December 10, 2010

What was in the news on Dec. 9, 1960?

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.

Here are some of the items found in the Dec. 9, 1960, issue of The Criterion:

  • Clergy urged to use English in liturgy to ‘fullest’ extent
    • “NOTRE DAME, Ind.—A liturgy expert has urged pastors to use as much English in the Mass as present liturgical legislation permits—‘and then to hope and pray for more.’ ‘The more vernacular used in Mass by the people, the better will be their active, intelligent participation in the Sacrifice,’ according to Msgr. Robert J. Sherry, pastor of St. William’s Church, Cincinnati. … He expresses enthusiasm for a currently approved system whereby the congregation recites prayers in English during the Gloria and Creed, after the Sanctus, and before Communion; sings four hymns in English; hears the Epistle and Gospel read in English; and recites several short responses in Latin.”
  • Secretariat is set up for lay program
  • Historic visit: Pope, Anglican prelate confer
  • Canterbury’s reaction: Sees more talks with Catholics
  • Calls limiting population bad economics, politics
    • “NEW YORK—Population limitation, ‘whether or not it is good morals, is bad economics and bad politics,’ according to British economist Colin Clark. Mr. Clark, a specialist in population questions, says that an expanding population ‘is generally beneficial, even when judged only as a matter of economics and politics.’ He writes in the December issues of Fortune magazine that population growth ‘provides a beneficial stimulus, often indeed is the only stimulus powerful enough to shake men out of their established ways and customs and make them seek something better.’ ”
  • Race crisis plea made to Catholics
  • Crackdown opened in New York City on pornography
  • Kennedy to use a family Bible
  • Chile president lauds Fr. Peyton
  • Pope says unity of faith possible Council result
  • New Guinea Report: Four Hoosier sisters open a new frontier
    • “The rigors of missionary life among brown-skinned, partially civilized natives in New Guinea are being met enthusiastically by four Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, who arrived on the tropical island only two months ago. … They represent the Oldenburg community’s first foreign mission since the Chinese Communists forced them to close a mission on the Chinese mainland several years ago. The sisters were sent to New Guinea at the request of the Franciscan Capuchin Fathers who are in charge of the mission territory of Mendi, in the island’s Southern Highlands. The 11,500-mile journey from Oldenburg to Mendi, New Guinea, was begun on Sept. 27 when the sisters enplaned at the greater Cincinnati airport.”
  • Jewish woman doctor joins Mission Sisters
  • CYO plans to promote student exchange program
  • Little Christophers open annual Christmas drive
  • Editor participates: U.S. Catholic, Protestant leaders meet for talks
  • Hollywood film heads deny bishops’ charges

(Read all of these stories from our Dec. 9, 1960, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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