September 27, 2013

What was in the news on Sept. 27, 1963?

Pope Paul pledges a reform of the Curia, and strong words on racism from Cardinal Ritter

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 Sept. 27, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Pope Paul VI pledges Curia reorganization
    • “VATICAN CITY—His Holiness Pope Paul VI has announced he will simplify and decentralize the Roman Curia, the Church’s central administrative body. Pope Paul said the Curia has ‘grown ponderous with its own venerable age.’ The pope announced his plan to the cardinals, priests and laymen of the Curia at a special audience. The reforms of the Curia, he stated, ‘will be formulated and promulgated by the Curia itself.’ He outlined some of the reforms: Members of the Curia will be recruited on a ‘supernational’ basis. At present, its membership is predominantly Italian. Members will receive what the pope called an ‘ecumenical’ education in preparation for the Curia work. Local bishops will take over functions now performed by the Curia, which can be handled more efficiently on a local basis. Local bishops may be brought into the Curia.”
  • Set for September 29: World awaits reopening of 2nd Vatican Council
  • ‘Racism is a sin’: Cardinal urges prompt passage of U.S. civil rights legislation
    • “ST. LOUIS—Cardinal Joseph Ritter called here for speedy enactment of the Kennedy administration’s civil rights program, and chided Congress for its delay in passing the measure. The Archbishop of St. Louis also said that Catholics who receive Communion while harboring racist sentiments are guilty of a sacrilege. ‘Racial injustice is a sin, and it is a serious violation of charity,’ Cardinal Ritter said.”
  • Scuttle secrecy rule for council sessions
  • Sees greater racial role by Catholics
  • Varied courses offered in Marian Lectures
  • 2nd session won’t include non-Christian observers
  • Fr. Karl Rahner: A man who lights fuses on theological ‘time bombs’
  • Council hall unchanged for 2nd session opening
  • Pope reminds surgeons of the dignity of man
  • How to increase vocations
  • Review of Politics notes anniversary
  • Take interest in council, bishop urges teenagers
  • Top grid teams clash Sunday in early key games
  • When to start sex education
  • Junior Great Books launches sixth year
  • Wife, three children at priest’s First Mass
  • Vatican to issue new stamp series
  • 2 more Marian grads in Peace Corps

(Read all of these stories from our Sept. 27, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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