The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current, August 22, 1963, Image 4

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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