April 1, 2016

What was in the news on April 1, 1966?

Centuries of state domination over religious seen ended, and Jesuit magazine calls for discussion on priestly celibacy

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 April 1, 1966, issue of The Criterion:
 

  • Pope, Anglican head pledge unity efforts
  • At ND Conference: Speakers map ‘new theology’
  • Concelebration set for Holy Thursday
    • “In an historic liturgical event, Archbishop [Paul C.] Schulte will concelebrate the Sacred Liturgy with the deans of the nine deaneries in Holy Thursday services at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral. … Another innovation this year will be the inclusion of the deacons and subdeacons from the Indianapolis area in the ceremonies.”
  • St. Francis to cooperate in program
  • St. Meinrad parley explores education
  • Ecumenism in action: Our teenagers are building bridges
  • Nine Catholic schools win Science Fair awards
  • PAVLA to sponsor regional meeting
  • Church history lives again in recordings
  • Vatican Council and social reform
  • Plan reception for Fatima nuns
  • Bishops, orders to provide link for better harmony
  • Music contest gets underway this weekend
  • Sacred Heart Central revises athletic staff
  • Centuries of state domination seen ended by liberty document
    • “WASHINGTON—The man most instrumental in the passage of the ecumenical council’s Declaration on Religious Freedom told Catholic and Protestant listeners here that the document marks the end of state domination in religious affairs that began with the Emperor Constantine. Father John Courtney Murray, S.J., said he believes those Western governments which have sought to control religious affairs reflect ‘a pagan instinct inherent in nearly all states.’ He said this spirit in the Constantinian Empire, when Christianity first received state protection, obscured the Gospel message of individual freedom before God. The council’s documents, he said, reasserts the Scriptural roots of personal freedom and gives them a legal formulation.”
  • Prelate to appear before Anglicans
  • Set clergy institute on alcohol
  • Form liaison body for religious unity
  • ‘America’ urges study of priestly celibacy
    • “NEW YORK—‘America’ magazine has urged American bishops to authorize a ‘reliable and impartial study by competent experts’ of the Catholic Church’s discipline on priestly celibacy. In a March 26 editorial, the national Catholic weekly, edited by Jesuits, said that in view of the increasing number of articles on celibacy in the secular press, it is now time that the questions receive ‘significant and prudent scrutiny and communication on the part of our bishops.’ Such a study as it was proposing, ‘America’ said, ‘could be a persuasive sign of sympathetic and enlightened leadership, and could lift discussion above the present level of anonymous protest and titillating rumor.’ ”
  • Mixed marriage instruction seen as an aid to ecumenism
  • Msgr. Charles Koster comments on decree

(Read all of these stories from our April 1, 1966, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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