What was in the news on July 6, 1962?

A growing concern about eliminating God from public schools, and Vatican Council plans full use of modern equipment

By 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 July 6, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

• Seek to prevent elimination of God from public schools
  • “Washington—Americans now must work to prevent the Supreme Court’s prayer decision from being used to force God completely out of public education, a national committee of Catholic school superintendents has urged. … [The committee] hopes that ‘the strange decision’ of the high court will arouse the nation to consider the implications of schools which have no religion. Although the court’s decision technically may be confined to prayers composed by government officials, it is nevertheless ‘a further deterioration of our American tradition.’…”
• Dedication slated at Little Flower
• Carmelite novena rites open July 8
• Admits ‘errors’: Envoy pledges fair deal for Spain’s Protestants
• Paris priests may wear suits
• The performing arts: the struggle for survival
• More Church recognition of artist recommended
• Not all public school prayers are prohibited
• Anti-clericalism label hit by Bishop Pursley
• Weaknesses in business pinpointed by Jesuit
• Cardinal ordains one of his ‘sons’
• More Negro priests seen badly needed
• Home of St. Peter unearthed in Rome
• End sports rivalries, school official urges
• 200 U.S. Negroes included among religious brothers
• For Peru missioners: Departure rite is held at Saint Meinrad
• Council plans full use of modern equipment
  • “VATICAN CITY—Punched card ballots, electronic analysis machines and multipurpose chairs like seats in commercial airliners will expedite the work of the 21st and largest ecumenical council in the Church’s history. These devices are a few of the many details worked out by three groups now preparing for the council. They are a part of the physical and regulatory side of the historic assembly, the smooth running machinery which must accompany the grave and complex business awaiting the almost 3,000 council participants.”
• Holy Office issues warning about writings of the late Father Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.
• Goa imposes curbs on religion classes

(Read all of these stories from our July 6, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †