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Edition of Our Sunday Visitor
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Volume LDecember 24, 1961Number 34
, RALEIGH, N. C. P. O. Box 9503
Holy But Not Silent Nioht
By FR. PATRICK O’CONNOR
Society of St. Columban
(N.C.W.C. News Service)
It is “Holy Night” but not “Si
lent Night” in Bethlehem, when
pilgrims gather there for Christ
mas.
Two days before Christmas, one
finds a festive stir already in the
streets. Indeed, there is only one
main street, with side streets and
alleys, in what is still “the little
town of Bethlehem.”
The main street slopes steeply
down through the marketplace
and widens into the square before
the ancient Basilica of the Nativ
ity.
Rabbi Deplores
Effect of Disputes
In Public Schools
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — (NC)
— Engaging in disputes with pub
lic school authorities over religious
celebrations “is hardly in the best
interests of the children or the
community” a rabbi declared here.
“We must remember to respect
,the traditions of others even if we
do disagree, and gracefully con
form sometimes so long as we do
not compromise our basic princi
ples,” Rabbi Malcolm Mendelshon
of the Garden City Jewish Center
said.
It is not just exposure to non
Jewish practices which disturbs
children, he continued, “it is this
exposure plus the lack of a firm
footing in Jewish practices.
“We must remember that we
have traditions of our own. The
home where Jewish customs are
proudly and joyfully observed
need not fear to send its children
into an atmosphere where non
Jewish customs are observed,” he
said.
r
All day on Christmas Eve the
town is lively with sound, activ
ity and color. Nights are chilly,
but usually the middle of the day
is mild and bright with sunshine.
A Jordanian army band, composed
mostly if not entirely of Moslems,
plays tuneful marches up and
down the square. Decorations,
strung across the street, are
crowned with a great star, which
is illuminated after dark. Through
the evening, recordings of Christ
mas hymns—the melodies only —
are heard all over the town from
a loudspeaker.
Cars drive in from Jerusalem,
10 miles to the north, with visitors
of many nationalities. People
crowd into the little post-office to
send cards that will be postmark
ed “Bethlehem, Dec. 24.”
Some bf the visitors, regret
tably, have the air of tourists rath
er than of pilgrims.
The first big event on Christmas
Eve is the ceremonial arrival of
Latin Rite Patriarch Alberto Gori,
O.F.M., of Jerusalem. He is for
mally welcomed by the mayor of
Bethlehem and other officials and
escorted by a religious and civic
procession toward the basilica.
The Jordanian army band and an
honor guard of mounted police on
white horses are part of the pro
cession.
The greystone basilica, first
built more than 1,600 years ago,
passed finally into the hands of
the Greek Orthodox clergy, under
the Turkish regime, about two
centuries ago. Catholics may go
through it. They share rights
with the Orthodox in the cave
See Holy, Not Silent, page 10A
Pope John Colls for End
To Bloodshed in Conao
VATICAN CITY — (NC) — His
Holiness Pope John XXIII has ap
pealed “to all who can and must
intervene” to restore peace in a
Congo bathed in blood.
Fighting in the Congo “is break
ing Our heart,” Pope John said.
The Pope spoke of the Congo sit
uation at the end of an address to
the International Congress for Vo
cations. This weeklong congress
brought more than 200 specialists
on religious vocations to Rome un
der the auspices of the Sacred Con
gregation of Religious.
“Since We have a timely occa
sion to speak on this subject, be
cause you come from all nations of
the world, allow Us to confide to
you a sorrow that weighs upon
Us,” he told delegates to the con
gress.
“The reports that reach Us in
these days are not all festive. You
are aware of what has been hap
pening during the past 15 months
in the Congo and know that it has
become more serious in recent
days. While gathering from the
tree of political independence
those fruits which it had hoped
would produce well-being, prestige
and peaceful works, betfold that
blessed land is bathed in blood.
“That nation so young is placed
in a very difficult situation, with
an uncertain future.
“We who have daily contact with
the Blood of Christ in the mystery
of the Eucharist cannot remain in
sensitive to the great sorrows, the
ruins and the results both near
and far of moral and social disor
der . . .
“In the same way that you un
derstand Us, beloved sons and
daughters, We trust that We will
not be misunderstood wherever
these heartfelt words are heard.
“The anxiety created by the evil
wrought is breaking Our heart.”
Chaplains Invited
To Bishop's Home
RALEIGH — Chaplains from the
various military bases in North
Carolina will have a Christmastime
uncheon with Bishop Vincent S.
Waters at Little Maryknoll, the
Bishop’s House, on Wednesday,
December 27, 12:00 Noon.
The bishop, who served two
fears as chaplain at Camp Pickett
n Virginia during the early ’For
ces, hopes to make the military
chaplains’ dinner a regular yearly
jffair.
Catholic chaplains were also in
formed that Bishop Waters would
be happy to entertain any Protes
tant military chaplains whom the
chaplains might invite for the
Christmas luncheon.
reversal of policy
Peace Corps Won't Sign
Church Group Contracts
WASHINGTON —(NC)— Peace
Corps director R. Sargent Shriver,
in a sudden reversal of previous
policy, has announced that the
corps will sign no contracts with
church-related agencies.
Bishop Edward E. Swanstrom,
chairman of the American Council
of Voluntary Agencies, immedi
ately expressed “resentment” at
the declaration.
Shriver, announcing the policy,
said it would be a “mistake” for
the Peace Corps to sponsor proj
ects conducted by church-related
groups.
He disclosed the policy, which
he described as an “operational
judgment,” during a day-long
workshop here conducted for vol
untary agencies by the Peace
Corns.
Bishop Swanstrom, an Auxiliary
Bishop of New York, protested
strongly.
He said in a statement that
member-organizations ,of, Jtfee .Coun
cil of Voluntary Agencies will con
tinue to give “wholehearted sup
port and cooperation” to the Peace
Corps. But, he added, they feel
“regret and even . . . resentment”
at any Peace Corps ban on coop
eration with church-related groups.
Shriver’s stand appeared to be
an about-face from previously an
nounced Peace Corps policy, which
had been to cooperate with Church
related agencies in welfare proj
ects.
Shriver himself reaffirmed this
policy during an appearance last
June 22 before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
In April the Peace Corps issued
a guide book dealing specifically
with the question of its relations
with church-related agencies.
The guide book, which was ap
proved by Shriver, said in part:
‘A project which meets Peace
Corps criteria and standards will
not be barred from receiving
Peace Corps support because it is
sponsored by a religious or sec
tarian group . . .”
This policy later came under
attack, however, from such groups
as the American Jewish Com
mittee, the United Presbyterian
Church in the U.S.A. and Protes
tants and Other Americans United
for Separation of Church and
state.
They argued that Peace Corps
:ooperation with church-related
agencies would violate Church
state separation.
But other religious groups, like
the National Council of Churches,
the National Catholic Welfare Con
ference and the National Associa
tion of Evangelicals, had encour
aged the denominations they rep
resent to cooperate with the Peace
Corps.
Shortly before Shriver’s appear
ance before the Senate foreign re
lations unit, the Peace Corps an
nounced that it was negotiating
contracts for six projects to be
carried out by religious agencies.
Only one contract was ever
signed with a church-related agen
cy, however. In this instance the
Heifer. Project, an interfaith farm
See Peace Corps, page 12A
Chilean Prelates
Plan for Division
Of Church Lands
SANTIAGO, Chile — (NC) —
Farms and estates belonging to all
dioceses in Chile will be divided
and sold to rural families, the na
tion’s Bishops have announced.
The Chilean Bishops issued their
statement after their annual meet
ing here. They spoke while a new
law for agrarian reform is being
studied by a congressional com
mittee. The Bishops said tney are
eager to take the first step and
set the example for all Chileans.
The prelates called on all Cath
olics to cooperate in the reform.
They added:
“For pur part, conscious as we
are, of the situation of the rural
population and desirous of coop
erating, not only by teaching the
fundamental doctrine but also by
giving concrete example, we have
resolved in this year’s plenary as
sembly to entrust the study of an
eventual colonization of all the ag
ricultural properties which are in
possession and free use of the
hierarchy to a committee of ex
perts. . . ”
The Bishops pointed out that
while these lands are not nearly
as extensive as is generally believ
ed, nevertheless their sale will be
a sacr'ice for the Church, since
the income from them has been
used to maintain the charitable
and educational works of the
Church. A study will have to be
made to find other sources of in
come for these works, the Bishops
said.
CHRISTMAS WISH
May Christ the Lord of Bethlehem and of all
humanity fill the hearts of all members of our
Diocese — priests, brothers, sisters, and laity—
with His love, grace, and rich blessings this
Christmas and all through the New Year.
^Bishop Vincent S. Waters