May 13, 2011

What was in the news on May 12, 1961? The Second Vatican Council and is there a ‘lady-like’ way to chew gum?

By Brandon A. Evans

50 Year LogoThis 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 May 12, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Chancery announces 54 clergy appointments
  • New center is planned for Special Education
  • Council official hails progress in dialogue
  • Lithuanian Reds arrest two priests in new crackdown
  • Pope thanks K.C. for offer to aid the Vatican Radio
  • Tell City to play host to national convention
  • Council seen giving the laity more active role
    • “NEW YORK—The Second Vatican Council will witness an historic turning point in the Catholic Church when ‘the relatively untapped energies’ of laymen are ‘channeled at last into the main stream of the Church’s apostolate.’ This prediction was made here by Father Robert A. Graham, S.J., associate editor of America, national Catholic weekly, who wrote that while ‘the zeal of the first Christians brought Christ’s Gospel to the limits of the Roman Empire, it may be this age’s privilege to extend that Kingdom, in a great leap forward, to the ends of the Earth. Father Graham, who has been a close student of the coming Council, said it ‘remains only for the Fathers of the Council to give formal recognition’ to the lay apostolic movement ‘which has been sweeping the Church for many years.’ ”
  • NCCM asks justices in any federal aid
  • Pray for Council, Anglicans urged
  • New Jersey man new head of NCCM
  • Caught at last: Popular civic leader led out in handcuffs
  • Anne Culkin: May I chew gum?
    • “ ‘Dear Miss Culkin: Teachers say that a lady does not chew gum. Yet I see lots of women, not teenagers, chewing gum all the time. I don’t chew it in school, but I do after school because I like it. Many of my friends do the same. Could you tell us a lady-like way to chew gum?’ ” Sara D.
    • “ ‘Dear Sarah: If there is a lady-like way of chewing gum, I regret that I have never observed the technique in action. But years ago, I did learn a technique while studying drama that has proven forever timely. On stage, Sarah, an actress wanting to depict a girl who is lacking in refinement, finds a stick of gum a most important prop. All she must do is put it in her mouth and move the jaws up and down in a “cow-like” fashion. She finds the audience is quick to recognize the character she is trying to portray despite the beautiful clothes she might be wearing. Remember, Sarah, unless you are alone in a room, you are constantly on stage.’ ”
  • Teenage Red prisoners make tiny prayerbook
  • Movie censorship: The Legion states its case
  • Church’s setbacks seen as spur to greater zeal
  • Spanish laity back social aid program
  • Kennedy’s faith seen liability
  • Lauds Congress action favoring the family farm
  • First American priest reaches U.S. from Cuba

(Read all of these stories from our May 12, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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