and holy churchmen who, as Bish ops of America, have had to be wholly American.” WASHINGTON (NC)—Final congressional action on federal construction aid for colleges may be delayed until mid-Decem ber as the House and Senate work to resolve their differences over inclusion of church-related colleges. This is the opinion of some leading backers of the proposal in the wake of the Senate’s handling of the controversial issue of Church-State relations. It had been hoped the bill would clear congress by mid-November. The Senate voted (Oct. 21) 60 to 19 its approval of a mea sure to spend $1.9 billion in five years in loans and grants to help accredited colleges and universities finance construc tion of academic facilities. Con stitutional questions seen in extending federal aid to Church- related colleges dominated the senate debate. Sponsors had worked to avoid this development. The bill pro vides that outright federal grants can be used only for definitely non-religious facili ties, such as science class rooms. In addition, the bill specifically barred any use of funds—either grants or loans —for religious purposes. Leading opponents to the in clusion of Church-related col leges were Sens. Ervin of North Carolina and Cooper of Ken tucky. First they proposed that church and related colleges be denied any participation in the bill. This was rejected. Then they presented a sec ond amendment which would permit a taxpayer to block by court action any federal assis tance to Church-related colleg es. Adopted by a 45 to 33 vote, this judicial review amendment has clouded the bill’s future because the House Leadership strongly opposes such a clause. When the House Rules Com mittee cleared that chamber’s bill for floor debate, it did so (Aug. 8) only after obtaining a commitment from the bill’s sponsors that a review provi sion would be opposed. How the two chanbers will resolve their deep disagree ment on this issue is the major uncertainty facing compro mise efforts. Other differen ces between their versions pro bably can be reconciled easily. Ervin and Cooper argued that inclusion of Church-related colleges would be “a sinful and tyrannical course” that would “abolish religious freedom by compelling people to pay taxes for the propagation of doctrines which they disbelieve.” Sponsors and supporters of the measure, led by Sen. Wayne Morse of Oregon, chairman of the Education Subcommittee, said congress has long assisted Church-related colleges with the same type of specific legis lation. Morse cited, among other programs, the recently enacted law to give federal assistance for construction at medical and dental schools, many of which are operated by Religious groups. Bishop Received By Pope Paul VATICAN CITY — The Most Rev. Thomas J. Mc Donough, Bishop of Savan nah was among, a group of Prelates and pilgrims re ceived by Pope Paul VI on Thursday, October 17th. The pilgrims were in Rome for the beatification ceremonies, October 13, of Bishop John N. Neumann, C.SS.R., who was the fourth bishop of the Philadelphia Diocese. As a pioneer missionary, Bishop Neumann spread the Faith throughout various re gions of Pennsylvania, Dele- ware, New York, Maryland and Virginia from 1840 to 1860.