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( PAGE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 1964 the Archdiocese of Atlanta SHVINO OCOROIA’S 71 NORTHMM COUNTICS Official Organ of the Archidocese of Atlanta Published Every Week at the Decatur DeKalb News PUBLISHER- Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan ilfeMBfeb MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rev. Leonard F. X. Mayhew 2699 Peachtree N. E. P. O. Box 11667 Northside Station Atlanta 5, Ga. Member of the Catholic Press Association and Subscriber to N. C. W; C. News Service Telephone 231-1281 Second Class Permit at Altanta, Gd. U. S. A. $5.00 Canada $5.00 Foriegn $6.50 Election In heated political fights, even a plain statement can mean dif ferent things to different people. There was no varnish nor cun ning in the stated policy of the Archdiocese of Atlanta; "to ab stain from indorsement of can didate or party...to speak of mor al issues simply because they are moral." Last week’s editorial Urged against two extremes; "Meddlesome interference of the clergy in the parties and candi dates"--‘‘apathetic or frighten ed evasion of the underlying mor al issues." Most of the letters in reply, as well as the editorial com ment agreed with Alfred E. Smith’s statement of 1928 during one of the bitterest campaigns the United States has experienced: "I repeat my firm adher ence to the American doc trine of the absolute Sep aration of Church and State. Political activity of the Church is the negation of that Separation*’. But some letters disagreed. One charged that this was a di rect slap at a Catholic candidate already nominated by his party. Another, strangely enough, though it was meant to block a Catholic prominently mention ed as Vice-President of the oth er party. A third argued (shades of 1960) that all Catholics should be excluded, while a fourth thought the country needed an "all-Catholic" party. A fifth wrote thoughtfully (in large red block letters) that he couldn't care less what we thought. For a religious journal, supported by those of different parties and Policy-11 persuasions, a neutral political stand is not only prudent; it is just. But no Church and no person can long remain neutral in moral matters. On some moral issues in a pluralistic society there is a concensus. On others, private conscience and the public judg ment will disagree due to place, time or other consideration. For Catholics, the voice of the Church carries the divine imperatives. The Church, however, has al ways been careful to distinguish between divine law and Eccles iastical applications of it. Both are binding, but the latter are not immutable. Fast and ab stinence are from God, but Lent and Friday are of Churchdesig- nation. Other religious bodies have their laws, usages and sanc tions. But none of them can re main forever silent in the pres ence of a moral issue. So the Catholic Church, even in the heat of a presidential Elec tion year, will speak out on inte gration, and a host of other mor al problems; marriage and fami ly, education, dialogue with those of other beliefs; and poverty, vio lence and corruption in public life, Eut the Church will not be entangled with this candidate or that, this party or that. Each of them presumably is carrying out the democratic process with which we are blessed. Each citi zen must decide for himself the candidate and party that will do it best. This policy is authentically Christian, traditionally Ameri can, prudently practical and ethi cally sound. Boring Magazines? Who reads Catholic magazines in this country? Quite a few peo ple, according to the latest Catho lic Press Directory, The 408 such magazines listed for the U. S., Canada and the West Indies have a circulation of near ly 22 million, U. S, readers account, for about 20 million of that total. Yet, while the circulation of Catholic newspapers advanced 4,7% over the last year, maga zines dipped 3.6%, The picture is darkened by the fact that this decline has been growing over the past several years. The saddest feature is that the quality of Catholic magazine journalism has been notably advancing in the lastdecade. Lis ten, for instance, to some com ments from the award citations given to some of these maga zines at the May, 1964 Catholic Press Convention in Pittsburgh. Many of the award judges, by the way, were experts inthenon- Catholic field, such as Columbia Uiversity professors and editors from the New York Herald Tri bune and Cosmopolitan, . "U, S. Catholic is a fine and, at times, beautiful Catholic magazine of general interest," , "Excellent articles, marked by first-class reporting and writ ing, and the fine pictorial pre sentations, made The Sign a top contender," , "The Critic, over the years, has deserved well of the lite rate American Catholic com munity." "In style and content, and in overall impact and in individual articles, America maintains an unusual consistency for a weekly journal." "Commonweal undoubtedly has the best staple of column ists, in Catholic journalism." . "The most professional and interesting magazine in the mis sionary group is Maryknoll, It seems to have grasped the fact that its work is important and its magazine can be entertaining and informative," Similar praise can be honestly accorded to other publications such as Ave Maria, The Catholic World, The Catholic Layman, Marriage and The Way. Any Catholic who subscribes to general magazines but not to Catholic magazines because they are "boring" or "too pious" needs to take a close look at the* Catholic field. He’ll be in for a big surprise. CATHOLIC REVIEW-BALTIMORE Same Old Pitch GEORGIA PINES By The Rude Bridge BY REV. R. DONALD KIERNAN One month after I was ordained I arrived at my first assignment as a priest in Savannah, Georgia. The first time I had ever seen a palm tree in my life was on this initial trip south. I might add too that the first thing I remember ever seeing in Georgia was a bridge connecting South Carolina to Georgia over the Savannah River. Neither the palm tree nor the bridge impressed me very much. The tree looked like a refugee from a hurricane and the bridge closely resembled one of those structures put together by children with a Tinker Toy set. THE FIRST trip south over- the George Washington Bridge in New York, the bridge over the Deleware River and the Chesepeake Bay Bridge had impressed me with their structural beauty and imposing sights. The entry in Georgia, how ever, was a different story. 1 suppose that I should not be too quick to be critical though because many years since this old bridge has been re placed by the Talmadge Memorial Bridge which now gives a sort of panoramic view of the Savannah skyline to the visitor as he approaches this port city. What prompted me to write about this subject of bridges today I cannot exactly say. Possibly the fact that the other night as I crossed one of the five bridges over Lake Lanier I happened to have my auto radio turned on. It seemed that every announcement the announcer made was about war, troubles and distress all over the world. I looked out of my car window and below me the moon was shining on the beautiful blue waters of Lake Lanier. The lake was dotted with tiny lights shining from the cabin cruisers and house boats along the shoreline. It was certainly a sight of serenity in a troubled world. Problems seemed miles away. I GUESS the fact that bridges are now built with an eye for beauty as well as practicality makes them a structural marvel on our landscape. Time was when a driver crossing a bridge did not dare to lift his eyes from the road without grave fear of an accident. Then too, our state had a few covered bridges where it was impossible to see anything except the opening on the far side of the bridge. I'm sure that many Georgians can remember the terrible task of crossing the bridges from Savannah leading out to Tybee Island. The road itself was a terrific challenge and the bridges presented a hazard comparable to a sand trap in front of a green on a par 3 hole. THERE ARE still a couple of places left in Georgia where the only mode of transportation over a river is a ferry or barge. It makes for picturesque scenery but allows for its own dangers on rainy and windy days. At any rate it is a far cry from the convenience and speed of die pre sent day interstate highways. I’ve always wondered why bridges could not be constructed permitting a parking area where travellers might get a few minutes rest while observing the scenery. It seems that it would be a safety feature on our highways. I know that bridges have often been the scenes of tragic suicides but the fact that all bridges have "NO STOPPING" signs on them has not prevented these sad occurances. THE ONLY toll bridges I have ever known to exist in Georgia were the bridges outside of Brunswick and the one on the causeway leading to Jekyll Island. The tolls have since been re moved and while we .cannot brag about some of our bridges we do take pride inthefact that, save one, we do not have tolls on our bridges. The only exception that I know of is the bridge out to the Golden Isles. Whether the absence of tolls contributes to the lack of finances and consequently the lag in Georgia’s road and bridge building I do not know. I do know, however, that most motorists would just as soon pay a toll if this would expedite the building of our highway and bridge system. After all, the difference would be saved in gas con sumption between stop-and-go driving and ex pressway system driving. AT ANY rate the "first impressions" of Georgia are bound to be changed when the inter state highways leading into our state from every direction are completed. But pity the poor motorist who decides to get off the "beatenpath" and explore some rustic and quaint parts of the state. He is liable to find himself on a bridge like the one on Johnson - Ferry Road in Fulton County which accomodates only one car at a time and is posted with signs; "Load LimitXXX Tons." I wonder if it would support a car and house trailer together? PRECARIOUS PAKISTAN Your World And Mine BY DR. GARY MACEOIN Pakistan, July 27; —Among all the freakish consequences of the precipitous ending of the colonial era after World War II, there is no more curious anomaly for the twentieth century than Pakistan. The fifth most populous state in the world (after China, India, U.S.S.R, and United States), it consists of two parts separated from each other by 1100 miles. The larger and somewhat more developed segment lies to the west of India, running north and south from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan, Soviet Russia and China. On the other side of India, and bordoring Assam and Burma is the smaller but more densely populated segment which contains nearly half of the state’s 95 million people. Poverty and ignorance are abysmal. Illiteracy is more than abysmal. Illiteracy is more than 80 per cent. Ther is one doctor for every 15,000 people (one for / 70 in United States), The calory availability of 1810 per inhabitant is far below the minimum standard established by the United Nations to maintain health. The two parts of Pakistan are not bound to • each other nor distinguished from the adjoining parts of India by race, culture, historical ex perience or language. Neither is there any com munity or complementarity of their economies. Pakistan exists for one and only one reason, namely, the Moslem religion professed by about three quarters of the inhabitants when the state was created in 1947. This proportion is much bigger today through the subsequent flight of some ten million non-Moslems to India and their re placement by some seven million Moslems from India. LIKE THE other Moslem states which have entered the comity of nations siijce World War II* Pakistan has had difficulty in reconciling the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ‘OPEN WINDOWS’ Now They Want Screens BY GERARD E. SHERRY It is undoubtedly an over simplification to ac count for the Conservative mind of so many churchmen by referring to Church history; but undoubtedly being beset by heathens without and heretics within produced this Conservatism. Handing on the faith is an awesome and precious responsibility, and we , the present heirs, are grateful that our an cestors, spiritual and physical, were, zealous enough in preserving it for us pure and true. The primitive Church grew and de veloped, it did not remain static; it is not today as it was on Pentecost. Since that time, numerically and spiritually the Church has matur ed, Its members have been of all races, all colors and from every strata of society. In growing up in Christ, Christians can never be the same; there must always be a reaffirmation of faith and empha sis on vitality. When good Pope John ascended the Throne of St. Peter, he issued a call for a Council of reform and renewp 1 . This Vatican Council is still working at its task. The Council Fathers, our Bishops, have begun to express themselves about reforms and changes within the Church, We have the magnifi cent document on the liturgy promulgated by John's successor, our present Holy Father, Pope Paul VI. It is agreed by all that liturgical reform is the first step in the renewal of '“Aggiornamen- to” within the Church. Pope John spoke of all this as opening the win dows ‘To let some fresh air into the Church". Many Catholics were delighted and seized on the phrase as apt and timely. They held it aloft with great hope that the Church and its leaders would both conserve and adapt in communicating with both modern man and his world. Alas, Pope John’s call met with silent reserve from those who wished to conserve everything and adapt nothing. During his reign as Pope, they re mained curiously silent neither encouraging nor yet hindering "Aggiornamento.’’ However, since Pope John's death last year, there has been a subtle campaign to downgrade him as a great Pon tiff and reformer. It is hardly ever a direct attack, but is nearly always through comparison with Pope Paul. John is painted as native and imprudent, whereas Pope Paul is pictured as an intellec tual with great wisdom. What bothers me is that history shows that no two Popes are alike and that it is most un-Catholic to play of one against another as if it were a mere game of politics when in fact the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on earth is at stake. It’s got to a state where last week someone suggested that the windows had been open much too long and should at least have screens. The complaint being made is that the "Open Window" policy has let in some "queer birds" and has given too much freedom to many within the Church. Nuns and Seminarians are being warned against these alleged dangers on an unprecedented scale as if there was an epidemic of rashness within the Mystical Body. Some seem to lose sight of the fact that the Church is primarily a Divine Institu tion and that the Holy Spirit is a reality The new encyclical of Pope Paul VI, Ecclesiam Suam, (His Church) will no doubt be used to bolster up the argument of our more conserva tive Bishops and laymen. The document is basi cally a plead for a greater vigilance in defense of the Divine Deposit and a caution against too much adaptation which could water-down basic truths. The conservative mind within the Church is especially pleased with Pope Paul’s strong condemnation of communism. One of the leading conservative laymen went even further—in his syndicated column last week Bill Buckley suggested that Pope Paul had taken a much stronger stand on the Red menance than had Pope John. Indeed, with his usual ability to play on words Buckley says "The new Pope has shown himself an extremist in defense in the word of God." Buckley refers to "The enigmatic silence of Pope John" on communism. It is true that the Holy Father was not always direct in naming names. But this was not because Pope John was any weaker in his stand. It was merely that he was trying a new method, a new approach, in order to ease the lot of those millions of fellow Catholics, fellow Christians, behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains. Pope John's methods achieved some results. There was a slight thaw which resulted in the release of some bishops, priests and laymen who were behind bars. Pope John never expected to do much more than this any how, and he obviouslyfeltthatmerelycondemning communism was not sufficient — somethingmore had to be done. Pope Paul says it differently, but his aim is the same as that of his immediate predecessor and all the other line of Pontiffs going back to Peter. Pope Paul's new encyclical speaks favorably of "The dialogue between the Church .ndthe modern world". . . ."Us existence and its urgency." He speaks of his "Heartfelt desire that the Church and mankind should meet each other and should come to know and love each other." What dialogue between ourselves and with our separated friends is possible through a barrier, be it made of mythical screens, or through con fusing accidentals with essentials? How can we meet and come to know each other with screens in the way? Once the screens are in position, the natural follow-up is the closing of the windows. Perhaps this is what some churchmen want. Then we will be safe again, locked In and Isolated from contamination by the world. But isn’t the world our environment? Isn't it the world that we are asked to conquer for Christ? REAPINGS AT RANDOM