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GEORGIA BULLETIN ■ THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1964
the
Archdiocese of Atlanta
GEORGIA BULLETIN
SftVINO GEORGIA'S 71 NORTHMM COUNTIES
Official Organ of the Archidocese of Atlanta
Published Every Week at the Decatur DeKalb News
PUBLISHER- Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan
MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rev. Leonard F. X. Mayhew
Member of the Catholic Press Association
2699 Peachtree N. E.
P. O. Box 11667
Norths ide Station
Atlanta 5. Ga.
and Subscriber to N. C. W. C. News Service
Telephone 231-1281
Second Class Permit at Altanta, Ga.
U. S. A. $5.00
Canada $5.00
Foriegn $6.50
Double Standards
The chickens have come home
to roost. The U. S. Government
is reaping the winds of panic
and destruction of its policies
in Vietnam, when last November
it acquiesced in the overthrow
and death of President Diem.
On the murder of the Viet
nam President, we suggested that
our government was making a
mistake in heeding only biased
reports from Saigon-based
American newsmen. These re
ports suggested that President
Diem and his government were
persecuting the Buddhist major
ity. U. S. Ambassador Henry Ca
bot Lodge is said to have con
firmed the alleged persecution in
reports to our government.
The -majority of U. S. news
papers gave widespread publicity
to the alleged persecution of
Buddhists by the so-called
“Catholic Government** of Viet
nam. Just before the murder of
Diem, a United Nations commis
sion was sent to investigate the
charges Diem's death made the
findings academic. However
several of the U. N. investiga
tors said that they could find
no evidence of widespread per
secution of Buddhists. This, de
spite the fact that they did dis
cover isolated instances of ex
cesses by some Diem govern
ment officials in their dealings
with Buddhists.
We said the chickens were
coming home to roost. They cer
tainly are. Since Diem’s death,
the war against the Communists
in Vietnam has not been very
successful. Indeed, the govern
ment holds less territory, and has
less influence among the people.
Just as important, alas those who
claimed to be persecuted by Diem
are now doing the same thing to
Catholics. The Buddhist majority
has pressured the present
government not only to reprisals
against Diem officials but also
to others whose only crime seems
to be that they are Catholic.
What is disturbing is that Am-
bassodor Lodge does not appear
to be intervening in this wave
of Buddhist excesses against
Catholics. Indeed he seems to
be acting the role of a Pilate--
applying a double standard to the
Catholic minority in Vietnam.
We can sympathize with the at
tacks made on the ambassa
dor position at a Vietnam
Catr&lic demonstration on Sun
day. We think he should take a
far more objective role than is
apparent at present.
Schema On Jews
LAST WEEK at the Catholic
Press Association meeting in
Pittsburgh, Rabbi Marc Tanen-
baum emphasized o the Catholic
editors the importance of the pro
posed schema on the Jews under
discussion at Vatican Council II.
In the course of a very moving
discourse, he said the decree on
the Jews “was necessary for the
Catholic Church and Christians
generally as much, if not more,
than it is for the Jews.** Per
haps it would be better to say
that it is for the sake of truth
and its understanding, a cause
all of us should be supporting
equally , that the schema on the
Jews is needed so badly in our
contemporary world.
Everyone remembers the as
surance of Cardinal Bea when
the matter was first presented
to the Council Fathers, and his
further words at the close of the
session last year. Meanwhile,
in some manner, the proposed
text of the schema hasbeenmade
known to the public; it has, in
fact, been published in come
newspapers. While this should not
prevent any modification of the
document, which is the real work
of the Council, it does mean that
any change in the essential thrust
of the document, or any “water
ing down,** will come under public
discussion. It will be no help if
the schema ends by creating more
questions than it was initially in
tended to resolve.
Pope Paul has given some
good advice recently which can
aid the Council considerably and
which has in this case already
made its task easier. In his re
marks to the representatives of
the American Jewish Committee,
the Pope distinguished between
the religious and political impli
cations of the Jewish situation.
At once, he removed himself from
the political area, where the for
tunes of the state of Israel en
gender certain tensions and con
flicts, and directed his attention
to the theological questions.
Similarly, the Council can speak
of those religious truths which
have been a source of misunder
standing for so long and seek
to express them in unmistakable
formulas that can guide Christian
thought in the days ahead.
Whether or not the schema on
the Jews is transferred to the
new Secretariat for non-Chris
tians or remains where it is,
does not appear to be a matter
of first importance. Plainly, the
Jews have a very special r ©la-
tionshipwith the Christian Church
not shared by any other religious
tradition, and this unique status
can be recognized. What is of
first significance is the quality
of the schema and its willing
ness to put at rest for all time
those misunderstandings of
Christian truths which have on
occasion been the roots of anti-
Semitism. This generation, which
has seen the Nazi genocide,
should by historic right be the
one to look into its own con
science and,from this contempla
tion, bring forth a thoroughly
Christian answer to a problem too
long left unattended.
THE PILOT
GEORGIA PINES
Keep Off The Grass!
REV. R. DONALD KIERNAN
I would imagine that now my readers feel
acquainted with my good friend from Savannah,
Monsignor McNamara. Quite frequently I have
mentioned his name in this column. Anyhow, he
is the Rector of Savannah's, Cathedral of Saint
John the Baptist. After my Ordination in 1949, I
was assigned as his assistant.
Nostalgically, the good Monslgnor would talk at
at the table about his days on the middle Georgia
missions. This was while he was serving as Pas
tor of Milledgeville’s Sacred Heart Church.
In particular he would talk about the physical
chores in addition to the spiritual responsibilities
a priest has in a "one man par
iah”. Often he would refer to
the Milledgevllle parish as a
place where the priest was
"pope and janitor".
I never actually realized what
he meant until I was assigned to
Gainesville. The grounds around
Saint Michael’s Church are very
nice but they do require a "good
Five years ago when I arrived in Gainesville
and drove up to the front of the rectory I can re
call ever so well making a comment to myself
about the beauty of the landscaping. The ivy clad
buildings and the golf-course lawn were a beauty
to behold.
But then the first week grew by and seemingly
as fast the grass grew too. Soon 1 was to realize
that if the grass were to be cut..,.I was elected
"Janitor". The first few times were really fun
but the routine grew monotonous.
I REASONED with myself that the exercise was
good for my avoirdupois, but to no avail. Grass
cutting, believe me, is work. The next step was to
go about the chore in a scientific way. Soon I
bought a sit-on power mower, but this became
so fascinating to the neighborhood children that
the manicured lawn began to look like a man who
has his hair cut by a rookie at the barber college.
Of course, too, there was the usual ribbing. It
was only a short time before I felt the necessity
to disguise myself by wearing a broad rimmed
hat and a pair of dark glasses. I felt like one of
the FBI’s ten most wanted men and after all the
only thing 1 was doing was cutting my own lawn.
The next step was to purchase a push mower.
Now this really did evoke the comments. "What’s
the matter, Father, th^ parish too poor to buy a
gas mower?" Comments such as this to, "Boy,
what an actl".
You see, folks, if you have never been to Gaines
ville, the rectory is located on a busy street across
from the hospital. Everyone who drives past feels
the necessity to either blow a horn or stop to chat
with "the Father". I can actually cut the lawn in
the back yard in one-third the time it takes me to
cut the grass in the front.
MY DOCTOR friends from the hospital also vary
in their comments too."That*s good for you. Fath
er", all the way to "don’t overdo it, Father”. In
the meantime with the score of sidewalk-superin
tendent friends that I have, I am yet to have an of
fer of assistance!.
Last winter the climax was reached when the
grass spreader planted the rye grass in a strip
ped fashion. With this I came to the conclusion
that I have never been blessed with the "green
thumb".
The good Monsignor was right about his "jani
tor" prediction. With all the time and energy
(plus $) I have put on that lawn, should yap ever
visit Gainesville PLEASE KEEP OFF THE
LAWN. It’s likened to a mortal sin in these parts.
QUESTION BOX
What About Stealing?
Q. I would like to have you explain stealing to
me. When is it a venial sin and when a mortal sin,
and when is it no sin at all?
The children seem to think when they take small
things that aren’t worth more than a dime or so it
isn’t called stealing.
Must small things be returned before one can
receive the sacraments worthily?
A. Stealing is taking something which belongs to
another person - something to which we have no
right. It is always a sin. We may sometimes pre
sume the permission of a friend
to take small things, but if we
are correct in our presumption
that is not stealing. We have a
right to it because of the own
er's permission. If we are star
ving we have a right to take
food, if we cannot get it other
wise. This is not stealing be
cause our dire need gives us a
right to it. Actually, in these
days of social welfare this is an antiquated ex
ample of theologians, to be applied with extreme
care in practice. Police put you in jail for it.
Children should be taught a positive attitude
of honest, trust and respect for the property of
others. But if the sin approach is used we must
never tell them that taking adimeisa mortal sin.
It isn't. We might try to impress them that venial
sin is a very serious thing. They won’t go to hell
for it, but it is contrary to their love for God.
In any case I don’t think the fear of hell should be
impressed on any young child.
Theologians are not agreed as to the breaking
point between a mortal and venial sin in the matter
of stealing. Any set amount is arbitrary. You do
serious harm to a poor man if you take his one
and only dollar. Possibly a wealthy man might not
be gravely injured if you took $50 from him. Yet,
if they catch you they will put you in jail for it.
So there is social evil involved as well as injury
to the individual.
Our society is based on trust and honesty. We
know it is often violated in both word and act.
And yet we consider dishonesty one of the worst
social sins. And rightly so. The supreme law of
Christ is that we love God and our neighbor. And
there can be no love unless it be based on justice
and truth.
Q. Recently I came across a Biblical verse
which has been puzzling me, I refer to St. Mark
9, 43 and 45, "Where the worm dies not, and
the fire is not quenched." What is this "worm"
which is twice mentioned? I would assume that it
refers to a soul in some archaic translation.
A. Interestingly you quote the two verses of St.
Mark’s Gospel in which the word "worm" does
not appear in our best Greek sources and it will
not appear in the future Confraternity transla
tion, now being prepared.
EXTREMIST ARMS
Please Don’t
P-R-A-Y
BY GERARD E. SHERRY
One of the greatest paradoxes in our American
life is that while some shriek loud and clear over
the possibility of Communist take-over they seem
oblivious to the apparent dangers from the extreme
right wing.
Several years ago California's Attorney General
Stanley Mosk warned against the "Minute Men”
who were training among the redwoods ready to
repel alleged Com-,
munist invaders.*
Many suspected/
however, that they,
were more interest
ed in being ready for
their own take-over
if they could get the
support.
Of recent months
we have the spectacle of another extreme right
wing group called the Paul Revere Associated
Yeomen, Inc., who have the unmitigated gall to
use the title Pray for their organization which
they claim is organized to "wake up Americans.”
A recent issue of their newsletter gives an idea
of their extremism. Having spoken of a conspiracy
between Wall Street, Madison Avenue and the Jews
to cooperate with the Russian Communists it as
serts the following P.S.:
"1) We believe a Goldwater-Nixon team will be
nominated on the 2nd or 3rd ballot at the Republi
can Convention, IN SPITE of the Eastern King
makers - the Wall St.-Madison Ave. agents of the
House of Rothschild and all their billions of dollars.
”2) We believe that a Goldwater-Nixon team will
sweep to victory by at least a 60 to 40 vote; sweep
liberals out of the House and Senate.
"3) We believe that one. or more attempts will
then be made to assassinate both Goldwater and
Nixon, coinciding with planned riots and insur
gency by liberals, pinks, reds and communists.
”4) We believe this insurgency will FAIL, af
ter considerable bloodshed!
”5) We believe that every patriot should make
his home an armed arsenal, to protect his family
from this liberal-red insurgency; and that Ameri
cans will REFUSE to register their arms!
”6) We believe that Goldwater will be a patrio
tic America-first President from 1965 to 1972;
and that Nixon will succeed him from 1973 to
1980 ... and that these 16 years will UNDO what
the traitors have done to the U.S. from 1933 to
1964 ... and that America will once more become
a great constitutional Republic, respected and
feared by the whole world!
”7) We believe the UN - the ‘Tower of Babel’
is already cracking at the seams, and will col
lapse with a ROAR!
"These are far-reaching prognostications. May
God implement and resolve them in favor of loyal,
constitutional Americans. For "Man Proposes,
While God Disposes."
Any objective person cannot view the above
quotation with anything but concern. The surpris
ing thing is that the law seems powerless to do
much about it and the right wing elements in our
political society don't seem to be worried either.
The genuine political conservative is essential
not merely to the preservation of the two party
system but also to the preservation of Democracy
as we now know it. What bothers me is that most
political conservatives I know simply write off the
Paul Revere Group "as a bunch of nuts" who can
do no harm.
.ALAS, RECENT figures released by National
Rifle groups disclose that thousands of rifles and
millions of ammunition have been stored away in
various parts of the country. There seems to be no
check on the purchases or whether the arms and
ammunition are being planned for anything other
than hunting and recreation. I think it is about!
time that responsible conservatives denounced the
un-American and un-Democratic tactics of these
ultra right wing groups which seek to destroy our
form of government under the guise of anti-Com-
munism.
While some of us laugh at the alleged antics,
some are training as snipers and demolition
experts. They are using the same type of tact
ics as the Communists and their ultimate aims
are equally evil.
REAPINGS
AT
RANDOM
There is another side to this ultra right
extremism. Most of the followers are also en
couraged (besides being anti-Communist) to be
anti-Semitic and anti-Negro. I have pointed out
this latter hallmark of extremist groups many
times before but somehow the political conser
vatives don’t seem worried. In fact, I knew of
one Jew who at one time was the angel of the
most anti-Semitic rag in the country. His sole
justification for giving his support was that the
paper claimed to be both anti-Communist and
pro-American, W e still have not learned the lesson
thet both Nazi Germany and Communist Russia
are equally anti-Semitic and anti-Christian.
One gentleman told me the other day that the
Paul Revere group has quite a lot of support from
Catholics in some sections of the South and far
West. I hope this i Sn »t~ true for I can think
of nothing so in opposition to Catholic teaching
than the belief that to be truly anti-Communist
one must also beanti-Jewishandanti _ Negro.This
apart from the fact that intimidation of our Demo
cratic processes through false rumors and asser
tions of insurrection by one group of our citizens
is as un-American as you can make it. We hope
that responsible conservatives will at least repu
diate the actions and plans of such right wing
extremists, even if they won’t privately use their
influence to calm them down.