The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-04-11

- d
handles the correspondence per-
sonally.
At the outset, Mr. Francis
said there were . few blunt
demands for removal Of names
from the mailing list. But, he
added, most ministers in the
program apparently we're will
ing to accept the material with
open minds. Some expressed
gratitude and q desire TO learn
more about the Catholic
Church, he said.
Mr.. Francis said that there
have been some ministers who
have written to him a number
of times. The first letters, he
said, were addressed Dear Sir"
but this changed to Dear MI.
Francis" and then to Dear
Dale" t..
Mr.. Francis said that Paul
Blanshard. the anti-C Catholic au-
thor and lecturer, unwittingly
had a part in launching "Oper-
alton Understanding" In his
OSV column, Mr.. Francis re.
minded his readers of a charge
made by Mr.. Blanshard that on
|ly window dressing" Catholic
publications were available to
non-C Catholics. Columnist Fran
els called upon his readers to
supply him with funds to send
OSV, which is circulated largely
through church door sales, to
Protestant ministers.
Operation Understanding
Is in your hands," Mr.. Francis
wrote for his readers. II think
great many will be willing
to help in . crusade that -.
may well be . significant de-
veIopment in cathoIie.Protest-
ant relations"
Mr.. Francis said the readers
responded Gin numbers we new
er expected" and sent in suf-
ficient funds for more than
12,O one-year subscriptions.
He said that there were a great
many ST. donations, but there
also were others, such as a $500
check from a reader who direct.
ed that 1t be used In the pro-
gram.
Working out "Operation Tn
derstanding" was a side-line to
Mr.. Francis when he ended an
extended visit in Cuba and went
to Austin, Tex, to fill a faculty
position at st. Edward Univer'
sity.
Assisted by his wife, Bar.
bara, and tsaming with James
Hovser, q boyhood friend who
quit an attractive selling Job
in indiana, Mr.. Francis reesiv.
ed approval Of Bishop Louis
]. Reicher Of Austin and
launched the Lone Star Csfho-
lie edition Of oSv as The do
cese newspaper. The paper a.
80 Is circulated in the Corpus
Christi diocese.
Feeling a need to keep in per
sonal touch with the $4,000 min
listers involved in Operation
Understanding" MI. Francis de
vised a plan so that the Lone
Star Catholic would reach TIT
ministers in the program.
In a special message to minis
tiers in the first issue, Mr. Fran
els told his readers his purpos'
is Ito gain understanding OF tn
Catholic Church"
Asking the ministers to re
spond "when we Offend" he al
so warned them that presents
ton of the Church's teaching
would not be tnamby-pamby."
He agreed to read Protest
ant publications sent to him
by The ministers and 70 use
psrfiner& information in his
oSv column RIO help our pso-
pie understand your faith"
He noted, however, that he.
already receives and reads ~
Protestant periodicals.
Being completely honest
about a recent charge that "Op
eration Understanding" is a cam
] paign to convert ministers, MI
/ Francis said 1--WE would be TN
true to our co~nsciences if we di'
mot want to share in the tru
faith given by Christ with on
neighbors.
"But, although this would 3
necessity be true" he contir
ued, "the purpose is really e,