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PAGE 8 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1964
THE CATHOLIC PRESS-7
Freedom, Boldness - Paterns For The Future
BY REV. VINCENT A. YZERMANS
It is difficult to talk about the future, for the
very presumption implies a charitm. These, we
all know from the second session of the Council,
are as difficult to come by as they are to inter
pret. Any discussion of the future of the Catholic
press, then, necessarily Implies a certain amount
of rashness and boldness that not even angels, good
or bad, should be expected to possess.
Nonetheless, that apologia is but an excuse for
saying that editors do not fear to rush in where
even angels fear to tread. The nature of their
vocation makes them a hearty lot. For that rea
son 1 choose to look to the future of the Catholic
press from both sides of the desk; first, as an
editor and, secondly, as a reader.
THE EDITOR'S CHALLENGE
When an editor of a Catholic publication looks
to the future -- and he need not necessarily be a
Catholic he should see three imperatives
thrusting themselves upon him. These, as I see
them, we should examine briefly.
1. Collaboration with the general press. The
editor of a Catholic publication must surely by now
come to the realization that he does not, and can
not, live in an isolated world. He must know, and
if he does not know should be fired pronto, that
one of his chief duties is to enter Into an active,
intelligent and fruitful dialogue with other mem
bers of the communications media. This must be a
part of the very air he breathes. He must col
laborate with the general press, radio and tele
vision not because of good public relations (let’s
bury the wordl) or because it is beneficial to his
own apostolate. He must collaborate, basically
and simply, because of the charity of Christ. He
cannot be a good Catholic editor without being a
good charitable editor.
The complementary nature of the communica
tions media should impress him, too, with the
wisdom of collaboration. Whatever he does that
benefits the communications media will ultimately
benefit his own paper. What people hear on the
radio, the most instantaneous . news communica
tion; what they see on television; what they read
sketchedly in the general press; all these will
whet the appetite of readers to look for a more
complete treatment in the Catholic press. When the
editor helps the other communications media, over
and above every charitable consideration, he is
really helping himself.
OUR AMERICAN society is built on the principle
of healthy competition. To make a good diocesan
newspaper or weekly publication means that the
Catholic editor must enter into the arena of com
petition. Piety is no substitute for excellence.
Competition demands competency. The wise editor
of a Catholic publication will not be jealous of
"secular” competition. He will, rather, exploit it,
using it as a challenge to make his own publica
tion more lively, vital and Interesting.
2. News in depth. The competition of the general
press should force the editor of a Catholic publi
cation to engage in greater and better inter
pretative reporting. The fact that six new Mon
signors have been made is not nearly as ex
citing and interesting as why these six were chosen
over against the other sixty possibilities.
The audience of the Catholic press is rapidly
maturing. Father Finn’s stories are passe. The
era of triumphalism has run its course. In other
words, stories about a pious good boy who kept
his first Communion tie spotless are as about
relevent to the reader as stories about the six dif
ferent-colored shoes the bishop wears at pontifi
cal Masses. More and more college graduates
are reading the Catholic press. If they are not
reading it, it might well be more the fault of edi
tors than readers. Reporting in depth is a chal
lenge to the new audience. This is the success-
secret of Reston of the Times. The Catholic press
could learn many lessons from him.
3. Recognizing reality. The Second Vatican
Council has shown the world that the re-awaken
ing of the Church is often a very slow, painful and
REV. VINCENT A. YZERMANS
sometimes tedious process. The Catholic press
has a great deal to learn from this Council. As
yet, seemingly, it has not learned this lesson.
The Fathers of the Council want to make the
Church a part of the warp and woof of human exis
tence. They are seeking ways to present the Church
as a vital, real part of humanity. They will not
rest until all mankind accepts the Church as the
living Body of Christ among mankind.
From these discussions the Catholic press
should, and in many cases is, developing a rele
vancy to reality. The real problems of real men
must become more and more the preoccupation
of the Catholic editor. The willingness to put
oneself out of the limb, the dare to be different,
the courage to be different, the courage to de
nounce the status quo, all these demand an aware-
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ness of reality that has not been the conspicuous
characteristic of the Catholic press in the past.
The renewal of the Church should, we hope and
pray, bring about a renewal within the Catholic
press.
THE READER'S RESPONSIBILITY
It is, 1 believe, a healthy sign for an editor to
examine his conscience in public. At the same
time, however, it is not a pleasant experience. It
is always easier for an editor to talk to readers,
for, as Our Lord said, it is always easier to see
the moat in one’s neighbor's eye rather than in his
own. As an editor, then, you must permit me the
indulgence of discussing the reader's responsibi
lity.
1. The ecumenical age. It is not enough to sub
scribe to a Catholic publication. A weekly maga
zine can carry our the garbage, or swat flies, Just
as effectively as the diocesan weekly or the nation
al Catholic weekly. The Catholic reader must read
the Catholic press, not for himself, but for others.
In this ecumenical age he must give a Christian
response. The answers of the catechism do not,
and cannot, satisfy the demands of ecumenical
thought and dialogue. Our separated brothers de
mand that Catholics read the Catholic press for
only in this way will the living reality of the Church
become incarnate in a local area.
2. Renewal of the Church. The Second Vatican
Council has adopted a program of renewal. This
reformation, in fact, is much greater than the
Council itself. It will continue long after the
Council becomes a matter of history. The Catholic
press, directed specifically to Catholics, will keep
alive the spirit of renewal. Changes in practice
will come about. Catholic people must know not
only that these changes are coming about; they
must know why these changes are being made.
The Catholic press, even more than the class
room or pulpit, will be able to give the why and
the wherefore.
3. The Church in the world. Never before in
history has our Church commanded such universal
respect and attention. The Church today is a re
ligious influence of the greatest magnitude. She
does not, and should not, engage in political ac
tion. Nonetheless, her moral influence is felt, for
good or bad, in every capital of the world.
The role of leadership has been thrust upon the
Church. This is part of God's providence. This
leadership demands that every member of the
Church assume his responsibility. The Catholic,
be he cardinal or carpenter, must be able to as
sume a leadership which the interior workings of
divine grace imposes upon him. Leadership and
influence presuppose knowledge and understand
ing. The Catholic press can assist the workings
of the Holy Spirit. Only the reader can bring this
working to fruition.
4. Freedom of the press. We pride ourselves
on being citizens of the land of the free and the
home of the brave. Freedom, however, is a two-
way street. An editor is as free as his readers
make him, just as the readers are as free as the
editor promotes. Laymen who are sychophants
to refuddled clerics damage freedom as mucli as
clerics who dictate to bewildered laymen. The
Catholic press needs an honest, sincere and public
dialogue between cleric and lay, among all its
readers. One and all, from the bishop of the dio
cese to the youngest first grader in the diocese,
must have clear distinctions between what is
"of faith" and what "of opinion"; what is "of
ficial" and what is within the legitimate bounds of
"free speech in the Church". Laymen hinder
freedom by their silence and stupidity as much as
clerics by their authority and arrogance.
As I said, freedom is a two-way street.
When, and only when, freedom becomes a super
highway in the Church will the Catholic press and
its readers be able to measure up to their mutual
great potentialities. That day, l believe, is coming
sooner than any of us expect.
This is, I admit, a prophecy. In Christ’s time,
Sacred Scripture tells us, a prophet was without
honor in his own country. Perhaps, let us hope and
pray with joy, this prophet will receive honor in the
land of the deep South 1
JOHNSON MESSAGE
War On Poverty
Public, Private
BYBERT
• MINTING
* UTHOOIAFHING
TRInity
S-1727
All ft* Slat* if//.
COMPANY
350 FORREST ROAD. N. I.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
KNOCK
iAruemibac
LISIEUX
No matter what European
Shrine you choose to visit
LOURDES
MONTSERRAT
ST. PETER'S
WALSINGHAM
Choose Irish to fly you there
Because Irish offer# the moat com
plete service to. from, or in be
tween the major shrinea of Ireland
and Europe New low 21-Day
Economy Excursion fare#, aa of
April 1. make the round-trip fare
from New York to Dublin a low
$277.* Or you can fly to Lourdes
for just $366.40.* Fly Irish and go
direct from Lourdes to Rome. And
go you can, for just 10* < down on
the Shamrock Thriftair Plan. Take
up to two years to pay the rest at
low interest. Ask your Travel Agent
to plan your pilgrimage and book
your round-trip flight on Irish.
©
IRISH
mrimnmi
mm
JIIIIUHGUS
1028 Connecticut Avenue, N. W.,
Washington, D.C. Phone 296-4550
•Faret xuhjecl lo Government approval.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
es and libraries were menti
oned by the President.
THE FEDERAL government
would pay up to 90% of the
cost of this program for the
first two years. Any plan in
volving construction or main
tenance of a facility to be used
for sectarian instruction or re
ligious worship would be ex
cluded.
-Work-study programs for
140,000 college students who
are financially hard-preised.
The Federal government would
contract with public or private
colleges or universities to pay
for a maximum of 15 houra-
per week of part-time work by
each needy student.
The student's employment
could be at the school itaelf
or In a public or private pub
lic service program. As in
work-training programs, any
work on religious facilities
would not qualify for assi
stance.
— Community action pro
grams which mobilize public
and private resources of one
community to attack poverty.
Such programs were not de
tailed. The president said they
would be formulated at the local
level and presented to the Fed
eral government for considera
tion. Federal funds would pay
up to 90% of coat.
IF SUCH community pro
grams involve use of elemen
tary or secondary schools, the
proposal stipulates, they must
be operated by public school
authorities but open to all child
ren. "No child shall be denied
the benefit of such a program
because he Is not regularly en
rolled in the public schools,"
It says.
These are the parts of the
President's proposal moat
directly affecting public-pri
vate cooperation. But they are
not the entire plan.
President Johnson also pro
posed a domestic peace corps,
to be called "Volunteers for
America." Young and old Ame
ricans would be recruited, tra
ined and respond to requests
from states for help in meet
ing health and education needs
of Indians on reservations,
migratory workers and other
specified problems,
THE PRESIDENT would alio
extend special grants or loans
to low-income rural famil
ies, authorize Federal loans
for Investment! which will am
ply hard-core unemployed and
finance experimental projects
to give "constructive work ex
perience or training" to un
employed fathers.
THE JOHNSON program
comes amid mounting national
concern over poverty, including
that expressed Feb. 22 by a ma
jor Catholic Church agency, the
Social Action Department of the
National Catholic Welfare Con
ference.
Although no allusion waa
made in the department’* atate-
ment to the Johnaon admlniatr-
ation's plans, the NCWC unit
called for new initiatives by in
dividuals, private groups and
and government to aaslst “35
million fellow Americans who
live in poverty."
The department stressed that
although the Church teachera
that poverty can be a good thing
for those who embrace itvoiun-
arlly as a means of religious
detachment, it is an evil for
those who have no other choice.
GOVERNOR CARL SANDERS is shown with members of Mrs.
Malley’s senior National Problems class of St. Joseph High
during their tour of the State Capitol. Students were the guests
of State Senator Joseph Salome.
WANTED: A JEEP FOR ERITREA
PITY THF. PRIEST IN FEHREN, ERITREA. WH..V 111” Tti
CALLED TO CARE FOR THE DYING! ... Hr must travel for
mile* by donkey or on foot, because
the mountain roads are impassable
by c«r. Ho carries the Blessed Sacra-
m ^ ment with him, despite the rain, the
i i © sun. heat . . . The Franciscan Fa*
| 1 2 them care for our Catholics In the
I I ^ entire FEHREN urea—and they des*
perately need a Jeep. To buy one
for them, delivered in ERITREA,
will coat $2,600 ... In terms of a
missionary’* health, and the yeurs
a Jeep can add to his life, $2,600 Ik
The Holy Peibee’s Minion Aid a very small Investment. It's a small
for!be Ontnisl Church investment Indeed If one counts tip
the time the Jeep will save, and the additional people the priest
ean care for! . . .Please help uh make It possible to give these
Franciscan priests a Jeep. If you’d like to give it All by your*
self, write to us immediately. Remembering what It costa for
gaa and oil. tires and repairs, please send whatever you can af*
ford—$1. 95. $20. $100 . . . Our priests and people In ERITREA
will be grateful to you forever!
THE IRISH MISSIONARIES
HISTORIANS MARVEL at what they uccompllshcd. They
poured out of Ireland centuries ago. building churches, schools,
model farm*, medical clinics, monasteries un<l convents. People
at far away as Russia spoke of Ireland then as the land of
saints and scholars. The Irish were missionaries supremo! . . .
Here's how you can be a missionary right now:
□ By supplying a FIRST COMMUNION OUTFIT to a child
preparing for the Joyful. The cost: $10. Your reward: grace
and happiness.
□ By paying the educational expenses of a scminarlun ITke
TESFAMARIAM AMMENE. Cost: $100 u year for six
years. Your reward: A priest In the family.
□ By training a Slater-to-be such as SISTER A. AGATA NE-
“ J GRI. The cost: $150 a year for two years. Your reward: The
Joy of knowing how much she Is doing for Christ.
r' By building a chapel or school In the missions: Cost: $2,500
““ to $6,000. Your reward: The prayers of countless families
for yean.
HAVE YOU JOINED?
MEMBERS OF THIS ASSOCIATION share every day In the
Masses of Pope Paul VI. Cardinal Spellman, and the 15.000
prleata who look to u» for help. By jrour prayer* and your dues
($l*a*year for an Individual. $5 for a family) yon have an active
pert In the good our priests and Sister* accomplish . . . Why
not enroll your family or a friend as a gift at Easter? We'll send
an EASTER GIPT CARD telling what you have done.
A GENTLE REMINDER
OFTEN ON IRISH TOMBSTONES one finds a quiet phr sr.
a gentle request for the prayer* of people passing by . . Wo
share the spirit of such requests when wo have Masses offered
for the deceased, especially those we love ... Our missionary
priests will offer promptly the Masses you request. The offerin''
you make is quite frequently a missionary’s only means of dally
support.
the will of the wise
WISE PEOPLE remember the mission* In their will*. In mak
ing your will plea»e mention the CATHOLIC NEAR EAST
WELFARE ASSOCIATION. IThafs our legal title).
Dear Monrignor Ryan:
Enclosed please find for
Name *
Street
State
i£i*Rgar < Sast ffiissiotis i&
9 FRANCIS CAIWNAl SHUMAN, Preside.*
Miff, impt T. I yen* Hdl le«*f
CATHOLIC NIAt IAST WILPARI ASSOaATJON
420 Lexington Avo. ot 46th St. New York 17, N. Y.