July 22, 2011

What was in the news on July 21, 1961? A new papal encyclical, Mater et Magistra, is released and the threat of communism in Poland increases

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 21, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Limited socialization is supported by Pontiff in new historic encyclical on the social order
    • “VATICAN CITY—His Holiness Pope John XXIII in his long-heralded social encyclical said that limited socialization can benefit society and that rich countries have a duty to help the underdeveloped nations. Four new social problems confront modern man, the Pope said in his letter to the Catholic world. He said they must be solved in terms of truth, justice and love. He listed these problems: the depressed state of agriculture in an increasingly industrial and technological world; the great differences between the underveloped nations and the technologically advanced nations; the world population increase and its relations to economic development; the lack of mutual trust among nations. The encyclical, Mater et Magistra, was written, the Pope said, because ‘We feel it Our duty to keep alive the torch lighted by Our great predecessors and to exhort all to draw from it inspiration and orientation in the search of a solution to the social problems more adapted to our times.’ ”
  • Encyclical is given wide acclaim
  • Polish Reds ban religion in schools
    • “BERLIN—Poland’s communist regime railroaded through parliament a bill outlawing religious instructions in the public schools, thus openly violating express provisions of the 1956 Church-State agreement. It was learned here that the Polish Sejm passed its education ‘reform’ bill the very day it convened in Warsaw for its third full session (July 14). The law includes the declaration that ‘schools are lay institutions.’ ”
  • ‘Voila!’: 250 youngsters study French during vacation
  • Reds threaten parents in wake of Budapest trial
  • Predicts Castro will fail to form national church
  • Cuban refugee spend 5 days at sea in small craft with consecrated Hosts
  • Gives advice on training priests
  • Warns of psychoanalysis for clerics and religious
  • Fence is not the garden, liturgists are reminded
  • Cardinal warns of Commie peril
  • Ask permanent laws to admit refugees
  • St. Joan of Arc swimmers again cop CYO crown
  • Famed English writers to be TV series feature
  • Spur interest in missing prelate
  • Jesuit sociologist: Praises Freedom Rides for uncovering truth
  • Negro priest labels rides phase of ‘cold civil war’
  • More scholarships asked for Africans
  • School aid legislation seen doomed

(Read all of these stories from our July 21, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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