What was in the news on Oct. 28, 1960?

By Brandon A. Evans

This 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 Oct. 28, 1960, issue of The Criterion:

• Catholic resistance stiffening against Castro tyranny in Cuba
  • “HAVANA—Cuba’s Catholics are rallying around the Church in the face of increasing attacks upon it by Premier Fidel Castro’s government. Both priests and laymen are taking part in the struggle against Marxist propaganda, and the Castro regime’s accusations. These charges against the Church seem to be acting as a toxin calling Catholics to its defense. Reports reaching here from many parts of the nation indicate that attendance at church services is growing.”
• ‘Reformation Sunday’ bias campaign hinted
• Puerto Rican bishops issue voting pastoral
• Vatican publishes initial documents for coming Council
  • “VATICAN CITY—The first official collection of documents pertaining to the coming ecumenical council has been made available to the public. The volume ‘Acts of the Supreme Pontiff John XXIII,’ is the first of a series entitled ‘Acts and Documents of the Preparation for the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.’ The series will comprise four volumes: 1. ‘The Acts of the Supreme Pontiff John XXIII’ (the present volume); 2. ‘The Counsels and Wishes of the Bishops and Prelates;’ 3. ‘Proposals of the Sacred Congregations of the Roman Curia;’ 4. ‘Studies and Recommendations of the Ecclesiastical and Catholic Universities and Faculties.’ ”
• Two viewpoints on an explosive issue of the day:
  • Employer tells why he’s opposed to any right-to-work legislation
  • Indiana State Senator explains why he backs right-to-work laws
• Protestant monastery site of unity meeting
  • “PARIS—The Protestant monastic community of Taize in eastern France has announced that Catholic bishops and Protestant pastors met at the monastery to discuss Christian doctrine. The Protestant communiqué described the talks as ‘the first after four centuries of division.’ ”
• Handwriting seen as personality key
• Blessing set Oct. 30th for shrine in Leopold
• Seeking to ‘revitalize’ Holy Name Society
• American priest appointed to unity post for Council

(Read all of these stories from our Oct. 28, 1960, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †