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Reds Try To Use Encyclical To .Compromise Catholic Stand WASHINGTON (NC) A prominent analyst of com munist tactics has warned that the U.S. Reds are of fering the hand of friendship to the Catholic Church. He said they should get "a negative re sponse." Father John F. Cronin, 8.S., assistant director of the 80cial Action Department of the Na tional Catholic Welfare Con ference, made his comment in an interview. ' The Sulpician priest's obser vations were sought after re cent disclosure that communists have bid for invitations to de 'bate on U.8. Catholic college campuses. Father Cronin said the Com munist Party, U.S.A., made a "major reversal of policy" after
issuance of the late Pope John XXIII's encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) earlier this year. There were earlier indications of a change in the party's atti tude toward the Church, he said, but communists think Pacem in Terris opens the door to "united_ front relations." "The earlier indications," he said, "were the forward-looking attitude of the Church, as shown in the ecumenical council; the willingness of the Holy See to have contacts with communist spokesmen; and the increasing social influence of the Catholic Church here, as shown in the National Conference on Reli gion and Race." Under the direction of Gus Hall, chairman of the party, he said, the communists resolved
to send a letter to Catholic leaders in various cities. "This letter would refer to the e n eye lie a 1, suggesting speakers and debates around the document, around the commu nist position and around the suggestions where the Pope calls for positive contributions," he said. Discussion in Catholic col leges was especially encouraged. He disclosed the Reds already have offered united-front sug gestions to top Catholic leaders, offering to work with them in areas such as race relations, peace and civil rights. "These offers have been re fused," Father Cronin said. He called for "utmost caution" in any contacts with party mem bers. T~ee factors make this necessary, he said. They are: "I) The U.S. Communist party
is not independent, but is totally controlled by *he Communist party, Soviet Union. To the ex tent that high Church authorities find it prudent to discuss cer tain issues with communist powers, these discussions should be held with the real centers of authority in the communist world. "2) The Communist party is actively engaged in seeking to infiltrate power centers here in the United States. Although it is weak at the moment, it could 'do great damage, for example, if it could influence the trend of the movement for racial justice in our nation. If violence were to be substituted for non-violent protest, we could have condi tions approximating civil war. "3) There are two areas of potential social tension here at
the moment. The race problem is already in a high state of tension. The unemployment situation could be a serious social problem if it worsens be yond present levels. Communism thrives in tension situations, and these conditions offer a possi bility of reviving the weak Communist party here. "Communists will seek to misinterpret passages in Pacem in Terris, holding that the Church has removed its objec tions to united-front action. In fact, the encyclical holds that any contacts with communists should be held only by compe tent persons, with the utmost prudence, and subject to eccle siastical authority. All these reasons dictate a negative re sponse to communist offers here in the United States."
The
ANCHOR
Fall River, Mass., "'h~rsday, July 4, 1963 "
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Vol. 7, No. 28 ©
1963 The Anchor
PRICE 10e $4.00 pe' Year
Bishop Gives Sobiloff ,~ Benemerenti Award
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FIRST ORDINATION: Most Rev. James J. Gerrard, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, ordained to the priesthood for the first time Saturday when he raised to that order Rev. Ronald Picard of the Congregation of St. Viator, shown here with his parents, Most Rev. James L. Connolly announced today the Mr. and Mrs. Pheode Picard, at St. Theresa's Church, New Bedford. awarding to Myer N. Sobiloff of Fall River the Papal
Decoration, the Benemerenti Medal for distinguished ser
vice in the community. This highly respected citizen is
receiving one of the heri modern single-story industrial tages of Pope John XXIII of plants to induce out-of-state
happy memory. The award industries to locate here and to
was instituted in 1832 by assist existing industries when.
Pope Gregory XVI as the means ever the need was evident.
01. recognizing distinguished eervice to the community. The word "BenemerenU" is engraved on the face surface and sur rounded by a crown of oak leaves. The ribbon is yellow and White, the papal colors. Mr. SobHoff, husband of Mrs. CilIa Sobiloff and son of Mrs. Israel SobHoff, resides at 1282 Highland Avenue. A graduate of B. M. C. Durfee High School and Harvard College, he has served on numerous civic committees for the betterment and develop ment of Fall River. He graduated from the Massa chusetts Military Academy and served as a lieutenant in the State Guard." Mr. SobHoff is a director of Temple Beth-El. He has served as president of the Community Fund of Greater Fall River, Inc., chairman of the annual Red Cross campaign. and has received the Man and Boy Award in recognition of his service to the Boys' Club. Sponsor of the Greater Fall River Development Corporation idea, he has contributed much of his time and money to the industrial resurgence of the city. Following a comprehensive • urvey of the city's economic problems, he recommended or ganization of a non-profit devel MYER N. SOBILOFF opment corporation to build
Kennedy Papal Audience
Third for a President
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VATICAN CITY (NC) - President Kennedy was received Tuesday by His Holiness Pope Paul in a meeting which marked the third time a U.S. president has been received in a papal audience. The first was in 1919 when Pope Benedict XV saw President Wood row Wilson. The second time was in 1959 when President Dwight D.Eisenhower visited Pope John XXIII. The same nrotocol was used for all the rest of the President's party read bis formal address in En ~ was brought in and Pope Paul glish. three visits. The arrival CYf From the Vatican the Presi President Kennedy's motor dent and his party went to the cade in St. Peter's square at 9:45 A.M. Rome time was greeted by a cheering crowd kept back by wooden barricades. The official procession of cars was preceded by a police escort. President Kennedy, riding in an open car, waved at the crowd in the square. President Kennedy, after being met by honor guards, Vatican officials, and members of the Secretariate of State, was greet ed in the throne room -by Amleto Cardinal Cicognani, Papal Sec retary of State, who during his 25 years as Apostolic Delega,te in Washington had become ac quainted with the Kennedy fam ily. In the throne room two arm chairs had been placed side by side for the Pope and the Presi dent. Pope Paul met the Presi• dent and spoke in English to Mr. Kennedy for about 30 min utes. The two were alone. Then
Pope Paul VI Blesses Diocese
Bishop Connolly has re ceived a cablegram from Amleto Cardinal Cicognani, Papal Secretary of State, in forming him that His Holiness, Pope Paul VI has bestowed his special Apostolic Blessing upon the Bishop, the religious and laity of the Diocese. The cablegram also expressed the warmful and prayerful thoughts that the Por..tiff holds for all in the Diocese. On the occasion of the election of Pope Paul, Bishop Connolly sent .the following cablegram to His Holiness: "Joyful felicitations, fervent prayers, prosperous peaceful reign from clergy, religious and laity of Fall River Di'Clcese."
North American College where Cardinal Cicognani, in keeping with the rules of protocol, re ciprocated the President's visit to the Vatican by paying a re
turn call. Cardinal Cushing of
Boston visited with the Presi
dent at the College and present ed him with the gifts Pope John had left for the chief executive. One of these is an auto graphed copy of the historic encyclical, Peace on Earth, one of three such copies in exis tence.
July 4 Bells An old tradition of ringiul' bells on Independence Day io bring about a greater appre ciation of this national holiday is being revived throughout the country. The Most Rever end Bishop authorizes the I Churches of the Diocese io support this tradition by rin, iug their bells on July 4 after Doon at 2 P.M.
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