Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1963
the
Archdiocese of Atlanta
GEORGIA BULLETIN
SERVING GEORGIA S 71 NORTHERN COUNTIES
Official Organ of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Published Every Week at the Decatur Dekalb News
Published by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Printed at Decatur, Ga.
MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sue Spence
Member of the Catholic Press Association
fad Subscriber to N.C.W.C. News Service
2699 Peachtree N.E.
P.O. Box 11667
Northside Station
Atlanta 5, Ga.
men
#
Telephone 231-1281
U.S.A. $5.00
Canada $5.50
Foreign $6.50
Application to mail at Second Class Postage Rates is pending at Adanta, Ga.
Social Services
Aifl ^vu/iL
Alt RIGHTS
I f
YOU'LL LOVE IT...YOULL JUST SIT THERE ALL DAY
AGGIORNAMENTO
Antiquated Titles
In a rapidly expanding Catholic
community many problems pre
sent themselves that in previous
years could have been handled on
an individual basis. As populat
ion grows problems also grow
particularly in the area of those
people needing institutional care,
both remedial and custodial.
At the present time we must
depend on existing community
agencies to handle our needs or
on other dioceses who have ins
titutions that gear their services
to problems fitting our needs.
We have, for instance, no insti
tutions for the aged and must
depend on existing public and pri
vate institutions; the Little Sis
ters of the Poor Home inSavannah
and, in medical cases, the Alex-
ian Brothers (men only) at Look
out Mountain, Tennessee. When
using these facilities, funds are
provided in most cases by the
Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
There is no facility, public or
private in Georgia, other than the
State Training Schools, for the
emotionally disturbed child or the
problem teen-ager.
Our teen -agers who need spec
ial schooling and suctodial care
must be sent to Mount Alverno
in Cincinnati, Father Gibault’s
in Terre Haute, Indiana, and the
Philadelphia Protectorate in
Pennsylvania (for boys). For
girls we use the Good Shepherd
School in New Orleans, Saint Eup-
harasia’s in South Carolina, Sac
red Heart in Alabama, and House
of Good Shepherd in Washington,
D. C. If our problem teen-agers
are not placed in these schools
they go to training school, which
leaves a lot to be desired. The
Juvenile Courts have worked very
diligently with the Catholic ag
ency on these placements. Cost
is borne by limited foundation
grants.
Unwed mothers who are Catho
lic are served by Child Service
Association, a United Appeal Ag
ency. Catholic Social Ser-
AN ALTAR BOY
“Are the holes from meditation or marbles?”
vices has an excellent relation
ship with CSA and the local Flo
rence Crittenton Home and coop
erates in any way possible with
placements.
Financial assistance for medi
cal care, food, clothing, etc.
is provided by Saint Vincent de
Paul and the Catholic Social Ser
vices Good Samaritan Fund. Both
of these sources aredependenton
voluntary contributions by our
Catholic friends. The Good Sama
ritan Fund is rather limited and
welcomes contributions.
Dependent and neglected boys
are served at Washington, Geor
gia, by Saint Joseph's Home for
Boys, but there is not a program
beyond the age of fourteenyears.
(The ages accepted are six thr
ough thirteen years). There is no
pre-school facility and no foster
home program that can be utili
zed. Catholic foster homes are
for all intent and purposes non
existent for pre-school or teen
age boys and girls.
Mentally ill adults must go to
the State Hospital for care
if they cannot afford the going
rate of $1200 per month in pri
vate institutions. No private hos
pital, Catholic or otherwise, has
facilities for mental patients.
Grady Hospital has an extremely
limited program for intensive
treatment.
Institutional and rehabilitation
facilities for mentally retarded
children are practically non-ex
istent. The state institution has
a waiting list of about six years
for severe cases. Private facili
ties are limited and generally too
expensive for average families.
The UnitedAppeal to which
Catholics contribute, provides
the bulk of the operation cost
of the Catholic agency, with the
Archdiocese providing the rest.
The Good Samaritan Fund of the
Catholic Social Services of the
Archdioceses is also an appeal
worthy of consideration by those
vitally interested in the expansion
of Catholic charities in these
areas of pressing need.
AUGUST 25, TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PEN
TECOST. “Through your goodness,” we pray in
the opening prayer of today's Mass, “your faith
ful people are able to offer you fitting and praise
worthy service.”
The First Reading, in a different context, makes
the same confession of our total reliance on God's
gifts. Not only has God loved usandgiven His Son
for us, but He has given us the very means by
which we love Him in return — the virtues of
faith and hope and love, and the liturgy, the solemn
public expression and exercise of those virtues
in worship.
The essence of the liturgy — the Word of God
proclaimed and the sacramental acts of Christ —
is all God’s gift. A dazzling gift,
like the “spiritual law” which
it enshrines and impresses on
our hearts. But we have our part
to play, too. Under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, we who are the
Church clothe God’s Word and
Christ’s act with language (ours
or somebody else’s) and music
and gestures.
BY FR. LEONARD F. X. MAYHEW
Pope Paul VI, according to a recent dispatch
from Rome, has instructed the editors of the Va
tican newspaper to refer to him simply as the
Holy Father in place of the cumbersome and an
tique titles that have been used in the past. This
seemingly minor gesture has been warmly wel
comed by many who have interpreted it as fur
ther evidence of the new Pope’s devotion to his
predecessor's vision of aggiornamento - bring
ing the Church up to date.
At least on the basis of this one instance, Pope
Paul appears to be in sympathy with the trend
among “progressive” Catholics to trim the ex
ternals of the Church and bring them into clear
er harmony with the temper of the times. Very
many of those who saw in John
XXIII’s person and program an
embodiment of their own de
sires for the Church’s thorough
renewal are of the opinion that
one major step would be the
drastic simplification of the
ritual and protocol surround
ing the hierarchy and, above
all, the papacy.
The coronation of the newly elected Pope trig
gered, if not a flood, at least a discernible stream
of critical comment on the Byzantine splendor of
that spectacle. For many, the formula with which
the triple tiara was imposed on the new Pope was
completely out of keeping with the realities of
our time.
What is the proper place of ritual and protocol
within the Church? This is the question that
needs to be answered before we can form a jud
gement about how much, if any, of our present
custom needs to be changed and to what degree.
All these externals - costume, titles, ceremonial
procedures, etc. - are obviously a psychological
consideration. They are intended to communicate
vividly to those involved, and to those who observe,
certain ideas and certain realities about the nature
of the Church.
When we speak of the reform of our public
worship, as the Council Fathers do, we refer to
these latter things, so that the essence of it (God
-given and unchangeable) may stand out more
clearly and teach us more effectively.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, MASS AS ON SUNDAY.
The “Spiritual law” (First Reading) is a new spi
ritual relationship we have in Christ toward every
other person, a relationship implying and demand
ing love. That this does mean every other person
is the message of the Gospel, for the Samaritan
equals the citizen of the state or the member of
the group that we despise most.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, ST. JOSEPH CALA-
SANCTIUS, CONFESSOR. We are very conscious
of Jesus’ sacramental presence under the appear
ances of bread and wine. We are not so conscious
of His presence in believers, and even in unbe
lievers. He identifies Himself not only with the
Christian community but with children (Gospel),
with our enemies, with the “least” of our bro
thers. Our unconsciousness is evident at Mass,
where, though we adore the Blessed Sacrament,
we are unwilling to reverence and to take our part
in the congregation, the community.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, ST. AUGUSTINE,
BISHOP, DOCTOR. A good teacher is a great
Pageantry is a very powerful medium, as any
one who has been stirred by a parade of massed
flags can attest. The institution of monarchy (from
which the Church has derived much of its proto
col) appreciated its value to keep alive the notion
of the sacredness of the king. No one in modern
times has realized its usefulness to arouse and
sustain emotional allegiance more clearly than
the fascist dictatorships that have stained our
century’. In spite of any misuses, however, it is
impossible to imagine a human society without
some kind of ritual to dramatize its powers and
ideals. The human imagination demands this kind
of lower-case sacramentality.
Ritual, ceremonial, protocol - all of them, sym
bolic - contain nothing to make them good or bad
in themselves. They will be good, if they com
municate true and ennobling ideas and' emotions,
that is, if they are authentic. If they give false
or partial impressions, or if they fail altogether
to communicate anything, then they have lost their
usefulness. Here is the root of the problem. And,
it is a good deal more complicated a question
than might appear at first glance.
We live in a time that has simultaneously lost
and discovered certain considerations of great
moment. In an age of revolution and insecurity,
a sense of history, of continuity and legitimacy
may easily be slighted and, at once, sorely mis
sed. These are qualities which the Catholic Church
has preserved in great abundance.
Her external solemnity bears eloquent witness
to the enduring values of civilization and of her
divine message. At the same time, we live in an
era that thirsts in anguish for the example of
Christ’s humility’, pity, holiness and heartfelt love
to be depicted vividly and believably before it. It
is open to question whether our grandiose pomp
and complicated circumstance dommunicates to
anybody the tender and heartbroken compassion of
Jesus.
There is not the slightest trace of disloyalty
in asking the question or considering the possible
answers. Quite the contrary, there is only loyalty
and love - for the truth.
grace. No wonder, when it comes to the teachers
of the good news of Jesus Christ, the liturgy
speaks of the Lord loving them and clothing them
with a “robe of glory.” For it is the Lord who
teaches us through them, through such bishops as
Augustine, and through our public worship above
all, for at Mass He is everywhere and always
active as our Teacher.
THRUSDAY, AUGUST 29, THE BEHEADING
OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. In the First Read
ing we learn that God commanded Jeremy to stand
up to the rulers, the priests and the people of Is
rael. The Gospel reveals John calmly announcing
the judgment of God to the king. Scripture lessons
at Mass are not history—they are God’s present
Word to His people here and now. His message to
us today is the old question: “Do you love me more
than these?”
FRIDAY. AUGUST 30, ST. ROSE OF LIMA,
VIRGIN. God’s jealousy (First Reading), though
a figure of speech, illustrates the great dignity'
to which He has called us, the dignity He has
given us in Jesus Christ. If the purity and single-
heartedness He commands seem to us beyond our
strength, we must recall that our dignity as
Christians is also beyond our powers. He can ac
complish that which He has ordained.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
MEDIATION TASK
Support The
‘March’ But...
BY GERARD E. SHERRY
Next week’s March on Washington by sup
porters of racial integration is expected to be of
mammoth proportions. Some 150,000 persons
from all over the country will converge on the
nation’s capital to highlight the plight of our Ne
gro citizens in their quest for equal rights.
It appears to be a well-organized march, with
every effort being made to avoid disturbances
of any kind. Some two thousand parade marshals
have been picked, and
their job will be to nip
in the bud any at
tempts by onlookers
or marchers to disr
upt its peaceful in
tent. The organizers
insist that it is not
meant as a form of
Pressure on Cong
ress to pass Civil
Rights legislation, even though it may appear
that way to some.
CATHOLIC groups will be well represented in
the March. Significantly, Matt Ahmann, execu
tive director of the National Catholic Conference
for Interracial Justice, is one of the ten top of
ficials from both White and Negro groups plann
ing the affair. Several bishops, including Cardinal
Spellman of New York, have given their blessing
to Catholics wishing to participate.
The March comes at a momentous period in our
country's history'. All over the nation there is ra
cial ferment, engendered both by Negro protests
and White resistance to change. While the Negro
protests have, up to now been mainly of a peace
ful nature, some have definitely got out of hand.
Blatant defiance of the law, no matter what the
alleged provocation, is harmful to the Negro cause.
Admittedly, their patience is wearing thin in some
areas of the country; and with good cause, but
rabble-rousing will only aggravate the situation
and give ammunition to Whit4 extremists who
look for sympathy from the millions of uncom
mitted. Recent Negro disturbances in Chicago and
New York—brick throwing and the burning of mo
bile classrooms — don’t help their case one bit.
ANOTHER unnecessary tactic is the constant
charging of local police with brutality. One cannot
condone the use of police dogs and electrified cat
tle sticks against peaceful demonstrators; and
those have been used in several areas in the South.
However, the majority of law enforcement offi
cers, even in the South, are interested only in
maintaining the law. Police officers also are citi
zens. They hold views both for and against inte
gration, but few allow their prejudices to inter
fere with their job of law enforcement. Indeed, I
know several Southern police chiefs who have
warned their men constantly against letting per
sonal feeling get the better of objectivity in their
supervision of demonstrations. Furthermore, in
some areas, both North and South, the police have
bent over backwards in their efforts to be just to
all sides. While there have been confirmed cases
of police prejudice, it has been the exception ra
ther than the rule.
Any abandonment of the non-violent rule in
Negro demonstrations would be fatal. It would as
sist only the White extremists who desperately
seek ways to avoid general acceptance of the
Negro as an equal. These extremists know their
views are not only outmoded, but also un-Chris
tian; in their death-rattle, they don’t seem to mind
if they bring anguish and strife to this great de
mocracy.
THERE IS another thought on this matter: while
the principle of gradualism is dead, patience is
still the best virtue for this hour. Traditions of
centuries cannot be wiped out in days. The pace
of Negro gains has quickened in the past three
or four years. The next two or three may see
most of their disabilities eliminated. What is
more, many of those who fear complete integra
tion in our national life are honorable men. While
we disagree with their views, we must not pin a
dishonorable label upon them. Through discussion
and love we must make every effort to dispel these
fears. We no doubt have been at fault in condemn
ing them rather than in trying to understand their
fears and laying them to rest.
It is here that the Negro citizen can play a po
sitive part. Through lack of opportunity (admitted
ly a situation perpetuated by White resistance or
indifference) Negroes as a race cannot yet com
pete in ratio to their White fellow citizens, in many
areas of employment and education. Social en
vironment and housing conditions have tended to
make it almost impossible for them to get out of
their ghettos.
NOW A good education is within the grasp of
any Negro willing to work at it. Employment
opportunities are also more widespread. It is up
to Negroes, therefore, to encourage more mem
bers of their race to aspire to the heights of
service in government and in local communi
ties. Pioneers in this work are still needed.
Sacrifice will be necessary. Also, still further
suffering will probably be unavoidable. One has
only to think of James H. Meredith at the Uni
versity of Mississippi to know that the Negro
is capable of g-en dignity under all kinds of pro
vocation. It is tl James H. Merediths of the Ne
gro race who are going to win the battle for them;
who are going to soften and win over the hard
ened racists.
The Negro must continue to protest the injus
tice against his people. And his White fellow citi
zens must join him in this moral struggle for
equality.* While there can be no compromise on
the basic aims of the protestors, the struggle
must be won through non-violent protest and sin
cere negotiation. A spirit of mediation rather than
arrogance is called for. We are not yet sure that
some Negro leaders are willing to accept this
reality.
FOR CATHOLICS there can be no turning back.
The Church is committed to help bring about the
equality of all our citizens. It ardently desires
it. Our bishops, even those laboring ia the Deep
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
LITURGICAL WEEK
Offering Fitting And Praiseworthy Service
By REV. ROBERT W. HOVDA
REAPINGS
AT
RANDOM