March 9, 2012

What was in the news on March 9, 1962?

Interreligious relations in the U.S., a step forward for Mother Theodore and preparation of laity for the Council

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 9, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Dispel interreligious antagonism by speaking out, U.S. laity urged
    • "CLEVELAND—There will be clashes ahead between the various U.S. religious groups that can lead to serious division unless Catholic laymen take a direct, personal responsibility to explain their aims, a lay leader declared here. … [William B. Ball] said that interreligious understanding had reached a peak at the end of the 1960 presidential campaign, but that it was difficult to describe the state of Catholic, non-Catholic relationships now and 'the weather for the future is even harder to predict.' "
  • Archbishop's Lenten Letter
  • Pontiff asks U.S. children to sacrifice
  • 'Experts' polled: See broad significance in pope's Latin decree
  • Pope cites persecution of Church
  • Mother Theodore's cause advances another step
    • "ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind.—The Cause of the beatification of Mother Theodore Guérin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence, passed another milestone on March 2, when the Postulator for the Cause, Msgr. Emidio Federici, announced in Rome that the Holy See had approved both the Informative and Apostolic Processes. … The next step in the Cause will be the discussion of the life of Mother Theodore by officials of the Congregation of Rites to determine whether she practiced the virtues in an 'heroic manner.' "
  • Group deplores bias by clubs, fraternities
  • Hargis Crusade reaps a financial 'harvest'
  • Question Box: Could a Catholic be an astronaut?
  • A priest in Russia: Guides 'brainwash' tourists in Soviet Union
  • Church, government fight Brazil housing shortage
  • Family Clinic: Husband is a slacker
  • U.N. to study proposals on religious freedom
  • See lack of preparation among laity for Council
    • "WASHINGTON—The laity as a whole throughout the world is not adequately prepared for the coming Second Vatican Council. This is the consensus of the board of directors of the Permanent Committee of International Congresses for the Apostolate of the Laity, according to the American member, Martin H. Work. … 'It was felt by board members that in some quarters the laity took a pessimistic view that nothing of great importance concerning laymen will be undertaken at the council, while on the other extreme some are taking an overly optimistic view and expecting too much.' "
  • Pope John revives ancient tradition
  • St. Paul's relics back in basilica
  • 67,000 Negroes attended Catholic schools in 1961
  • School head advises study of 'shared time'
  • Vocation shortage prompts closing of seminary in France

(Read all of these stories from our March 9, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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