July 15, 2011

What was in the news on July 14, 1961? Statistics share a picture of the archdiocese 50 years ago, and pope urges Catholics to ‘influence’ movies

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 July 14, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Give youth responsibilities, Holy See admonishes elders
  • Defend intellectuals: Lay scholars replay to Delegate
  • $325,000 Ford Grant: Propose study to curb religious prejudices
  • Ohio school opens with fifth grade
  • Suggests move to curb panic of selling homes
  • Catholics of Archdiocese total more than 190,000
    • “The Catholic population of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis now stands at 190,354 persons, according to the most recent tabulation by the Chancery Office. This figure, published in the 1961 Archdiocesan Yearbook, represents an increase of 6,073 over the previous year. Included in the total are approximately 4,000 clergy and religious. Nearly 50 per cent of the Archdiocesan Faithful are members of the 41 parishes in Indianapolis. … The Yearbook lists 137 parishes with resident pastors, and 23 missions attended from a neighboring parish. Other vital statistics indicated 6,650 infant and 1,166 adult baptisms. … The number of Catholic marriages increased 84 over the previous year to 859. … One hundred six parishes maintain parochial schools, enrolling 35,549 [students]. This is a gain of 1,513 [students] from the previous year. The twelve secondary schools in the Archdiocese have 5,998 students. … There are 184 students for the priesthood studying for the Archdiocese. In addition, there are 808 young men enrolled in seminaries for religious orders and other dioceses.”
  • St. Simon, Indianapolis, sets dedication Sunday
  • Contends that race issue approach is too abstract
  • Pope sends letter via Vatican Radio
  • Clergy shortage among Latins cited
  • Anti-Catholic bias protested
  • The laity are getting restless
  • Priests, Sisters slain by Vietnam terrorists
  • ‘Red Fabrication’: No hatred for Church in Spanish Civil War
  • The Yardstick: The Looper decision and ‘Right-to-Work’ laws
  • Anglo-Catholics wary of Protestant merger
  • Explaining the Faith: An intelligent faith is based upon reason
  • Bishop urges cleanup of Nevada floor shows
  • Pope urges Catholics to ‘influence’ movies
  • Peace Meeting in Prague called Commie maneuver
  • Union ‘balks’ on changing of name
    • “PARIS—A move to drop the word ‘Christian’ from the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions ran into stiff opposition at this year’s congress of the federation. So did a parallel attempt to delete a reference to Christian morality in the statues of the confederation.”
  • British Guiana grabs 51 religious schools
  • Hebrew day school federal aid asked

(Read all of these stories from our July 14, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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