June 17, 2011

What was in the news on June 16, 1961? Warnings about secularism in academia and more lay involvement

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 June 16, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Delegate warns intellectuals of the dangers of secularism
    • “MILWAUKEE—The Apostolic Delegate to the U.S. sounded a warning here to Catholic intellectuals who court secularism in the hope of being accepted in intellectual circles. Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi said [June 3] in the baccalaureate sermon at Marquette University, from which he received an honorary degree, that he is ‘concerned with the uneasiness and preoccupations of some Catholic intellectuals.’ ‘They seem to feel,’ he continued, ‘that every effort has to be made in order to build a bridge between modern secular thought and Catholic thought, even to the point of digression from positions traditionally accepted in the past, in the expectation of being acknowledged and accepted in the intellectual circles of today.’ ”
  • ‘Blind Father of the Year’ feels title is premature
  • Bold Experiment: 6 lay theologians ready to start convert work
    • “SAN FRANCISCO— Can laymen take over more jobs within the Church, thus freeing priests for pastoral and sacramental duties? That question underlies a bold experiment nearing the end of its countdown here. On its success or failure rest the hopes of many priests and laymen alike, hope that the Church in the U.S. is prepared for an exciting new era in religion. … [Six] men, three with families, are charter graduates of the [University of San Francisco’s] Institute of Lay Theology. … On completion of a three-week retreat now under way, they will move out to spearhead—they hope—a breakthrough in U.S. conversions. Their object: To prove that parishes can pay as well as pray their way to more converts. The 12 parishes involved … will pay the men to conduct inquiry courses for people interested in or ignorant of the Catholic Church and its doctrines.”
  • Cornerstone rite set at St. Luke’s
  • Church outlook brighter in Dominican Republic
  • Polish prelate hits secularism
  • Ask reform of bracer labor plan
  • What one woman gave to the public schools
  • How Belgians do it: Schools are kept private despite government aid
  • 10,000 nuns behind Czech curtain
  • Castro nationalizes Cuban private schools
  • Anne Culkin: Is it a sin to go steady?
  • Rome rites planned to observe anniversary for martyrs of Uganda
  • CPA files protest in brutality case
  • Anglican Primate to work for unity
  • Preparatory Commission meets on Council plans
  • Nine priests, 3 laymen put on trial in Hungary
  • ND head urges action, not talk

(Read all of these stories from our June 16, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

Local site Links: