The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-09-01

acter of the Church is at
stake. q policy of silence is
indefensible," Bishop Reed
said Aug. 27).
He spoke at a Mass which
he offered for delegates to
the convention of the Ma.
tional Catholic Conference for
Interracial Justice.
REPLYING TO o
WHO argue for gradualism in
attempting to solve the race
problem, the Bishop declared
tia never before could such
degsv cause the damage that
can We caused today, when all
the ~'orld knows the news in
q few hours"
Our country is today the
worlds leader. Her failure
affects others than herself 49,.
Her public image is being
maliciously distorted by her
enemies as a result of racial
segregation difficulties
The common good Of our ma
tional society seems to me at
stake. Therefore the United
States cannot afford to wait
long on this issue" he said.
AS for the Church, Bishop
Reed continued, it cannot af-
ford to wait either"
WITH sEcULARlSM TRY
ING to seize leadership and
seeking to interpret life on
every side. the Church can
not delay. Her mission in the
world is not to follow but to
lead"
In recent months Bishop
Reed himself has been EN-
broiled in an indignation con-
troVersy centering on efforts
to desegregate eating facil-
tiles in Oklahoma City.
A leading role in the res
taurant sit-in movement was
taken by an Oklahoma City
priest, Father Robert G. Nc
Dole. who was twice arrested
for his part in the sit-ins.
Other priests have joined
clergymen of various demon
nations in the demonstra-
tionS.
Bishop Reed said in a state
ment last January. evoked by
Father Melodies activities,
that chose who seek equality
of race i'll use of public serv-
ices are simply seeking jus
tee"
REFERRING IN HIS sermon
here to these incidents, Bishop
Reed said.
LAST WINTER THE photo
graph of a Catholic priest
being carried out of a public
restaurant by two policemen
appeared on the front page of
newspapers all over this ma
ton and in other parts Of the
world.
The incident took place in
my own Oklahoma City. II was
but one event in a generally
calm and concerted program
on the part of some of my
fellow-townsmen to remove
racial discrimination in. pub
lie eating places.
Il own to some uneasy mo-
ments at the time. For one
thing. it was not a very digni-
fled SIGHT - who could main
tain dignity in such a posi-
ton? And / place consider
able Importance on personal
dignity, above all on priestly
dipnitv.
FRANKLY, FEEL THAT
1t is the man who appreciates
the Importance of personal
dignity who properly reacts to
the deplorable indignities suf-
fered by so many of the Negro
race in their own commun-
tiles.
IF a priest must occasion
ally suffer indignity to call
reluctant public attention to
The indignity of racial dis
elimination, then ! feel the
breach of decorum is justi-
fled.
"a bishop has many prob
lens, some of them very ser
ious ones. UNDERSTANDABLE, |
did not seek to become in
volved in the community prob
lem mentioned. 1t was thrust
upon me. | do not. however,
regret it,"
BISHOP REED, WHO HAS
LIVED most of his life in
Oklahoma, said his own I'M
derstanding of the race prob
lem has been hard earned.
Il was reared in a segregat-
ed society" he explained.
There were no Negroes IN
the schools / attended, nor
was I ever associated with
them at social affairs or in
local travel. Hence | do recog-
nize the reality of the diff
culties faced by those per-
sons where long-prevailing
custom is at loggerheads with
law and principle
But, the Bishop insisted,
"the difficulties Of a local
situation must give way to
the greater difficulties in
volved on a national or in
foruatinnaI sealn nv a on