The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-03

of Christianity-the Gospel preached by freemen-traveled overseas for the first time in 1941.
 To the homes of embattled Eng land, to the enslaved people of many races, even to the government-for- bidden radio listening posts estab- lished in German households, sped the undying message of Christianity as preached by Americas outstand- ing religious leaders.
 Broadcasting of religious radio programs on an international basis was the greatest innovation in a year of radio religion on the National BroadcaSting company networks. The same large percentage of broad casting time was accorded to reli- gious broadcasts by all denomina- tions.
 Catholic, Protestant and Jewish messages of universal appeal, special holiday sermons, reports on religious activities, sacred songs and prayer were broadcast during the year from the largest pulpit ever built in the history of the world. Even the new medium of televiSion presented reli- ligious services.
 The voice of his holiness, Pope Plus XII, heard three times last year over NEG networks; coverage of i'm portant Protestant church conclaves and of the ninth national Eucharis- tic congress-; celebration of Bible week and programs in observance of holy days in the Jewish calendar. all contributed making the year l94l a memorable one in the annals of re- ligious broadcasting.
 Special program highlighting Prot estant activities included a descrip- tion of the colorful ceremonies at tendant upon the enthrolement of the Rt. Rev. Henry St. George Tuck CT, presiding bishop of the Episcopal church, in Washington Cathedral; an address by Luther A. Weigle, dean of the Divinity School of Yale uni versity, in observance of Univrsal Bible Sunday, and songs and read ings based upon the Bible by promi- nent stars of stage, screen and con- cert, in connection with the first annual Bible Week.
 Dr. Walter w. Van Kirk, NBC's re- ligious commentator, reviewed for the radio audience higiliights of the annual Methodist Council of Bish- ops, the International Christian En- deavor convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, the meeting of the Presbyterian church of the USA, the Lutheran Synod, and the Will lianstoWn Institute of Human Rela- tionS.
 An important new development, a religious series presenting the coun- try's prominent Protestant leaders in talks to Europe, was inaugurated in l94l as a short wave feature of NBC's International division. The series, designed to further under standing between the Christian peo- pies of America and Europe, was pro duced in cooperation with a newly formed International Religious Broadcasting committee representing four religious organizations. Dr. John Sutherland Bonnell, pas tor Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, N. Y. C., delivered a Free dom day sermon to NBC's televiSion audience over station WNBT. In three addresses to the American people, Pope Plus XII was heard over NEG networks in a special Eas- ter address closing with the Apostolic Benediction, message to the Ninth Eucharistic Congress, and talk on the European war situation. Other events of Catholic interest brought to the nationwide audience the voices of His Eminence Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, archbishop of Philadelphia, and the Most Rev. Francis J. Spellman, archbishop of New York, in a plea for world wide Mission Sunday
 Six broadcasts, affording compre- hensive coverage of the Ninth Ma tional Eucharistic Congress, gave NEG listeners vivid word portraits of the reception for the Papal Le- gate, the official opening of the Con- gross, the Holy Hours for women, and carried a portion of the Pon- tifical Mass, the Children's Mass oi the Congress, and Pontifical Mass in the Byzantine-Slayonic Rite.
 The Most Rev. John J. O'Hara military delegate of the Army anc Navy Diocese, was heard during a special Memorial Day address to the nations armed forces In observ- ance of Biblical Sunday. a day sci aside by the American Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the Most Rev John T. McNicholas, o. P, s. T. M. of the Episcopal Committee on the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was heard on the networks.
 Among other special Catholic pro- 1 grams was the sermon delivered by the Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Ci- cognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, at the Solemn High Pontifical Mass in connection with the annual Catechetical Congress-; { forum discussion on Present Eco. homie Needs" observing the ami. versaries of two important socia Encyclicals, "Barum Novarum" ane "Quadragesimo Ano," and a sermon by the Most Rev. Edward Mooney archbishop of Detroit, delivered al the Solemn Political Mass for tht Catholic Students Mission Crusade. Following his traditional Coco Friday appearance in NEG studios the Rt. Rev Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen of the Catholic University of Amer. ica, spoke on 'The Last Word oI the Cross"
 Yom Kippur, most sacred day oi the Jewish year, was marked in spe.