The Catholic times. [volume], February 18, 1955, Image 1

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Vol. IVZ No. 20
Russia’s New Boss
Signed Edict Halting
Open Religious War
N.C.W.C. News Service
Nikita S Khrushchev who appears to have emerged as
the most important official in the Soviet Union signed the de
cree last year calling a halt to “insulting attacks” on believers
and was congratulated for it by a priest.
Khrushchev, first secretaty of the central committee of
the Communist party of the Soviet Union, is thought by many
to be the Number One power in
Russia after the resignation of
Georgi Malenkov as premier.
A 60-year-old veteran of the
communist hierarchy, Khrush
chev issued a decree last Novem
ber demanding an end to open
ridicule or persecution of relig
ious believers. The decree came
In the wake of a renewed full
scale anti-religious propaganda
drive begun last summer to
break the influence religion con
tinued to exercise in Russia.
The Khrushchev decree warned
that “insulting attacks against
believers and the clergy can only
lead to the strengthening and in
tensifying reiigious prejudices
among the people.”
The expression of gratitude for
the decree camo from the only
American Catholic priest in Mos
cow, Father Georges Bissonette,
Assumptionist, who is in Russia in
accordance with stipulations of the
Roosevelt-Litvinov agreement of
1933 w’hen U.S. i ecognition was
granted to the Soviet Union.
Dispatches from Moscow in late
November stated that Father Bis
sonette introduced himself to
Frank Sheed
in 1933, Mr. Sheed came to'Ameri
ea and established the American
Publishing House in New York
City.
The firm lists most of the noted
Catholic writers of Europe and
America including such names as
Lelloc, Chesterton, Christopher
Dawson, Alfred Noyes. Jean Dan
ielou and Henri Gheon.
Khrushchev at a gala reception giv
en at Moscow’s Yugoslav embassy.
“I want to congratulate you on
that decree of the Communist
party's central committee, say
ing that anti-religious agitators
should stop insulting and inter
fering with churchgoers in the
Soviet Union," the American
priest, who speaks fluent Rus
sian, told Khrushchev.
“It has always been .my ideal
to establish freedom of conscience
and religion,” the Red leader re
plied. “Anyone who did not see
that was on the wrong track and
our decree was aimed at putting
these agitators on the right track.”
Father Bissonette then told
Khrushchev that he believed it
is a mistake to try to force “all the
various races and creeds in the
SoViet Union into the same mold.”
“I understand this very well,”
Khrushchev said
The decree signed by Khrush
chev has several times been the
object of a warning comment
by Osservatore Romano, Vatican
City daily. The paper declared
(Continued on Page 2)
Frank Sheed Will Open
Critics Forum, Feb. 24
Mr. Frank Sheed, distinguished author, lecturer and co
founder of the publishing house of Sheed and Ward, will open
this year’s series of Critics Forum reviews when he discusses
“The Confessions of St. Augustine”, Thursday, Feb. 24 in the
Little Theater of Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts.
Mr. Sheed is well known to Critics Forum audiences hav
ing appeared in the series many times since the Forum was
first introduced in Columbus in
1948.
An Australian of Irish decent,
he graduated from Sidney Uni
versity in Arts and Law. Arriving
in England, however, he decided
to give up the practice of law and
instead founded a Catholic pub
lishing house in London in 1926.
The house was designed to present
Catholicism positively and serv
ed as a medium of expression for
the entire Catholic world. Later,
“Confessions of St. Augustine”
is one of the many works Mr.
Sheed has translated. Some of his
more familiar writings include “A
Map of Life,” “Communism and
Man,” Nullity of Marriage,” and
"Society and Sanity.”
In addition to his writing and
publishing activities, he has for
over thirty years been a speaker of
the Westminster Catholic Evidence
Gihld, a group organized to teach
Catholic doctrine and explain the
Catholic point of view to the man
on the street. It is Mr. Sheed’s
responsibility to train the Guild
speakers in London. He has ad
dressed well over 3000 street
corner and indoor gatherings in
England and New York.
Dr. Clarence Forbes of Ohio
State University will act as lay
chairman for the review which
takes place at 8:15 p.m., and will
conduct the question and answer
period which follows. A recep
tion will be held in the Sessions
Room of the Gallery at the con
clusion of the lecture.
Hostesses for the reception,
members of the International Fed
eration of Catholic Alumnae, the
sponsoring group, include Miss
Inez Mulligan, Mrs. Alexander J.
Gloebkner, Mrs. Anna Marie Cline,
Zoog and Miss Joan Charles,
oog and Miss Joan Charles.
Miss Patti Corbett, chairman of
the junior hostesses, has asked
Mrs. G. R. Bernhard, Mrs. Thomas
Tighe, Miss Florine Bernhard and
Mrs. Henry Hayes, Mrs. Norman
Zoag and Miss Joan Charles.
Tickets for the series may be
procured at the Cathedral Book
Shop, McClelland’s Book Store or
from any I.F.C.A. member.
Lenten Fast, Abstinence Laws
ABSTINENCE
Everyone over 7 years of age is bound to observe the law
of abstinence.
Complete abstinence is to be observed on Fridays, Ash
Wednesday, the Vigils of the Assumption and Christmas, and on
Holy Saturday morning.
On days of complete abstinence meat and soup or gravy
made from meat may not be used at all.
Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember Wednesdays
and Saturdays and on the Vigils of Pentecost and All Saints.
On days of partial abstinence meat and soup or gravy made
from meat may be taken only once a day at the principal meal.
FAST
Everyone over 21 and under 59 years of age is also bound
to observe the law of fast.
The days of fast are the weekdays of Lent. Ember Days,
the Vigils of Pentecost, the Assumption, All Saints and Christmas.
On days of fast only one full meal is allowed. Two other
meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken
according to each one’s needs but together they should not
equal another full meal. Meat may be taken at the principal
meal on a day of fast except Fridays, Ash Wednesday and the
Vigils of the Assumption and Christmas.
Eating between meals is not permitted but liquids, includ
ing milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
When health or ability to work would be seriously affected,
the law does not oblige.
In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, a parish priest er
confessor should be consulted.
The
rapid
A MINK
NEWSPAPER DIVISION
OHIO STATE MUSEUM
Reporting on the survey, which
took sample opinions from superin
tendants in each state, the maga
zine asserted that “only two per
cent would include private or
parochial schools in the scheme of
things.”
In Philadelphia, Archbishop
John F. O'Hara, C.S.C., urged
careful study of all current pro
posals for an emergency pro
gram of federal aid for school
construction.
Citing figures which indicated
that each year nearly 20 per cent
of the population moved from one
house to another, the Archbishop
said this must be taken into ac
count when new school
are planned.
“The construction of
school facilities in what
ghost town ten years from
would later be stigmatized as
planning.” he warned.
flp 1 COL^miOOHIO -g l(
progress in the construction of two new churches
in the Hilltop area of Columbus is evidenced In the two pictures
above. At top, the superstructure of the $490,000 brick end lime
stone St. Mery Magdalene Church is rising. When completed in De
cember, it will be the first church building the perish has had in
its 25 years of existence. Below, finishing touches are being put
on the new St. Agnes Church, scheduled to be completed by March 1.
The parish was formed last April by Bishop Ready. While con
struction progresses, parishioners are attending Mass at the W.
Mound St. School.
Proposed Federal Aid Program
Will Aid Public Schools Alone
The announcement that President Eisenhower’s billion
dollar program is aimed to help build public schools exclusive
ly, brought varied reactions this week from a school magazine
and a Catholic archbishop.
The Nation’s Schools, an influen
tial a a z ine concerned with
school administration, said 98 per
cent of the country’s school super
intendents want federal aid for
school construction confined solely
to public schools.
buildings
elaborate
be a
now
poor
may
was
He also said closer study
needed on the problem of varia
tions in estimated construction
Seven nuns who are dedi
cating their lives to the spirit
ual and material betterment
of society, made life a little
easier last year for 123 per
sons in metropolitan Colum
bus.
They are members of the
Dominican Sisters of the Sick
Poor, an order which nurses the
sick and gives food to the poor,
whether they are negro or white,
Protestant or Catholic.
From the Convent of St. Rose of
Lima, 168 E. Lincoln St., the sisters
travel to all parts of the city each
day to perform such duties as cook
ing, housework, baby care, and
nursing. Their aim is to aid the
family during a critical period.
As an example, up until several
months ago, they made daily visits
to the bedside of a woman (now
deceased) who was in a coma. For
more than four years, they minis
tered to her needs during the day.
Her husband, as a result, was able
to keep his job, and thus bring in
enough money to maintain the
household.
The sisters, incidentally, never
take money for their work. They
help only those who are not .able
to pay for nursing service.
The benefits of their service are
not always material. For instance,
their two-year vigil at the bedside
of an elderly woman who broke
her leg bore unexpected results.
Six months after the woman’s
death, her son called Sister Clara
Marie, superior at the convent, and
declared:
"If th* Catholic Church will do
such work without asking for
pay, then I'm interested in learn
ing more about the church."
Later, he became a Catholic.
lhe Catholic Times
Columbus 16, Ohio, Friday, February 18, 1955
Progress in Construction Noted
costs per public school pupil. His
message dealt entirely with the
public schools.
The Archbishop also pointed out
(Continued on Page 2)
It was during a similar meeting
on November 10 that Peron launch
ed his campaign against the Church
by accusing three Bishops and a
number of priests of being “ene
mies of the government.”
The current meeting between
Peron and the governors is the
first one since the campaign
7 Sisters Dedicate Lives to Poor
Requiem Offered
For Mother of 3
Diocesan Priests
Fathers James, William and
ter McEwan, all of the Columbus
Diocese, offered a Solemn Requiem
Mass, Monday, for their mother,
Mrs Jeanie McEwan, in St. Chris
topher church Bishop Ready pre
sided at the Mass and gave final
absolution.
Peron’s Aim to Stifle Church
Seen in Discharge of Priests
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (NC)-------The dismissal of 100 priests as teachers of
religion in Argentine public schools is seen here as final proof of the regime’s intention to
stifle the influence of the Church in education.
It is believed significant-here that announcement of the mass dismissal came one day
after the opening of a meeting be
tween President Juan D. Peron and
the governors of the various Argen
tine provinces and territories.
against the Church was launched. It
is expected that other anti-Church
measures will be discussed during
the meeting.
Announcement of the discharge
of the priests was made by the
Ministry of Education. It said that
the ousters completed its program
of removing the Church from a po
sition of influence in public
schools. Three of the priests dis
missed served as education inspec-
A Mt f’
Displaying the kind of charity to which the Dominican Sisters
of the Sick Poor have dedicated their lives is Sister Maria. O.P.,
one of the seven nuns of the community at 168 E. Lincoln St.
The Sisters during 1954 compiled an envieble record of giving
material and spiritual aid to the less fortunate people in metropoli
tan Columbus. Their work, for which there is no charge, includes
such tasks as visiting the homes of the poor, feeding the sick,
giving used clothing to the needy, and administering medicine
Statistically speaking, the Sis
ters, who have been in Columbus
since 1912, made 5,601 visits to
homes last year, and served a total
of 11,212 hours in helping people.
They also gave food and used cloth
ing to the poor who came to the
convent for assistance
This work was made possible by
contributions from friends, and
from members of two organizations
I —Friends of the Sick Poor and the
Elizabethan Guild.
To raise some of these funds, the
Elizabethan Guild will hold its an
nual spring card party at 8 p.m.
April 14 at Valley Dale. All pro
ceeds from the affair will be given
to the Sisters.
General chairman of the party is
Mrs. Joseph Schreick. Mrs. James
Charles is president of the organi
zation, which has 100 active mem
bers.
ashes to remind the faithful that
they are under
as a result of
will celebrate
Mass at 8 a.m.
Joseph Cathedral.
Pe-
A member of Our Lady of Vic
tory parish, Mrs. McEwan was a
native of Glasgow, Scotland. She
died Thursday following a long
illness.
Also surviving are four other
sons, four daughters, 11 grandchil
dren, two sisters and a brother.
Father James is chaplain of the
Catholic Student Center of Ohio
State University Father William is
assistant pastor of St. Rose parish,
New Lexington Father Peter is as
sistant pastor of Sacred Heart par
ish, New Philadelphia.
-----------------o----------------
State Senate Kills
Easy Divorce Bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (NC) A
bill which would have permitted
auicker divorces in North Carolina
was killed in the State General As
sembly.
The State Senate voted down the
bill. Opponents of the measure said
the bill would strike at “the sanc
tity of marriage vows and the
home.”
sentence of death
sin. Bishop Ready
a Pontifical Low
Wednesday at St.
In a letter, to be read in all
churches Sunday, and addressed to
the clergy, religious and faithful
throughout the diocese, Bishop
Ready outlined practices which will
contribute to a “blessed and profit
able” Lententide.
Asserting that we era to "live
and pray in such a manner as to
bring the bodily passions and ap
petites under subjection," the
Bishop pointed out that Lenten
laws of fast and abstinence, the
avoidance of the usual legitimate
pleasures, and personal solf-sac
rifices voluntarily imposed in un
ion with Christ's sufferings are
necessary "if we wish to be mas
ter of our lives and not slaves to
tomptetions which surround us.
“Beyond that,” he continued,
“the grace of God must increase
within us. Fervor in prayer must
grow, participation in the Holy Sac
rifice of the Mass and reception of
Holy Communion is essential, spir
itual reading, attentive devotion to
Lenten sermons and the pious ex
ercise of the Stations of the Cross
should be sources of a deeper
knowledge and love of God. Let
your charity abound in the alms
you are asked to give for the
works of the Church.
"A Lententide spant in this
manner," he declared, "is al
ready in acceptance of the invi
tation extended by God to come
into His Kingdom. Anything else
would be tantamount to declin
ing that invitation. There is no
other meaning to life, my dear
brethren, than to unite it to
God."
Also in the pastoral letter, Bish
op Ready expressed alarm at the
“apparent growing irresponsibility
of far too many Catholic youth
’toward the Sacrament of Matri-
tors. The “Catholic religion” will
continue to be taught in the
schools, but students will not need
passing marks in religion to be
promoted to a higher grade, the
education ministry stated.
The government also said that
it would cancel an annual sub
sidy of $5,600,000 to private
schools, the majority of them
Catholic. Catholic groups oper
ate some 900 private schools
with an enrollment of 300,000.
All Argentine school children
are now on their summer vaca
tion which began at the end of
November. They are scheduled
to return to school in April.
There is fear here that the gov
ernment may step in and confiscate
private schools Two outstanding
colleges conducted by the Jesuits
(Continued on Page 2)
Fr. Nugent Offers
Solemn Requiem
Mass For Father
Father Michael Nugent, pastor
of Lourdes parish. Ada. offered a
Solemn Requiem Mass this morn
ing in St. Benedict’s church, Cam
bridge, for his father, Lawrence E.
Nugent, 73, of Cambridge, who died
Tuesday morning following an ill
ness of several months.
A member of St. Benedict par
ish, Mr. Nugent was a well-known
church and civic leader of the com
munity. He was a member of the
parish Holy Name Society, the
Knights of Columbus and the Cath
olic Men’s Luncheon Club. He re
titred from the U.S. Steel Company
in 1936 and opened the Nugent In
surance Agency in Cambridge.
Other survivors include his wife,
Mary: six daughters, Sister M. Ros
amond, O.S.F., of Manitowoc, Wis.
Mrs.
beth
Earl
Mrs.
and
Washington, D.C. two other sons.
L. Paul of Cambridge and James,
a student in the theological semi
nary at Catholic U., Washington,
D.C. 22 grandchildren, a sister,
Mary, of Cambridge, and a bro
ther, Frank, of Dayton.
Earl Hummer and Mrs. Eliza
DeLong of Columbus Mrs.
Farrell, Fort Thomas, Ky.
Michael Flanagan, Cincinnati,
Mrs. Timothy O’Connor of
Elliott Nugent, the noted play
wright and actor, is a nephew.
Bishop Urges Lenten
Prayer, Penance Ash
Wednesday Rites Set
A “holy and mortified observance of Lent” was urged this week by Bishop Ready, as
Catholics throughout the diocese prepared for the 40-day period of penance and prayer.
Lent will begin next week on Ash Wednesday with special Masses and distribution of
mony and the duties of family life.’
He emphasized:
Youth must accept the law of
God and obey the duties of the
To the Reverend Clergy, Religious,
and Faithful of the Diocese of Columbus.
My beloved Brethren.
Learn the Catholic
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marriage state. One marries only
once. Sentimentality and publici
ty speak excitingly about people
(Continued on Page 2)
The daily action of the Liturgy of the Church is to form
the lives of its members in the likeness of Jesus Christ. For the
past few weeks, our Holy Mother has been preparing us for
something more than the observance of a blessed and profitable
Lententide. She has been urging us to make a decision which will
affect us in time and eternity.
During these days of the pre-Lenten season called Septua
gesima we have been presented with a clear invitation to
seek the Kingdom of God and His justice. There is need of a
choice on our part. We can follow the pattern of Satan with
his proud refusal, “I will not serve.” Or, we ran give the humble
response with which Christ submitted to the Will of His
enly Father,—I come to do Thy will, O God I will serve
be obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.
There is no other decision which rests so heavily
man than to accept or decline the invitation of God to
into His Kingdom. It is left to man to make the choice but he
is able to do so only with the help of God. It is this unceasing
cooperation of man’s free will with divine grace which makes
sanctity a reality in our lives. We are all called to be saints.
This is to say that man’s true dignity is based in his spiritual
quality. Man is not on earth to serve the world, the devil or the
flesh. One moment’s serious consideration will prove the truth
of that statement. The spiritually-minded man understands that
truth. The proud. lustful, unrepentant worldling will understand
it when it is too late.
In certain areas of human experience men and women often
consider their personal convictions, desires, and appetites be
yond the laws of God. They live as if they were exempt from
all obligation. Anything that clashes with their selfish desires
is condemned as unreasonable. More and more we notice this
stubborn non-spiritual attitude in home, school and family life
and in the almost idolatrous following of popular modes in
thought and conduct.
I am constrained, my beloved brethren, to mention in this
connection the apparent growing irresponsibility of far too many
Catholic youth towards the Sacrament of Matrimony and the
duties of family life. All parents and pastors share with me
the desire for true happiness among our young people. We would
do nothing to interfere with youth’s correct ambitions and true
joy. It i' precisely from the wise vantage point of knowledge
and experience that we ask youth to regard the serious char
acter of marriage. The old truths do not lend themselves to
bright and catchy phrases but they do give the only sensible
foundation for a good and happy life.
Youth must accept the law of God and obey the duties of
the marriage state. One marries only once. Sentimentality and
publicity speak excitingly about people getting divorced and
“remarrying.” But actually they do not re-marry no matter what
euphemism is applied to the act of setting up a home with
someone else while a former spouse is living. There is only
one right name for it and that is adultery. The State cannot
unmake a contract which God has ratified. When you marry
you marry forever.
Knowing infinitely more about love than “affairs of the
heart” columnists, the Church insists that those about to marry
should regard the seriousness of the vmvs to be given. Her laws
and regulations are for the good of souls and the welfare of
society. They should be known and heeded. Times beyond
counting, a life’s happiness has been saved because some priest
had to say “no” when two emotional people pleaded “we want
to get married now.”
We should never forget that marriage is a Sacrament. As
children we spent months preparing for our first Holy Com
munion, The priest must wait years before the Church considers
him ready to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Marriage
may make or break a person's happiness here on earth. It will
certainly influence one’s prospect of eternal salvation. The
Church as a wise and loving Mother speaks seriously to her
children on a most important matter for individual and human
welfare. She asks all contemplating marriage to recognize that
infatuation is not love that lust is not love. “Love,” said Saint
Paul, “seeketh not its own.”
These are among the truths which the Church gives us for
serious consideration as we begin the season of Lent. They
should determine our resolutions and our actions during this
penitential period. Wherever there is evidence of a defection of
our will from the service of God in ditcharging our duties,
It is exactly in those areas that we must work to strengthen our
selves in God’s love.
A holy and mortified observance of Lent is directed pre
cisely to that end. We are to live and pray in such a manner as
to bring the bodily passions and appetites under subjection.
The Lenten laws of fast and abstinence, the wholesome prac
tice of avoiding the usual legitimate pleasures of the year, the
personal self-sacrifices voluntarily imposed upon ourselves in
union with the sufferings of Christ are necessary if we wish to
be master of our lives and not slaves to the temptations which
surround us. Beyond that, the grace of God must increase within
us. Fervor in prayer must grow, participation in the Holy Sac
rifice of the Mass and reception of Holy Communion is essential,
spiritual reading, attentive devotion to Lenten sermons, and the
pious exercise of the Stations of the Cross should be the sources
of a deeper knowledge and love of God. Let your charity
abound in the alms you are asked to give for the works of the
Church.
A Lententide spent in this manner is already an acceptance
of the invitation extended by God to come into His Kingdom.
Anything else would be tantamount to declining that invitation.
There is no other meaning to life, my dear brethren, than to unite
■t to God.
I shall fervently pray
our heavenly Father will
glory and to the blessed
February 15, 1955
Heav
I will
upon
come
during these holy days of Lent that
bring us to the fullfillment of His
happiness of heaven for all eternity.
Devotedly in Christ,
MICHAEL J. READY
Bishop of Columbus