What was in the news on Feb. 17, 1961? Archbishop Schulte honored by pope

By Brandon A. Evans

This week, we continue to examine what was going on in the Church and the world 50 years ago as seen through the pages of The Criterion, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Here are some of the items found in the Feb. 17, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

• Archbishop Schulte is honored by Pope
  • “Archbishop Schulte has been appointed an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne—a rank in the hierarchy just below that of a cardinal. Announcement of the distinction conferred by Pope John XXIII was made Sunday evening by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter during a clergy dinner honoring the St. Louis prelate. … The new honor for Archbishop Schulte assigns him to a place near the papal throne when he is in Rome participating in liturgical functions at which the Holy Father is the celebrant. … The honor for his successor in the See of Indianapolis was obtained at the request of Cardinal Ritter in recognition of the spiritual and material progress made in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis during Archbishop Schulte’s 14-year tenure.”
• Aid for Cuban refugees denied parochial pupils
• Book about unity appears in Italy
• Priest, Jewish official clash over school aid
  • “WASHINGTON—A priest and a Jewish specialist in Church-State relations clashed here on the issue of Federal aid for church-operated schools. Father Charles Whelan, S.J., and Leo Pfeffer, general counsel of the American Jewish Congress, differed sharply over whether such aid would help or hurt religious liberty. Father Whelan, a specialist in Church-State matters who is studying for an advanced law degree at Harvard University, said a Federal aid program which excluded church schools would be a serious threat to their continued existence. Mr. Pfeffer, however, took the position that government aid would lead to government control. Only by doing without government assistance can church schools remain independent, he said.”
• Pictorial highlights of ‘Cardinal Ritter Day’
• Theology studies spur to the lay apostolate
• Secular institutes called challenge to modern world
• Clergy committee named to aid work in race relations
• Archdiocesan cadet tourney opens Sunday: Games set at Tell City, Indianapolis
• Searching the Scriptures: Which translation of the Bible is best?
• Rules for a Catholic (written by Cardinal Montini, later Pope Paul VI)
• Cincinnati nuns plan mission work in South America
• Stamps to honor eleventh centenary of St. Meinrad
• Indianapolis laywoman talks on ‘Church and State’

(Read all of these stories from our Feb. 17, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †