2---THE PROGRESS Friday, March 19, 1965
'... that You Love One Another As I Have Loved You'
Rev. John D. Lynch
Following is the complete
text of the sermon preached
by Father ]ohn D. Lynch at
the Mass o/ Reparation for
the violence in Alabama of-
fered in St. ]ames Cathedral
Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. follow-
ing a civil rights march.
Father Lynch, moderator of
the C a t h o I i c Interracial
Council of Seattle, led the
march.
If you salute only your
brethren what more are
you doing than others?
Do not even pagans do
this, and if you love those
who love you what reward
Clergy of All Faiths
Join Selma March
(The author of this ar-
ticle, a curate at SS. Paul
and Augustine Church in
Washington, D.C., and vice
chairman of the University
Neighborhoods C o u n c i l
there, was one of some 40
Catholic priests from many
parts of the country who
joined Protestant and Jewish
clergy in the March 9 pro-
test march led by Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., in Selma
demonstrating against denial
of voting rights to Negroes.)
By FATHER GENO BARONI
SELMA, Ala. (NC)--As
we came over the bridge
we saw the state troopers
lined up about 200 yards
ahead. I was marching in
the second line just behind Dr.
King and other leaders, and
from where I was it looked
like a whole regiment waiting
for us.
All of us had already made
our commitment in mind and
conscience. As some of the
clergymen put it. we were go-
ing to Golgotha without the
cross. Still, as we marched we
couldn't help asking each other
what tear gas felt like and hop-
ing that, if there was going to
be violence, at least the older
clergy wouldn't be badly beaten.
I suppose some people were
surprised at the s p e c t a c I e
--there were perhaps 300 or 400
priests and ministers and rabbis
of us in that body of 2,000
marchers.-coming out to dem-
onstrate in defiance of a Fed-
eral court's injunction.
But we didn't make the de-
clsion lightly. During a meet-
ing back at Brown's chapel,
the AME Church in Selma
that was the focal point for
our activities, speaker aRer
Take the experience of 40 of
us who came from Washington
aboard a chartered plane. Af-
ter driving the 50 miles from
the airport at Montgomery, we
arrived in Selma at night.
When we entered Brown's
chapel we found it filled--peo-
ple were packed into three bal-
conies.
As we came in, the speaker
stopped and the people struck
up the Battle Hymn of the Re-
public. The aisles opened, peo-
ple embraced us and kissed us
and gave Us their places to sit.
Afterwards others offered to
open their poor homes to us.
Children, teenagers, adults--aU
asked if they could do any-
thing for us in any way.
After an experience like this,
it isn't possible to stand aloof
from the pain of these people
who have been victimized and
brutalized for claiming their
rights and their human digni-
ty-that dignity and those rights
which Pope John XXlII told us
men have a duty to claim.
There was tremendous dis-
appointment with the role
played by the federal govern-
ment in this crisis. When we
came over the bridge, we had
hoped that we might find
Federal troops or marshals
waiting on the other side to
protect us. Instead there were
the state troopers.
After a while you begin to
wonder whether there must be
violence and brutality on the
part of the authorities in every
city and county in the South
before the Federal government
will step in to protect the rights
of citizens.
Many of the Selma demon-
strators said bitterly that the
President apparently found it
easier to send marines to Viet-
nam to protect people there
have you? Do not even the pub-
licans do this?
This is my commandment
"that you love one another as
I have loved you," words taken
from the gospel of St. Matthew
and St. John.
Your Excellency Archbishop
Connolly, Y o u r Excellency
Bishop Gill, Right Reverend,
Very Reverend and Reverend
Fathers, and my fellow workers
in the mission among God's
people, my dear Sisters and my
people of God.
The entire United States has
been sliocked and dismayed in
the last ten days by the acts of
violence that have been perpe-
trated in certain parts of our
country especially these latter
days in the City of Selma, Ala.
These are only the most re-
cent of a long series of violence
and death which has resulted
because man has not learned
God's second commandment
that Thou shalt love one an-
other. All this violence has re-
sulted from racial dissension,
jealousy and envy. And some
think it horrible that men have
been attacked and so it is. Very
few of us ever look beyond the
appearance and see the real
evil that lies in such acts of
aggression a n d oppression
which result in death and se-
vere bodily injury to our fel-
low Americans--those who are
THE MOST REVEREND Archbishop Connolly presided
Tuesday at the Mass of Reparation for the atrocities suf-
fered at Selma, Ala. The Archbishop, above, participates in
the singing of the Mass.
"WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY . . ." was sung
Tuesday by Seattle Civil Right marchers who later attended
a Mass of Reparation in St. James Cathedral.
joined to us by so many com-
mon ties.
You must realize that the real
evil of these actions lies in the
fact that they are an effront-
ery and an insult to the Majesty
of Almighty God Who created
these good people out of noth-
ingness as He created our-
selves. He made them to His
own image and likeness; He
offered the blood of His own
Divine Son for their salvation
and yet man has taken up clubs
and guns and destroyed the
very image of God. Truly we
have sinned against our God,
and we must do repentance.
The world very seldom thinks
of ever making reparation to
God but all of us here this
evening, with our Archbishop
and Bishop and all the people
of God are joined together in
an act of offering our hearts,
our minds, our love, our dedi-
cation, our resolve to always
better ourselves and to love
one another as an act of repar-
ation to the Majesty of God
that is being trodden under foot
in other parts of our country.
The Reverend James Reeb
and Jimmie Jackson are only
the latest of a long line but we
include them all, for no one is
greater than another. God has
died for all. We always are
anxious to brag about the ac-
complishments of our country.
Many of our citizens have shed
their blood for the preservation
of democracy. How proud we
are to claim that we have par-
ticipated in their great act of
devotion, loyalty and patriotism
to our country. But if we are
going to share the glory of our
fellow citizens we must also
share their guilt and by a
strange paradox of the will of
God both those who swung the
clubs and those who felt its
blows are our brothers in the
great family of humanity. They
are our fellow Americans. In
their bodies resides the grace
and the very image of God.
They were redeemed by the
very blood that has redeemed
US.
It seems a long leap from
Selma to Seattle but human
nature can do it in one stride.
If we were ever to examine
the causes of such violence in
parts of our country, north as
well as south, we can trace
it back to the most hideous
evil that lies traitor within the
human breast; if charity is
the greatest of all virtues,
then hatred must be the
worst of all evils. And yet in
our own city we find the
seeds of that same evil which
likewise may grow into a
great conflagration; the very
aets of violence that we decry
about the people in the South
may very well be our part
some day as well. Perhaps
the seed is there in only very
small proportion but how big
a tree can grow from such a
small seed.
Did you ever think of what a
beautiful Cathedral we are in
this evening? We have only the
best of materials, built of brick
and mortar, and plaster; its
stained glass windows trying to
reflect the message of the Gos-
pel; only the greatest artists
available were allowed to come
in and decorate this beautiful
house of God. And yet I do not
want to shock you but this
beautiful Cathedral is nothing
but junk in comparison to the
human body. This has been
built by human hands, but the
body, God reserved that privi-
lege to Himself. We call this
God's • house because He lives
here. Ah, it's only temporary.
His one purpose in staying here
for a short time is to reside
permanently in His real temple,
the body and soul created ac-
cording to His image. How
much do we as Catholics, and
as other Christians, reflect the
image that resides in the bodies
and souls of other men? How
often have I heard such epithets
as nigger, coon, levelled against
the very image of God? If some
one called your sanctuary or
your temple or your Cathedral
a shack you would be shocked,
taken aback. What a great sac-
rilege it must be to level these
very words against the living
temple of God. Do you think
that God is unmoved? Do we
really respect the image of
Christ we find in our neighbor?
Did God only have one mould
in which He created man? Or
are not all men His children?
Do not all men regardless of
their race, creed or color re-
flect the very image of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit?
How often do we greet our
fellow Americans and our fel-
low Christians on the street
with respect? God wants only
the best, and yet the seeds of
segregation are growing with-
in our city.. Our ghettos are
growing and flowing o v e r
their bounds every day be-
cause we don't want Jesus
Christ living next door to us.
We find our fellow Americans
children of God receiving an
inferior education b e c a u s e
they are cut off from the gen-
eral flow and run of society
and culture. Every one of us
has a sincere responsibility to
see that this despicable sin of
segregation i s completely
eradicated from our society.
The Bishops of the United
States and yes, all the other re-
ligious leaders of our land have
branded segregation as the
worst of sins. You know, when
you mention sin today, the first
thing that the old Protestant
thinks of is the alcoholic and
for a Catholic he thinks of sex.
speaker rose to say that the
law of conscience is higher
than Federal law. If a man is
not free to follow his con-
science, we.agreed, he is al-
ready dead in spirit.
The actual confrontation came
about 10 yards in front of the
police line. The authorities told
us we could not pass beyond
the line because it would en-
danger public safety.
Dr. King asked to make a
statement. He said we had a
right to walk to Montgomery to
PrPtest 1 the governor about
the bruta violence Of Sundr.y,
March 7, when scores of peace-
ful demonstrators were injured
by. the tear gas and clubs of
troopers.
Dr. King then asked permis-
sion to pray. We knelt in the
middle of the four-lane high-
way. The sun was shining
brightly as we prayed. Bishop
John Wesley Lord, the Method-
ist bishop of Washington, urged
us to love America and love
one another. Msgr. Thomas
Reese of Wilmington reminded
us that Christ had made all
men brothers. Rabbi Richard
Hirsch of Washington recalled
that no men--whites included--
are really free unless all men
are free.
Dr. King made a further
statement, urging his followers
to avoid hatred and respond to
provocations with love.
In the midst of our prayers,
the police line opened up. If it
had ben Dr. King s wish, we
would certainly have continued
marching. But instead he and
the Other leaders turned us
back and the group returned to
Selma.
The feeling among those who
had taken part in the march
was definitely one of frustra-
tion and disappointment. We
were grateful that there was no
violence. But many had seen
this as the high water mark of
d i r e c t involvement by the
churches in the civil rights
movement in the South. And,
immediately at least, there was
not much to show for it.
Clergy had come from all
over the country for this dem-
onstration. Inevitably we
thought of what would happen
to the people of Selma after
we left. The state police took
movie films of the marchers
every step along the way.
What happens to these people
now?
The clergy who took part in
the march were and are emo-
tionally and spiritually involved
with the people's sufferings.
Even if we wanted to avoid
this, we couldn't have.
than to take steps to protect
citizens of our own country.
W h e n people's legitimate
hopes are frustrated, as they
have been repeatedly in Selma, VATICAN CITY (N.C.)
there are great risks involved. --Pope Paul VI urged a
There is a real danger that they noon crowd in st. Peter's
will lose heart and begin to de- square to pray to Our Lady
spair. In Selma I heard people for peace in an obvious refer-
singing "We Ain't Gonna Be once to fighting in Vietnam
Turned Around"--but I also re- and racial strife in the U.S.
member a 16-year-old boy Appearing at his window
named Maurice with a band- above the square March 14, the
aged head who was singing a Pope again appealed for an end
song that went, "There Ain't to armed conflicts in all parts
no God." of the world.
The dangers are particularly He particularly urged Cath-
great in regard to the students olios to pray to the Blessed
and young people who provide Virgin for "countries where
so much of the leadership in the war and guerrilla warfare are
civil rights movement. Those still tearing human lives to
who believe in the noble phi- pieces and where discord
losophy of non-violence as a because of race and color
way of life are hard pressed creates hatred, victims and
by others who regard non-vio- disorders."
lence as nothing more than a
tactic, an instrument to be em-
ployed when it is useful and
abandoned when it no longer
serves the purpose.
The march had many good
side-effects. For one thing, it
demonstrated as never before
that the clergy are prepared
not merely to speak about the
principles of e q u a 1 i t y and
brotherhood but to act upon
them. Priests, ministers and
rabbis showed that they could
walk as well as talk.
It also gave a tremendous
boost to the ecumenical spirit.
This experience created a
deep and meaningful bend
among clergy of many faiths
from many parts of the coun-
try. Catholics, Presbyterians,
Unitarians, Lutherans, Jews,
Episcopalians--we got a new
and healthy respect for each
other on that highway out of
Selma.
The march underlined the
civil rights commitment of the
Catholic clergy as never before.
Many of the speakers in
Brown's chapel pointed out with
happiness and gratitude that
this was the first time that SO
many Catholic priests, acting
with their bishops' permission,
had joined them on the front
lines of the movement.
There were priests in Selma
from Washington, D.C., Chi-
cago, Oklahoma City and Tulsa,
Wilmington, San Antonio, Bos-
ton. Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, De-
troit, and probably other places.
I think one monsignor spoke
for all of us when he said that
the sense of unity and sharing
his experience on this occasion
was as close as he expects to
come in this life to the feeling
of unity and brotherhood in the
next.
Pope Asks Peace in Vietnam, U.S. Race Conflict
The same day the Vatican equality and the moral and
City daily, L'Osservatore Ro-
menu, denounced the "bestial
violence" in Alabama nd de-
plored the murder of the Rev.
James J. Reeb, Unitarian min-
ister of Boston who was killed
in Selma where he had gone to
take part in proetest demon-
strations against violence used
by police against Negroes seek-
ing to register to vote.
An editorial entitled "Racist
Infamy," signed by the daily
editor-in-chief, Raimondo Man-
zini, declared:
"In an age such as ours
which aims at the highest
affirmation of the dignity of
man--of every man--and at
affirming . . . the moral
Civil Rights Mass
Mirrors Apostolates
(Continued from Page 1)
The Mass also capped a
weekend of mourning, called:
Friday by civil rights spokes-
men in the Seattle area, Stand-
ing in silent vigil from Friday
through Sunday on the steps on
the Federal Court House were
members of Congress of Racial
Equality (CORE), National As-
sociation for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP),
Student Non.Violent Coordina-
las will be held at 10:30 am
Saturday, March 20, starting
at the African Methodist Epis-
copal Church, 14th Ave. and
E. Pine St.
The CIC will meet at 8 pm
Thursday, March 25, in St. Peter
Claver Center. Guest speaker
is John Bundy, University of
Washington student in the Far
E a s t e r n department. Bundy
spent last year working in Mis-
sissippi for the Council of Fed-
material development of each
one, it is difficult to believe
that some states of the Amer-
ican nation persist in denying
the exercise of civil rights
to members of their own
communities because of the
color of their skin and for
other physical reasons."
It said that "the wave of
grief over the death of the Rev.
James Reed is finding e deep
echo in the entire world and in
every man."
The editorial also spoke of
the ecumenical aspects of the
Selma, Ale., struggle, saying:
"It is significant that Cath-
olic priests and religious per-
sons of every confession stand
$500,000 Gift
To College
ST. PAUL, Minn.--The Col-
lege of St. Catherine has re-
ceived a gift of $500,000 from I.
A. O'Shaughnessy, St. P a u l
philanthropist.
O'Shaughnessy designated
$300,000 of his gift for an en-
dowment chair in the depart-
ment of education and $200,000
for the general capital fund of
$4 million now being secured by
the college during its campaign
to match a Ford Foundation
challenge grant of $1 million.
The gift places the total capital
program near the $3 million
ring Committee (SNCC), Central
Area Coordinating Committee
on Civil Rights, Unitarians for
Social Justice, Urban League,
Greater Seattle Council of
Churches, Jewish groups, Seat-
tle Conference on Religion and
Race, American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) and the CIC.
The mourning period was held
"to stand in silent witness to
express indignation not only to
the people in this country but
also to our leaders who have
been unwilling to guarantee
human and civil rights to Ameri-
cans, black and white in Selma
and throughout the south."
For the Catholic Interracial
Council there is more to do.
A public demonstration and
march for voters' registration
Viet Cong Arrests
erated Organizations (COFO). mark.
Benedictines to Form
Community in Mexico
ST. BENEDICT, Ore. (NC)nThe community of
the Mount Angel Benedictine abbey here has voted
to establish a foundation in the diocese of Cuernavaca,
Mexico.
The decision closely followed a vote of the community to es-
tablish a foundation in the Boise, Idaho, diocese.
"The chapter," Abbot Damian Jentges, O.S.B., said, "has
voted to take definite steps toward the beginning of a foundation
in the Diocese of Cuernavaca, Mexico. The decision was reached
at the same time as that concerning the new foundation in the
Diocese of Boise, Idaho."
The abbot explained the step into Latin America follows
the urging of the Holy See that Religious of North America
extend their spiritual influence into Latin America.
He said that for four years Bishop Sergio Mendez Arceo of
Releases Priest Cuernavaca has been urging the Mount Angel Abbey Benedictines
S A I G O N (NC) -- Father • to establish themselves in his diocese which is in the state of
Leon Dujon of the Paris For- Morelos south of Mexico City. The bishop suggested that the
eign Missions was taken pris- Oregon Benedictines establish a seminary as well as aid in other
oner in Kontum province, cen-
tral Vietnam, by the communist ways in the diocese.
Viet Cong February 24. The abbot said detailed plans have not yet been perfected,
He was released the next but several priests and Brothers will be sent to Mexico this
day. summer for orientation.
side by side . . . in defense
of human values."
Vatican Radio echoed the
paper's condemnation of the
Selma killing and noted that the
U.S. press gave great promin-
ence to the presence of nuns
at the Protestant minister's
funeral.
The broadcast said the "in-
dignation and emotion aroused
throughout the world by the
assassination at Selma are rea-
sons for comfort. They are an
indication of the spreading of
sensitivity and moral maturity.
They are a hope for the future.
But there is still an immense
job to be done before all men
have recognized, theoretically
and practically, the rights con-
ferred on them by God and na-
ture.
PRIESTS AND SISTERS, young and old, wait at Seattle'st
Federal Building to join in the Catholic Interracial Council's
march Tuesday led by Father John D. Lynch, moderator.
I do not want to seem flippant
or to deny that the abuse of
alcohol or sex is seriously sin-
ful but these are sins that re-
sult from human weakness.
How God must hate sin that
results from human malice.
How slow he will be to show
His mercy for sins that arise
out of hatred. Pardon the
bluntness of Holy Scripture,
but St. John says "He who says
he loves God and hates his
neighbor is a liar." Therefore
as Christians what is going to
be the end result of our act
of worship together this eve-
ning is that we dedicate
our lives, our sorrows, our
burdens, in reparation for the
offences committed against Al-
mighty God, and to remember
that we must love one another.
You know Christ did not leave
us a spiritual smorgasbord,
where we could select the plates
of pious preferences. God made
the menu and it's not ala carte
In that doctrine given to us by
Christ we must love every per-
son, carry his cross, help him
through life to save his soul.
Any other alternative is com-
pletely against the teachings of
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. You cannot select all
the rest and reject this one. It
is all or nothing and nothing is
Hell.
By our Apostolic teachers
we have the doctrine from
the scriptures "He who hears
you hears me." As Christians
and as Catholics we have
been taught by our own Pope,
by our own Archbishop that
we may not follow the crowd
in this avenue of hatred. Will
we follow?
Tonight we are not asking for
punishment or condemnation
but we are asking Almighty
God for prayers.
To return to the simile of the
Cathedral, let us pray: May we
have O Lord a charity like the
zeal of the candles that burn
upon our altars? May we have
the innocence of the altar cloths
that drape the altar upon which
your Holy Sacrifice is to be of-
fered. And may our lives be
like the church bells that call
so earnestly to men to come
and worship God. May we
the influence of the holy
font which offers a blessing to
every one who passes by. O
Lord may we have the patience
of the Church's pillars which
bear great burdens silently.
May we have the impartiality
of the Church's pews which wel-
come all men--rich and poor,
white and black, westerner or
oriental. O dear God hear your
Church.
Rev. James J. Reeb
Killed in Selma
THE REV. James J. Reeb,
38, of Boston, died two days
after he was attacked by
white segregationists in
downtown Selma. He was
one of three Unitarian white
ministers beaten as they left
a Negro restaurant. Mr.•
Reeb was rushed to Uni-
versity of Alabama Medical
Center in Birmingham for a
70-minute emergency brain
operation on the night of the
attack March 9, but con-
tinued to weaken. Mr. Reeb
is survived by his wife and
four young children.
--RELIGIOUS
NEWS SERVICE PHOTO
: ;6 ,:;i':':'L: e. j
+
fjfie Scriptural Rosar!/
Daily at 6:00 p.m.
KBLE- Seattle Radio 1050 -- Beginning March 1st
THE ROSARY HOUR • P.0. Box 186, Unlverslty Station • Seattle
THE UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS is dull
(except for the faculty and students.)
-has only a small program for building muscles.
(It has a big one for building minds.)
-is unabashedly religious
(but welcomes atheists, relativists, agnostics,
in the hope of teaching them truth.)
-does not talk about achieving balance between
conservatism and liberalism in the future.
(It already has it.)
-has not joined the modern world.
(It wants the modern world to join it.)
THE UNIVERSITY OF DALLASan institution dedicated to excel-
lence in the great traditions of the Wesfin science, art, philosophy,
politics and literatureinvi÷es non-permisslve parents to send their
sons and daughters to it.
WRITE: Admissions Counselor, Box 431VP, University of Dallas
University of Dallas Station, Texas 75061.
The UD faculty includes such scholars as Dr. Donald Cowan and Dr. Allen Reid
in the Sciences; Father Louis Lekai and Dr. Anthony Kubek in History; Dr. John
C. Broadhurst in Education; Dr. Louise Cowan and Dr. Eugene Curtsinger in
English Literature; Professor Heri Bartscht in Art; Dr. Willmoore Kendall in Poli-
tics; Father Gilbert Hardi in Theology; Dr. Frederick Wilhelmsen in Philosophy;
Father Ode Egres and Father Moses Nagy in Languages.
