October 21, 2011

What was in the news on Oct. 20, 1961? The hope that school aid tensions will ease, and advice to lay people about getting along with their pastor

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 October 20, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Vatican asks new look at labor, management
  • West Baden Jesuits: Promote Sacred Heart apostolate
  • St. Luke’s dedication to be held October 22
  • Collection set for Sunday for Missions
  • Sees easing of tensions over school aid issue
    • “NEW YORK—Bitterness over Catholic requests for federal education aid will fade eventually, and the genuine needs of Catholic schools will be recognized, a priest-editor predicted here. Father Thurston N. Davis, S.J., editor-in-chief of America, national weekly review, declared that ‘unhealthy tensions over the school issue, born mostly of misunderstanding, will be relaxed.’ The Jesuit editor, speaking at the dedication [Oct. 7] of new convent of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, stated that ‘Catholic parents of the United States do not argue for federal support as for some undeserved handout.’ ‘They ask it in the name of ordinary, everyday justice,’ he added. ‘We have argued firmly and patiently and with some success. We are beginning to be heard.’ ”
  • Berlin: Key to its future is in the past
  • ‘Palace of Sleeping Beauty’ is beehive of UN activities
  • Map plans for clothing collection
  • Raps pessimism in move to curtail our grad schools
  • Terre Haute Newmanites hold ‘Leadership Day’
  • Dutch Protestants, Catholics produce TV series on Bible
  • St. Lawrence plans Harvest Dance
  • ‘Gigantic fraud’ label given ‘King of Kings’
  • Interracial group seeks fair housing
  • Says U.S. farmers not getting fair deal
  • Church-state outlook in Cuba termed dismal
  • Be prudent, layman says, to keep pastor happy
    • “ST. LOUIS—Too many lay people are bogging down Catholic action on the parish level by failing to understand their pastors, a national executive charged here. ‘Not all pastors understand the laity,’ admitted Arthur J. Conley, national president of the National Federation of Sodalities of Our Lady. ‘But many more of the laity do not understand pastors,’ said Conley, an executive of a refrigeration company. … ‘Don’t ask your pastor to start a sodality when he is in the midst of a debt-reduction campaign. The idea may be marvelous to you, but he is right up against the bishop, the banker, the Chancery office and high interest rates.’ ”
  • Private Peace Corps: Family of 19 building inter-American amity
  • British prelate bans jazz Mass

(Read all of these stories from our October 20, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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