Minneapolis spokesman., 1962-04-06
CafhoIic Schools
In New Orleans
Ordered Infeqrufed

New orleans lANH) - RESENT
ment was building up here last
week over an order by Archbishop
Joseph Francis Rummel ending
racial segregation in all Roman
Catholic schools in the New Or
leans diocese.
There had been reports that the
order, which becomes effective
next fall, was imminent.
Segregationists pounced on the
order as soon as 1t was made pub
lie.
BY mid-afternoon on the date of
the announcement, a group Of
eight women and two men parad-
ed in front Of the archbishop's
residence protesting the integra-
ton Of Catholic schools. All identi-
fled themselves as Catholics and
parents with children in Catholic
schools.
Predicts Boycott
enting on Archbishop
Rummels announcement, a segre-
cation leader in the Louisiana leg
islature predicted that a mass
boycott will meet the integration."
State Sen. E. w. Gravolet add
ed: They may have larger boy
colts than we had when they first
desegregated Frantz and McDon-
ogh 49,"
About 100 white children attend
the William Frantz School where
one Negro attends classes. Norm
ally, it accommodated about $50.
This thing may have severe
repercussion," Gravolet said.
Il don't think the parents in
these parochial schools will take
this lying down.
Consider Schools Private
Catholic schools are a lot diff
ferent from public schools. In par
ochial schools, parents of that
parish built those schools and con-
slider them private schools for
their children.
Then, too, this may have a
severe reaction from a segrega-
tion-minded legislature"
He declined to comment on what
type of action the legislature
might take.
Archbishop RummePs statement
ordering desegregation came six
years after he declared segregation
morally wrong and sinful" Ne
gro leaders here and in other
parts of the country had criticized
the New Orleans diocese for the
delay.
At one point, it appeared likely
that parochial school integration
would Immediately follow that of
public schools in 1858. Observers
here have indicated that the strife
associated with public school in
tegration might have been re-
sponsible for delay since 1858.
Expects Catholic Loyalty
The word Negro was not used
in the statement, which was read
by Archdiocesan Supt. of Schools
Msgr. Henry Bezou ON behalf of
Archbishop Rummel.
1t said merely that effective
at the time Of registration for the
1962-63 school session, all Cath
olic children may apply for ad-
mission to the Catholic schools of
the archdiocese, both elementary
and secondary, parochial and priv
ate, according to accepted educa-
tional standards"
Asked what reaction Catholic
parents might have to the an
nouncement, Msgr. Bezou said:
II expect Catholics in New Or
leans to show the same loyalty as
other Catholics have shown in
other areas where similar steps
were taken"
The city's public school system,
which has $4,000 students, deseg-
regated in November, 1858. Street
gatherings that turned into near
riots, name-calling and police pat
rol lines marked the first days of
integrated classes.
IL Negro Students
There are now IL Negro stu
dents in six previously white
schools. But one of them - Nc
Donough No. 10 - has only Is
white pupils attending classes
with five Negroes. Before integra-
ton the school had 500 students.
The archdiocese Of New Orleans
covers 10 civil parishes (counties)
In Louisiana and part Of another.
There are 116 elementary and 81
high schools In the archdiocese
with a total enrolment of 1925.
In February, 1855, Archbishop
Rummel issued a pastoral letter
condemning segregation as NOR
ally wrong and sinful"
In August, 1857, a group Of New
Orleans Catholic laymen appealed
to the late Pope Plus XII asking
the Vatican to stop Archbishop
Rummel from taking further
steps toward integration. The
Vatican never ruled on the appeal.