May 10, 2013

What was in the news on May 10, 1963?

The need for more priests in Latin America, and a question about the continuity of the 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 10, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Missouri ‘walk-in’ points up explosive school bus issue
  • 16 clergy assignments announced by chancery
  • Christians told to seek rift causes
  • Liturgy Commission work in final stages
  • Groundbreaking slated for new retreat house
  • A challenge to Christians
  • Canadian cardinal: Calls council ‘beginning of era’
  • Ignorance of the faith seen major Latin problem
  • Lay consultors seen for council
  • Task for council: Better distribution of clergy predicted
    • “LIMA, Peru—A better distribution of the clergy throughout the world is one of the pressing needs of the Church today, according to Cardinal Juan Landazuri Ricketts, O.F.M., Archbishop of Lima. Cardinal Landazuri recalled that ‘the pope himself has expressed the wish that more [priestly] aid be given to Latin America.’ He said that the need for better distribution of the clergy is immediately obvious to anyone who traveled in both Latin American and West Europe. In Europe, he said, there are ‘tiny settlements enjoying their own pastor, whereas there are areas of tens of thousands of Catholics in Peru without a single priest.’ ”
  • Question Box: Will the council stop if the pope dies?
    • “Q. If Pope John XXIII should die before the Second Vatican Council completes its sessions, would that terminate the work of the council? … A. The law states that the council is interrupted [suspended, discontinued] if the pope dies. While it is not, technically, terminated, it can take no action, exercise no authority, until it is reconvened by another pope. And he is free to use his own judgment about resuming or continuing it. If Pope John should die [May the Lord prevent it!] and if his successor should order the council resumed, it would still be known as Vatican II, no doubt. At least that was true of the Council of Trent, which lasted 18 years, counting interruptions. It held 10 sessions under Paul III and six under Julius III. Then their successors, Marcellous II and Paul IV, failed to reconvene it. Pius IV called it back in 1561 for nine final sessions.”
  • Pessimistic outlook on religious disputed
  • Council press leaks seen as ‘beneficial’
  • Story of the Church is television feature
  • ‘Historic significance’: Protestant theologians hail ‘Pacem in Terris’
  • Explains why new school won’t have saint’s name

(Read all of these stories from our May 10, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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