July 26, 2013

What was in the news on July 26, 1963?

Church leaders call for civil rights action and Pope Paul gives a mandate to women

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 July 26, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Church leaders appeal for civil rights action
    • “WASHINGTON—Spokesmen for three major Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox, and Jewish agencies backed the administration’s civil rights program in a joint statement to a House Judiciary subcommittee. They called for racial justice ‘now’ and said that ‘what is right, both in terms of basic morality and in terms of our democratic ideals, must be granted without delay.’ Their support extended to the administration’s controversial proposal to bar discrimination in privately–owned public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants. They said the property right is not an absolute right but must yield to higher considerations.”
  • Pope gives a mandate to women
    • “VATICAN CITY—His Holiness Pope Paul VI has called for the reconstruction of the Christian community and indicated that women are the best agents for the task. Pope Paul’s call was made during a special audience granted to leaders of the women’s, young women’s and children’s sections of Italian Catholic Action. The pope said: ‘We are surrounded in our daily lives by clear symptoms which point to the gradual decay of the Christian community. It would seem that in certain sectors the Christian community no longer exists, or has been worn down by time, or has not withstood the new morals, while the alluring voice of the world with all its outward attractions has greatly distracted those souls who were once attentive to weekly lessons in Christian doctrine, sang vespers and attended the celebration of Holy Mass. Many people have therefore been dispersed, at least spiritually.’ ”
  • Unity is result of effort, Montreal delegates told
  • Protestant ‘neighbor’: Sees Pontiff promoting spirit of ecumenism
  • Bishop at Moscow rite lauds unity progress
  • Catholic membership in World Council seen dogmatically feasible
  • Cornerstone rite is held in Columbus
  • Reporter in Latin America: Finds social progress slow but encouraging
  • Vatican communications adequate, Kennedy says
  • Scholar advises mergers among Dutch seminaries
  • Card. Valeri dead at 79
  • 89 Iron Curtain bishops could not attend council
  • Hoosier Minister General back ‘home’ for election
  • Contribution made to papal charities
  • Shriver to speak at race meeting
  • Unity movement to be TV subject
  • ND students aid Mexicans
  • Domestic Peace Corps seen aid to migrants
  • Synagogue lecture is given by priest
  • Woman’s project: ‘Orchard apostolate’ aids migrant youth
  • Priests sentenced: Catholics in Vietnam get no special favors
  • Pledge prompt action on race bias
  • Missioner inherits ‘family’
  • Anti-Catholic drive stepped up in Ceylon

(Read all of these stories from our July 26, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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