Invitations to speak at luncheon clubs in and around the city are among the pleasant assignments of a bishop these days. I have spoken to Rotary Clubs in Gainesville and North DeKalb County; another in Marietta is due this Friday. Popes John and Paul, the Church, the Vatican Council, the new facets of Christianity -- these topics are fresh and interesting. The attention of the members is proof.

These are men banded together for a few simple good purposes. When the present Holy Father met the Rotarians of Italy last year, he spoke warmly of their aims: to demonstrate by their association the need of earnestness and honest among men of business, professions, science and thought; and to foster culture and friendly relations among men and nations.

Pope Paul said that their formula (regular convivial meetings and an informative speech on some topical matter) was a happy one. Those who are members or guests of the Rotary will agree.

An Awkward Silence

The nineteenth century showed what a nation of joiners we were. America, by and large, sought fellowship behind ridiculous masks and costumes, deep in a mumbo jumbo of ritual and passwords. The twentieth century has taken a good hard look at all these trappings, and then discarded them. History simply will not wait for those embalmed in the past to thaw out.

In Europe, international bodies are often held suspect by either the state (because they dilute a raw nationalism) or the Church (because they tend to be substituted for a man’s religion). Although Americans have these preoccupations too, it really takes Europe to see society through the dark glasses of conspiracy. All the world’s a plot, and secret agents with briefcases and suicide capsules are always boarding the last train of our parish for Istanbul or Moscow. Agent 007, and assorted John Birchers are only Johnny-come-latelies.

In the 1950s, an unfortunate rift occurred between Rotary and the Catholic Church. Based perhaps upon the American experience that a man’s religion is no bar to his association, it was reported that Rotary was up to no good. Without checking out the American scene, Rotary was ruled out of bounds for bishops and priests, and remained under some disfavor for Catholics generally.

Priests who had enjoyed Rotary memberships as part of their apostolate were embarrassed. So were many bishops. And there were no Cardinal Gibbons nor American Irelands in sight to present the American case as these two had with the Knights of Labor and other fraternal groups in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Pope Paul in his meeting with the Rotary of Italy spoke of this unfortunate incident, “Reservations based on the fear that an international association might present itself as a complete program for man’s true and profound significance ...a sufficient norm to guide the conscience of man.”

But “the wisdom of the Rotary” prevailed, said the pope, and it brings at times the testimonies of age-old philosophy and the Christian message. He expressed the hope that Rotary’s attitude toward spiritual and religious values may always be as respectful as it is toward cultural and scientific expression. In giving them his blessing, Pope Paul urged that the teacher of mankind, Christ the Lord, might not be altogether a stranger to them. He praised especially their work in promoting concord and peace in the world. The embarrassing silence between the Church and Rotary came to an end that day.

Teacher Of Mankind

I thought Pope Paul’s words as I spoke, to their respectful attention, of Catholicism. Other speakers touch, directly or indirectly, on religious values. Their concern for sick and sorrowing members bears an authentic Christian mark. The Georgia program of inviting foreign students to study and live with Rotarians (there are 40 more coming soon) is almost an implementation of one of the great global principles of Pope John’s “Pacem In Terris.”

Editorial Comment

One of the Rotary bulletins, following my appearance, interested me very much. The writer praised the talk, and said, “to the ecumenical movement in principle, we echo a fervent, ‘Amen.’”

The editorial then went on to say that I had discussed a few “unsolved” problems. “One, to what extent, if any, should the Church be in politics?” was merely listed. This, to us, is of major importance.” In four paragraphs, the writer then gives his answer, closing the editorial with a compliment and a toast to the speaker.

Next week, I would like to take the opportunity of discussing not merely listing, this “unsolved problem.”

I agree with the writer’s right to a point of view, and I could not disagree more heartily with his own solution to the “unsolved” problem.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop Of Atlanta