June 12, 2015

What was in the news on June 11, 1965?

More vernacular approved for the Mass, and Supreme Court rules on birth control law

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 June 11, 1965, issue of The Criterion:
 

  • More vernacular approved for liturgy by Pope Paul
    • “VATICAN CITY—Permission to have the preface of the Mass in the vernacular instead of Latin is now being granted for countries whose bishops’ conferences request it.”
  • Laity votes to operate See’s schools
  • Anti-birth control law: High Court nullifies Connecticut statute
    • “WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Connecticut’s law against birth control is an unconstitutional invasion of the privacy of married couples. The high court struck down the 86-year-old statute by a 7-2 margin on the last day of its 1964-65 term [June 7]. … The birth control statute itself, unique with Connecticut, made use of contraceptives by anybody, including married persons, a crime.”
  • Hartford, NCWC leaders hail decision of court
    • “The archbishop of Hartford, Conn., and the director of the Family Life Bureau, National Catholic Welfare Conference, have welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Connecticut’s anti-birth law as a good legal decision. … Archbishop [Henry J.] O’Brien said ‘Catholics in common with our fellow citizens recognize this decision of the court as a valid interpretation of constitutional law.’ ‘However,’ the archbishop added, ‘I must emphasize that this is a juridical opinion and in no way involves the morality of the question. Artificial contraception remains immoral by the law of God.’ Msgr. [John C.] Knott described the court’s ruling as ‘overdue’ and expressed hope that it would ‘remove a source of interfaith friction and bitterness.’ He said the law forbidding the use of contraception had become ‘an unfortunate bone of contention between Catholics and Protestants in Connecticut.’ ”
  • Pope visits Eucharistic celebration
  • Congolese rebels murder 31 European missioners
  • Funeral held for convent superior in Indianapolis
  • Speak up on morals, pontiff urges women
  • Italian Capuchins are indicted for smuggling tobacco
  • 110 adults complete Richmond CCD course
  • Pope Paul blesses U.S. astronauts
  • Cardinal Ritter: Asks for ‘faithful discipleship’

(Read all of these stories from our June 11, 1965, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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