February 24, 2012

What was in the news on Feb. 23, 1962?

A plea for Catholics not to support the John Birch Society, and 10 new cardinals mark an all-time high

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 Feb. 23, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Protestants propose to study ‘shared time’ education plan
  • Quit Birchers, Catholics urged
    • “CLEVELAND—Catholics who belong to the John Birch Society should get out of it and start reading His Holiness Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Mater et Magistra instead of the Birch ‘Blue Book.’ This advice was offered by Msgr. Francis W. Carney, president of the National Catholic Adult Education Commission, who said the Birch Society, by its principles and practices, ‘stands in open opposition to Catholic social principles.’ … ‘The philosophy of government which the society espouses, viewing government as a necessary evil, is wholly antagonistic to Catholic social philosophy.’ … He said that ‘in practice, the recommendations and program of the society for the defeat of communism are inconsistent with the recommendations of the social encyclicals of the popes since 1891.’ ”
  • Record high of 87: Ten new cardinals named by the pope
    • “VATICAN CITY—His Holiness Pope John XXIII has broken records for the fifth time in his reign with the naming of 10 new cardinals from eight countries, bringing membership in the College of Cardinals to an all-time high of 87. … Pope John departed from long-established traditions on at least eight occasions. Once he raised the total membership of the Sacred College to the highest number in nearly 400 years. Four times he raised it to all-time highs. He departed from a provision of canon law to name a new cardinal who already had a brother in the Sacred College. He twice raised the number of American cardinals to six, the highest in history. He also increased the number of titular churches in Rome.”
  • Cracking the curtain: Catholic priest in Russia
  • ‘Constructive dialogue’ on school aid advised
  • $1 million expansion set by Benedictine Sisters
  • Indianapolis Serrans announce essay contest
  • Pope kept tabs on Glenn flight
  • What is socialism?
  • Urges more action for racial justice
  • 155 canonizations held in 374 years, new report shows
  • ‘Don’t be selfish’: How to avoid marital dissension
  • Networks to carry Pope John’s appeal
  • U.S. high court refuses to review school bus ban
  • Archbishop is named for ’Frisco See
  • Sizes of dioceses studied by Council Commission
  • Committee gives report on 1960 election bigotry
  • Orthodox prelate sees ‘surprise’ at coming Council
  • Pledge to fight housing prejudice signed by 2,500

(Read all of these stories from our Feb. 23, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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