October 18, 2013

What was in the news on Oct. 18, 1963?

The Council turns to the role of laity, and the United States will soon see one of its own beatified

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 Oct. 18, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Council Fathers probe the role of the laity
    • “VATICAN CITY—The role of the layman in the Church was brought under the scrutiny of the Fathers of the ecumenical council for the first time as they voted to take up debate on the third chapter of the schema ‘On the Nature of the Church.’ The Fathers voted on October 15 to terminate their discussion of the second chapter of the schema, dealing with the hierarchical structure of the Church, and to pass on to the third chapter, which treats of the laity. An eye-witness of the standing vote by the Fathers reported: ‘It seemed that only those remained seated who were too feeble to rise.’ ”
  • Jesuit priest is freed in prisoner exchange
  • American is beatified by Pope Paul
    • “VATICAN CITY—Pope Paul VI hailed the beatification of John Neumann—the first U.S. male citizen to be declared a blessed—as evidence of the sanctity of the American people. The pope’s words climaxed a day which was full of emotion and rejoicing for the thousands of Americans present at the ceremony and for the Church throughout the world. Bishop Neumann, fourth bishop of Philadelphia (1852-1860), was of Sudetan-German extraction—born in Prachtitz, Bohemia, now part of Czechoslovakia. He was a pioneer priest in the Church in the United States. He opened a special school for the city’s Negro children in pre-Civil War Philadelphia; he learned Gaelic so he could hear the confession of Irish immigrants.”
  • Teachers’ Institute scheduled
  • Marian slates annual ‘Day of Information’
  • Deny pope refused audience to Red
  • Consecration set for 14 bishops
  • Church and State: A Roman Catholic view
  • Why the U.S. Jewish community is interested in the council
  • Report progress on study of U.S. parochial schools
  • Rural Life group backs wheat sale to Red bloc
  • Hierarchical conference idea rapped
  • Vatican II poser: How do bishops share in the pope’s authority?
  • Treatment at council surprises POAU official
  • Undefeated teams face stiff tests
  • Family Clinic: Unwed girl expecting; mother asks guidance
  • Elimination of poverty seen as challenge to U.S.
  • Lauds record of Cuban refugee children in U.S.
  • Perry, Spencer counties to lure tourists
  • UN Assembly president is alert to encyclicals
  • Newmanites study modern problems
  • Woods choir schedules concert

(Read all of these stories from our Oct. 18, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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