September 26, 2014

What was in the news on September 25, 1964?

The council approves the teaching on collegiality, and Americans launch a campaign for a declaration on religious liberty

Criterion logo from the 1960sBy 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 September 25, 1964, issue of The Criterion:

  • Fathers of council approve collegiality, then tackle religious liberty statement
    • “VATICAN CITY—By an overwhelming majority, the Second Vatican Council voted to approve the teaching that all Catholic bishops today are successors of the Apostles by divine institution and that they, with the pope as their head, make up a college like that which was formed by St. Peter and the Apostles. Thus at the 85th general meeting of the Second Vatican Council, the work of the First Vatican Council, begun almost 100 years ago, has been advanced significantly. The First Vatican Council defined the infallibility of the pope, but was adjourned before the precise relation of the bishops among themselves and to the pope was worked out. At the same time, … the council Fathers also affirmed by vote that the College of Bishops has no authority except with the Roman Pontiff, the successor of St. Peter, as its head. It affirmed that his power of primacy over all, both bishops and faithful, remains intact.”
  • Bulletin
    • At Criterion press time Thursday, national wire services reported that American bishops at the council launched an intensive campaign for a declaration on religious liberty. Spearheading the drive, which drew strong opposition from Spanish and Italian prelates, were Cardinals Cushing, Meyer and Ritter. Another late report from Vatican City announced that an American nun, Sister Mary Luke, president of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Women’s Institutes of America, is among 15 women who have been named council auditors.”
  • Editor comments from Rome: Are the council Fathers moving along too fast?
  • Vocations Exhibit set for two cities in the archdiocese
  • Challenge issued to U.S. labor
  • Urge strong declaration on the Jews
  • Marian adult lecture series opens Thursday
  • First woman auditor is named to council
  • Delay 4th session for 2 or 3 years, prelate suggests
  • Lay teachers outnumber nuns for first time
  • ‘Progress’ is most important product at 3rd council session, reporter says
  • 52 men comprise charter class in delayed vocations seminary
  • Operates hospital: Negro woman doctor in Texas fighting lone battle for the poor
  • What’s ahead for South Vietnam?
  • Automation’s challenge raises thorny problem
  • Holy See’s interest in science stressed
  • Vatican daily comments on new Hungarian pact
  • Plan to rebuild Negro churches in Mississippi
  • Says liturgy will ‘shake up routine’
  • President Johnson hails Catholic Youth Week
  • Vandals break statues, steal relic from shrine
  • Surplus wheat sent to flood victims by U.S. agency
  • Says Old Testament ‘theology’ not possible
  • Cites Christian’s needs for service to the suffering
  • Common Bible expected in England by January
  • Stress campus liturgy, Newman leaders told
  • Catholics urged to aid missions
  • Presbyterians answer ‘SOS’
  • Public pupils ride Catholic bus
  • Debate on role of Our Lady highlights opening week’s discussion at the council
  • Catholic journal notes ‘chill’ in unity spirit
  • Report Cardinal Bea planning to visit Orthodox leader
  • Urges elimination of mission societies
  • Pope Paul to canonize 22 martyrs
  • Beloved Polish archbishop dies of heart attack

(Read all of these stories from our September 25, 1964, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

Local site Links: