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PAGE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1963 the Archdiocese of Atlanta GEORGIA BULLETIN A *t SS*** SERVING GEORGIA S 71 NORTHERN COUNTIES 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 ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sue Spence Member of the Catholic Press Association and Subscriber to N.C.W.C. News Service Telephone 231-1281 \ U.S.A. $5.00 Canada $5.50 Foreign $6.50 Second Class Permit at Atlanta, Georgia 2699 Peachtree N.E. P.O. Box 11667 Northside Station Atlanta 5, Ga. ^ ( ^^nd i The Lost Art? Controversy is slowly becom ing a lost art. There was a time when one could become con troversial without being accused of evil motives, lack of integrity and lack of sincerity. Some of our great giants of the past argued with each other on the most controversial subjects possible, yet they retained that sense of gentility and kindness towards each other. They were interested primarily in issues-- personalities were not important. Today, one must confess, it's the other way about. Controversy becomes a question of one per son slugging his opponent with a verbal barrage of abuse and ac cusation. It becomes solely a question of personalities with is sues lost in a fog of uncharit ableness. We have our share of contro versy, and it becomes more and more obvious that few people re ally read what one has said. They read only what they want to see in an editorial or column, be it for or against. A recent column on community affairs is a case in point. A Catholic view was expressed on a situation which was of vital importance to all citizens of the community, including Catholics. Sad to relate there were some who were so filled with hate and prejudice that they could not ac cept a Christian point of view. Alas, too, some of these taunters claimed to be fellow Christians. The abusive, hate letter is a horrible weapon, employed by those who have no real convict ions. They are against everything except their own point of view. They do not tolerate diverse op inions. And they are normallype- ople who claim a monopoly on patriotism, using meaningless slogans and cliches to support illogical premises. A journalists task is not always a pleasant one, but we are proud of our profession, and are not a- fraid of the consequences. Indeed, it inspires us to go ahead, pray erfully seeking divine guidance that we might be right, if only a little -- and this because there is so much wrong in the world. In a civilized society there should be room for different po ints of view without one person hating another; without twisted minds erupting into violent ar rays of abuse. There is such a thing as charity towards one’s neighbor, and even this is be coming a lost art. GES Summer Jobs Are Needed You have to admire a person who strives to add his drop to the bucket in other waysthanjust shedding tears into it. Most of the social problems we are presently faced with can be solved if each one accepts the solution as his personal res ponsibility and then does some thing about it. Too often we are content to pass the burden off to somebody else. You know, a “let- the - government - take - care- of-it” attitude. TAKE THE PROBLEM of un employed youngsters. Normally thousands of them would have se cured summer jobs. With the pre sent unemployment situation, most of them will be just hang ing around for the next two mon ths. Some of them are bound to get into trouble. Vandalism can be very costly. Work supplies a needed discipline. The problem has a solution if enough of us will pitch in and help. If we look hard we’ll find many jobs around the home, the church, the parks, the shops, the stores that these youngsters are capable of doing even on a part time basis. They don’t have to be paid a lot, but they shouldn't be of fered slave wages either. Each job may be a small drop in the bucket, but enough of them will fill it to the brim. Look around your own neigh borhood for young people who seen to have time on their hands. Perhaps that fence ofyours could stand a coat of paint, or the lawn may need a little extra care. If you have a business, maybe some of them could be given jobs for a few days or a tew weeks. AND A WORD to the young people. Just don’t sit around be moaning the fact that there are no jobs. Push a few door bells and sell yourself. Others are do ing it. No doubt your talents are qrth a high salary. But if it means getting something to do, settle for less. Join the “Jobs for Juniors Club.” There are two kinds of membership. There are those who will take them. The summer will not be wasted if both types of members show some activity. NEWARK ADVOCATE ‘New BY FR. ROBERT W. HOVDA Priest of the Pittsburgh Oratory) JULY 14 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. The connection between liturgy and “life/* be tween our public worship and the rest of our existence, is particularly apparent in today’s Mass. The First Reading teaches that Christ is not only our Lord and our Master but a “pat tern" for a “new kind of existence.” The liturgy is the place where we are cut to the pattern, where jMr we sacramentally participate /f \ in Christ's living and dying and rising again. It is the place ■TV. VA where Christ acts to incorpor- K ' I ate us into Himself, His Body, His existence. What happens at public wor- ■HRl JIB ship, then, is a matter of our being, not merely an isolated 'HOLD ON TO YOUR BOOKS - HERE COMES THE WIND' REUNION Pipe Dream Or Mystery? BY REV. LEONARD F.X. MAYHEW There are two ways of viewing the question of Christian unity: either as a pipe-dream or as a mystery. Nothing in the realm of religion has captured the imagination of the world more than the accelerated momentum among Catholic and non-Catholic Christians toward unity. This was evidenced by the world-wide suspense over the choice of a successor to John XXIII and the col lective sigh of relief when Paul VI dedicated his reign to the goal of Christian reunion. All the same, it seems doubtful that in the popular mind there exists a very clear idea about the state of the ecumenical movement, the goals it seeks or the means that are being employed. That Christian oneness is no pipe-dream is proven by the seriousness with which Our Lord prayed that his disciples would possess it. That it is a mystery is obvious to anyone with eyes to see the difficulties involved and with faith suffi cient to accept it s ultimate achievement. The reunion of Oiu iStians is a mystery in the strict sense be cause it is a reality of the realm of faith which reveals a pattern not perceptible to reason alone. The goal of unity and its necessity, as Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan pointed out in his pastoral let ter, is founded not on pragmatic considerations, but on the will of God. Unity must be our goal be cause it is the clear will of God. It will ultimate ly be achieved, once again, because God so wills. The means by which this goal may be achieved and the steps to be followed to that end are less obvious. Difficulties are evident. There are radi cal disagreements among Christians concerning doctrine, particularly concerning the nature of the Church itself. There are deeply ingrained dif ferences of tradition and history, particularly with regard to the Orthodox Churches. Finally, there is the stifling overgrowth of animosity nour ished by centuries of bitter, often violent, con flict. The difficulties are so staggering that it is quite impossible here and now to visualize in what way reunion may eventually be accompli - shed. It remains true nevertheless that Christian unity ought to exist. Here and now, and at each juncture which we encounter, we must do what appears possible, with the firm conviction that our efforts cooperate with and will be guided by the Holy Spirit. This is a stand - not of men of worldly practicality - but of men of faith. The final end of the effort is seenonlyin a vague man ner. This faith provides the assurance that what we need to do is to strive now, tomorrow and the next day, until we find the way. The German theologian, Karl Adam, wrote: “A mere longing for unity is not enough. Each of us, in our different circumstances, must help to prepare for it. And it is surely true that we shall best show our loyalty to Jesus by refusing to let hindrances and difficulties keep us from seeking and following the road to unity. Reunion is not a matter of simple good-will only, but also of hard thinking and energetic action. We need a kind of good-will which is ready to abandon deep-seated prejudices and habits of thought for the sake of eternal truth.” There are many paths to be followed now in the confidence that they will lead us closer to our goal. We need to restore unfeigned and vital love among Christians. TTiis was to be the outstand ing mark of Christ’s followers. To the degree that we fail - or refuse to try - to love one ano ther, we make a mockery of the name of Chris tian. In a positive way, it is urgent that we pro mote what has come to be known as dialogue - trusting and friendly encounter to clarify both what unites us and what divides us. As Catholics we must be anxious to clarify what is essential to our faith and to distinguish it from what is accidental. All too often it is accidentals which obscure issues and cause the deepest rifts. There must live in us as well a jealous zeal for another mark of Christ's Church - holiness. Insofar as the Church is composed of fallible human beings, its holiness varies constantly in dependence on the love and purity of its mem bers. It is always in need of reform. This is in the best spirit of Catholicism. The causes of divisions have often been a lack of holiness where holiness was demanded. A continuous re form which aims at a growing holiness of the Church will convince where arguments fail and will infallibly lead toward unity. The individual Catholic can contribute to this goal by nothing to obscure the real meaning of Catholic truth. In a more positive fashion he can contribute by understanding his faith better in or der to distinguish the essentials from the acci dental and to bear witness by word and deed to the purity it embodies. Christian unity will only be granted to men who desire it and pray for it with zeal, longing and constancy. Persevering prayer will create de sire; desire will creat opportunities; opportuni ties wisely utilized will ultimately lead to the achievement of our noble goal. LITURGICAL WEEK Kind Of Existence’ deed. It effects all of our living, not merely the moment of death. We are here made “alive with a life that looks towards God”—looks towards Him permanently and habitually. MONDAY, JULY 15 ST. HENRY, EMPEROR, CONFESSOR. It is this orientation, reinforced again and again in the Church's public worship, which can save the Christian from the false gods of the First Reading: gold, money, trea sures, unbridled self will. And it is also vigi lance of the Gospel. A clear, firm sense of direction (“we know where we're going”) is the watch we keep. It is God's gift to those who open themsleves to him in worship. TUESDAY, JULY 16 MASS AS ON SUNDAY. “If I send tham back to their homes fasting, they will grow faint on their journey,n Jesus says (Gospel) in this story which prepares us for the Eucharist. Holy Communion, like the Passover meal of our Jewish ancestors in faith, is food for a journey. Not only the journey of viaticum and the rites of the dying but also the whole journey of life, of human work and play, which without this fasting when we have gathered around that symbol of Him which is the altar. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 MASS AS ON SUNDAY. Christ sets a sacrificial meal “before the mul titude” at Mass, makes us sacrificers and blood brothers before he sends us home. At Mass the Food is always the same, is never less powerful or effective, never diminished no matter how great the multitude. And as food serves us not only when we sit at table but for the sus tenance of our lives, so the Eucharistic Bread creates in us, according to our dispositions, an energy of grace and love for all of life. THURSDAY, JULY 18 ST. CAMILLE’S OF LELLIS, CONFESSOR. “That you should go and CONTINUED TO PAGE 5 F.B.I. WARNING Firearms Dangerous BY GERARD E. SHERRY The June issue of The Law Enforcement Bulle tin, published by the Federal Bureau of Inves tigation, has an excellent article by Bureau Director, J. Edgar Hoover, concerning firearms. According to Mr. Hoover, a significant factor in the murders committed in this country is the easy accessibility of all types of guns. Mr. Hoover gives the following facts: Of the 7,261 murders on which details were reported under the Uniform Crime Reporting Pro gram last year, 54 percent of the victims were killed with guns, the vast majority of which were committed with handguns. In 18 Sta tes which have bare minimum control laws over firearms, 65 per cent of the murders were com mitted with guns. Many States have re strictions of varying degrees; however, in 7 States which re quire a permit, or the equivalent thereof, to pur chase a handgun, 41 percent of the murders were attributed to firearms as compared to 58 per cent for the other 43 States. Further, in two States which have stringent laws on the control of firearms, the figures for 1962 showed 32 per cent of the murders were by committed with guns. REAPINGS AT RANDOM Controlling the sale of handguns, of course, will not eliminate all willful killings. In many instances, if a gun is not available, the killer resorts to other means. However, those who claim that the availability of firearms is not a factor in murders in this country are not facing reality. Guns are by far the most lethal weapons used in assaults to kill — seven times more deadly than all other weapons combined. Death to the victims results in 21 percent of such attacks where guns are used, whereas it occurs in only 3 percent of assaults to kill with all other wea pons. A review of the motives for murder suggests that a readily accessible gun enables the per petrator to kill on impulse. With no such wea pon available , the killer's rage may subside and better judgement prevail. Add too, if the assa ult is made with another weapon, it may not be fatal since the victim has a better opportunity to escape or to defend himself against other wea pons. True, hoodlums arid criminal gangs will obtain guns regardless of controls. During 1962, there were almost 700 felonious murders committed during the course of other crimes, such as bur glary and robbery. This total also included gan gland slayings and juvenile gang killings. O f this number, 52 percent were by gun. There were 39 juvenile gang killings, 19 of which were by gun. Of the 112 law enforcement officers who died from criminal action during the last 3 years, 108 were murdered with guns. Murders committed during the commission of other crimes will always be a problem. Usually, hardened criminals are involved. For these individuals, certain punishment is the only language they understand. Mandatory penalties, over and above the sentence for the substantive offense, for using a gun while committing a felony should be a certainty. No one blanket proposal or universal regulat ion will meet the needs and requirements of all communities. The numerous facets and rami fications of gun control are so varied and com plex that regulatory measures must be at State and local levels. It is only at these levels that effective enforcement efforts can be undertaken. Many communities already have local ordinances which protect the rights of society without infringing on the rights of Individuals who pur chase guns for protection or legitimate recrea tion pleasure. Mr. Hoover says that the questionable traffic in deadly weapons in many sections of the country is a disgrace. He feels that the public has a right “to expect that the distributor and the pur chase of weapons as deadly and easily concea led as handguns should meet certain regulat ions and qualifications.” There is no question but that Mr. Hoover is right. In many states, buying a gun is almost as easy and effortless as buying a pair of shoes or a suit of clothes. Every state should make purchasers of guns register with the law enforce ment agencies, stating their reasons for purch ase. The transferring of guns from one person to another should also be registered in the same manner that we register cars, an equally dan gerous weapon in the wrong hands. Such enforce ment would limit the distribution of firearms, especially to teen-agers. Sportsmen and those who handle guns in the course of their work should have no fear of such regulations. After all, it protects their best in terests, as well as that of the general public. There are too many careless people about, apart from the criminal element to whom firearms should be denied. Certainly, stiff penalties should be enforced when teen-agers have them in their possession. And youngsters who are permitted to use them in hunting and marksmen sports should alw ays be supervised by competent adults. It is a problem that merits all our attention.