Princeton (Jniversitg
And the Priest
(Editorial) The Aquinas Foundation is a religious center provided by the Diocese of Trenton for the approximately four hun dred Ciltholic students at Princeton University. Since its erection in 1952, its Director has been the Reverend Hugh Halton, a Dominican Father who holds a Licentiate in' Sacred Theology and Doctorates in Philosophy and Civil Law, the last two degrees from Oxford. Father Halton was appointed by the Bishop of Trenton to take spiritual charge of the Catholic students at Princeton and to speak out in defense of the faith and morals of those committed to his care. This he did, with intelligenceand wit, in his Sunday talks, through lectures by himself or guest speak ers, through ads taken out in the undergraduate Daily Princetonion. Although there is no official connection between the Aquinas Foundation and the authorities at Princeton, the University did grant Father Halton certain academic priv fleges and courtesies such as permission to march in aca demic processions with the faculty, use of the University bulletin for announcements pertaining to the Foundation, the use of University rooms for lectures and guest speakers, the listing of the Foundation in the University catalogue. Withdraws Privileges On September 23, 1957, Princeton University issued, a statement through its president, Dr. Goheen, declaring: "The university has withdrawn its recognition of Fr. Halton. The courtesies and privileges which have been extended to him, as they are to all denominational' chap lains; have been terminated. He is no longer entitlt~d to claim he has any official standing in Princeton University:' The statement further said: "Under claims of advancing the pursuit of truth, he has resorted to irresponsible attacks upon'the intellectual integrity of faculty members.... His accusations in the past year have broadened into large, un BUbstantiated charges of malfeasance against the admin istration of the university.... " The statement also men tioned that "the offending individual has managed to alienate from himself many of the Catholic students and faculty members.•. :' Dr. Goheen stated that $ince June, 1956, efforts had been made to'reniove Father Halton, and that this present action was decided upon by the :Board of Trustees in June, 1957. N{) instances of Father Halton's "attacks" were given. One Basic Issue The Most Reverend George W. Ahr, Bishop of Tren ton, from whom Father Halton holds his appointment as Director of the Foundation, said this: "The published re ports do not adequately present either the background of the situation or the basic issue involved. The basic issue is the right of a priest charged with the spiritual care of Catholic students in a secular university to speak out in defense of the faith and morals of those committed to Tmis care. "The published reports do not recount the personal vilification that has been visited upon Fr. Halton in the Princeton community since first he undertook so to speak. "For the present, the facilities of the Aquinas Insti tute will continue to be available to the Catholic students at Princeton. Fr. Halton will continue as Director:' Now let us examine the whole situation in the light of the facts. Dr. Goheen said that Father Halton made "irrespon (Sible attacks upon the intellectual integrity of faculty members" and "large, unsubstantiated charges of mal feasance against the administration of the university." These are serious charges. Dr. Goheen does not cite any :7nstances to substantiate his accusations. Father Halton has replied that the purpose of Prince ton's action in his regard was "to silence rational debate and to leave unchalle,nged professional incompetence with reference to Faith and reason in university life and thought...." He said that the President's statement was un "effort to discard intelligent criticism of false teaching ~n a community dedicated to free expression.•••" ' Four Obvious Instances In the history of this matter, there are at least four 8bvious instances of what Princeton evidently looks on as '"irresponsible attacks" and Father Halton calls "rational debate" and challenges to professional incompetence. First: Princeton invited Alger Hiss in 1956 to speak at the University. Father Halton said of this: "In an academic community dedicated to the search for enduring truth, an unrepentent perjurer has nothing to say.", Alger Hiss is a convicted perjurer. The purpose of a university is to seek after truth. Hiss' speaking at Prince ion was, at least, open to valid criticism. Second: Professor Emeritus Walter T. Stace was, r!'om 1932 until 1955, professor of metaphysics at Princeton. I)r, Stace has written that God is a "'blank, void, nothing;" \ ~od is a "subjective illusion." The Catholic Church, accord ltJg, to Stace, "is ultimately pased on nothing else but an iHusion." He defines the Christian concept of God as· "a ,'uperstition, a gigantic and perhaps benevolent ghost, an l;nmense, disembodied and superearthly clergyman:' , Since Dr. Stace had tremendous influence on the un uitical minds of Princeton undergraduates; since his phil.. Turn to Page Six
BIBLE IN EVERY HOME: Officers of the Catholic Bible Society of Dallas, Texas, and Sister Mary Helen, administrator of St. Paul's Hospital, look on as Bishop Thomas K. Gorman of Dallas .. Fort Worth blesses Bibles' to be placed in every room of Diocesan ho&ot pitals and other Catholic institutions.
Regional High Campaign Total- Hits· $1,300,000 .
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The
ANCHOR
An An'chor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-ST.
Fall River, Mass.
Vol. 1, No.,33
PAUL
Thursday, ,Nov. 21, 1957 Second Class Mail Privileges Authorized at Fall River, Mass.
PRICE 10e
$4.00 per Year
Attleboro Serra Plans Altar Boy Award Program
Name Directors For Diocesan· Clothing Drive
Attleboro District Serra Club this week received per mission from Most Rev. James' ,L. Connolly, Bishop of
Regional directors to con duct "Operation C lot h e s Closet"-the Bishops' Thanks giving Clothing Collection
Fall River, to expand its altar have been announced by the boy program to include am;\Ual Chancery Office. awards to deserving altar boys. They are as 'follows: Details of the award program Taunton :...- Rev. Francis A. , will be revealed at the club's McCarthy, pastor of St. Joseph's annual Pastor's Night to be held Church, North Dighton and dio at Brook Manor on Dec. 12. All cesan director of· the campaign. Pastors from the 10 parishes in Cape Cod - Very Rev. Leon Attleboro, North Attleboro, . ard J. Daley, pastor of St. Fran Mansfield and Norton have been cis Xavier Church, Hyannis. Attleboro - Rev. Henry R. invited to attend. The Attleboro District Serra Canuel, assistant at St. Joseph's . Club received its charter from Church. Fall River Rev. Paul F. Mc Serra International on April 11, 1956, and started its altar boy Carrick, assistant at St. Mary's program in the latter part of the Cathedral. Turn to Page Twelve year under the leadership of the founding president, Raymond Turn to Page Thirteen
Father Gallagher, pastor of St. James Church in New Bed ford and Dean of Lower Bristol County, is the campaign mod· erator. He was named by Most Rev. James L. Connolly, D.D., Bishop of Fall River, to direct the Greater New J;\edford build ing fund campaign. Catholic Memorial High School will be constructed in Dart 'mouth, close to the New Bed· ford city line. It is the first of Turn to Page Twelve
Two Diocesan Priests Attend Youth Session Two priests active in yout" work are representing the Fall River Diocese at the sixth National- Cat hoi i e Youth Convention in Philadel. phia. Sessions began yesterday and will continue through next Tuesday. Rev. Leo T. Sullivan of New Bedford, Diocesan Youth Direc tor, will assist at as many of the sessions as possible and associate with Youth Directors of other Dioceses to obtain all available information that will be helpful in setting up the youth program here on a Diocesan basis. It is hoped to affiliate the Diocese with the National Conference and have a representative group of adults and youths at future national meetings. ' Rev. William J. McMahon, di rector of Cathedral Camp, will speak on "The Value and Neces sity of Waterfront Safety and Aquatic Training" at the Cath· olic Camp section. Turn to Page Nineteen
Favors Ascribed To Miraculous Medal Devotion
Bishops Outline Freedom Limit On Censorship
By 'Rev. Edward J. Mitchell
WASHINGTON (NC) Freedom of the press is a basic right to be respected and safeguarded. But freedom of expression has social implications, and civil authority "has the right and duty to exercise such control over the various media of communication, as is necessary to safeguard pub lic morals." The Bishops of the United States emphasized these 'points in a statement on "Censorship," issued in their behalf by the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Con 'ference. The statement was adopted at the annual general 'meeting o~ the Archbishops and Bishops held at the Catholic University of America. Turn to Page Ter
Very Rev. Hugh A. Gal. lagher today announced that the Catholic Memorial High School building fund cam paign has reached the $1, 300,000 mark.
Sacred Heart Church, Taunton
A natural mystery is a truth that can be known but isn't. A fine example of this is the Paris subway. Our 0
JEW E L R Y FOR CHURCH: Mrs. James T. Burns adds her heirloom necklace of' Whitby jet to jewelry collection to be giv en to Bishop Joseph Moo Muelle of Sioux City, Iowa, for church use. Collection is sponsored by Diocesan Coun: eil of Catholic Women.
objective that summer morning was to reach the Rue de Bac, home of the Miraculous Medal. But in the dark underworld of the Paris "Metro," all seemed confusion. "Monsieur, ou est la rue de Bac?" The Parisian gentleman, trim as a Robert Hall advertise ment, studies his American in quisitors and fingers his mus tache. There is a pained look on his face and it is evident that he cannot remember. Suddenly it comes back to him. He sprints to the subway map gesturing furi ously, magnific;ently with the rurn to Page Nine