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U.S. Bishops Urge National
Examination Of Conscience
Dangers to Nation Cited
shops re-studied the nation’s
heritage of moral and political
principles, pointed to threats
facing it today and expressed
confidence Americans will meet
the challenge.
The statement was released
here (Nov. 17) through the exe
cutive department of the Na
tional Catholic Welfare Con
ference.
The Bishops said secularism,
which regards God and religion
as irrelevant to everyday life,
is enjoying “ increasing es
tablishment as an official
American view of life.” They
said it can be found in educa
tion, marriage, business and
recreation.
Materialism, they continued,
is reflected increasingly in mo
ral values. "Security in the
comforts of living is too often
our major, even our controlling
concern,” they said.
They added that "as an afflu
ent nation, we are unfortunately
acquiring the vices associated
with irresponsible material
ists; overindulgence, excessive
gambling and the insatiable de
mand for excitement.”
The third problem they cha
racterized as "the frequent use
of expediency rather than prin
ciple in meeting our social
problems.”
Typical of this defect, they
said, is the "confusion and ten
sion surrounding the so-called
‘race question.’ ”
Social justice, they charged,
under the influence of secular
ism and materialism, "be
comes merely a political matter
and we remain as a nation mo
WASHINGTON (NC)—The Bi
shops of the United States have
said that many of America’s
goals remain unfulfilled, but
are within reach if Americans
unite in a common effort to at
tain them.
In their annual statement, en
titled "Bonds of Union,” the
Bishops warned that the nation’s
people face grave challenges
from erroneous philosophies.
The Bishops said:
”A national examination of
conscience would reveal today
that we are in danger of be
coming a people weakened by
secularism in our social philo
sophy, materialism in our con
cept of the good life and ex
pediency in our moral code.”
But they said a review of the
nation’s moral values and "re
newed dedication to our com
mon goals may help us to face
the present trials as a people
truly one nation under God.”
In their statement, the Bi-
Deanery Meeting
Of Catholic Men
Unwittingly Aid Church
MEXICO CITY (NC)—Oddly
enough, Cuban communist lead
ers are the best source of the
Catholic strength in the island,
as they try to denounce or ex
ploit religious sentiment there.
Bias Roca, editor of the com
munist daily, Hoy, in Havana,
said recently that the party had
no room * * ‘for workers still
holding to religious ideas.”
Then he launched a series of
open attacks against religion
and the Church.
Popular indignation was such
that Premier Fidel Castro
decided to attend an official re
ception at the papal nunciature
in Havana a few days later and
ordered his press and radio
to give wider coverage to his
meeting with the charge d’af
fairs there than to the display
given to Roca’s remarks.
' ‘He surely is trying to undo
the damage,” remarked one of
the diplomats attending the re
ception honoring Pope Paul VI.
For all the seesaw of the re
gime’s policy on religion, the
Church in Cuba continues to be
deprived of its 340 schools and
of all access to communica
tions media, and is 500 priests
short of what it had in 1959.
In the last few months, the
number of priests have gone
from the 150 left after mass
expulsions and harassments
during 1960 to some 200, most
ly Canadians and Europeans
(except Spaniards). Some 25Cu
ban deacons have been ordained
priests since 1959. Two semin
aries are still open, El
Buen Pastor near Havana, and
El Cobre near Santiago, at the
Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.
The Castro regime and its So
viet advisers are now more sen
sitive to religious troubles be
cause they seem overwhelmed
by economic calamity and poli
tical interparty division. Hur
ricane Flora has made things
much worse.
Therefore there took place
the step backward in the Red
blueprint for finishing religion.
Two steps forward were taken
when conditions were ripe. Cas
tro took advantage of the Bay of
Pigs invasion almost three
years ago to declare a state of
emergency and to launch the
harshest blow at the Church.
One step in retreat is being
made now that the people’s
loyalty to religion reacts
against recent attacks.
While many outstanding Ca
tholics have fled the country
because of persecution, and oth
ers have gone into hiding, most
of the faithful go on living their
religious life as normally as
they can. They are living wit
nesses of human dignity strug
gling to survive in spite of
atheist propoganda and other
hardships of a bankrupt police
state.
There are continuous reports
of this brave survival of a
Christian life that is influencing
even the attitudes of many oth
ers. Travelers arriving in
Mexico City — one of the few
avenues open between Cuba and
the West — testify to this re
ligious revival.
One reliable observer —
a technician just arriving here
after completing his report on
resources in Cuba—has this to
say:
* ‘Cuba is an example, perhaps
more vivid than others, of how a
people, basically Christian as in
Eastern Europe, reacts when
oppressed by communism.
However limited the opportuni
ties are for worshiping, no mat
ter how harsh police repres
sion is, and in spite of the con
stant hammering of anti-Church
propaganda, the real Christian
enlivens his faith and becomes
a true apostle in the midst of
confusion.
‘‘Such valiant Catholics are
not only defending their beliefs;
they are an inspiration to many
others who only a few weeks ago
still joined the communist
choir.
‘ ‘There is a true legion of si
lent Catholics who do nothing
but preach with their example
of courage and conviction. Here
and there they engage in a dis
creet dialogue with neighbors
to defend their Christian views.
This they do in spite of the
‘vigilante’ block committees.
The same happens at places
of work, again in spite of the
communist cells and militia.”
This and other recent con
tacts show that Castro mobs
still show hostility to priests
and lay leaders in some rural
towns or in the cities.
While hard-line propaganda
has seen no decrease, some
newspapers like El Mundo run a
Sunday supplement with re
ligious articles. But these are
Pray For Our
Deceased Priests
RT. REV. JOHN BARRY, D.D.
Second Bishop of Savannah
Nov. 21, 1859
* * *
RT. REV. MSGR.
HARRY F. CLARK
Nov. 27, 1935
* * *
REV. WILLIAM MCCARTHY
Nov. 27, 1930
quite innocuous under present
circumstances.
One of the articles commen
ted unfavorably on the blasphe
mous Spanish movie ‘‘Viri-
diana” for its "mutilation” of
the Christian message. But the
movie itself was shown all over
Cuba. Another article on
‘‘Christ and Social Classes”
called for a classless society
with no discrimination other
than one established ‘‘by work
and the technical skill to pro
duce and serve the social com
munity.” This is one of the
main Marxist tenets.
St. Teresa of Avila is prais
ed in another government pa
per by columnist Mario Para-
jon for her mysticism and real
istic sense as a reformer, but
for little else.
Incidentally, Parajon’s wed
ding at the church of Our Lady
of Perpetual Help in Havana
this summer is one of the out
standing paradoxes of Cuba to
day. The bride, Annabelle Rod
riguez y Garcia, a practicing
Catholic who even went to a
Sisters' high school, is the
daughter of Carlos Rafael Rod
riquez, number one theoretician
of the Communist party in Cuba,
and of his divorced wife, Edith
Garcia Buchaga, one of the
leading agents of Marxism-Le
ninism in Cuba, who converted
her husband to communism.
What is crystal clear is the
regime’s intention of spreading
Marxist - Leninist doctrine
throughout the island and the
rest of Latin America. Some
weeks ago the government-con
trolled press hailed commence
ment ceremonies at Havana
University when 104 students
received their diplomas from
the School of Economics and
Political Sciences. Their ma
jor subject: “Dialectic and His
toric Materialism.”
Elected To
NCWC Board
ROME (NC) — Archbishops
Leo Binz of St. Paul and John
P. Cody, Apostolic Administra
tor of New Orleans were elect
ed new members of the Ad
ministrative Board of the Nat
ional Catholic Welfare Con
ference at the annual general
meeting of the Bishops of the
United States held here.
The prelates succeed on the
board Archbishop Lawrence J.
Shehan of Baltimore and Bi
shop Allen J. Babcock of Grand
Rapids, Mich., who had served
the permissible five con
secutive one-year terms as
board members.
well, Gary Scott, Johnnie Battle, George Rockwell, Lindsay
Rouse, Bob Hanson, Craig Scott; third row (1-r) athletic
association president Jerry Kilpatrick, coach Frank Sch
warz, Mike Dillon, Terry Hennessy, Joey Shearouse, Jimmy
McQuillan, Steve Brennan, Mahaney Cromartie, Bernard
Foran, Father Edward Frank.—(Savannah News-Press Photo
by McDonald)
rally tortured by racial injus
tice in schools, jobs, housing,
communal facilities, even in
the most obvious area of demo
cratic suffrage.”
The proper approach to the
race issue, they said, “is to
treat all men and women as
persons, without reference to
patterns of difference.”
"Unless the Declaration of
Independence is taken to mean
what it says about inalienable
rights and their divine origin;
unless the salute to the flag
including Lincoln’s phrase ‘un
der God,’ is uttered without
tongue in cheek; unless theplain
intent of the Constitution is
wholeheartedly endorsed—any
talk of Taw and order' is worse
than poor policy; it is hypo
crisy,” they said.
Despite this outlook, the Bi
shops expressed confidence that
the situation will brighten.
"Even these problems of our
republic can be bonds of union.
.They are faced by all Ameri
cans; their solution is our mu
tual burden,” they said.
"Men of good will are finding
that they must work together
to stem the march toward se
cularism. Reaction against ma
terialism may, please God, re
sult in a renewed commitment
to spiritual values, turning our
search for wealth into a voca
tion of service,” they said.
As for the "sad controversy j
over civil rights,” the Bishops
said that the desire for a more
perfect union “can yet rally the
moral energies of the nation to
complete the ‘unfinished busi
ness' of the Emancipation Pro
clamation by full recognition of
all their rights for millions of
our fellow citizens of the Negro
race.”
The prelates also discussed
the courts, saying that while
tribunals must be vigilant to
protect justice, "the people
must be vigilant too, lest the
courts. . .annul the original
determination that ours be a
government of laws, not of
men.”
“Our courts must see,” the V.
Bishops said, "that the law of
the land is so interpreted as to
be free from undue influence of
particular schools of thought.
"It has best served the
American tradition when the law
reflects a community consensus
or common understanding of
what is best to achieve the com
mon ends of justice.”
The Bishops expressed gra
titude for worldwide interest in
the council proceedings.
"In these days so full of his
toric importance, we have
gratefully noted the prayers and
the cordial expressions of good
will toward the council and the
Church from Americans of
every faith,” they said.
The statement also includes
praise for American recogni
tion of the right of conscience
and notes how this respect pa
rallels the words of the late
Pope John XXIII on the subject.
"The recognition of the right
of conscience has been basic to
our civil traditions,” the Bi
shops said.
"Citizens have found in this
a bond of union and the favor of
the law in countless cases. No
personal right has been so
fiercely defended by public au
thority and so generously con
strued in court.
"The tradition of our nations
corresponds with the words of
Pope John XXIII: ‘Every human
being has the right to honor God
according to the dictates of an
upright conscience and, there
fore, the right to worship God
privately and publicly.’ ’ ’
The Bishops also cited
American defense of private
property and praised Protes
tant leadership for an "enlight
ened Christian sense of ste
wardship.”
"Fortunately,” they said,
"the power to dispose of the
fruits of one’s labors has been
wisely controlled by the concept
of the stewardship of wealth.
When our Protestant fellow citi-
(Continued on Page 6)
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1963
Savannah, Sunday, Nov. 24th
SAVANNAH — The Bishop’s
Council of Catholic Men in the
Savannah Deanery will hold
their fall meeting Sunday, No
vember 24th. The meeting will
be held in the Cathedral Cafe-
torium beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The Membership of the Bi
shop’s Council of Men is com
posed of all the men enrolled
in the various parishes and the
various organizations in each
JULIAN HALLIGAN
Savannah Deanery President
SAVANNAH—Members of St.
Mary’s Home Guild, at their
semi-annual meeting last Sun
day, heard a plea by the Rt.
Rev. Msgr. John D. Toomey,
Guild Moderator, for an inten
sive drive to increase mem
bership.
St. Mary’s Home Guild is at
organization of Catholic Wo
men, affiliated with the Dioce
san Council of Catholic Women,
founded by His Excellency, Bi
ship Thomas J. McDonough to
further the work of caring for
dependent girls of the Diocese
at St. Mary’s Home in Savan
nah.
"It is very difficult to try to
single out any diocesan organi
zation as being the most impor
tant. But surely, St. Mary’s
Home Guild which plays such an
important and even essential
role in the care of children
deprived of normal home life,
is not less important than any
other group of women in the
Diocese of Savannah.
parish such as the Holy Name
Society, Men’s Association, or
League of the Sacred Heart, etc.
Sizeable Delegations of men
from each Parish within the
Deanery are expected to attend
the meeting. The Deanery con
sists of all the Catholic Parish-
jes in Chatham County as
well as the Parishes of Brun
swick, Claxton, Statesboro and
Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The Officers of the Savannah
Deanery are:
President, Mr. Julian Halli-
gan; Vice President, Mr.
James Houlihan;Secretary, Mr.
Donald McLendon; Treasurer,
Mr. Wade Simmons.
Heading the General Com
mittees of the Council are:
Spiritual Life, Mr. John Sti
les, Brunswick; Vocational, Mr.
Thomas N. McCarthy; Confra
ternity, Dr. Louis Castilian;
Catholic Action, Mr. John Bren
nan; Catholic Charities, Mr.
Percy Miller.
An interesting agenda for this
meeting has been prepared by
the Executive Committee in
cluding decisions to be made on
an annual date of investiture into
the Holy Name Societies in each
parish in conjunction with an
intensive recruitment cam
paign. Another important de
cision to be made after explor-
d own town Savannah and a lunch
eon at the city’s famous Pi
rate’s House restaurant.
Members voted to hold their
annual benefit card party on
January 17, 1964 at St. Mary’s
Home beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Members heard a short talk
by Sister M. Christine R.S.M.,
Superior of the Home, who wel
comed the members and special
guests at the meeting.
The meeting was closed with
Benediction of the Most Blessed
Sacrament, and refreshments,
served by Guild members from
the Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist.
The next meeting will be held
on the first Sunday of March,
1964.
ation, will be under the Catholic
Action Committee; It has
been suggested that an ‘‘Open
House” be held in each Parish
for non-Catholics, when friends
and neighbors and residents of
the communities will be invited
to come and visit catholic chur
ches.
The plan would involve the
Men’s Council members as
guides and hosts to visitors.
At the conclusion of the busi
ness agenda a turkey buffet din
ner will be served by Mrs. Gay
Paul and the Cathedral Cafetor-
ium Committee.
Blessed
Sacrament
Parents Meet
SAVANNAH—' ‘Our Beautiful
City, Savannah,” was the theme
of the program at Blessed Sa
crament Parish’s Home and
School Association meeting last
week.
Mr. Jerry Kilpatirck showed
a Savannah Chamber of Com
merce film highlighting the his
toric nature and unique charm
of this southeastern port city.
Another short film contained
excerpts from a television show
featuring singer Perry Como
and composer-conductor John
ny Mercer, a native of Savannah.
Como and Mercer sang amedly
of longs composed by Mercer
about Savannah and Georgia.
The excerpts were from
Como’s ‘‘Salute to Georgia”
show.
The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew
McDonald, administrator of
Blessed Sacrament, and Fa
thers Edward Frank and Cor
nelius Keane, assistants, gave
short talks.
Parents were told that a Phy
sical Fitness program is being
planned for students. ‘‘We hope
it can be worked into the school
schedule in the very near fu
ture,” said Monsignor McDon
ald.
Students of Blessed Sacra
ment were invited to attend
a ‘‘Fall Festival” sponsored by
the Association last Tuesday
from 2 to 4 p.m. under the
chairmanship of Mrs. Thomas
Jackson.
Mrs. John Fogarty and Mrs.
Frank Finnachiaro were named
co-chairmen of the annual
Thanksgiving Pantry Shower for
the Sisters of Mercy who teach
at the school.
At St. Mary’s Home
Msgr. Toomey Urges
“Intensive” Campaign
For Guild Membership
BISHOP THOMAS J. McDONOUGH is pictured in St. Peter’s Square leaving session of Second Vatican Council.
“Yet membership has
steadily declined from a peak
enrollment of 1,000 to 653, as of
today’s meetings,” Monsignor
Toomey said. He urged an "in
tensive, dedicated and prayer
ful effort” to bring membership
up to or past the 1,000 mark.
The meeting, conducted by
Guild President, Miss Johanna
Daly, featured a stage produc
tion of "Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs” by girls of the
Home, under the direction of
Mrs. Pat Reilley.
The highlight of the business
portion of the meeting was the
presentation, by the Guild, of a
check for $625.00 toward the
operation of St. Mary’s. Mon
signor Toomey accepted the
check for Bishop McDonough,
who is in Rome.
The guild will sponsor an out
ing for girls of the Home on
Friday, November 28th, which
will include attendance at the
annual Christmas Parade in
UNDEFEATED PAROCHIAL. CHAMPS—The undefeated
Blessed Sacrament football team finished their season Sat
urday with their 37th consecutive victory. Making up the
Parochial League championship aggregation are: first row
(1-r) Allen West, Jimmy Griffin, Harry Haslam, Walter
Crawford, Steve Kelleagher, Claude Lodge, Larry Brady,
Chip Robertson; second row (1-r) Charlie Cusick, Greg Se-
Cuban Communist Leaders
