May 3, 2013

What was in the news on May 3, 1963?

A call for the laity to help run the Church, and a warning about obstacles at the Second Vatican Council

Criterion logo from the 1960sBy Brandon A. Evans

This 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.

Here are some of the items found in the May 3, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Laity must help hierarchy to run Church, cardinal says
    • “BOSTON—The lay Catholic has an obligation to help the bishops in running the Church, Cardinal Richard Cushing asserts in a 12,000-word pastoral letter issued here. … ‘Since the lay person in the Church brings with him his own abilities and talents,’ the cardinal [said], ‘these in a particular way should find constructive expression. The scientist, the scholar, the teacher, the doctor, the lawyer, the public servant, and all the rest, have something to say which can make the Church a more effective instrument of grace for the good of souls. When these voices are silent, the Church suffers from their loss and the Christian has abdicated his responsibility toward the Kingdom.’ ”
  • Seven to be ordained for Archdiocese May 5
  • Unique arrangement: Offer religious credits to Purdue’s Catholics
  • Catholic, Jewish men plan exchange visits
  • Catholic editor to aid Episcopal observance
  • Pope plans to visit Italian president
  • Three-year mission in Bologna Archdiocese seeks to bring 76 percent back to Church
  • Cardinal Alfrink: Sees council deadlock if roadblocks persist
    • “UTRECHT, The Netherlands—Cardinal Bernard Alfrink warned here that the Second Vatican Council might become a deadlock if some of the obstacles it met during its first session are not overcome. … The three big drawbacks at the first session, according to the cardinal, were the great mass of material prepared for consideration, the lack of coordination between the various preparatory commissions, and the orientation of the documents submitted by the Theological Commission.”
  • Pope fills Curia posts
  • Are there too many Catholic journals?
  • Newsweek’s treatment of encyclical lauded
  • Cardinal to address Committee for UN
  • ‘Profoundly grieved’ by attack on priest
  • Fordham head plans to resign
  • U.S. gains million Catholics in year
  • Let’s face the facts about steady dating
  • Best attended: 2,500 men get answers at NCCM convention
  • Trustees of Catholic U. call charges ‘untrue’
  • Charities announces additions to staff

(Read all of these stories from our May 3, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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