November 18, 2011

What was in the news on Nov. 17, 1961? Warnings about false ecumenism and praise for youth in the fights against racism

By Brandon A. Evans

50 Year LogoThis 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 17, 1961, issue of The Criterion:

  • Warns of ‘faulty methods’ in pursuing Christian unity
    • “WASHINGTON—Archbishop Karl J. Alter of Cincinnati warned here about faulty methods of pursuing Church unity and an erroneous understanding of its true nature. … He asserted that a primary objective of the pope in convoking the ecumenical council ‘is to take advantage of the favorable opportunity to advance the cause of Christian unity.’ … ‘It must be made clear to our separated brethren that unity, to be genuine, must be unity of faith, of worship and of discipline. It is something which can never be created by human ingenuity.’ Archbishop Alter warned that there is ‘a false irenicism which seeks to dissolve vital differences of belief through compromise, and which often substitutes a mirage of unity for the reality.’ ”
  • Episcopal head visits with pope
  • A life of service: Widowed grandmother follows unique calling
  • Can’t agree on religion and schools
  • Protestant report cites growth in U.S. Catholics
  • Hits ‘time and the law’ approach to civil rights
  • Pope makes old GIs laugh, cry
  • UNESCO opens doors to literacy, learning
  • Bus ruling appeal set by Oklahoma parents
  • Annual NCWC reports reflect Church growth
  • Pope John defines ‘priestly spirit’
  • Free Korea’s Chang from house arrest
  • At CYO stadium: Cadet football title on the line Sunday
  • Catholic, non-Catholic youths join in prayers
  • Cites youth leadership in civil rights fight
    • “WASHINGTON—American young people are setting the pace for their elders in the field of human rights, a Catholic educator and interracial leaders said here. ‘American youth are succeeding admirably in seizing the mantle of leadership in race relations from the racist and the bigot,’ declared Dr. John J. O’Connor, professor of history at Georgetown University and president of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice. It is young people who are alerting American adults ‘to assume their fair share of responsibility for assuring basic human rights for all Americans.’ ”
  • Buddhist Burma generous toward Christian schools
  • Needed: Negro foster homes
  • Council Commission explores major issues
  • 13-century-old prayer opens Council meetings
  • Speculation again rife about new cardinals
  • A ‘friendly’ omen: Observers at New Delhi hailed as breakthrough
  • Prayers are asked for non-Catholics
  • NCCM sets session to discuss crisis in lay leadership

(Read all of these stories from our November 17, 1961, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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