davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
What Is Left of Christmas?

If our celebration of Christmas has been geared
to the worldly external observance that is popuary
accorded this great feast there is little left of its
message and its JOY by the time the sixth of January
rolls around
We are caught in welter of bedragged decor
atons. Gone the sounds of carols and the hearty
greetings of the season. Gone is the Christmas
spirit There is little left to remind of the true
meaning of Christmas: Christ's coming. Christmas
has come and gone-and has Christ, it would
seem.
This ephermal celebration is not the mind of
the Church. She celebrates Christs coming with
one eve on the future His staying Just at the time
most men are forgetting Christmas the Church bids
her children to celebrate another Christmas feast,
the Epiphany.
Epiphany which means manifestation is con-
tinuation of Christmas. In fact, the commonly
given TO it is Little Christmas" For the first three
centuries the Church celebrated the Nativity of Our
Lord on this day, the sixth of January
When in the year 376, the Holy Sec obliged all
churches to conform to the practice of the Roman
church and celebrate Christmas on December 25
the feast OF the Epiphany robbed Of Of its
glory 1t TO remain one of the pivotal feasts of
the Church. regular part of Christmas celebrating
the actual acceptance by men Of the Christ Who had
come into the world for them.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
Ammo DOmini

The words ammo Domn" mean in the year Of
Our Lord The world has just entered upon another
one Of the years OF our Lord, 1882 AD. As the
change is made people turn to their new calen-
dsrs and all dates changed TO the new head
ing 1882 D. some few will wonder about the sig
nifiesnce Of those two words indicated by the "AD"
As the year goes on these two letters will appear
stones OF new and impressive buildings they will
appear in new volumes Of official records of all
sortS-they will be common that they will seldom
If ever attract attention.
However this is the time for few thoughts
about their significance IL might be asked, first OF
all will this year be truly year Of the Lord2 When
il is remembered that 1882 years ago the Prince of
Peace was born, and that His birth was OF such inn
portance that the whole civilized world measures its
years from His coming, then there must come some
hesitation in labelling this the year OF Our Lord.
Certainly there is no peace, and If this is year be-
longing TO the Prince OF Peace He certainly must
not have good hold on IT, Someone has seized con
troll, so much so that the times can hardly be said
10 be in accordance with what the Savior taught If
what the family OF nations is enduring today in this
1852 AID is Christian civilization, then verify there
must be some variance with what is Christian now
and what Christ Himself taught
The Holy Father in His Christmas message few
days ago called attention to the lack of peace in the
world and asked all who love God to join in praying
for peace in the coming year. He warned that peace
could not come except from the Prince OF Peace.
Perhaps the words of the Supreme PontiH will be
needed and the coming twelve months will IN truth
become year of Our Lord Surprisingly enough the
tremendous majority OF the individual human be
ings who make up the world long and pray for this
peace. Until they all unite harmoniously under the
Prince of Peace IL will be difficult for men TO make
1852 deserve the "A.D,"
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
A Dogs Life

In recent column lady journalist states that
she like many other people could not definitely state
what form immortality would take and that she did
not sec why people worried about this particular
question
Such statement is annoying, especially when 1T
is made by person some people may give credence.
The could" and would" are especially annoying,
for there is ample opportunity TO find out fairly def
initey what immortality will be lke-and having
done that there is cause for worry as to what ono
will be doing IN eternity
We have our native nellectS and the written
word Of God 10 testify that there is God and that
He is the ReWarder OF good and the punisher of evil
We also know on Gods word, that the principle
reward or punishment will come in the next life
Heaven and Hell have both been described very
vivdly IN the Bible. Vvidly enough for most people
10 garner some idea that they would like to be headed
for the and to avoid the other
II We have no idea Of what eternity will be like
Why try to incorporate ones self in it, IT, say there
Is the possibility that there will be transmigration
Of souls as some teach there is always the posSibil
ity that many would not want 10 partake Imagine
poor tired John O. who claims he leads dogs life
here, facing the chance of leading even more lit.
era canine existence in the world to come
The lady also goes on TO state that she Is pretty
much Of fsialist i don't know whether believe
in future life | came TO feel that IL didn't
really matter very much, because whatever the fu-
ture held you'd have TO face II when you come to It
just As whatever life holds you have to face It the
same way"
What is the use Of trying then? II VIC have alb
foutely no control over our destnes why try TO gov
ern ones life IN any way At all7 Why plan7 Why tr,
10 do better7 Why say mode of action Is better
than another Immediate expedeney becomes tn
sole norm Of action.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
In Opposition to God

No one with any sense denies that there are mil
lions of people in these United States that have little
or no formal religion. This does no mean that they
are against religion, much less active in opposing
it However, it is disappointing TO realize that there
is a comparatively small minority which is quite en-
ergetc in Its opposition to religion Some have been
enticed into their opposition by bigotres OF one
sort or another But it is shocking TO realize that
they do not quickly change their position when they
learn that there is great deal wrong with public"
morality in our country. One could expect them TO
be patriotic TO that extent.
The annual report of the president OF the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching uses
strong and plain language in the matter. Says the
report: 1.-The recent revelations of low standards in
high places of outright corruption in public office,
of widespread organization of gambling and crime
of basketball and football scandals and OF honor
code violations should surely be sufficient to arouse
the American people and to shock educational lead
ers into reexamnation Of their goals and methods
These are but symptoms of collapse of moral
and spiritual values which should stir to action par
ens of children, leaders in public affairs, schools,
colleges and churches"
An important effort to do something in the mat
ter came from the Board of Regents OF the State OF
New York on November 30 when, by unanimous
agreement, that body issued statement formally
recommending that every school day throughout
that state begin with prayer and include programs
stressng the moral and spiritual heritage of the
United States.
Such a step should have evoked the unstnted
praise particularly of those who love this country.
But there have been voices raised in strong protest
Recent among them the New York Teachers
Guild the American Jewish Congress and the Asso-
citation of Reformed Rabbis of New York
II is difficult 10 understand how anyone could
oppose the practice of our children raising their
voices in prayer and admitting their dependence
upon Creator. There can be only one explanation
such people are not only enemies Of this beloved
nation; they are also enemies Of God.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

hoods and organizations, that the
only road to real peace Is
through a firm stand against
Soviet conquest.
The communists give their
game away by stating in Political
Affairs that 1.-THE fight for peace,
economic security, and the rights
and freedom of the entire Amer
ican people" is bound up with
the strengthening of "Marxism-
Leninism." Since "Msrxism-Len-
inism" is based on the violent
SCATTERING of the non-Soyiet gov
ernments and on setting up the
world Soviet dictatorship, this
tells its own story. The comrades
arc reminded that they are ex-
tending Moscow's peace" propa-
ganda in order TO tUeakeH Amer
icdn morale aud lead to further
Soviet successes IN apdrS upon
those nations i0hich The Krem.
lin intends to make satellites.
The Reds are told specifically
ito keep the weapon of Marx
ism-Leninism sharp and bright"
that is, they are to keep alive
among themselves the clear un-
derstanding that while they talk
peace" TO the masses. they are
moving toward the final violent
showdown,
BY persuading thousands Of
non.communists hr ou z h this
peace" agitation to further the
Kremlin's cause, the communists
are making their current line a
success. Never has the conspir-
acy gone frankly TO the mass of
people with its case; it knows
that communism as such would
be overwhelmingly c ecte d.
Therefore. it spreads among the
people the false idea that peace
can be obtained with Soviet Rus
sia without strong series of
setbackS for the Soviet dictator
ship. BY that means it muffles
any strong demand by the Amer
lean nation that Great Britain
withdraw It's recognition of Red
China. which today is leading TO
the possibility that Japan may
fall into the appeasement trap
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
RICHARD P4TTEE
Inconsistent Critics

or government, then I have no
knowledge of the existence of
any.
Not only have we recognized
Israel but we are practically
maintaining it economically.
note in the December 3 Times
that Henry Morgenthau attended
a meeting of the Israeli cabinet
IN Jerusalem and discussed the
bond issue now under way in
the United States. Suppose for
the sake of analogy that the Holy
See undertook to float a bond
issue in the United States. Does
anyone think that banquets and
campaign gatherings would take
place without the Blanshards and
the Oxnams bowling in widest
fury? Yet the Israel drive goes
on almost as though it were an
American undertaking. A foreign
country, and a country founded
on religion, is doing this and not
a word of criticism is ever rails
ed. would love to see the Brit
ish put on drive for the sale
of their bonds in the United
States! The Chicago Tribune,
among, others would have fit.
Yet what is the difference be-
tween that and what Israel 10
doing?
Seefsrian Fsvoritisn
The Israeli constitution pro-
claims the JewiShness. of the
country and, as ] suggested,
without this there would be no
reason for its existence. Our am.
bassador to Karachi in Pakistan,
for that matter is accredited to q
strictly Moslem country and to a
state whose basic law makes Is
lam the state religion.
The Israeli case, however, is
particularly worthy of note be-
cause of the way in which 1t IL
being sold to the American peo-
pie. l would suggest, in all SER
iousness, that if the American
way of life is seriously compro-
missed because of an Ambassador
at the Vatican, the collaboration
with Israel is infinitely more of
a commitment to one particu-
lar religious group. We aid them
economically. Our leaders go out
of their way to urge and supply
financial assistance. Our leaders
take part in the intimate circles
of their deliberations, Anything
that is Israeli is sure of an imme-
diate and widespread reception in
the United States. Our press
goes overheard for the new state.
Yet not q voice is raised to Sug-
gest that all of this is favoring
one religious group as against
others. If this is true of Israel,
then why do we not go off the
deep end for Lutheran Iceland,
or Catholic Portugal or Moslem
Egypt?
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

character have gone to the Reds,
in the November Political Al
fairs, instructing them to
strengthen their tics with the
masses"
How they are TO do this IS
worked out in some detail. THE
alert communist club" we learn,
"can always find a way to carry
on activity on the day-to-day is
sues with non-party people" II
is necessary, therefore, the or
ders say, to speed up lnfiltration
into the ranks of workers in the
shops, plants, and neighbor-
hoods" But that is only the be-
ginning. The communists are
also told that they must expand
this penetration into churches,
fraternal orders, and women's
organizations"
Every member is to become
involved in this effort. "rhe
communist who is not an active
member of a peace committee,
trade union, fraternal order,
PTA, WON en- S, veterans, or
youth organizations is not full
filling his duty. The purpose Of
all this. as outlined, is to stir.up
dissatisfaction, promote strikes
that tull disrupt the economy,
and to ertend the central mass
tasks, the struggle for peace. /"
Only Road To Psees
Patriotic Americans can be
forewarned from these prepara-
tionS that there will be new
deluge of peace" suggestions in
every city Of the country, all de-
signed to and Soviet aggressive
moves. 1t is incumbent on alert
and intelligent citizens to show
emphateally. in their neighbor-
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
LOUIS +. BUDENZ
Beware The Communist Line

and join Britain. Since this OBJ
jective is the main item on
which the Reds are hammering,
day in and day out, it must be
alluded to again. Communists
hope eventually to make the
United States join in recogniz-
ing Mao Tse-tttng'S regime.
Real Blows Needed
OF course, the Reds will be
able to get many befuddled peo-
pie to join them in such de-
mand, unless there is more in
telligent opposition expressed
in every city of the country. And
with that, more determined
voices heard insisting that Great
Britain, as an ally of the United
States, should consider Amerl-
can security and revoke its
friendly relations with the
Chinese Reds.
1t is in the same way that the
communist conspiracy plans to
get non-communistS to further
the idea that any curbing of the
conspiracy is "fascisn. That Is
the cry which the Reds who
are penetrating mass organiza-
tions" are expected TO raise even
louder than before. It's object
Immediately is the repeal of the
McCdrron and Smith Acts as
thought control" measures and,
with their repeal, the ending of
all Uigilance against the Sortet
ftfth-cotumn.
This is ironie,. coming from
those who champion the Soviet
dictatorship as ''the highest
stage of democracy" and who
represent its slave labor camps,
secret police, and labor passport
system as agencies of emanci-
patton. But the communist
strength lies in persuading
others. through concealed Reds
to carry on this agitation. II Is
By meeting the arguments oi
non.communistS, or alleged non
communists, on these points thai
the real blotes tetll be qtUen tc
the consptrneys psychological
tudrfure ,Dtthtn our borders.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
WASHINCTON LETTER
A Tale OF Two Ambassadors

Max H. Klein, president of the
American Chamber of Commerce
at Barcelona, Spain, who stated
that II personally had never
heard of any such thing as a
Protestant problem in Spain" u1-
til he read a story by an Amer
lean fleWspaperman the year be-
fore. Il thought that this art
icle grossly misrepresented the
facts of the case" said Mr..
Klein, land in this way not only
harmed the reputation of the
Spanish people and Government,
but at the same time did great
harm to our own American in
tereSts."
Protestant pastors in Spain
have repeatedly stressed the fact
that they suffer from the lack of
freedom of worship and freedom
Of speech" Mr.. Klein continued,
(which apparently has aroused
public indignation in Great Brit
ain and the United States. May !
say that l have found these
statements misleading and mex
exact, and after talking the mat
ter over with some OF the pas
tors, they themselves admitted
that they might have been over.
jealous in their complaints. II
seems to me that the Protestant'
of, say Barcelona, cannot com
plain of lack of freedom of wor
ship, when they have over q
authorized chapels functionine
Continued on Page 10)
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

tary reform, a political theorist
and a curbstone theologian
all this before the age of forty.
When this Englishwoman speaks,
it is worth our while to listen,
regardless of the topic. Minds
like hers are intellectual search
lights which will light up any
area on which their beams are
played.
Miss Ward recently addressed
her fellow Catholics to make two
simple points. They seem obvi-
GUS enough when they are stat
ed, but nine-tenths of our wor-
ries and distress would be lifted
If we kept them unremittingly
in mind. Miss Ward told us that:
/. Our numerical strength to-
day is fantastically greater than
that of the Apostles, who toppled
a world that seemed far stronger
and more hostile TO them than
the one in which we live; and,
2. The Apostles accomplished
this by refusing, at any time, to
merge into their background.
They were so vividly distinguish
able from those around them that
the mere presence of Christian
in any city caused tongues 10
cluck and heads to shake. Both
their doctrine and their behavior
set them apart as so many freaks.
But their freakishness consisted
of a radiant JOY and a spontan-
eous love which the ancient world
had never seen before.
It is our great good fortune
that we have had preserved for
us the Epistles, by which St.
Paul instructed the earliest In
quiry Glasses of the Christian
world. 1t is our great misfortune
that we do not have records of
the things said and done by his
obscure followers throughout the
ancient world. We do not know
much about the apologetlcs OF
example in those early years. But
this we do know: man whose
heart is filled with Joy IN the
Lord is too gay to be prig, and
nobody but a prig sets out to
edify his neighbors. There have
been few drearier or more hypo-
critical ideals in the history OF
the world than the Victorian's
plodding observance of family
prayers "in order to set a good
example to the servants" What
ever the Christians did, 1t was
not done for the effect on 9th
ers.
Miss Ward would have us draw
our courage from the same super
natural Source which filled the
hearts of our happy forerunner'
Of 1900 years ago. In the year 81
the Church was still an infant
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

that Ambassador Griffis in Mad
rid has made the arrangements
for him to see the President.
II was in many ways a strange
story. The evangelist said he had
been back in the United States
about two months, from what he
described as a tour of Spain. He
said he preferred not TO dis
close how long he had spent
in Spain. And yet, after visit
of undisclosed duration and aft
er being home two months, at
the behest of the us. Ambass-
sdor to Madrid, he was received
at the White House to say he
has found very little religious
freedom" in Spain.
This brought to mind the fact
that, not many days before, G. l..
Sulzberger of The New York
Times had quoted Ambassador
Griffis as saying 'that he told
Generalissimo Franco this year
that the United States insisted
that the Protestant and Jewish
minorities in Spain should have
absolute religious freedom of all
rites"
II brought to mind that, in the
United States Senate in March,
1850, Senator owen Brewster of
Maine brought out that the So
called Protestant problem" in
Spain was grossly misrepre-
sented."
The Senator read into the Con-
gressional Record a letter from
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

WASHINGTON-This is story
of two ambassadors.
They arc Stanton Griffis, Unit
ed States Ambassador to Spain,
and George V. Allen, United
States Ambassador to Yugo-
slayia.
The first, Mr.. Griffis, seems
dedicated to demonstrating that
Protestants do not enjoy full re-
ligious liberty in Spain, and to
threatening Generalissimo Fran
co with the loss of us. assistance
if he doesn't do something about
il. The other, Mr.. Allen, seems
even more dedicated, if any
thing, to proving that Catholics
ere only getting what's coming
TO them in Yueoslavia, and 10
seeing TO it that Marshal Tito
gets US. assistance despite the
fact that he is engaged in vic
ious and widespread religious
persecution.
This was brought out very inn
pressively in the closing days of
1851.
Only few days ago Baptist
evangelist, the Rev, Paul E.
Freed of Greensboro, NC, called
on President Truman at the
White House. When he issued
from the executive offices, he
told the reporters in the foyer
that he had just come back from
Spain; that there is very little
religious freedom" there; that
"the President was very much
interested" in his report, and
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04

boring subject.
It is perfectly clear that one OF
the major sources of opposition
to the establishment of normal
diplomatic relations with the
Holy See is that this would "en-
hanee the prestige and influence
of one church body"
These are not my words. They
are taken from resolution of
the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA,
as published in the Nes0 York
Times of Saturday, December
1st. In short, a very fun
damental criticism is that re-
lations should be as discreet as
possible with state or a sover-
eighty that is avowedly Sec
tartan.
If do not misread this Prot
estant statement, the fear is that
the steps proposed would en-
hance, increase and in some man.
ner favor the Catholic Church
as above any other: ] am not 60
ing to argue this particular point
my personal conviction is that
it is totally beside the point
but / do wish to suggest TO our
Protestant friends who are IN
such a dither about the dangers
and repercussionS of an ambassa-
dor at the Holy See that perhaps
they should do something about
Israel.
Founded on Religion
Here is a totally and profesSed-
ly Jewish state, dedicated to the
restoration of the Jewish home
land. The only conceivable Justi-
fication for the existence of Is
rael is that it is a religious cor
poration aimed at providing
Jews, because of race and relig-
ion, with a homeland. Now this
may be good or it may be bad.
But the fact remains that Israel
is a Jewish state, officially so,
and theI efore represents a single
religious denomination. The
whole spirit and inspiration of
the state is strictly sectarian and
tightly denominational. IT is a
Jewish enterprise, for Jews, and
based on their common religion.
If this is not case of political
recognition of q religious state