December 18, 2015

What was in the news on Dec. 17, 1965?

A tuition hike for schools, calls for group confession and Pope Paul VI asking for peace in Vietnam

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 Dec. 17, 1965, issue of The Criterion:
 

  • Tuition hike is announced; school is renamed for JFK
    • “A significant boost in tuition payments for the diocesan-owned high schools in Marion County has been voted by the Archdiocesan School Board along with a decision to rename Sacred Heart Central High School in Indianapolis. Confronted by an expected $400,000 operational deficit for the five diocesan schools this year in Marian County, the board recommended an increase from $120 to $200 in the annual tuition rate. Family rates would be $300 for two and $350 for three or more youngsters. The board also decided to rename Sacred Heart Central as the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School, in honor of the late President. Both actions have been approved by Archbishop Schulte.
  • Report released: Urge drastic changes in American dioceses
  • U.S. bishops set ‘week’ for Latins
  • Notre Dame students launch protest fast
  • Ecumenism study group established
  • ‘Operation Christmas’ urged by Pope Paul
  • Spanish bishops ask for new liberty laws
  • Students in prayer vigil
  • Historic document: Complete text of the council’s decree of religious liberty
  • Fr. Kueng hopes episcopal synod will elect popes
  • Emphasizes role of nuns at Selma
  • Seeking ‘best talent’ available for a uniform English liturgy
  • TV show names Pope as ‘Man of the Year’
  • Papal Volunteers are assigned
  • Spain will erect Serra monument
  • 8 teams are left in Criterion Quiz contest
  • New Albany details plans for two events
  • Protestant leaders hail Vatican Council
  • Pope Paul lauds Maryknoll bishop
  • Orthodox to seek closer Rome ties
  • Mission bishop becomes ‘marriage broker’
  • Lutheran leader hails council’s liberty action
  • Polish bishops’ letter to Germans draws fire
  • Publish War II papers from Vatican archives
  • Holiday turkey social slated at Napoleon
  • Four ordained to subdiaconate for Archdiocese
  • Church unity movement seen at crossroads
  • Minor orders for Brothers?
  • ‘Vatican Council’ to be TV topic
  • Replacement of confession with group absolution urged
    • “DAYTON, Ohio—Replacement of the traditional method of Confession by group absolution was proposed by a Paulist priest here at a meeting of the Liturgical Arts group of the archdiocese of Cincinnati. Abandonment of auricular confession and institution of a ‘liturgical act’ before Mass was proposed by Father Arthur F. LeBlanc, C.S.P., who is a teacher, researchist, and Newman Center chaplain at Ohio State University. ‘I propose that group Confession is the ideal way,’ the priest said in discussing the sacrament of Penance. Penance now is an egocentric act,’ he said, and in this respect is unlike the other sacraments.”
  • Ecumenism seen as ‘plot’
    • “HONG KONG—A communist Chinese newspaper in Canton has described the ecumenical movement among Christians as a gigantic plot inspired by American imperialists.”

(Read all of these stories from our Dec. 10, 1965, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

Because this is our last issue of the year, we will also include one headline and partial story from the Dec. 24, 1965 edition of the paper:
 

  • Pope Paul voices appeal for ceasefire in Vietnam
    • “VATICAN CITY—A message of greeting to the world was shrouded in sadness when Pope Paul VI in his regular Sunday audience before Christmas pleaded for a ceasefire in Vietnam at least for the birthday of Christ. ‘Where is peace?’ the Pope asked from his apartment window overlooking St. Peter’s Square (Dec. 19). ‘Where is the humanity and Christianity of Christmas?” “We have heard reports of negotiations to resolve the conflict in Vietnam,” he said. ‘We are aware of certain proposals for a trucea ceasefire at lease for the blessed days of Christmas. And we know of many government officials eagerly looking for ways to resolve the difficult dispute. But we know especially that millions of hearts are trembling and suffering, awaiting the return of peace.’ ”

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