Evening star., 1951-12-08
Sports Scandals
Seen as Mark
Of Moral Decay
Georgetown Mass
Speaker Decries
Abuses in Athletics

Sports in themselves are not
to be blamed for the criminal ac-
tlvitieS OF athletes because the
most sacred things in life can be
abused by unscrupulous char
acters," a Catholic clergyman de-
clared today.
The Rev. Louis M. OLeary, o.
p, pastor of st. Andrews Church
In Cincinnati. spoke at the solemn
h1g h mass of dedication in
Georgetown University's new Nc
Donough Memorial Gymnasium.
The mass was celebrated by the
Most Rev. John M. Mcnamara,
auxiliary to the archbishop and
vicar general of the archdiocese
of Washington.
The gymnasium was formally
dedicated last night.
Symptom of Moral Decay.
Father OLeary, a 1926 George
town graduate, said a most dis
turbing feature of the recent
basketball scandals is that they
mark the extent and depth of the
moral decay of this Nation"
Because of smoke clouds of
point-spreads in athletics and
mink coats in politics. the Amer
ican public is generally unable to
see the fires of sexual promiscuity,
OF abortion, divorce. mercy-killing
which are dissolving the
foundations of this Nations moral
structure" he said.
The speaker declared that exal-
tation of athletics in classic pagan
times marked the decline and
downfall of genuine physical train
ing. He added that in the declin-
ing days of Rome the chief de-
mand by the common people was
for more bread and games"
Recreation "to Rest the Soul"
1t is not just a coincidence, he
continued, that "spectatorism and
far worse abuses in athletics in
our day have grown to such exag- |
serated proportions at time
when public morality has sunk to
a new depth"
Discussing the subject of ath-
letics in relation to university
educational program, Father
O'Leary said:
Possibly nowhere in all his
works does the common sense of t
st. Thomas Aqujnas appear more
clearly than in his discussion of
mans right to recreation or to
play. st. Thomas insists that the
only purpose of play is to rest the
soul. 1t presupposes work and
prayer and looks forward to more
work-and to prayer"
Other Officers of Mass,
Other officers of the mass were
the Rev. Edward H. Roach.
Georgetown 16, pastor of the
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacra-
ment Church, who was deacon; |
the Rev. Raymond P. Cahill, '43,
of st. Jerome's Church, Hyatts- |
vile. sub-deacon; Msgr. Edward
l.. Stephens, v. S., GEORGETOWN
'16, pastor of St. Mary's Church.
Alexandria, arch-priest, and the
Rev. John B. Roeder, v. c., of st.
Gabriel's Church. Washington.
master of ceremonies.
Music was by the GEORGETOWN
University choir and conducted
by Director Paul Hume. More
than 500 persons attended the
mass. +
At 3 o'clock this afternoon the
Very Rev. Hunter Guthrie. S. j.,
university president, and members
OF the Board of Directors were to
receive guests at a reception in
the gymnasium. A formal dedica-
ton ball will be held at 9 o'clock
tonight. Tomorrow at $50 am.
low mass will be said in the
gymnasium and the National
Symphony Orchestra, conducted
by Howard Mitchell, will give a
concert there at 4 pm.
The new gymnasium has been
dedicated to the memory of the
late Rev Vincent S. McDonough,
S. j., former prefect of discipline
and director of athletics at the
Hilltop.