March 23, 2012

What was in the news on March 23, 1962?

Orthodox bishops speak out on East-West differences, and editor urges laity to minimize differences

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 23, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Orthodox bishops speak out on East-West differences
  • Would plan cooperation with Rome
    • “BERGAMO, Italy—Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople [Istanbul] has urged that all Christian forces be united ‘to fight not only communist materialism by all “isms” which threaten religious faith.’ … Patriarch Athenagoras recommended that theological differences be shelved for the time being and that His Holiness Pope John XXIII place himself at the head of a movement ‘for Christian recovery and cooperation.’ This movement, he said, would permit the different Churches to continue as they are but would lead them to ‘work side by side always more closely in the field of practical action.’ ”
  • Urges laity to minimize differences
    • “SAN ANTONIO, Tex.—Liberal and Conservative Catholics have so much in common in the work of the Church that their differences should not hinder their joint efforts in the lay apostolate, a Catholic lay editor declared here. This outlook was stressed by Gerard E. Sherry, managing editor of the Central California Register … . Asserting that the controversy between Liberal and Conservative Catholics has gone too far, Mr. Sherry cautioned that Catholic laymen must ‘subordinate the domestic debate within the Church to its proper level.’ ‘The great debate is with the world—where men seek to idolize themselves rather than their Creator,’ he said.”
  • Two Italian cardinals discuss coming council
  • $50 million saved: Catholics reduce taxes by maintaining schools
  • Church in Ceylon faces pressures
  • Scot Presbyterian head will visit Holy Father
  • The Reds and the Cardinal
  • Pamphlet on Communism draws official statement
  • Farmers and the income tax
  • Mr. Hyde loves communists, hates communism
  • Polish Reds alarmed at new ‘Vatican policy’
  • Church’s role social thought has role for government
  • Ecumenical spirit high in Holland
  • Opinions: Housewife enters argument over English-Latin
  • Modern Church architecture has no room for ‘kitsch’—priest says
  • Lilly fund gives $50,000 to Brebeuf
  • William Conley named to direct study of Catholic schools
  • Asks for more laity in social justice work
  • All cardinal deacons to be elevated
  • ‘Bacon priest’ asks: What happens when Red tyranny ends?

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

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