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THE CATHOLIC PRESS « 1
Ecumenical Movement Holds Primary Religious Interest
BY MONSIGNOR DANIEL MOORE
To my knowledge neither of the terms used in
the title has ever been neatly defined as to nature
and purpose. I presume, however, that the read
ers know what I’m about. The ecumenical move
ment holds the primary religious interest of the
day and, at the invitation of your editor, I would
like to investigate the relevance of the Catho
lic Press to the success of the cause.
Ecumenism might aptly be described as that
movement which, under the guidance and inspi
ration of the Holy Spirit, seeks to realize the de
sire of Our Lord expressed in the 17thchapter of
St. John’s Gospel, ‘That they all may be one.”
I KNOW of no Christian denomination which
reverences the word of God as it is found in the
Scriptures and strives to fulfill it that does not
have at least a mild interest in the ecumenical
movement. Some groups are intensely interested
and actively engaged in exploring every avenue
that might possibly lead to Christian concord.
CATHOLIC
PRESS
MONTH
This is the first in a series of 12 articles on
the Catholic Press written exclusively for The
Georgia Bulletin by leading editors throughout the
country. Msgr. Moore is the editor of the St.
Louis Review, official newspaper of the Archdio
cese of St. Louis.
This, as everyone must know, was not the case
only a decade ago. Protestantism and Catholi
cism were two air-tight compartments. Not only
were there essential theological differences
(as there still are) but there was no discussion
of differences and a reluctance to cooperate even in
permissible areas. It looked like an eternal stand
off, with each side eager only to find the faults of
the other.
The latter years of the pontificate of Pope Pius
XII revealed some change. For example, His
Holiness received the German Lutheran Bishop,
Otto Dibelius, without any of the formal ceremon
ies that usually surround a papal audience. It was
Pius’ way of recognizing the Bishop’s stature in
his own Christian community and it did not go un
noticed.
BUT, OF course, the real thaw set in during the
reign of Pope John. In his long years of service in
the Vatican diplomatic corps he had met and be
friended many a non-Catholic. His relations with
them were obviously warm for he respected good
faith wherever he found it. The awesome position
of Supreme Bishop to which he was elected in 1958
failed to alter in the least his fundamental friend
liness and, asaresult, the world witnessed the un
usual spectacle of not only non-Catholic but also
non-Christian religious leaders visiting the Vati
can apartments of Pope John in ever increasing
numbers.
The convocation of Vatican Council II and the es
tablishment of the Secretariate for the Promotion
of Christian Unity with Cardinal Augustin Bea as
MONSIGNOR MOORE
its president put the Roman Catholic phase of the
ecumenical movement on a firm and lasting foun
dation.
BUT, WHILE we are absorbed with the present,
it is interesting and practical to recall that there
have been ecumenical efforts in the past. The
schism that separated the Eastern Churches from
Rome in the eleventh century was obviously a ma
jor concern of the Church. Two “Councils of
Union” were held, one in the thirteenth century
(Lyons, 1275) and one in the fifteenth (Florence,
1439) which were partially successful in restor
ing unity, but the unity was never really effective.
The reason, as Cardinal Bea remarked in an ad
dress he gave in Paris last year, was because the
clergy and laity were not sufficiently prepared for
union. The leaders and the theologians were in
agreement but indifference, lack of understanding
and desire so permeated the rank and file that a
successful ecumenical movement was Impossible.
There is an obvious lesson contained in these
chapters from history. If the current ecumenical
movement is going to move forward, if the results
it eventually achieves are going to be effective
and lasting, then the understanding and interest of
the Christian masses, clergy and laity alike, must
be fostered and nutured,
I AM SURE we could all think of a variety of
ways in which this might be done but there are few
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
1
of Atlanta
SERVING GEORGIA'S 71 NORTHERN COUNTIES
VOL 2 NO 6
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1964
$5.00 PER YEAR
Official
LENTEN REGULATIONS
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 12 and ends at the
midnight between Holy Saturday, March 28, and Easter Sunday,
March 29.
LAW OF ABSTINENCE:
1 Ash Wednesday, February 12 is a day of complete abstin
ence; i.e., every baptized Catholic who has reached his seventh
birthday is not permitted to eatmeat, or soup or gravy made from
meat. All Fridays of the year are likewise days of complete abstin
ence.
2. There will be one day of partial abstinence during Lent: -
Ember Wednesday, February 19 Accordingly, everyone who has
reached his seventh birthday, is permitted the use of meat only
once - at the principal meal.
LAW OF FAST:
1. This obligation binds everyone who has reached his twenty-
first birthday, and has not yet reached his fifty-ninth birthday.
Those so obligated are permitted only one full meal at which meat
may be served. Further, meat may be taken only at the principal
meal of the day.
2. In addition to the main meal, two minor, meatless meals
are permitted - sufficient to maintain strength, but together in
quantity, they may not equal another full meal.
3. Eating between meals is forbidden./However, liquid nourish
ment may be taken at any time without prejudice to the Lenten
Regulations. Liquids include milk, fruit juices, coffee, tea (even
with cream and sugar), alcoholic beverages, etc.
4. All weekdays of Lent are days of fast. There is no obliga
to fast on Sundays.
When health, or the ability to work would be seriously affected,
through the observance of these regulations, then the law ceas
es to oblige. In doubt about the obligation to fast, kindly consult
your pastor or confessor.
N. B. A dispensation is hereby granted from the law of fast for
Saturday, February 22, George Washington’s Birthday; Tuesday
March 17th, in honor of Saint Patrick, and for Thursday, March
19th, the feast of Saint Joseph.
VERY REV. HAROLD J. RAINEY
CHANCELLOR
BISHOP PROPOSES
Pope As Spokesman
For All Christians
MUNICH (NC) A German Bis-
hop suggested here that on
questions of vital importance
for all humanity the pope should
become Christianity’s spokes
man after consultation with a
world organization made up of
representatives of various
Christian Churches.
Representatives of non-
Christian religions, men of
good will in other fields of end
eavor and perhaps even sincere
atheists might be included in
such a council, said Auxiliary
Bishop Walter Kampe of Lim
burg at a public meeting.
He said that no individual
churches but a world body re
presenting all shades of Chris-
tan opinion should express
its views, and this should be
done jointly through the pope.
With the realization that the
Church is the conscience of
mankind, ”a front of men of
goodwill” could be established.
Bishop Kampe said.
POPE PAUL DECREE
This lively interest stems
from the fact that “in the earth
ly liturgy we take part in a fore
taste of that heavenly liturgy
which is celebrated in the holy
city of Jerusalem toward which
we journey as pilgrims, where
Christ is sitting at the right hand
of God, a minister of the holies
and of the true tabernacle. We
sing a hymn to the Lord’s glory
with all the warriors of the
heavenly army. Venerating the
memory of the saints, we hope
for some part and fellowship
with them. We eagerly await the
Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
until He, our life, shall appear
and we too will appear with Him
in glory’’ (Article 8, liturgy
constitution).
FOR THIS reason the souls of
the faithful worship God, the
principle and model of all holi
ness, in such a way as to be, in
this earthly pilgrimage, “imi
tators of the heavenly zion”
(from hymn of Lauds of the
Feast of the Dedication of a
Church).
North Carolina Prelate
Following is a translation of
the text of Pope Paul Vi’s motu
proprio Sacram Liturgiam, on
implementing the ecumenical
council's liturgy constitution.
The many documents on lit
urgical questions thathavebeen
published and are well known to
all demonstrate how it was the
ceaseless concern of our pre
decessors in the supreme pon
tificate, of ourselves, and of the
holy shepherds to preserve dili
gently, to cultivate and to renew
the sacred liturgy according to
need. Another proof of this soli
citude is given by the liturgical
constitution which the Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council has
approved by general consent and
which we in the solemn public
session of Dec. 4, 1963, order
ed to be promulgated.
A STARTLINGLY modern design for the proposed new St,
Mary’s Cathedral in San Franscisco is shown in this model.
The immense white hyperbolic paraboloid, 17 stories high,
will be square at its base and taper to a cruciform. The
$7 million structure will replace the historic red-brick
St. Mary’s Cathedral which was destroyed by fire in Septem
ber, 1962.
*JUSTICE FOR ALL’
Liturgy Motu
Proprio Text
Asks Civil Rights Laws
RALEIGH, N.C, (NC)—North
Carolina’s Catholic Bishop has
called for a purging of unjust
laws and customs affecting
Negroes and passage of new
laws guaranteeing every citi
zen impartial treatment.
Bishop Vincent S. Waters of
Raleigh wrote in a pastoral let
ter, to be read in all churches
on Feb. 9:
“NOW IS THE time for
Americans to use their moral
influence on law-enforcing
bodies to assure our country of
the execution of just laws, which
will assure us of peace, the
tranquillity of order.”
“We live in the most criti
cal age of our national his
tory,” the Bishop wrote. “Our
form of government, based nn
Judeo-Christian ideals em
bracing liberty and justice for
all, is in its final test of ma
turity.”
THE BISHOP SAID he pre
pared his letter in response to
Gov. Terry Sanford’s request
that the state’s churches mark
Feb. 9 as “Good Neighbor Sun
day.”
“Although every day should
be a good day for improving
race relations, even among
Catholics there could be some
improvement in this regard.
Therefore, we are happy to join
with all our separated brethren
observing ‘Good Neighbor Sun
day,’ ” he wrote,
IN THE MEANTIME, the
North Carolina Catholic, news
paper of the Raleigh diocese,
will call in its Feb. 9 issue for
the Knights of Columbus to
change its regulation which per
mits four members in an in
dividual council to block the
admission of qualified Negro
candidates.
‘THE CONVENTION should
also pass a resolution declar
ing that all North Carolina coun
cils would not only accept but
actively seek qualified Negro
members. By so doing, they
would prove their organization
worthy of the name ‘frater
nal,’ ” the paper will say.
Pole Draft Flop
BERLIN (NC)—A Polish gen
eral said in Warsaw that con
scription of seminarians has
boomeranged because there has
been “an alarming increase in
religious feeling” in the mili
tary units in which they served,
it was learned here.
The Knights, it will say, are
in a “uniquely favorable posi
tion” to become leaders in the
cause of racial justice.
BISHOP WATERS’ letter ask
ed; “who could imagine that
nearly 186 years after 1776,
our nation would be plagued by
major injustices based on race
or color, involving some
18,000,000 Negro - Americans,
10% of our nation’s population?”
The Bishop noted widespread
racial demonstrations, often
begun with order but ending in
violence. Yet, he said, this
is a nation believing in law.
“OUR GOVERNMENT has al
ways been government of law,
rather than government of
men. It is important, there
fore, that we have just laws
and teach our citizens to obey
them. Otherwise, civil disobe
dience practiced by large num
bers will increase the lawless
ness of our people so woe
fully brought on by Prohibition
days.
“It is necessary at this time
in our history to go the whole
way to remove the last vestige
of every unjust law and custom
and to frame laws which will
guarantee every citizen impar
tial treatment,” he wrote.
For these reasons it is aopa-
rent to all that it is our upper
most concern that all Chris
tians, and especially all priests,
should consecrate themselves
first of all to the study of the
already-mentioned constitution
and from now on, resolve to im
plement its individual prescrip
tions in good faith as soon as
they enter into force. And since
it is necessary by the very na
ture of things that liturgical
laws should take place lmme-
daitely, we earnestly exhort
shepherds of dioceses that with
the help of the sacred minis
ters, “dispensers of God’s
mysteries” (constitution, Ar
ticle 19), they should hasten to
act in order that the faithful
entrusted to their care may un
derstand, to the degree permit
ted by age, by the conditions
of their own life and by their
mental formation, the strength
and inner value of the liturgy
and at the same time partici
pate very devoutly, internally
and externally, in die rites of
the Church (constitution, Ar
ticle 19),
Meanwhile, it seems evident
that many prescriptions of the
constitution cannot be applied
in a short period of time, es
pecially since some rites must
first be revised and new litur
gical books prepared. In or
der that this work may be car
ried out with the necessary
wisdom and prudence, we are
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Senate Rejects
Tax Credit Bill
FOLLOWING A PAPAL audience in the Vatican, Pope Paul
VI presents, among other gifts to West German Chancellor
Ludwig Erhard, a medal commemorating the pontiff’s trip
to the Holy Land. Shown with them (center) is Msgr. Federico
Callori di Vignale of the papal household.
COLLEGE EDUCATION
WASHINGTON (NC) — The
Senate defeated by a 48 to 45
vote following sharp exchanges
in debate a proposal to permit
those paying for a college edu
cation to subtract a portion of
the expense from Federal in
come taxes.
The plan was put forward
Tuesday by Sen. Abraham Rib-
icoff of Connecticut as an am
endment to the Johnson ad
ministration’s $11.6 billion tax
cut bill.
THE Johnson administration
fought the proposal vigorously,
claiming it would be too costly.
Three of the Democrats who co
sponsored the bill with Ribicoff
voted against it: Sens. Hubert:
Humphrey of Minnesota, Robert
C. Byrd of West Virginia and
Frank E. Moss of Utah Their
votes would have secured its
passage.
The vote upheld an earlier
vote in the Senate Finance Com
mittee which rejected the Ribi
coff amendment after hearing
Treasury spokesmen say its
cost of $750 million a year now
and nearly $1.3 billion annually
by 1970 would force a cutback
in the bill's individual Income
tax reductions.
Papal Retreat
VATICAN CITY (NC)--Pope
Paul VI and cardinals of the
Roman curia will go into week
long retreat beginning Feb. 16,
the first Sunday of Lent. All
papal audiences will be sus
pended until the retreat ends on
Feb. 22.
THE amendment would have
permitted a tax credit of up to
$325 a year for college costs.
It would have permitted the
credit for expenses at any col
lege, public, private or church-
related.
During the debate, Sen.
Wayne Morse of Oregon, chair
man of the Senate education
subcommittee, attacked the
Ribicoff proposal, by permitt
ing credits for costs of church-
related colleges.
Ribicoff responded to Morse:
“You are injecting this issue-
no one else is.”
MORSE charged that pre
sidents of religious colleges -
“are putting on a terrific drive
to get this amendment passed.”
Morse’s reference apparent
ly was to the support of the
Ribicoff proposal by the Asso
ciation of American Colleges,
whose membership is about 900
liberal arts colleges, many of
them church-related institut
ions.
Ribicoff’s proposal would
have permitted a credit of 75%
of the first $200 in costs, 25%
of the next $300 and 10% of the
next $1,000. In addition, as a^
person’s income rose, the am
ount of credit would drop.
Opponents charged in the de
bate that colleges would raise
tuitions to benefit from his bill.
Ribicoff responded that “the
fact is that tuitions go up wher- (
her tax relief is granted or not.