What was in the news on Sept. 21, 1962?

An archbishop warns about the threat of government programs intruding on the work of private charities

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 Sept. 21, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

• Chicago daily paper asks government aid for parochial schools
• Rural life official: Urges establishment of world food bank
• Threat of government intrusion in private charities criticized
  • “ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—Archbishop John J. Krol of Philadelphia spoke out here against the threat of government encroachment on private charities. … The growth of public programs at the expense of private charities was one of the several ‘disturbing trends’ in the charities field noted by the Archbishop… ‘They focus all attention on the physical and material needs of the recipient, but ignore his spiritual needs as well as those of all the people who contribute or are engaged in welfare work.’ He cautioned against ignoring ‘the essential fact that Christ’s commandment of love was a twin commandment—the first and greatest of which was to love God—without which there can be no true or enduring love of neighbor.’ He also warned that unless developments which menace private charities are halted, ‘there is a danger that, while we denounce the evils of communism, we will drift into a communistic pattern of totalitarian management of the lives of individuals by government.’ ”
• Urges trust in government
• Hits ‘narrow mentality’ about welfare program
• West Side Story: Plight of the Latin immigrant
• 4,500 baptisms a year: St. Peter’s Basilica has ‘busy’ baptistery
• Stresses charity on global scale
• Vatican prelate urges just pay for farmers
• Won’t use segregated park
• Pontiff gives advice on seminary training
• Desire for truth seen on campuses
• Catholic psychologists discuss religious life
• Official lauds work of papal volunteers
• Aussie prelate stirs up ruckus over school aid
• Ask couples to volunteer for missions
• Catholic and Anglican prelates at dedication

(Read all of these stories from our Sept. 21, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †