Southern cross. (Savannah, Ga.) 1963-2021, November 14, 1963, Image 1

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    Vol. 44, No. 19
10c Per Copy — $3 A Year
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1963
Bishop McDonough Says
Confraternity Drive
"‘Outstanding Success”
Southeastern Regional C.P.A. Conference
Cuba, Federal Aid
Press Meet Topics
PRESS MEETING—Rt. Rev. Msgr. R. G. Peters, president of the Catholic Press
Association (holding paper), James A. Doyle, Executive Secretary Catholic Press Asso
ciation, and Rev. Francis J. Donohue, Host Editor, read about their meeting in copy of
THE SOUTHERN CROSS "hot off the press."—(Savannah News-Press Photo)
‘Sensational’ Editorials
Rapped By Fr. Kiernan
SAVANNAH—In a message
from Rome, where he is attend
ing the Second Vatican Council,
Bishop Thomas J. McDonough
has expressed "my warmest
and most heartfelt appreciation
for the outstanding success of
this year’s Confraternity of the
Laity drive for diocesan funds.
The most difficult task of any
Bishop is to ask his people for
money. But without it the work
of the Church would be frustra
ted. The generosity of the peo
ple of the Diocese of Savannah
is a truly wonderful manifesta
tion of their commitment to the
Apostolate which they share
with me."
It has also been announced
by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew
J. McDonald, Chancellor, that
a Novena of Masses will be
offered each month for the next
twelve months for all contribu
tors to the fund-raising cam
paign.
Final reports, presently
being tabulated at the Chancery,
indicate that the 1963 goal of
p $140,000 will be oversub
scribed.
Said Monsignor McDonald,
"When the Confraternity of the
Laity Drive was conducted for
the first time, six years ago,
Bishop McDonough had urged
upon all the motto, ‘Charity is
the very lifeblood of our Faith.’
"In these days of rising
taxes and rising costs in every
field, it is certainly not an easy
'cask for the average man to
find the twenty-five dollars
which we have asked as a mini
mum donation. The fact that
so many did so is not only a
V tribute to their Faith, but to the
/ spirit of self-sacrifice which
must underlie a strong and
lasting Faith."
In a separate letter, Bishop
McDonough asked the Savannah
Chancellor to "convey my par
ticular gratitude to the pastors
and assistant priests who pre
sented the very real needs of
SAVANNAH — The following
letter from Bishop McDonough
was addressed to members of
Most Blessed Sacrament
parish:
* * *
October 28, 1963
Dearly beloved Parishioners
of Blessed Sacrament Parish:
This evening I received the
news of the death of your faith
ful pastor and my dear asso
ciate and friend, Monsignor
Thomas Brennan. Before I left
for the Council I had been ad
vised of the critical condition of
Monsignor, nevertheless I hop
ed and prayed for his recovery.
Our Divine Master wished to
call home Monsignor Brennan
who had finished his labors upon
earth. All of us will miss him
because we all loved him. God
gave him outstanding qualities
and talents which he used gen
erously; yes, ever sacrifically
for the good of souls. Now he
has left us—but we pray fer
vently that what he planted so
■ well, will grow a,nd increase
a thousand-fold.
The loss of a priest brings
grief to all of us. The loss
of a pastor creates a spiri
tual void. The loss of a Christ-
like priest stirs up in
our hearts an abiding gratitude
because we knew him.
There are many things which
I could say in pointing out the
charity, the understanding and
the wisdom and the patience of
Monsignor Brennan, but they
are well known to you, who
watched him day after day bring
Christ upon the altar to re-
our diocese so intelligently and
tellingly, and moved them to the
generosity which has made this
year’s drive such an outstand
ing success."
A seminary fund for the edu
cation of future priests for the
Diocese of Savannah which will
receive $50,000 from the Con
fraternity campaign, and a fund
for the construction of Mission
Churches in rural areas, which
will receive $30,000, are the
principal beneficiaries of this
NEW YORK, (NC),—Presi
dent Kennedy said in a mes
sage to some 7,000 Catholic
youths meeting here that the
ideals set forth in their con
vention program "are fully har
monious with our national
goals."
"The challenge which faces
America’s youth at this time
must be met with great cour
age and conviction," said the
presidential message to the
(Nov. 14-17) convention of the
National Catholic Youth Organi
zation Federation. "Your
theme, ‘Youtlr Gives Service,’
recognizes this urgent need
for young Americans to awake
to the problems which lie ahead
and to play an increasingly
active part in out national life.
"I salute your past accom
plishments," the President also
said, "and I know that your fu
ture endeavors will reflect the
same sense of dedication and
high purpose."
The message was addressed
to Msgr. Frederick J. Steven
son, director of the Youth De
partment, National Catholic
Welfare Conference, sponsor of
the biennial convention, at
tended by teenagers and young
adults from all parts of the
U. S.
freshen the souls of all.
Monsignor Brennan was well
prepared to meet God. We beg
then when we are called, that
God will be equally pleased
with us.
Again to all of you I extend
my deep abiding and personal
annual diocesan-wide appeal for
funds.
Funds have also been alloca
ted for the care of the depen
dent children of the Diocese
at St. Mary’s Home in Savan
nah and St. Joseph’s Home in
Washington, Georgia; for the
recently renovated Cathedral
of St. John the Baptist; and for
the support of mission parishes
in rural Catholic parishes with
too few members to be self-
supporting.
Archbishop John J. Krol of
Philadelphia, Eposcopal Chair
man of the NCWC Youth De
partment, said in a message to
the delegates: "I pray that the
deliberations of the convention
will inspire all to undertake a
course of intense preparation
for effective service as lay
apostles in theirparishes, their
dioceses and in the Church."
On the second day (Nov. 15)
of the convention the delegates
took part in panel discussions
on such diverse topics as poli
tics, lay missionary activity
and cheating in school.
At a panel session on "The
Catholic Young Adult and Po
litical Responsibilities," Char
lotte Rauschuber of the San
Antonio archdiocese said "de
mocracy in the United States
today is in far greater danger
from its 'do-nothing citizens’
than from any military attack."
She cited "the appalling num
bers of eligible voters who fail
to vote," but added that "if
we wait until election day to
participate in self-government,
it is almost too late.”
“To do nothing more than vote
is, in effect, to do very little,”
Miss Rauschuber said.
(Continued On Page 2)
sympathy. Remember him in
your prayers that God will have
mercy upon his soul.
Imparting to all of you my
blessing, I am,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
thomas j. McDonough
Bishop of Savannah
School
Aid Seen
Necessary
SAVANNAH—"Whatever the
merits or demerits of fears
concerning Federal inter
ference with or control of edu
cation, the economic facts of
life indicate that financial aid
on the federal level is neces
sary if our elementary and
secondary school systems are
to do the job they must do in
the future," said the Rev. J.
Fleming McManus, Superinten
dent of Catholic schools
for the Diocese of Charleston,
South Carolina. Father Mc
Manus spoke at the Southeast
ern regional meeting of the
Catholic Press Association
here.
The South Carolina educator
cited figures compiled by the
National Education Associa
tion in declaring that "South
Carolina and most of the states
of the deep South spend con
siderably less than the national
average of $390 per pupil an
nually. In South Carolina, the
per pupil cost for education
in our public schools is $223."
"Yet these same deep South
states are among the nation’s
leaders in the percentage of tax
income alloted for educational
purposes.
"But, our southern states are
financially poor and can scarce
ly do much more than they are
doing at present," he said,
noting that an additional dollar
outlay of more than one hundred
million dollars annually will be
required to bring South Caro
lina’s per-pupil cost up to the
national average.
"Massive federal aid benefit
ing public school students only,
however, would place the
nation’s private schools at a
serious disadvantage,” he said
“and reduce non-public school
education to a privilege of the
wealthy.
“It is up to you in the Ca
tholic Press to use your talents
and resources to develop an in
formed and articulate laity who
will be able to carry into the
community an awareness of the
contribution which private
schools are daily making to Am
erican education, and of the in
justice involved when the State
or Federal government acknow
ledges the right of parents to
educate their children in reli
giously oriented schools, but
effectively destroys that right
by making its exercise econo
mically impossible,” he said.
Father McManus closed his
remarks by noting that in
creased public school budgets
means "increased taxation, ei
ther on the local, State or Fed
eral level.
"Our schools must keep pace,
and if an already heavy tax
burden is increased to provide
needed massive governmental
assistance to public school pu
pils only, supporters of private
(Continued On Page 2)
SAVANNAH — Delegates to
the Southeastern Regional
meeting of the Catholic Press
Association, held here last
week, heard the consulting edi
tor of the Atlanta Catholic news
paper, the GEORGIA BULLE
TIN, criticize what he term
ed, "Ill advised, unkind and
sensational editorializing on
highly respected personalities
connected with controversial
events."
The Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
cited as an example, "The re
cent attack by some newspap
ers on the person of Bishop
Fulton J. Sheen, which I feel
can only have the effect of les
sening public respect for those
whom we have been taught are
the successors of the Apos
tles."
Father Kiernan also assailed
the handling of what he termed
the "Catholic University cri
sis” in some segments of the
Catholic press last fall.
"Maybe I am old fashioned,"
he said, "But I’m sure the
squabbles between my mother
and father were never the sub
ject of neighborhood gossip—
nor do I think it good for the
squabbles of personalities in the
Church to be hung like the laun
dry, out in public."
"I am not advocating a‘muz
zled’ press," declared the
Georgia editor, "but I think we
can fulfill our commitment to
truth in commenting on the pub
lic actions of Catholic institu
tions without necessarily fail
ing in our commitment to Chris
tian Charity by calling into
question the motives of highly
respected and dedicated men
who happen to be parties to con
troversial events."
By Richard M. Menges
CHICAGO, (NC) — The
superintendent of Chicago’s Ca
tholic schools quarreled here
with a statement that parochial
school supporters are now will
ing to "phase them out."
"My experience," saidMsgr.
William E. McManus, "is that
parents have been violently op
posed to phasing out one grade
to say nothing of phasing out
an entire school or the whole
system.”
He was asked for comment
on an article in the Saturday
Evening Post (Oct. 26). The
author said that * * ‘a substantial
number (of Catholic parents)
are now clearly more than wil
ling to accept a phasing out of
parochial schools, at least at
the elementary level."
Msgr. McManus said:
‘ 'I challenge the evidence on
that ‘phasing out’ statement. He
says ‘a substantial number’ of
Catholics. What does he con
sider a substantial number—
5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 50%? Or
one-half of 1%?
‘ ‘I would not say there is an
overwhelming sentiment for
phasing out the elementary
school when every year our en
rollment goes up."
As for the charge that paro
chial schools are obsolete,
Father Kiernan also warned
against the danger of publishing
editorial comment based only on
"hearsay evidence” without
first "checking all the facts."
"I’m sure there are many
editors who would rather for
get that when Fidel Castro took
over Cuba, the Catholic press of
the nation belabored the fact
that here was a Catholic col
lege graduate. Frontpages were
decorated with pictures of the
scoundrel wearing religious
medals, and we gave the country
the distinct impression that we
were behind him . . .Then, with
red faces and heads bowed low,
we, like our government, had to
back-track and admit that we
were taken in," he said.
Msgr. McManus commented:
"I disagree. Too many writ
ers recently have stared at only
one side of the school picture—
the large classes in some
schools and the need for more
teachers and funds to expand.
‘ ‘Why do they ignore the high
professional standards of the
Catholic system and its strong,
consistent efforts to achieve and
maintain professional excel
lence?"
' ‘The whole accent in our
school system is on ‘aggiorna-
(Continued On Page 2)
PRAY FOR OUR
PRIESTLY DEAD
RT. REV. WILLIAM H.
GROSS, C.SS.R., DD
Fifth Bishop of Savannah
Nov. 14, 1898
* * *
REV. CORNELIUS M.
SHEEHAN
Nov. 18, 1875
Oh Cod, Who didst give to
thy servants hy their sacredotal
office, a share in the Priest
hood of the Apostles, grant,
ur implore, that they may
also he one of their company
forever in heaven. Through
Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Marxist
Blueprint
Outlined
SAVANNAH—The Cuba of Fi
del Castro at its beginnings _
three years ago was brought in
to sharp contrast with the thor
oughly subjugated Red-ruled is
land of today by Jaime Fonces-
ca, editor of Noticias Catoli-
cas, Spanish-Portuguese ver
sion of NCWC News Service, at
a meeting of Catholic newsmen
here last week.
Mr. Fonseca spoke at the
Southeastern Regional meeting
of the Catholic Press Associa
tion.
He recalled the popular adu
lation of Castro in the early
days of the triumph over the
Batista regime, before the
bearded dictator had fully re
vealed his communist lean
ings.
“. . .Catholics were staging
a giant rally . . .Therewas this
woman, poorly dressed, walking
thru the mud . . .She came from
one of the slums in the outskirts
of Havana.
"This is wonderful," she
said, "to have this mass for our
Lady of Charity (the patron
ess of Cuba.) ‘Oh, yes. Fidel
will be here too . . .You see this
hospital, it hasn’t been finished
... It was going to be for the
army, but now Fidel says it is
ours . . .It belongs to the peo
ple . . .1 can touch and say it
is mine.’
"This was some three years
ago. The hospital was complet
ed but today it has scarcely any
drugs, or nurses, or doctors.
The good woman may still be
praying to Our Lady of Chairty
but she must have found out long
ago that what Castro meant by
‘we the people’ was really a
Big Brother State."
The Cold War has made the
establishment of a communist
bastion in the Americas
a "threat of unprecedented
magnitude," said Fonseca.
“It has provided stepping
stones for the Soviet world
revolution, because it has ex-
tablished these things:
"1. The Soviets do not need
a large influential Communist
Party to take over a country,
not even an armed invasion.
"2. A Soviet military base
can be established in the Wes
tern Hemisphere, over the dead
body of the Monroe Doctrine and
of the unfulfilled commitments
of the Organization of American
States.
"3. The back of the so-called
"capitalist imperialism" can
be broken overnight, and in its
place a "socialist state" with
native roots can survive in Am
erica.
"4. Marxist propaganda can
fire the idea that the underde
veloped peoples of Africa, As
ia and Latin America can find
in socialism (communism) the
road and tool to national lib
eration."
Fonseca also cited conditions
which "make other regions in
Latin AmericapronetotheCas-
troite brand of the Red conspir
acy."
"Liberal nationalism, easily
tinged with Marxism. In a cen
tury of frustrations and dreams
and wars and trying the repub
lican way of government, such
nationalism has hardened into
isolating walls.
"Resentment at the econom
ic dependence from the advanc
ed markets of Western Europe
and Noth America, which in
turn feeds ‘anti-imperialist
feelings.’
"The romantic image—at
first among the intellectuals,
now also among the masses—of
the Russian Revolution, later of
Republican Spain and now of Cu
ba."
The editor of Noticias warned
that if the U.S. continues to
follow a policy of non-interven
tion while Russia continues a
"relentless crusade to engulf
more nations," other forces
will take the initiative.
He listed these forces as
"Nasserism, military juntas,
a new European entente, suen
as DeGaulle seeks," and pre
dicted that if these fail while
Moscow advances under the
cloak of peaceful co-existence,
(Continued On Page 2)
J.F.K. Praises Youth
Convention Ideals
Bishop Sends Condolences
On Death Of Msgr. Brennan
Of Parochial Schools
Educator Sees
No “Phasing Out”