Newspaper Page Text
4 GEORGIA BULLETIN, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1967
BULLETIN
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA SERVING GEORGIA’S 71 NORTHERN COUNTIES
Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan
Chris Eckl
The Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
Publisher
Managing Editor
Consulting Editor
2699 Peachtree N. E.
P. O. Box 11667
Northside Station
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Member of the Catholic Press Association
and Subscriber to N. C. W. C. News Service
Telephone 231-1281
Second Class Permit at Atlanta, Ga.
U. S. A. $5.00
Canada $5.00
Foreign $6.50
Published Every Week at the Decatur-DeKalb News
Tha opinions containod in thoso editorial columns are
the free expressions off free editors in a free Catholic press.
Sharing Authority
In The Church
Sign Magazine has an interview with
Father Joseph O’Donoghue, a priest of
the Archdiocese of Washington, on "Elec
tions in the Church."
The young priest thinks key decisions
in the Church should be made by all the
faithful, not by a select few. Since the
Archdiocese of Atlanta has begun imple
mentation of the "shared exercise of au
thority" and many boards have been es
tablished, his remarks should be read by
all.
Following are some pertinent questions
and answers in the article:
Q. Are thereany historical precedents
on the American scene for a more de
mocratic structure of the Church?
A. Yes, there are several. John Car-
roll was nominated by the local clergy.
And Bishop England of Charleston antici
pated many of the reforms in structure
called for by Vatican II.
Q. What did Bishop England do?
A. For 20 years, he had a unique sys
tem going, in which he implemented the
democratic ideal with a diocesan assem
bly parish councils and other represen
tative bocfifeS'th'at WoSrjciitP with hsn.
people had real financial control® ana on ”
many boards the laity had a membership
that enabled them to outvote the clergy,
if they chose. England’s experiment was
a great act of confidence in the clergy
and people.
Q. Did it work?
A. It worked very well. In fact, when
some of the other American bishops asked
Pope Gregory XVI what he thought of
England's experiment, the Pope said,
"The great tranquility of the diocese of
Charleston proves the wisdom of its bis
hop." It’s interesting to note that Char
leston never had the difficulties of lay
trusteeism that occurred in other dio
ceses.
Q. And the bishop who succeeded Eng
land in Charleston?
A. He ended the whole project. John
England was the only American bishop
to share his episcopal responsibility with
elected lay delegates. When he died in
1842, his experiment died with him. It
was never imitated.
Q. Why not?
A.. Since the Council of Trent, Church
law has been somewhat mistrustful of the
lower clergy and laity. England express
ed a Christian confidence in the total
membership of the Church, and this went
contrary to both the accepted customs of
his day, and, in some instances, Church
law.
, . T’he one point not, covered in the in-
'Ippfey _wasT**long did it take.for
England’s councils etc. to function pro
perly?
The answer is obviously not overnights
We hope this will be remembered as
clergy and laity in the archdiocese ex
periment with the "shared exercise of au
thority." It will take time for all of our
boards to function properly, but the first
big step has been taken.
A Hot Exchange
It’s a long way from Atlanta, but the
hot exchange between the Boston Pilot
and National Catholic Reporter may in
terest readers.
The debate concerns whether NCR, a
lay-edited newspaper, should have pub
lished the secret texts of the papal birth
control commission which outlined the
"conservative" and "liberal" opinions
on the much-discussed subject.
The Pilot, a diocesan newspaper, called
the publication of the confidential texts a
"massive blunder" and "irresponsible."
Robert Hoyt, NCR’s editor, fired back in
a letter-to-the-editor in the Pilot that
"newspapers exist to inform their rea
ders, not to jolly them along.”
The decision to publish or not to pub
lish a news item can be very difficult,
and no editor escapes blunders. Deci
sions are made from week to week on
news that is constantly changing.
The Bulletin ran the story on the pub
lication of the texts on page 1 simply be
cause it was considered to be news of
great interest to every Catholic. It was
not an endorsement of any viewpoint, and
as one diocesan newspaper said there was
nothing in the reports that hasn’t been dis
cussed already.
The reason I haven’t commented on the
publication editorially— either to blast or
praise NCR for publishing the texts~ls
as follows, it. isi difficult to run a news
paper published in Kansas City from At
lanta. (It may be easier from Boston).
I don’t know all of the reasons that
prompted NCR to publish the reports,
and I wasn’t asked ’to give an opinion.
But if I had been asked, I would have
said, "Yes," if it were known that the
texts were correct. I haven’t heard any
one say they were bogus.—CHRIS ECKL
Abstinence
Continued
WELLINGTON, N.Z. (RNS) —NewZea
land’s Roman Catholic bishops have not
followed the lead of their Australian
counterparts in abolishing the law of ab
stinence except for Ash Wednesday and
the Fridays of Lent.
The Metropolitan of New Zealand, Ar
chbishop Peter R.B. McKeefry, said the
law of abstinence will remain in force
on Fridays in New Zealand.
"In this age when materialistic ideas
and self-indulgence are so prevalent it
is still necessary to draw attention to
the need for self-denial," he said.
"The Vatican Council has called on
Christians to train themselves to a de
gree of spiritual maturity where they
will be able to accept voluntary self-
discipline, and the Church in New Zea
land is working for the implementation
of this ideal, "Archbishop McKeefry said.
"The bishops of New Zealand have de
cided that in the meantime the law of
abstinence will remain."
HERE IS the high altar of the new Mftropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King,
Liverpool, England. The altar is constructed of a solid, flawless block of white
marble, weighing 19 tons, imported from Macedonia. Above is the aluminum bald-
acchino, in the form of a 50-foot space frame, suspended from the base of the
lantern tower. . ; ■ (RNS PHOTO)
GEORGIA PINES■
Kimball House
— By R. Donald Kiernan
,wuie
Not too many people living in Atlanta,
today remember the Kimball House. Those
who do remember, refer to it as the "Old
Kimball House" and their memories of
this hotel are limited to a day when its
former glory had long since passed.
I’m told that in one era it was the
hub of political and social activity for
the city and state. All of the legislators
made their head
quarters there dur
ing the sessions of
the General As
sembly, and it was
the meeting place
for shoppers in
an age long before
automobiles and
shopping centers.
FR. KIERNAN
Those of us who do remember the
Kimball house do not know that what we
were looking at was actually the second
floor of the hotel. Driving through the
center of town its difficult to imagine
that there are actually streets big enough
for trucks right under the very spot that
we are driving on. The Kimball House
was one of those buildings that was built
before the age of subterranean passages
made necessary because of delivery trucks
and the need for flowing traffic.
The only time I was ever in the Kim
ball House I was amazed when standing m
the center of the lobbythat I was able to
look right up to the roof. A similar build
ing in construction art is the John O.
Childs Home for the aged out in West
End.
Not that there is any similarity at
all, as a matter of fact it is almost im
possible to describe, but a real treat
to the eye is the new Regency Hyatt
House here in Atlanta. Standing in the
center of the lobby the spectator is able
to look right up to the sky because the
roof is capped by a translucent sky
light.
The elevators, enclosed in glass, re
semble a capsule right out of the Buck
Rogers era and a lounge situated in the
center of the lobby* standing up on two
stilts, is covered by a parasol of glass
and iron suspended by a cable twenty-
two stories high. I’m told that this pa
rasol weighs thirteen and a half tons.
The architects have really,outdone them -
selves with this construction.
Presiding over all this is a well known
figure in Atlanta's hotel life, Joe Crocy.
I remember Joe almost from the first
moment I set my foot on Atlanta soil,
Back in 1951 I was the only "young
priest” in Atlanta. I guess Joe knew this
and often he would call me for dinner.
His friendliness and hospitality are nat
ive assets, so no matter how large the
hotel he manages might become, Joe
Crocy will have the ability to make
each guest feel right at home.
\ i$$‘ J 15 fiifst'Msit ^ “ijhg Regency Hyatt
House became unwittingly a reunion.
"I met people there from the parish I
Jvas stationed atiin Gainesville, then I ran
(into a couple from Cedartown and leav
ing the building I saw some people from
LaGrange whom I had known while stat
ioned there. I presume that they were
all sightseers like myself. Yet, on the
!other hand, while I stood waiting for my
automobile I mused that maybe this hotel
might be able to recapture the warmth
lof sociability that existed when we had
v only one hotel in towii,
Atlanta is certainly dotted with many
(fine hotels and motels. As the city grows,
no doubt there will be many more. Its
amazing to me that none seem to suffer
dwhen another goes up. Just another
isign of a young, vibrant and growing
{city.
J
i One night some people from Gaines-
iville came down to Atlanta. They called
tJand asked me for dinner. They said that
Ithey were on the fifth floor of the down
town Holiday Inn. I told them that I
would meet them there. While I was
’walking along the outside Corridor I pas
sed by several rooms whose drapes were
■ opened. As I approached the room where
jmy friends were staying* suddenly a loud
■iyoice called out behind me, "Rabbi”.
IWith that, two other doors opened. It
Jseems that all three rooms were occupi-
led by people from Gainesville. No one
jjknew that the other was coming to At
lanta, no less staying in the same hotel
fend on the same floor. One said to me,
("Father, when I heard that loud voice
kail out 'Rabbi", I knew that he could
rnean no other than Father Kiernan.
Abortion Reform
Endorsed
ST. PAUL, MINN. (RNS) — A bill
|to liberalize Minnesta’s abortion law mov-
ed ahead in the state Senate but was stall-
led , at least temporarily in the House.
I By 10-5 vote, the Senate judiciary com-
jmittee recommended that the bill be passed
Jand sent it to the Senate floor,
j At the same time, however, the House
(judiciary committee voted to lay it pver,
causing a delay that could hamper its
(chances for passage with only two weeks
(left in the 1967 legislative session.
Both the House and Senate versions of
(the measure would make it easier to ob-
itain a legal abortion in' Minnesota, where
j abortions now are permitted only when
(necessary to save the life of the mother.
1
I Favorable action in the Senate com
mittee came as something of a surprise
since a subcommittee had reported itself
unable to reach agreement.
I The Senate version was approved after
it was amended to legalize use of drugs
that prevent pregency when taken after
sexual intercourse.
Arnold Haunted
By ‘Persona’
ARNOLD
By James Arnold
After exposure to Ingmar Bergman’s
latest movie, "Persona," I tried to sleep,
but I was haunted by a recurring dream in
the shape of a film:
Black screen;
Sound of weeping,
waves dashing
against a shore.
• Out of focus:
Little boy, bounc
ing a ball.
Suddenly in
focus; He looks at the camera. (The ball
rolls off, but we hear it bouncing). He
reaches for the lens as if to caress it.
From behind boy: We see he is actually
reaching for a snickers bar, but on the
package is a picture of his mother. She
looks awfuL Suddenly her lips begin to
move. She is saying something melancholy
in Swedish. The titles translate: "Mean
ingless. Nothing." Over and over. Camera
moves in on her lips.
Screen goes white: Voice says, "Ingmar
is a fake." Second voice says, "Ingmar is
searching." Third voice says, "Who
cares?" All voices together: "That’s
exactly what’s wrong."
Main titles: interrupted occasionally
by quick cuts to a spider, a boy bouncing
a ball, napalm victims in Vietnam, a
rape scene, a snickers bar.
Voice behind: "Last year I was at
Marlenbad. This year I am not certain."
Closeup of first girl: "What was that
you said?”
Closeup of second girl: She smiles.
Ten minute closeup of first girl: Tells
story of her first affair. It was meaning
less.
Second girl: "We are very much alike."
Their faces merge: In fact, we can’t
tell them apart.
and grasp hands, tightly. Camera pans
over the random rocks and waste of the
shore.
Scene night, interior: Women are
drinking. First girl, to break silence,
tells details of a mass rape that occurred
when she was 14. Second girl smiles. First
girl says, "At last I’vefoundsomeonewho
listens to me."
Later, bedroom, filled with fog: Girls
stand together, looking in mirror. Outside,
it’s raining. The only sound is the drip-drip
of a downspout.
Closeup, man with cigar: "But will they
like it in Topeka?”
Scene in car, first girl alone, driving:
A letter is on the seat. After five minutes,
she stops car and begins to read. It says:
“What do you know about mercy?”
On the radio, a song: "My cup runneth
over...with love."
Screen begins to split: Images of spider,
Christ’s passion, slapstick comedy, Nazi
massacre of Jewish children, snickers
bar.
Forms out of focus, in slow motion:
gradually take the shape of the two women
running along beach.
First girl, desperately: "Talk to me:
say something, anything.”
Second girl: Pacing, lights cigarette.
(It is too long for her cigarette case).
"I was," she says, "a lousy mother."
Night interior, girls at table: Ten minute
closeup on second girl as first girl tells her
why she is cold, loveless, guilty. Scene is
repeated with ten minute closeup on first
girl.
Voice behind: "Now tell me which is the
nurse, which the patient."
First girl: "I’m not you! I’m- me!” She
takes a bus home. On the beach, camera
pans decaying statues, random desolate
rocks.
Scene, hospital room, girls in silhouette:
"Repeat after me," says first girl.
"Nothing." Second girl repeats,
"Nothing." Screen fades to white, with
drip-drip of faucet in background.
Man with pipe: "The trouble is I al
ready have the message. How many ways
can you say life is miserable? It’s not
that miserable, even in Sweden.” Hispipe
begins to blow soap bubbles.
PTA jjigeting: "It’s
scene: First ^ the jy n -'!/i hnito
Turns off light:. screen, is .dark;T«c-,»ve>/.:gBr.¥»f^ipaE jgjg£ H _ lTqjr
minutes. She switches on light and phono
graph with broken record: "Forgive me
but...Forgive mebut..." Shelooks tenderly
at faded photograph, then turns to camera.
Slowly, for five minutes, the screen goes
dark. We hear the sound of weeping.
Scene, the seashore: Thetwowomenare
knitting and humming.
Voice behind: "Doris Day wears false
freckles..I go to the hills for the Sound of
Money.’'
Closeups; The women exchange glances
ncui,
p>
Voice behind: "Better to search with
Ingmar than to go Boy Scout camping with
Disney. I think."
Far behind: Julie Andrews sings "A
Spoonful of Sugar."
Closeup: First girl stares at camera
and smiles.
Boy is seen: with bouncing ball. He
lies down on what looks like a slab in
a morgue. Camera dollies in to pick out,
on the floor, the crumpled wrapper of a
snickers bar. Sudden cut to black.
Are They Beat Or
Merely Off-Beat?
By Gary MacEoin
Milan- Everywhere one goes in Europe,
one encounters not only monuments of the
past but expressions of the present. Of
such signs of the times, the most ubiqui
tous is the Green Wave, the provos of
France, the capelloni of Italy, the "beats"
of every land and language.
In London or Paris, even in Heidel-
burg, they are not so hard to take. One
shrugs them off as a superficial ex
pression of the na
tural imitativeness
of the young, a
symptom of Ameri
ca’s impact on
teen-age dress and
behavior patterns.
But when the
longhaired, unsha
ven, unwashed
ini
MACEOIN
young men and the slattern, angular,
grotesque-faced girls sprout on the streets
of Dublin, Rome and tradition-soaked Mak-
rid, it is time to stop and take notice.
Three leaders of the beat movement —
the beat movement, no less — here in
Milan have just provided some valuable
data for an understanding of what it is
all about. Their contribution was intend
ed as an interview for a high - school
("liceo") magazine. The school authori
ties for their own ineffable reasons sup
pressed the interview, ensuring it na
tional exposure in a major weekly.
Through the cult of dirt and ugliness,
there shine two positive and encouraging
signs of the times. The more basic is one
emphasized by Vatican II in the consti
tution on the Church in the Modern World
and other documents. It is the stress on
the dignity ar.d rights of the individual,
of every human simply because he is
human.
"Our position is not one of simple
rejection,” to quote Andrea Valcarenghi.
"We oppose the tendencies to massifi-
cation, to alienation and to incorporation
in a system, tendencies characteristic
of today’s society. We oppose them be
cause we seek to retain our individuality
as people capable of thinking for our
selves and unwilling to let others speak
for us."
The second and more complex ele
ment is. the rejection of the values of our
society, not so much because they con
sider these values valueless, but because
they believe that our society tries to im
pose them without itself valuing them.
It is the hypocrisy of the twentieth cen
tury that they abhor.