What was in the news on Nov. 10, 1961? Father Hesburgh says denial of civil rights is an act of subversion, and Pope John XXIII promises a new encyclical

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, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Here are some of the items found in the November 10, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

• Calls denial of civil rights ‘most dangerous subversion’
  • “WASHINGTON—Americans who concentrate on Red subversion at home should give equal energy to extending civil rights to all U.S. citizens because denial of these rights is ‘the most dangerous subversion.’ This opinion was expressed by Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame and a member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. … He said that the ‘true crisis’ today is not Red activity overseas, but what Americans are doing at home to deepen and extend the convictions of human dignity and rights which are the foundation of democracy and the basis of the American image abroad.”
• Canadian lay leaders give views on Council
• Pope pledges encyclical to honor Leo the Great
  • “VATICAN CITY—A new encyclical was promised by His Holiness Pope John XXIII at the combined celebration of his 80th birthday and the third anniversary of his coronation. The encyclical, he said, will mark the 15th centenary of the death of Pope Leo the Great on Nov. 11, and will center upon his relation to the Church’s history. The pope also used the occasion to make what he called an ‘anguished appeal’ for world peace.”
• Pope lauds function of diplomats
• Ruling bars bus rides to parochial children
• Parochial school pupils present colorful United Nations Festival
• How to be an
• anti-Communist
• Do’s and Don’ts of fighting Communism
• Orthodox set to tackle modern day problems
• Keep school system intact, Bishop of Worcester urges
• Wisconsin acts to stem obscenity
• Respect others’ beliefs, Catholics are reminded
• Faith, tolerance seen inseparable
• Protestants aid Catholic school
• Today’s teens worst ever? Here’s nun who disagrees
• ‘Basically Dishonest’: Even Audrey can’t save ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
• Pope John creates new Texas diocese
• Teleprompters used in church
• Several parishes slate festivals and dinners
• Brands U.S. prisons ‘a colossal failure’
• ‘Union labor only’ policy of Bishop lauded by Meany
• Pope makes another appeal for world peace
• Speaker deplores stand of
• ultra-conservatives
• State high court upholds Sunday sales law in N.J.

(Read all of these stories from our November 10, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †