This column is written just as President Johnson finished his speech to Congress and the American people. Father Noel Burtenshaw, vice-chancellor of the archdiocese, has just called me from Selma where six of our priests have taken part in the Atlanta memorial services for Rev. James J. Reeb, who died from a brutal beating last week, are being made.

It is time to sum up the whole question and to explain, to those who think the Church should not take part, why our priests, sisters and laymen are a part of the demonstrations.

“It is wrong -- deadly wrong -- to deny fellow Americans the right to vote,” said the president. He adopted the confident yet humble words of the demonstration song, ‘We Shall Overcome.’ No force shall hold back this struggle for human rights. There will be no delay, no hesitation, no compromise.” At this point, the Congress rose in applause. The president then said, “It is right.”

For generations this Negro has been brutally stopped or ingeniously evaded by a majority of white people. Certain church leaders have bravely challenged this. For some, this was their agony: in Mississippi during the past two years, more than 30 Protestant ministers and two rabbis have been forced from their pulpits because they supported the law.

Our own Catholic record has not always been unstained. Delays, excessive prudence and graduation have played their part. But the presence of white priests and nuns at Selma has focused national attention upon the persistent Catholic stand. “The Roman Catholic Church has not been without its failures, but more than any other single division of the Christian faith, it has, from the Vatican to the lowliest priest and nun, been more forthright in its participation and pronouncements against racial injustice than any other group.” Thus Ralph McGill observed this in his column of March 7, entitled “The Agony of the Church.”

To the notable and noble ministers and rabbis in other faiths, we pay tribute and extend a hand of Christian fraternity. And we must note for ourselves that continued vigilance is the price of justice as well as freedom.

Why do priests and nuns take part in demonstrations? Because non-violent protest is a virtue, and demonstrations of this kind are Christian acts of charity. Last week when I wrote that at first I did not give approval to priests who had asked to go to Selma, my reason was not the impropriety of demonstrations, but the real risk of life “in a region where law and order had disappeared.” I changed my mind Thursday. Perhaps it was the killing of that minister. Perhaps it was the news of nuns in the marches. There are times when we must risk safety and convenience and protocol -- even lives. This was one of those times -- and six priests from our archdiocese took part in the protest. We thank God that they are home safe, and we thank Him too that they took part.

Was it worthwhile? We have the president’s word that the demonstrations brought about the new bill to make sure that “every American citizen must have equal right to vote.” And common sense tells us that almost every step forward in the past ten years for Negro equality has started in Negro demonstrations. As the president stated: “the real hero is the American Negro.”

Someone recently called me “that N---- loving archbishop.” If I were not, I would be untrue to the motto, ‘that you may love one another.’ We all follow this command of Christ. There will be no further need for demonstrations.

Those To Whom Honor Is Paid

The program of the Georgia Medal dinner recently contained an interesting sketch of mankind’s awards to those who have been outstanding. The Greeks used a crown of laurel as a mark of merit. The men of the Roman legion at Carthage in 146 B.C. received crowns of roses. Well-known is Sir Francis Drake’s star and badge presented by the queen, and the Legion of Honor by which Napoleon honored renowned Frenchmen. Our nation has recognized achievement since 1756 when Capt. Armstrong and his small band of settlers who attacked an Indian village down to the Medal of Honor and other Congressional marks of recognition.

Last Sunday these thoughts came back during the ceremony honoring eight outstanding Catholic men and women. The Cross pro Ecclesia et pro Pontifice has a long tradition in the Church. Service for church and pope is the aim of all of us, but laymen are often shining examples of this loyalty, service and zeal.

As Msgr. Cassidy said in the sermon, “they brought truth, goodness and beauty to a point of focus that we all might see it in person.”

Yuk-Yuk Dep’t - Junior Size

Pupils of our schools have faithfully sent me messages of encouragement, complete with fine writing, cartoons, homemade drawings and jokes. They have all offered their prayers too but they felt some natural aids would be good. Here is one item:

Bobby: “They don’t allow you to talk in church.”

Mary: “Who doesn’t let you?”

Bobby: “The hushers.”

This isn’t material for a homily or a pastoral letter, but it surely helps in a hospital. Now that I’m out -- thanks to everyone who remembered me.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta