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PAGE 8 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13,1964
THE CATHOLIC PRESS » 2
Constant Improvement Is Goal Of Catholic Editor
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The fact is that the Catholic
press of the United States as
now constituted is the most ex
tensive and best organized in
the nation, perhaps in the world,
with a circulation exceeding 27
millions. Although there are ex
cellent non-CatholIc religious
publications here, most are in
magazine or review form.
THE U.S. CATHOLIC press
began to attain a modern, pro
fessional status in 1920withthe
establishment of the Press De
partment of the National Cath
olic Welfare Conference by the
American Bishops. In founding
N.C.W.C. News Service, the
Press Department took over the
old service of the Catholic
Press Association, a confer
ence of Catholic periodicals es
tablished in 1911 that is flour
ishing today. NC provides news
coverage of Catholic interest
throughout the world, photos,
features, even a service in
Spanish and Portuguese.
Healthy competition comes
from Religious News Service,
established by the National Con
ference of Christians and Jews
in 1934 as the NCCJ service.
The name was changed in 1937
to denote a broader connota
tion. RNS provides news and
photo coverage for Protestant, 1
Jewish, and Catholic publica
tions. There are also a num-.
ber of other feature services,
columns, and cartoon services
available now.
ers in general was low. Frank
A. Hall, long-time director of
NC News, told me that NC be
gan putting headlines over its
stories because some Catho
lic editors apparently were not
able to write heads or did not
know the necessity for them.
Like wire service copy, NC at
first went out without heads.
One paper took this copy as it
came, started printing it on page
1 and continued until space ran
out...all without headlines or
break of any kind I
BEFORE NC SERVICE be
gan, Catholic papers were
largely journals of opinion.
Some covered local news well.
But most leaned heavily upon
lengthy editorials and liberal
use of scissors and paste pot.
Just as dallies depend upon wire
services, Catholic publications
needed a national and world
wide news service to become
NEWSpapers.
Previously, the journalistic
standard among Catholic pap-
ALTHOUGH THIS example
was hardly typical, Catholic
editors had much to learn. That
their product today compares
favorably with any publication
shows what effort has gone into
the development of the Catholic
press. This improvement is due
to many factors—the restless
urge of editors for betterment,
increase in advertising and cir
culation, development of Catho
lic schools of journalism, the
hiring of Catholics trained in the
ACTUAL CELEBRATION VITAL
Liturgical Participation
Means Practice, Not Talk
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
by the council in the Constitu
tion on the Liturgy: the decrees
or decisions of the bishops in
each country were to be sub
mitted to Rome for confirmat
ion, but not the actual transla
tions of the liturgical texts,
prayers, etc., from Latin into
English, French, German, or
other modern languages.
never be truly evident that
"liturgical services pertain to
the whole body of the Church...
manifest it and have effects
upon it. . . concern the indivi
dual members of the Church in
different ways, according to
their differing rank, office, and
participation."
NOW, HOWEVER, Pope Paul
has prescribed that, whenever a
Latin text is translated into the
vernacular by authority of the
body of bishops, it must be sent
to the Holy See for examination
and approval (Jan. 25, 1964).
Whether this procedure may
delay a little the use of English
in the Mass is not really the
issue. Here and now the ways
to promote congregational par-
ticiaptlon are already clear and
definite, whatever the future
holds:
Responses. These acclama
tions or responses are men
tioned first by the council as the
way in which the people express
publicly their part in the
Church's life of worship and
prayer. At Mass there are only
six or eight different phrases
of this kind, all simple, all com
ing at key moments. If for the
present they must be said in
Latin, at least they are not
difficult for any congregation
anywhere.
Community prayers. Per
haps only a few congregations
are able to recite (or sing)
the Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, and
Agnus Dei in Latin, but it is
easy enough for them to pray
these texts together in English
while the priest—for the pre
sent—recites the Latin. To
simplify matters more, they
may say the Apostles’ Creed in
place of the longer Mass Creed,
as is already a widespread cus
tom In addition, the people
may (and should) say the Lord’s
Prayer before Communion:
either in Latin with the priest
or, under the present rule in
English after the priest has said
the Latin.
day Masses, too, even if the
council had not proposed to pro
mote a "warm and living love
for Scripture," to provide "ri
cher fare for the faithful at the
table of God’s word." For the
same reason the council re
cognized the genuine liturgi
cal function" of lectors or re
aders (as well as of leaders of
congregational participation or
"commentators").
THE IMPORTANT thing ab
out "Et cum spirltu tuo,’’ "Deo
gratias," "Amen," etc., is
this: Unless the people say or
sing them at every Mass, low
Mass and high Mass, Sunday
Mass and weekday Mass, it will
THE QUESTION presented by
the council's teaching can be
expressed in the concrete: Is
there any congregation, Sunday
or weekday, so inattentive or
indifferent to holy Mass that it
cannot recite the Apostles'
Creed or the Our Father with
spiritual profit? Is there any
parish where the few words of
the Sanctus in English are too
difficult to learn or to pray?
Readings in English. Already
the reading of the Epistle and
Gospel in English while the pri
est says the Latin is common
at Sunday Masses. Logic and
good sense demand that the pra
ctice become common at week-
HYMNS AND PSALMS. In
1947, in 1955, and again just
before he died in 1958, Pope
Pius XII tried to stir up in
terest in religious singing by
the people. The Constitution on
the Liturgy makes the same
point, not only for devotional
services but for the Mass. Par
ish experience has translated
this into a pattern of hymns or
psalms in English at low Mass:
at the priest's entrance and
while he says the preparatory
prayers with the server, br
iefly, between the Epistle and
Gospel; at the Offertory; dur
ing Communion; after the
blessing.
THE PATTERN of singing,
already familiar in many par
ishes, has another advantage. It
simplifies the Mass rite forthe
people by not involving them in
the secondary and rather pri
vate prayers of the priest at the
beginning of Mass, at the Of
fertory, etc.
1964 - THE FIRST 1
ARCHDIOCESAN
DIRECTORY
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GUIDE TO CATHOLIC
PARISHES AND INSTITUTIONS
IN NORTHERN GEORGIA
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City
State
secular field, healthy rivalry in
the CPA, and, not least, the
leadership of inspired editors.
Calif., was suggested. The plan
worked so well that The Regis
ter system grew to include some
35 diocesan editions virtually
from coast to coast.
I was fortunate enough to
break in under one of these
towering figures of Catholic
journalism—the late Rt. Rev.
Msgr. Matthew Smith of The
Register in Denver, Colo. A na
tive of Altoona, Pa., he worked
on a daily paper there and was
being groomed as editor until
the family moved to Colorado
for health reasons. In 1913 he
became editor of The Denver
Catholic Register, founded a
decade earlier.
a lively news sense and
strong editorial stand, he de
veloped news coverage, adopt
ed modern makeup and other
techniques, exactingly trained
the expanding staff.
Many began in depression
years and a number served
dioceses that could not have
supported a paper independent
ly published. In some areas the
paper went into every Catholic
home. The service to the Church
was inestimable.
IT WAS PRIVATELY owned,
small in circulation and re
sources. He built it up through
the years, even editing the paper
most of the time he was in the
seminary. He founded the na
tional Register in 1927. Two
years later an edition for the
Diocese of Monterey-Fresno,
I JOINED THE editorial
staff in February, 1930, Just
at the beginning of this amaz
ing expansion. The flat-bed
press that had served until a
couple of years before still
sat in a corner. Type faces
and makeup were archaic....
but not for long.
A PERFECTIONIST, he drove
himself without limit and de
manded almost as much of his
staff. Proof-reading, reporting,
copyreading, makeup, advanced
studies in English and other
subjects, philosophy and theo
logy classes taught by seminary
professors with an English
translation of seminary texts...
we got the works 1
Msgr. Smith acquired every
mechanical improvement pos
sible as the paper grew. With
Priests who were to edit di
ocesan editions came to The
Register and worked on the staff
to learn the game from the
ground up. Through these
priest-editors and laymen on
the staff invited to become
editors of Catholic papers
elsewhere, this circle of rigid
FATHER JOSEPH ABI-NADER, pastor of St. Joseph’s Maronite Church, Atlanta, was guest of
honor at the Altar Society’s annual dinner at Mac’s Steak House. The society’s officers for 1964,
Mrs. P. Pefinis, president; Mrs. Eva Solomon, vice-president; and Mrs. Virginia Kelly, treasur
er, were special guests, as was Miss Sadie Dicie, retiring president.
SENATE NEXT
Such a pattern is not necess
arily possible at every Sunday
Mass; a Communion hymn or
a recessional hymn is not dif
ficult, as a beginning.
House Approves Strong
Civil Rights Legislation
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ton states' rights and individual
liberties.
FINAL House approval came
(Feb. 10) after nine days of
debate of some 140 amend
ments. For the most part, those
that would have substantially
changed the measure were de
feated by substanital margins.
Most amendments approved
were of a technical nature.
46 states it would at present
affect state and local elections
as well, since voters there
register and vote for officials
on all three levels at the same
time.
rent would be exempt.
One amendment of substance,
however, forbids job dis
crimination on grounds of sex
as well as race, religion and
religion and national origin.
Several amendments relating
to religion were adopted. One
forbids the Civil Rights Com
mission to investigate mem
bership policies or internal
operations of religious organi
zations, as well as fraternal
groups, college sororities and
fraternities, and private clubs
Another would permit a church-
related school to hire employes
on the basis of religion.
—Jobs: Within four years,
the bill would bar discrimin
ation in hiring, firing and mem
bership by unions and private
employers with as few as 25
workers or members. An equal
employment opportunities com
mission would be established to
investigate alleged discrimi
nation, but only Federal courts,
acting after a fi;; troa;. cpi;d
acting after a full trial, could
issue anti-discrimination or
ders.
A person discriminated ag
ainst inestablishments covered
by the bill could file suit for
injunctive relief. The Attorney
General would be empowered
to intervene in such cases.
• Federally assisted pro
grams: Federal agencies could
cut off funds to programs or
activities that engage in dis
crimination. Such action is not
mandatory, however.
UNDER OTHER amendments,
an employer could refuse to
hire an atheist or a person
who belonged to the Communist
party or any communist-front
group on the Attornery Gene
ral’s list.
• Education: The Attorney
General could bring suit to
force school desegration. The
U. S. Office of Education would
be authorized to supply tech
nical and financial assistance
to school systems in the pro
cess of desegregating.
• Public accommodations:
Segregation or refusal of ser
vice would be forbidden in hot
els and motels, and in restau
rants, places of amusement or
service stations serving inter
state travelers or selling goods
that have traveled in interstate
commerce. Rooming houses oc
cupied by their owners and of
fering five rooms or less for
• Public facilities: The At
torney General could bring suit
to desegregate such public fac
ilities as parks and play
grounds. He could also inter
vene in any case claiming de
nial of equal protection of the
laws because of race.
The bill is divided into 10
titles or sections. These are its
main provisions:
• Voting: Discriminatory
literacy tests would be prohib
ited and a sixth - grade edu
cation would be presumptive
proof of literacy. Voting regis
trars wold be forbidden to dis
qualify voters for minor er
rors infilling out forms.
The Attorney General could
ask special three-judge Federal
courts to deal with cases in
volving denial of voting rights.
training in Catholic journalism
spread to many parts of the
country.
press.
THE ASSOCIATION of priests
and laymen on the staff was
harmonious and productive. In
view of the present call to the
lay apostolate, it is worth noth
ing that in the Catholic press
laymen for years have been of
service to the Church. Their
contribution in this field will
continue to increase.
The importance of the Ca
tholic press has been emphasiz
ed by every modern Pope, be
ginning with Leo XIII, who as
serted that *'a Catholic news
paper i s a perpetual mission
in a home." Attacks upon the
Church since then, unrest and
turnmoil among peoples, ad
vances in technology, the rapid
growth of communications
media, all these and more in
tensify the call to the Catholic
BOTH POPE JOHN XXIII and
Pope Paul VI made this clear
in their appeals for greater lay
help and for increased service
from the press. Pope Paul had
made this appeal years
earlier—in a message to the
International Union of the Ca
tholic Press in 1954 when he
was Vatican Pro-Secretary of
State. Warning that "profess
ional demands" upon the Ca- %
tholic editor "have become both
more rigorous and pressing,"
he spoke of the "irreplaceable
service" the Church expects of
Catholic journalists and de
clared that theirs "is a magni
ficent task in these troubled
times."
One can add nothing to this
except the hope and individual
determination that the Catholic
press will prove itself increas
ingly worthy of the challenge
to serve Christ and His Chruch,
6 Singing
Sisters ?
WHEELING, W. Va. (RNS)—
A group of 40 West Virginia
"singing Sisters" will make
their first public appearance
here on April 5 when they will
present a musical program that
includes selections ranging
from "Alleluia", to "Surrey
with the Fringe on Top."
"Buy Your Stax From >*41
MAX METZIL. Owntr
MAX'S MEN'S SHOP#
5484 PtaehtrM Industrial Blvtf.
Chambls* Plata Ihopplag Csnttr
Phons 431-1911
__ 973 Psachtrss, N.E.
™ onf TR. 4-9392 — At lOUl Bt.
The nuns, members of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheel
ing, will later present "Even
ings of Songs" at six other
major cities of West Virginia—
Huntington, Charleston, Fair
mont, Clarksburg, Parkers
burg. They will also stage a
concert at Bristol, Va.
PURPOSE OF the musical
program is to help meet the
increasing costs of education
in preparing the Sisters for
their varied professional roles.
C & S
REALTY
COMPANY
"Specialists in Commercial
and Industrial Real Estate"
Suite 200
Henry Grady Bide,
Atlanta 3, Ga,
Warehouses, Stores, Mfgt
Plants, Acreage,
Shopping Center Dev,,
Subdivision Dev.,
Industrial Dev.,
Insurance
524-2052
MIKE & STEVE
SERTICH
• Civil Rights Commiss
ion would be extended for four
years (orignally it had been
proposed to make it a pro
posed to make it a permanent
body). It would be given added
duties as a clearinghouse of
civil rights information and in
the investigation of alleged vot
ing fraud.
• Voting statistics: The
Secretary of Commerce is
directed to gather statistics
on denial of voting rights
in Federal elections. Under a
.never used section of the 14th
Amendment, such statistics
could serve as a basis for cutt
ing down a state's representa
tion in the House of Represen
tatives in proportion to the num
ber of its citizens denied the
vote.
• Court procedure: Federal
district court decisions refus
ing to permit civil rights cases
to be moved from state courts
could be appealed.
This section is limited to
Federal elections. However, in
NTQUE IIECORD—Father
Hugh E. Dunn, S.J. (above),
president of John Carroll
University, Cleveland, Ohio,
reports that for the 18th con
secutive year the university
had finished "In the black."
• Community relations ser
vice: A community relations
service would be set up within
the Commerce Department to
seek conciliation incivil rights
controversies.
NDIA: FOR HELPING BABIES
The superior of St. Joseph's Convent in the town of MAN-
JAPRA writes about the orphans in her care. The 36 Sisters
live in a modest house with an or
phanage for the children . . . The
budding is 12 years old and the
Sisters are unable to find room for
the miny homeless babies entrust-
*'l to them. Every corner has been 1
^ | 1 used but still more babies are
brought to them . . . The dally in
come of the Sisters enables them
only to meet the food bills. The
superior of this convent in southern
Indii »n ERNAKULAM diocese
Tbe Holy Futbtr's Minion Aid jf our readers will help her to
fortht Oritntsl Church the extent of $2,000 to make a new
home for these babies ... We are sure there are enough reaiL
ers who will make her wish come true. We need only mentioi
the problem. Please send your help now!
OUT OF PUFF?
Getting rid of the cigarette habit Isn’t going to b« easy. It
will take plenty of will power . . . Maybe you’ve found that out
already. Our suggestion? Give to the missions and get back
that extra something needed to stick to your resolve . . . Why
not send them what you used to spend on cigarettes—in a day,
a week, or a month?
For those who send a $10 FOOD PACKAGE to
the Palestine Refugees during Lent, we
have an Olive Seed Rosary from the Holy Land!
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Lent for many is a time for making the Stations of the Cross.
Recency, in a very dramatic manner, Our Holy Father made
the Way of the Cross in the Holy Land itself . . . There he
could see for himself the work of our missionaries. This year
think of them! The Holy Father’s visit gave them needed en
couragem^nt. Your kind help will continue to give them need
ed support!
During Lent, why -not have your group adopt
a Mission project? It costs only a dollar
a day to support a missionary. A dollar
a month keeps the DAMIEN CLUB for lepers going.
VALENTINE FOR A MISSIONARY
On February 14. or any other day, your MASS STIPENDS
may be a priest’s sole means of subsistence. His entire life is
the supreme work of love. That’s what Valentines are all about,
aren’t they? Why not open your heart?
HOLIDAY FOR STRINGS is a tuneful pleasant piece of
music. STRINGLESS GIFTS arc pleasant music too for they
enable us to help the Holy Father where he thinks the need is
greatest.
KINDLY REMEMBER THE CATHOLIC NEAR EAST
WELFARE ASSOCIATION IN YOUR WILL.
Dear Monsignor Ryan:
Enclosed please find for
Name
Street
City
Zone
State
12earGst(Di$$ion$j*i
FRANCIS CARDINAL SFKLLMAN, fra.ld.nl
M*r- T. ■*«. Wl SmT
Sand it caam«k«tta4M tat
CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
4R0 Uxinflton Av«. <* 46th Si. N.w Yoric 17, N. Y.