The electrifying effect of the new challenge of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders - bold and unflinching - has hit our beloved nation. It’s theme, rather it’s shout, is that we Americans are headed for “two worlds” living in deadly fear and hate. Unless all of us, white and Negroes start to live together as civilized people instead of primitive animals, we are headed for trouble that will make the Civil War look like the Children’s Crusade.

The comments of our leaders are, as usual, mixed. Our president, our wonderful mayor, some of Georgia’s best political leaders, Atlanta’s most solid men want immediate action. Thank God, despite the Southern Confederate bloc, the Senate has broken the six-week filibuster on open housing.

Our governor, our junior senator, a Louisiana congressman, some of our sacred commercial building people call open housing political propaganda, federal meddling, a sell-out, all the tiresome old phrases of 19th Century America.

But American citizens will make the decision. We are all frightened and although the Negro has every right to despise our hypocrisy, we the white majority, must open up our neighborhoods so that Negroes can exercise the right of every American to live where he wishes. In Atlanta, SWAP has pioneered the way with excellent results.

But Buckhead, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Hapeville, Marietta - every inch of this burgeoning city - must stop thinking they can live in a crabgrass ghettos. We cannot any longer.

Atlanta is facing the challenge of a real action conference in the near future on equal opportunity in housing. Our most representative bodies are sponsoring it.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta will certainly support it. Our Archdiocesan Pastoral Commission, expressing the minds and hearts of our laymen and priests, is studying it now. We have carried the ball proudly since our schools, hospitals and all institutions were integrated across the board in 1962-63.

Our people are southerners or transplanted Yankees, but they are Christians and American citizens first. They have never flinched, and I want to say that in six years we have never had a serious racial “incident.” Problems, yes. Misunderstandings, yes. Unchristian fear and hate - NO!

I humbly ask that some loyal faith in the real crisis which we face today.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta