Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-19
BY ORR KELLY
star staff writer

AZ AlnA UCCA ACPOA OCN NAA0b
Father Kung, the 36-year-old
theologian who has been ad-
wiser to the liberal German
hierarchy at the Vatican Coun-
Gil, would not be permitted to
speak in the Archdiocese Of
washington.
According to these reports
the decision to permit him to
speak publicly here was made
only last Saturday.
These reports were described
as strictly ridiculous" by
Bishop Philip M. Hannah, a
spokesman for the Archdiocese.
Father Sweeney Reticent
AS late as yesterday afterO
noon, however, the Rev. Francis
Sweeney, the Jesuit at Boston |
College who is arranging Fa-
ther Kung's itinerary. refused
to discuss the possibility Of his
appearance in Washington.
II will tell you where he is
scheduled to speak. I can tell
you nothing about where he Is
not going to speak," he said.
Father Kung is one Of four
Catholic educators generally
identified with the liberal"
wing Of the church who have
been barred from taking part
in a student-sponsored lecture
series at Catholic University.
The German priest is the
author Of 1.-THE Council, The
Church and Reform" a book
which has had a strong influ-
ence on the thinking Of those
working toward sweeping re-
forms at the Second Vatican
Council, now in recess.
Others Barred
Also barred from the Catho-
lie University series were the
Rev. John Courtney Murray, a
theologian from the Jesuit
seminary at Woodstock, Md,
whose writings have been con-
cerned with the place Of
Catholics in American life; the
Rev. Gustave Weigel. also from
Woodstock, who has been active
in contacts with Protestants
and who has conducted a num-
Der of retreats for non-Catho-
lies, and the Rev. Godfrey
Dieckman, a hturgiSt from st.
Johns Abbey in Collegeville,
MINI.
Father Dieckman has for
many years been editor OF
Worship, the leading American
liturgical journal, and has
been an advocate Of reforms in
the Catholic liturgy.
Many Of the reforms he has
proposed have already been
adopted, but he Is considered q
controversial figure by conser-
vative elements in the church
The decision to bar the four
priests from speaking at Catho-
lie University was made early
last month by the Right Rev
Joseph McAllister, vice rector
of the university. He said he
received q two-page list Of pos
sible speakers from the Grad
uate Student Council and re-
moved the names Of the four
as too controversial"
Have Point Of View"
All four. he said, are identi-
fled with q point Of view"
concerning issues before the
Vatican Council. If they were
permitted to spesk. he said. the
university might mistakenly be
identified with the opinions.
I'VE hope that these issues
are being discussed in the
classrooms," he added, noting
that Father Weigel will conduct
classes there this week.
Catholic University is In q
unique position, he said, be-
cause 1t is q pontifical univer-
sity whose governing body is
made UP Of the Catholic hier-
archy Of the United States.
The university rector. the
Rev. william ]. Mcdonald,
declined to talk to reporters
and referred questions to Msgr
McAllister.
Some Angry Reaction
The decision TO bar the four
speakers brought an angry re-
action from many students and
faculty members at the uni
versity.
The Undergraduate Student
Council has asked the Admin
istration-F Faculty Student Ad-
visory Board to review the pro-
cedure for screening guest
speakers: the university chap
ter Of the American Association
OF University Professors hal
discussed the issue in critica
terms but decided TO wait until
action is taken by q faculty
group. and the faculty Of thu
Graduate School Of Arts ant
Sciences Is expected TO discuss
the matter at It's next meeting
on February rs.
The cautiousness Of the uni