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PACE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 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 . _ „ PUBLISHER - Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan ** ,ss * sS MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sue Spence Member of the Catholic Press Association nd Subscriber to N.C.W.C. News Service Telephone 23lr1281 2699 Peachtree N.E. P.O. Box 11667 Northside Station Atlanta 5, Ga. _^^nd i m Second Class Permit at Atlanta, Ga. U.S.A. $5.00 Canada $5.50 Foreign $6.50 Christian U Sunday, the Second Session of the Second Vatican Council will open in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, to further the renewal within the Church so eloquently called for by the late lamented Pope John XXIII, and now con tinued by his august successor, Pope Paul yi # The more than 2,000 bishops of the Church assembled in Rome, including our own Archbishop, will discuss and legislate on the many aspects of renewal which further the extension of Christ’s Kingdom on earth. One of the main themes running through all their deliberations will be the question of Christian Unity. With out compromising essential doc trine, steps will be recommen ded to promote further under standing and good will towards our separated brethren. That the Archdiocese of Atlanta is moving forward in this vital area of unity promotion is evi dent for all to see. The estab lishment last year of the Arch diocesan Commission for Chris tian Unity and Archbishop Halli- nan's Pastoral on the subject in June of this year set the norms for lay, as well as priestly ac tion. Our archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men has now set the stage for the further implemen tation of the Council Fathers’ desires in this regard. On Sun day, November 10, it will set in motion “Operation Understand ing”, an explanatory tour of each parish in the Archdiocese. The purpose of this effort is that of promoting better understanding among all persons of good will. In particular, we Catholic lay men will be given an unparalleled opportunity to promote the ulti mate goal of Christian Unity by exhibiting knowledge of, and en thusiasm for, their own faith to their non-Catholic friends and neighbors. “Operation Understanding” is more than an “open house”. For we are being asked, not merely to show our friends around phy sical plants and edifices; we are being asked to show them also the spirit of Catholicism in all its spiritual manifestations. We are confident that our Ca tholic men will cooDerate whole heartedly with the ACCM and the parish men’s organizations to make this three hour expression of good will a complete success. It will mean some sacrifice of treasured leisure time, but the fruits of the sacrifice make it worth it. Renewal in the Church is for everyone, Pope and bishop, priest and people. We are all members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Help United Appeal Tuesday, Atlanta’s United Ap peal Fund will be launched when some 30,000 volunteers will seek assistance to help finance some 69 Community Chest agencies and the local Red Cross. This is no ordinary appeal. Up on its success depends aid to the aged, the needy, youth, and many social and recreational activities which make the Atlanta Commu nity a progressive one. Solicita tions will be made, not only to business firms and professional groups, but also to ordinary indi viduals and families throughout the metropolitan area. The small donations of ordinary people are "SPECK" "It says—‘Ait action picture has just been snapped of you’!” just as vital to the success of this appeal as are the thousands of dollars which will be given by business establishments. The main emphasis is on com munity giving. Here we have an opportunity to show our concern for those less fortunate than our selves, and our interest in local efforts to establish that peace and tranquility for which we yearn. We all benefit from the United Fund Appeal, even if we never have to use any of the services of its cooperating agen cies. Their success is our suc cess; their failure is our failure. Those who condemn federal in terference, and federal financing of welfare projects, cangive wit ness to their convictions by sup porting this community project, through generous giving. Our own Catholic social ser vices of Atlanta are beneficiaries of the United Appeal. But we would be making a mistake if we gave simply on this account. More im portant, we should view it in the light of the fact that, although we are Catholics, we are also citi zens, with all the rights and obli gations inherent as members of the Atlanta community. Our mo tive for giving, therefore, should be based on the fact that we are a part of this community and have duties towards it. When the volunteer asks your help in this United Appeal, give because you have faith in this lo cal effort; give because you have faith in Atlanta; give willingly in order that our contribution, big or small, furthers that love of neighbor essential to the well being and essential unity of the community. •FORGIVE ME FATHER FOR I HAVE SINNED' UNIQUE MIXTURE The U.N. Has A Birthday BY REV. LENORD F.X. MAYHEW UNITED NATIONS, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1963: Today, eighteen years after its birth in San Francisco, the United Nations General Assembly opened its latest session. From its beginning it has been a unique mixture of contradictions: the fondest expressions of mankind's hopes for a truly human society and pace, as well as the most dramatic exposure of the conflicts and dilemas which plague the family of nations. Nothing could be a more convenient shibboleth than this peculiar and pioneer organization and as such, it has been invoked on every possible extreme of the politi cal and ideological spectrum. Those of one persuasion will rant of ‘'United Nations wars" as if these struggles bore no relationship to the destiny of this nation. They invoke the principle of "paying the piper and calling the tune" as if they conceived an international organization as an instrument of national policy, calling up the fantasy of a "United Stations." Others, anxious for an immediate solution to the divisiveness that plagues modem history bom of the ultra-national- ism inherited from the Nineteenth Century, seek, in the United Nations, a utopian and semi-miracu- lous resolution to involuted and complex problems. The Christian citizen, whose demanding and subtle imperative is, as usual, to create a work able admixture of aspiration and practicality, must face the United Nations as a fact of contempo rary life — if not the ideal, the only workable method of arriving at something approaching a universal consensus. John XXXIII's Pacem in Terris, which will stand for some time as the Magna Charta of Catholic committment in the twentieth - century world, both measures the worth of the U. N. and assumes a measured pos ture in the face of the challenge it poses. POPE JOHN gave die first authoritative Catholic recognition to die situation which dictated the cre ation of an organism of united nations. He pointed to the changes in the modem world which have given rise to problems, particularly in areas of peace and security, which are not only grave and complex but exceptionally urgent. Secondly, he re cognized that the nationalistic system does not possess the mechanism to cope with these prob lems effectively. This system "and the way its principle of authority operates on a world basis no longer corresponds to the objective require ments of the universal common good." Pope John paid homage to the principles embodied in die charter of die United Nations, particularly in re gard to human rights. While he recognized its limits, he expressed the "earnest wish that the United Nations Organizations may become ever more equal to the magnitude and nobility of its tasks and thau^very human being will find therein an effective safeguard for (his) rights." LITURGICAL WEEK St Michael The Archangel BY REV. ROBERT W. HOVDA SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 DEDICATION OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. This feast, which supplants the Sunday Mass, brings the Christian into a larger creation than once earthbound man could possibly have known. Scripture tells us there are higher creatures than this earth knows, creatures indeed who are purely spiritual, dwelling in a timeless eternal now, yet who are conscious of man's involvement in the struggle between good and evil. Messengers of God, the angels have a subordinate place in the history of God's saving deeds; hence we ask their prayers and protection. Because they see God natur ally and are eternally postured in the attitude of worship, we who worship in sign and sacra ment and under the limitations of time regard the angels as worshipers par excellence. That is why they are mentioned in high moments of Catholic worship— for example, the eucharistic prayer at Mass— and why their icons are associated chiefly with the altar. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30ST. JEROME, CON FESSOR, DOCTOR. "Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a measure," our Lord teaches in the Gospel. The reference today, no doubt, is to Jerome's translation and spreading of God’s holy Word, the Bible. But one of the ways the Bible comes to us— in fact, the chief way— is in the public worship of the Church. And here, too often, it is still hidden by language, lack of emphasis, poor com munication. We ask Jerome's prayers that the Bible readings, Bible songs and Bible prayers of our liturgy may be put upon the lampstand of clear and meaningful celebration, especially at Sunday Mass. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 MASS OF 17 SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Jesus is the Lord. And that Lordship of Christ, acclaimed in both lessons of this Mass, teaches with all His authority that the second commandment of the New Testament is "like" the first. This does not mean merely that both have to do with love. There is more to it than that. The whole mystery of the Church as community and of man's social nature is in volved here. The second commandment is like the first because loving our neighbor is "like" loving God. WEDNSDAY, OCTOBER 2 THE HOLY GUAR DIAN ANGELS. Back to that angelic world into which we were led on Sunday. Not that God wants us to be angels. If he had He would have made us such. He does want us not to be so constricted by our material dimension that we forget the full glory to which we are called. Nor does He want us to forget that this Eucharist we cele brate, in raising us to a pure worship of the Father, raises us also into the company of those beings who see and adore Him always. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 ST. TERES A OF THE CHILD JESUS, VIRGIN. There is much about childhood and about the Christian's duty of be- coming'Tike a child" in today's Mass. What, does this mean but that renewal of faith and hope and vision which every experience of the Euch arist, of Sunday Mass, should mean to all of us. At the altar we return to simple verities, to a clear vision of God and of ourselves and of our brothers, and of the relations between these three. The Christian is forever becoming a "newman," a child. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSEI, CONFESSOR. The same simplicity is again the theme of this Mass. Why is Francis so beloved if not because he became as a child, he became new, he became free of the sham sometimes associated with adulthood and sophistication. "When a man Is in Christ Jesus, there has been a new creation" (First Reading). CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 RACE TURMOIL It's Not All Negative BY GERARD E. SHERRY Last week’s news from Birmingham was the most depressing in recent years. Apart from the success of the August 28 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, newspapers have had little but the negative to report in the struggle for racial justice. It is, therefore, pleasing to be able to mention the positive. Readers will recall the racial storm which centered around Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Maryland, last July 4, when attempts to integrate the es tablishment resulted in national and local church leaders being arrested for violat ing trespass laws. Shortly after this, the park was dese gregated under pub lic pressure. The po sitive angle to all this is that Arthur B. Price, Jr., one of the co owners of Gwynn Oak, has admitted that it is now profiting from desegregation. MR. PRICE announced last week that the inte gration of Gwynn Oak Park had thus far proved to be an economic success. He added this use ful comment: "There has been no disorder; there have been no incidents. The admission of Negroes has not adversely affected the general attendance. We are thankful to the community for their help. The future looks bright." Economic factors have long been the main barrier in the desegregation of recreation facili ties, restaurants, and hotels. The usual answer of the business proprietor has been that Whites will not go where Negroes are admitted to enjoy the same facilities. Where ignorance and fear of the unknown is present, this excuse has some sub stance. But as Mr. Price pointed out, Gwynn Oak was desegregated through community action after years of picketing and protest with more than 300 arrests. The impossible was brought about through negotiations with Civil Rights groups and civic and business leaders in the community. Once the decision had been taken to desegre gate die park, the businesses and organizations which had boycotted die place on moral grounds, responded by renewing patronage. Mr. Price re ports that the bookings for next year are well in advance of those for this year. What does all this prove? Basically, it proves that when negotia tions are entered into in a spirit of community responsibility, a solution can be found which does justice to both sides. After the Independence Day fiasco at Gwynn Oak, it seemed only a miracle could force a change in the situation; the impos sible was accomplished, however, because the proprietors and their opponents avoided the doc trine of hate and recrimination. IT ALSO proves the peaceful demonstrations do serve a purpose; that die protesting clergy men, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish, had made a vital contribution by going to jail. They gave wit ness to their religious beliefs and shamed a com munity into action. It reminds me of die fact that a week after the Gwynn Oak incident we published on the front page of our archdiocesan newspaper a pic ture of Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis protesting at the park. The paper had not been delivered to Catholic homes over 24 hours before we received ; phones from several readers protesting the picture. The gene ral line taken was that it was degrading for Ca tholic priests to take part in such demonstrations; die priesthood was too sacred to be mocked by willingness to go to jail in the fight for Negro rights. In the same issue, we published another picture of nuns joining the Chicago Interracial Council in protests against the then segregated policies of the Illinois Club for Catholic Women. "Sisters should not do that type of thing," one lady said. "I have a daughter who is a nun, and I would be ashamed if I found her on a picket line. They are not supposed to do that type of thing." WHAT BOTHERED me about the protests was that they did not come from cranks, but from re sponsible Catholic people who should have known better. To me, it signified their own hidden pre judices against the Negro. I say this, knowing that if they were publicly challenged they would deny any prejudice whatsoever. Alas, this is part of the trouble. We all have hidden prejudices against the Negro. They are never discovered or realized until we make a personal confrontation with the problem. Many of us glibly quote the Catholic principles involved, but we fear clear applications. We are not prepared to go the whole way, and we hope we will never have to face the reality. 1 think we should be proud of our priests and nuns who risk the ridicule and scorn, even of their co-religionists, in this struggle to apply the Church’s teachings on racial justice. No one can deny that the Gwynn Oak amusement park was desegregated through the public witness of the clergy. The Catholic priests involved had the per mission of their bishop, and gave an example for laymen to follow. If the laity had thrown their hearts into this task, it would not have been neces sary for the clergy to do it. Instead of protesting this clergy action, we should be taking inspira tion from it. As to the mm pickets in Chicago, here again they dramatize for the laity a pertinent truth: only by public witness can we show our sincerity and firmness of conviction. Here, too, the picketing nuns were successful. The officials of the Illi nois Club for Catholic Women changed their policy, and permitted competent Negroes to apply for membership. CXir racial turmoil is not all nega tive. There is a bright, positive side to it all. REAPINGS AT RANDOM