Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4
GEORGIA BULLETIN
THURSDAY ! JUNE27 i I963
BAD LAW GONE
Archdiocese of Atlanta
the vmT
GEORGIA BULLETIN
SCIVING GIO»GlA S 71 NOUTHHN COUNTIIS
Official Organ of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Published Every Week at the Decatur Dekalb News
PUBLISHER - Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan
MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry
CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
2699 Peachtree N.E
P.O. Box 11667
Northside Station
Atlanta 5, Ga.
^nd
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sue Spence
Member of the Catholic Press Association
nd Subscriber to N.C.W.C. News Service
Telephone 231-1281
Second Class Permit at Decatur, Georgia
U.S.A. $5.00
Canada $5.50
Foreign $6.50
Pope Paul VI
We have a Pope! And his name
is Paul VI, The former Giovanni
Battista, Cardinal Montini, Arch
bishop of Milan, has been elected
by his fellow Princes of the Sac
red College, Bishop of Rome and
Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor
of St. Peter, Prince of the Apos
tles, Supreme Pontiff of the Uni
versal Church, Patriarch of the
West;, Primate of Italy, Archbis
hop and Metropolitan of the Ro
man Province, Sovereign of Va
tican City,
No more awesome task could
be assumed by a mere human
person. Yet, Paul VI willingly
and freely assumed the burden
with the traditional, “Accepto, in
nomine Domini (I accept, in the
name of the Lord).”
One of the first acts of the new
Pope was to assure the world
that he will re-open the Second
Vatican Council, which was laun
ched and nurtured by his late la
mented predecessor, John XXIII,
Paul VI enters into his ponti
ficate with all the attributes ne
cessary for the highest post in
Christendom. He is in every
sense a true Shepherd of the
Flock. Richly experienced in pas
toral care, he is an able admin
istrator, well-versed in Vatican,
as well as Diocesan affairs. Like
John XXIII, he will be a Pope of
the people; this much can be
gleaned from his eight years as
Archbishop of Italy's largest dio
cese, the industrial city of Mi
lan. From the Vatican Secreta
riat of State, he was translated
to the See of Milan and set about
visiting his faithful, rich and
poor, business men and workers.
Pope Paul VI has visited fac
tories, mines, and the streetcor-
ners of the Milan Archdiocese,
bringing the Church to the people,
both as teacher and shepherd. He
has humbled even the most arro
gant of the enemies of the Church
in his area, the Communists.
His attitude towards them is an
example for us in this country.
He is said to believe that the
Church’s task is to convert Com
munists, not to combat them with
hysteria and vituperation. His
weapons in this fight against the
Red menace are spiritual. To
reach the many Communists in
Milan, he organized street mis
sions throughout the city in order
that he could show the love of
Christ, in his own words, to
those 1 ‘unhappy ones who gather
behind Marx,”
Here, then, is our new Chief
Shepherd. We urge our readers
to implore the Heavens that Al
mighty God will shower His choi
cest blessings on Pope Paul VI,
enabling him to succeed in His
most fruitful ministry as Vicar
of Christ on earth.
Civil Liberties?
The American Civil Liberties
Union in Los Angeles has insti
tuted a Court suit to eliminate the
phrase “Under God” from the
pledge of allegiance to the flag
as recited in public schools. It
is argued that the phrase, which
was added to the pledge by Con
gress in 1954, violates religious
freedom granted under the Con
stitution.
The ACLU action comes in the
wake of the U. S. Supreme Court
ruling that it is unconstitutional
to hold devotional Bible readings
and recitation of the Lord’s Pray
er in public schools.
“Think of all the candles that would buy!”
It appears to us that the ACLU
is no longer defending Civil Li
berties, but is curtailing them.
Despite its denials that it is anti-
religious, the actions of this
group give substance to the claim
that it is. Last year, immediately
after the Supreme Court had rul
ed against official prayer in New
York public schools, another west
coast ACLU branch financed a
Court suit, challenging the con
stitutionality of a song that pub
lic school kindergarten and first
-grade pupils sing before their
milk and crackers.
The song that was challenged:
“We thank Thee, God, for the
food we eat; for the family and
friends we meet; for books we
read and songs we sing; we thank
Thee, God, for everything.”
It is a sorry day when an or
ganization devoted to the protec
tion of minority rights has to be
fought to protect majority rights.
There is no question that the
ACLU is using the Supreme Court
ruling on reading the Bible and
school prayers to drive God out
of our public schools.
The one consolation is that the
ACLU has no monopoly in the
field of Civil Liberties. The Na
tional Catholic Council on Civil
Liberties has announced it has
entered the West Coast case and
will oppose the suit by the ACLU.
The Catholic group has also an
nounced that it will fight the
“secularist policy” of the ACLU
on Church-State issues.
LONG LIVE POPE PAUL3ZL
SHAKESPEAREAN QUESTION-
What’s In A Name ?
BY REV. LEONARD F.X. MAYHEW
One interesting sidelight of a Papal election is
the speculation about the name chosen by the new
Pope. Shakespeare’s question is raised, and while
it is admittedly a minor point, it is not without in
terest. A newly elected Pontiff may indicate what
attitude he will adopt toward his role by the name
he chooses.
Like his immediate predecessor, Cardinal Mon
tini reached far back into history for his name.
The last Pope of the same name, Paul V, died
in 1621. Even now, only days after his elec
tion, it is crystal clear that he intends to con
tinue the work of John XXIII. Had his own bap
tismal name not been John he might have decided
to indicate his intention by choosing to be called
John XXIV. In point of fact, his choice seems al
most as clear an indication. As with Pope John,
his choice of a name not used for long perhaps
indicates an intention to try new paths and not to
be shackled unnecessarily by tradition.
The first association of tne
name of the new Pontiff is cer
tainly with the Apostle Paul
indicating a continuation of the
pastoral concern which marked
the reign of John XXIIL The
record of Cardinal Montini as
archbishop of Milan, Italy’s
richest and most industrial city,
will certainly seem to bear out
uus association. Following his illustrious pre
decessors in that ancient see, St. Ambrose and
St. Charles Borromeo, he attacked the complex
problems of his diocese with vigor, imagination
and zeal. In the face of considerable Communist
strength among the workers of the area, Cardi
nal Montini went personally to the mines and fac
tories to illustrate graphically the interest of the
Church in this class who have all too often felt
neglected by the Church. His zeal for the work
of religious instruction among the workers and
for social reform was truly Pauline in its scope
and energy.
Cardinal Montini again showed himself in the
image of the Apostle of the Gentiles in his intel
lectual efforts aimed at interpreting the prin
ciples of Christian faith to a world saturated
by secularism. At the Vatican Council he has ex
hibited the spirit of St. Paul, who placed the sal
vation of souls above any other consideration, by
his close association with Pope John’s program
of modernization for the Church and ecumenism.
Of the five Pauls who have been bishops of Rome
previous to Paul VI, little is known of St. Paul
L Paul II, who reigned from 1464 to 1471, in
stituted a vigorous reform of the Roman Curia
and showed his ecumenical interest by entering
negotiations with Tsar Ivan III with a view to the
reunion of the Russian Church with the Roman
See. Paul 111(1534 to 1549) was likewise associat
ed with reform. He appointed Cardinals who were
leaders in the Counter-Reformation, approved the
foundation of the Jesuits and convoked the Coun
cil of Trent. He was also a humanist who appoint
ed Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgement and
to continue work on St. Peter's Basilica.
Paul IV, although he indulged in nepotism, the
most common fault of Renaissance Popes, was a
rigorous reformer who refused compromise with
Elizabeth I of England. Paul V’s reign was dis
tinguished by his encouragement of missionary
work and the foundation of religious congregations
for this purpose. He also was a patron of the arts
and humanities.
John Baptist Montini has been touched with the
creative fire of the Holy Spirit to be the instru
ment of God’s work. For the duration of his reign,
no man in the Church deserves more our reverence
and our prayers.
LITURGICAL WEEK
Sacrament Meaningless
BY FR. ROBERT W. HOVDA
Priest of the Pittsburgh Oratory)
JUNE 30 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE
COST. The word of God proclaimed in the Bible
readings and meditated in the sermon prepares
the people of God for the sacramental action
which follows. It arouses that faith without which
the sacrament is meaningless or magic.
The power of the Lord comes to us in the
Gospel today. And the First Reading tells us
He has the whole world in His hands— "The
whole of nature. . .groans in . . .travail” toward
that glorious day of general resurrection and
triumph He has promised.
Nothing on earth then is unrelated to that per
fect sacrifice of Christ we offer at the altar.
And nothing on earth must be left untouched by
the strength and love, the faith and hope, which
come to us (and through us to all things) in
our sharing of the Holy Food.
Different manner. Today we ex
ult again, under the symbol of
his blood, in that redeeming
Death which led to Jesus' Re
surrection, and in that holy Sup
per which communicates to us
a share in His dying and ris
ing again.
TUESDAY, JULY 2 THE
VISITATION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. The
tremendous and shattering truth of the Incarnat
ion, of God’s becoming man, and the glory *of
His human mother are the themes of this Mass.
It is all summed up in the refrain of the En
trance Hymn: "We greet you, holy Mother, for you
have given birth to the King who is Lord of
heaven and earth for ever and ever.’’ And as
always when Mary is hymned we think of the
Church. . . . which gives birth in every age and
among every people to the new race of the re
deemed.
MONDAY, JULY r THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Today’s feast, a
throwback to Passiontide, reminds us that in the
liturgy we do not always have a neat, orderly
progression from one saving deed to the next,
from one doctrine to the next.
The Church’s public worship touches us more
deeply than logic ever could, and in a quite
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 ST. LRENAEUS, BISHOP,
MARTYR. (Moved from June 28. ) In the liturgy
we so frequently pray for peace in the Church,
as we Collect of today’s Mass, and for
the end J of heresy. Not only because the deep
discord we call heresy is a distortion which does
not fully accord with the faith of the Church,
but also because it divides the worshiping com
munity and sets up altar against altar.
Continued on Page 5
Braceros
Program
BY GERARD E. SHERRY
Several weeks ago our law makers in Wash
ington refused to extend Public Law 78 which
authorized importation of braceros from Mexico
as farm laborers in this country. The move
brought howls from many of the big farm ope
rators, especially in the southwest and far west.
For over 20 years, through an agreement bet
ween the U. S. and Mexican Governments, Mex
ican Nationals have been recruited to assist
the farmers in the collection of the various crops.
It was orginally a
wartime measure,
but was extended
time after time un
der this insistence
of Farm employee
groups who found the
braceros to be a
cheap labor commo
dity.
IN THE past ten years the conscience of the
country has been aroused by the overall treatment
of the majority of these braceros. The now famous
CBS documentary TV film, "The Harvest of
Shame,” brought home the tremendous poverty
of these imported farm workers and the terr
ible exploitation they have suffered, especially
in Texas, Arizona, and California.
I have first-hand knowledge of conditions in
the three states mentioned — especially in
California. When I first went to live there, I
began discussing the problem with bishops, priests
and laymen involved in the Apostolate to the
braceros. I continually got conflicting views and
advice, so I went and had a look myself in all
areas of California. I found some big farmers
who treated the Mexican Nationals very well.
The housing was excellent, and working condit
ions tolerable. Alas, the majority — including
some receiving large Government subsidies—
treated their workers as less than human beings.
The hovels called homes would be labeled dis
graceful in any part of the world, and the fami
lies of these braceros suffered much privation
and hunger.
THE CHURCH was trying to do something
about it; but most of the effort went into straighten
ing marriages, getting people back to the sa
craments, and establishing Mass centers in the
various farm areas. Unfortunately, little was
done to alleviate the material conditions. Several
priests involved in the Apostolate for the braceros
were unjustly pilloried through unfair pressures
from some big farmers, who salved their con
sciences with donations to the Church. Indeed
I recall, not so very long ago, two priests in
Northern California who were fired from their
posts as chaplains to the Mexican field workers
because they supported a strike in the Imperial
Valley of Southern California. This can give you
an idea of the influence of the big farmers.
After these two priests had left their posts,
I was talking to one of the Mexican bracero
laymen active with these priests. He expressed
great frustration at the dismissals, adding that
"As far as we are concerned, these two Fathers
were the only symbol we had of the Church's
concern for the alleviation of our misery.”
I RECALL, too, visiting a public school in Cal
ifornia's Central Valley, where 400 of the 500
pupils were baptized Catholics of Mexican des
cent. The principal was a Lutheran, but he cooper
ated with the Catholic Church in every way to
help it meet its responsibilities. Two of the teac
hers were Catholic and on certain days of the
week they would take a large number of the
children across the street immediately after
school for CCD classes held in the parish hall.
I have seen the lunches brought to school by
these children — mouldy cheese on dry bread,
stale Mexican type tacos, and sometime? just
a bunch of grapes or a couple of peaches stolen
on the way to school. Many times the kids brought
nothing. The school tried to cope, but their bud
get for free lunches meant that some went with
out. The school also kept a supply of clothes
gathered through the efforts of a small, but ex
cellent, PTA group composed mainly of Anglo-
Americans.
If the-parents of these children had had ade
quate wages, this would all have been unnecess
ary. If you brought these things up, even with
some Church authorities, you were gently chided
for being an agitator. Indeed, the stock answer
I got was, "Despite their conditions, they are
better off than they would be in Mexico.” Small
wonder that Mass attendance and reception of the
Sacraments was low among the braceros.
A stock answer by the big farm organizations
in support of the bracero law is that Anglo-
American workers will not do the "stoop” jobs
and work hard under the hot sun. This is really
no argument at all, because if you treat men as
human beings, providing them with decent hous
ing and adequate wages, In an overwhelming
number of cases they will work hard and long
no matter what race they belong to, or color
they are.
ALTHOUGH nearly all the credit for the eli
mination of Public Law 78 was given to the AFL-
CIO, a small band of priests and laymen of the
National Catholic Rural Life Conference have
worked for the same ends for several years.
Especially prominent in appearances before
Congressional Committees, and around the coun
try, has been Jesuit Father James L. Vizzard,
Director of the Washington Office of the NCRLC.
Father Vizzard has visited all parts of the coun
try and has spoken with farm employers as well
ias hundreds and thousands of farm workers,
bracero and Anglo-American.
As we said at the beginning, not all farm em
ployers exploit their workers. Alas, too few treat
them with the dignity that is their right. Instead
of working for the reinstatement of braceros
the big farmers, especially the Catholics among
them, should be raising standards of employment,
thus making what is obviously hard work more
attractive and more rewarding to local labor.
REAPINGS
AT
RANDOM