Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-16

into a church plant whose re-
placement value has been pri-
vately assessed at approx
mately Sis million. which would
make it the most valuable
church property in Michigan.
In his own words, his transi-
ton from a world figure to a
busy but subdued suburban pas
tor was proof Of a deep sense
Of obedience to ecclesiastical
authority-a quality he advo-
Gates for all men toward their
superiors.
Taking Orders Difficult
1T was difficult to take or
ders because I still think I was
right on many things" he said
over breakfast coffee in his Co
lonial basement dining room,
apart from his private quarters.
MY thinking may be dia-
metrically opposed to that Of
the chancery downtown, and
frequently is, but II you are
going to stay on the team, you'd
better obey the coach or turn
In your suit" N-r'
Commenting on Mr.. Roose-
welt, he added:
II still think I was right, for
instance. in breaking with him
for recognizing Russia; I still
think I was hight when I OPP
posed him for giving the Rus
slams $ll million to set them up
in business; and I still think I
was right in opposing our entry
into the war on the side of
Russia. / think history has
proven I was right.
1T wasn't because I was for
Germany. but here you had
the extreme left and the ex-
treme right Of totalitarianism,
both the same. and I felt we
should let them fight 1t out
among themselves" ~
First Broadcast in 1926
Father Coughlin's venture
into radio was dictated by eco
nomic necessity, 1t was reported
at the time. A suggestion made
to Leo ]. Fitzpatrick, then man
ager Of Station WJR, resulted
in his first broadcast in Oc-
tober, 1926.
That broadcast brought eight
letters, but soon began to snow
ball when he introduced politi-.
cal topics into what originally
had been Institutional sermons
1T got to the point" an old
associate said, that he needed
something like $4,000 every
Monday morning to pay his ra-
dio bills. Bishop Gallagher had
always gone along with his
right to say what he pleased on
political matters, but other
bishops of the country were
opposed.
When Archbishop Mooney
came here in 1897 everybody
assumed this would be his ma
Jor problem. But, in that off
handed way Of his, he played 1t
in a manner the youngsters to-
day would call COOL
He used that fine style of
italian diplomacy learned in
Rome of cutting him off grad
ually."
Flat Contradiction
When Father Coughiin said
on radio that no Catholic could
Join the CIO the archbishop
came out with q flat eontradic-
lion that was headlined in the
daily press.
The archbishop then came
up with a section from canon
law which provided for a board
Of censors, to which he was re-
quired to submit his radio
talks" the associate recalled.
He was cagey about it and ap-
pointed only close friends Of
Father Coughlin.
(The censors were the late
Most Rev. William F. Murphy,
later Bishop of Saginaw; the
late Father Joseph McIsaac,
then chaplain of st. Joseph's
Mercy Hospital, Pontiac: and
Father Philibert Ramstatter.
OFM. a Franciscan theologian.)
They cut the CUTS out Of his
addresses, and while he still had
millions Of followers. that SIS
600 was not rolling in every
Monday.
THE archbishop then, very
quietly, informed him that his
newspaper. Social Justice, also
was subject to censor. That was
when he sold 1t to somebody
in Toledo. 1t no longer carried
his name as editor and pub
fisher, but his picture remained
on the masthead, and there
never was any question as TO
who continued to supply its
editorial matter.