March 2, 2012

What was in the news on March 2, 1962?

Latin as the official language of the Church, and a Chinese Catholic decision to break with Rome

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 March 2, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Pope John again emphasizes position of Latin in Church
    • "Vatican City—His Holiness Pope John XXIII has issued a document reconfirming Latin as the official language of the Church and forbidding any efforts to supplant it. Pope John said that Latin is 'a source of doctrinal clarity and certainty' and can contribute to unity and understanding among nations. The pope spoke in an apostolic constitution, 'Veterum Sapientia,' [The Wisdom of the Ancients] signed [on Feb. 22] in St. Peter's Basilica with great solemnity in the presence of 41 cardinals, officials of the Vatican's administrative staff, members of pre-preparatory commissions for the coming ecumenical council and the pastors of Rome."
  • Family leading fight on crippling disease
  • Anti-Red 'crusaders' seen off on a tangent
  • More power for bishops discussed by Commission
  • Translation proposal for Council hit
    • "Vatican City—The Vatican's famed Latinist, Cardinal Antonio Bacci, has expressed opposition to simultaneous, multilingual translations of proceedings of the coming ecumenical council. … He favors exclusive use of Latin in the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council, scheduled to begin on October 11. He suggested that a team of Latinists be used to summarize council proceedings as a service to the press."
  • China 'patriots' vote total break with Rome
    • "HONG KONG—The 'Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics' at its recent second congress put itself squarely behind the communist regime's program for the 'new China' and resolved to be totally independent of Rome, it was learned here. A total of 256 'bishops, priests, Religious and laity' were present at the meeting in the communist capital city of Peking."
  • Does 'Mater et Magistra' support Socialism?
  • Don't bar 'controversial' books, teachers advised
  • Right wingers attack Church unity efforts
  • Lay responsibility stressed by bishop
  • A priest in Russia: Soviet tourist agency is an official 'watchdog'
  • Methodist bishop hits religions ban
  • 'Babes in Toyland': Walt Disney film disappointing
  • Around the archdiocese: Pre Cana lectures set for Richmond couples
  • Pastor, rural flock 'restore' cemetery
  • 'Limited' school aid legal, expert declares
  • Court backs church right in elections
  • Believes elections doom school aid

(Read all of these stories from our March 2, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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