July 20, 2012

What was in the news on July 20, 1962?

Textbook case goes to the Supreme Court and more predictions about the Second Vatican 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 July 20, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Oregon textbook case goes to nation’s Supreme Court
    • “WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review a decision that Catholic school pupils cannot take part in Oregon’s program under which tax-paid textbooks are lent to children attending state-recognized ‘standard schools.’ … The Oregon [Supreme Court], which upset a 20-year-old textbook distribution program, held that the books were not an aid to the children using them, but to the school as a religious institution, even though it qualified as a standard school.”
  • CDA urged to champion Negro cause
  • High School Fund payments up
  • Spanish-Latin ritual approved by Vatican
  • Less dependence on Rome by hierarchy is predicted
    • “CINCINNATI—More local government of the Church on the national level and less dependence on the bishops of Rome in matters of local significance will be one of the important results of the coming Second Vatican Council in the opinion of Archbishop Karl J. Alter of Cincinnati. The Archbishop, who is a member of the Council’s Central Preparatory Commission, stated in an interview that the council ‘will review every phase of Church life—doctrine, liturgy, law, missions, training of the clergy, sacraments and revision of liturgical books.’ The Cincinnati Ordinary predicted that the council will be a ‘milestone’ in the history of the Church, and in its ‘broad sweep of interests’ will more closely parallel the Council of Trent than any other. (The 19th council met at Trent, Italy, from 1545 to 1563.)”
  • United Europe backers reminded of heritage
  • Bishop stands firm: Catholic school strike draws sharp criticism in Australia
  • Layman given diocesan post
  • ‘Ideological Suitcases’
  • Marian College class polled on council
  • Wanted: Lay views on the ecumenical council
  • At doctors’ congress: St. Thomas, not Freud, suggested for neuroses
  • Protestant organ backs pupil tax deductions
  • Council coverage on satellite TV
  • Editorial: Medicare
  • 20,000 man hours: Proposals for council take up 2,060 pages
  • Lauds clergy-laity cooperation in U.S.
  • German exchange student enjoys year at Providence High School
  • Spain plans social reforms based on papal encyclical
  • U.S. bishops plan meeting in Rome

(Read all of these stories from our July 20, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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