00001.tif

PDF

Download

Open document

Transcript (if available)

Content F
71-2512
BROWN, S.J., James Anthony, 1932-
A HISTORY OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH POLICIES
REGARDING COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION BROAD
CASTING IN THE UNITED STATES, 1920 THROUGH 1961.
University of Southern California, Ph.D., 1970
Mass Communications
University Microfilms, A XERQ\Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
© C opyright by
JAMES ANTHONY BROWN, S.J.
1971
A HISTORY OP R O M A N CATHOLIC CH U RCH POLICIES REGARDING
COM MERCIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING
IN THE UNITED STATES, 1920 TH RO U G H 196I
by
Jam es Anthony Brown, S . J .
A D is s e r t a tio n P re s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OP THE G RA D U A TE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OP SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In P a r t i a l F u lf illm e n t o f th e
R eq u irem en ts f o r th e Degree
DOCTOR OP PHILOSOPHY
C Com m unication— 'T eleco m m u n icatio n )
June 1970
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
.............. Jaxnfijs„AnJJiQjxy..JBjcjawxi,..S< .J................
under the direction of his Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by The Gradu
ate School, in partial fulfillment of require
ments for the degree of
D O C T O R OF P H IL O S O P H Y
','Tn
%
Dean
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter
I . INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Page
1
Problem
H ypotheses
Purpose
Term inology
| G lo ssary o f O rg a n iz a tio n s L is te d by
I I n i t i a l s i n T h is S tudy
L im ita tio n s and A ssum ptions
S ig n ific a n c e o f th e S tudy
O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e Study-
Summary
I I . REVIEW OF LITERATURE; MATERIAL A N D PROCEDURES .
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
G eneral S o u rc es
P r o te s ta n t S o u rc e s
Roman C a th o lic S o u rc e s
M a te ria ls and P ro c e d u re s
| C o lle c tio n and T re a tm e n t o f D ata
Method
| T echniques and P ro c e d u re s
R e l i a b i l i t y and V a l i d i t y
i . .
i Summary
S I I I . STRUCTURE OF THE RO M A N CATHOLIC HIERARCHY . . . 131
I n tro d u c tio n
S tru c tu r e o f Roman C a th o lic H ie ra rc h y
T ran sm issio n o f P a p a l A u th o rity
ii
Chapter
Page
P ap al W ritte n S tate m e n ts
P a p a l O ral S ta te m e n ts
A u th o rity o f V a tic a n O ffic e s
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n and A p p lic a tio n o f Church
A u th o rity
Pronouncem ent by Popes
C o n tro v ersy w ith in th e Church
P ronouncem ents by V a tic a n O ffic e s
Pronouncem ents by B ishops
Summary
IV . OFFICIAL VATICAN STATEMENTS EE GARBING
I n tro d u c tio n : S ources and D ocum entation
In d ex L i s ti n g s in AAS
C ontent o f O f f ic ia l V a tic a n Docum ents:
Q u a n tita tiv e A n a ly sis
Frequency o f Documents Is s u e d i n AAS
P a p a l O f f i c i a l V atican Documents
N onpapal O f f ic ia l V a tic a n Documents
C ontent o f O f f ic i a l V a tic a n Docum ents:
Q u a lita tiv e A n a ly sis by C la ss o f
Document and by T opics
Com m unications in G en eral
Technology o f B ro a d c a stin g
Youth and Fam ily
R e c re a tio n and E n te rta in m e n t
A rt and C u ltu re
In fo rm a tio n and E d u c a tio n
R e s p o n s ib i liti e s i n R adio and T e le v is io n
( in G e n e ra l)
V a tic a n Emphases on I s s u e s
Summary
V. OFFICIAL VATICAN ACTIONS REGARDING
BROADCASTING
171
BROADCASTING
352
iii
Chapter Page
I n tr o d u c tio n
V a tic a n R adio
The V a tic a n and T e le v is io n
P o n t i f i c a l Commission f o r Cinem a, R ad io , and
T e le v is io n
V a tic a n P ilm L ib ra ry
P u b lic a tio n s B u lle tin d 1 In fo rm a tio n
/ ■ " "
E cum enical C o u n cil S e c r e t a r i a t f o r Mass M edia
UNDA: A s s o c ia tio n C a th o liq u e I n te r n a ti o n a l
de R a d io d iffu s io n e t t e l e v i s i o n
V a tic a n O ffic e s* Pronouncem ents R egarding
B ro a d c a stin g .
D ir e c t Pronouncem ents
I n d i r e c t Pronouncem ents
P ap al Use o f R adio and T e le v is io n
R adio M essages o f th e P o p es: Frequency
T rends in P a p a l B ro ad c asts
C o n clu sio n s
Summary
V I. NONOFFICIAL BROADCASTING BY CATHOLIC GROUPS
AND INSTITUTIONS IN.THE UNITED STATES,
1920^ 1 9 6 1 . ... ,. ... ., . . . . . . . . . . . . ^51
I n tr o d u c tio n
C hronology o f Radio and T e le v is io n S ta tio n s
L icen sed to C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s
E a r l i e s t B ro a d c a sts o f R e lig io n
S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st (AM) S t a ti o n s L ic e n se d
to C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s
F requency M odulation (FM) S ta tio n s
L icen sed to C a th o lic Groups
T e le v is io n S ta tio n s (TV) L ic e n se d to
C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s
L i t i g a t i o n In v o lv in g C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n a l
A p p lic a n ts f o r T e le v is io n C hannels
O th er B ro a d c a s tin g L i ti g a t i o n In v o lv in g
C a th o lic P a r t i e s
iv
Chapter
Program ing P o l i c i e s o f C a th o lic S ta tio n s
C om parative "Com posite Week" R ep o rts
R e lig io u s Program ing' P r a c tic e s
Com m ercial Program ing P r a c tic e s
D e s c rip tiv e . Summaries o f B ro ad c ast
P ro g ram in g by C a th o lic S ta tio n s
C a th o lic S y n d ic a te d P rogram ing B ro ad cast
by Com m ercial S ta tio n s
C hronology o f S y n d ic a te d R adio and T ele
v i s i o n Program S e r ie s
Program C o n ten t o f S y n d ic a te d Radio and
T e le v is io n S e r ie s
P o l i c i e s o f S y n d ica ted R adio and T ele
v i s i o n S e r ie s
fo rm a l and In fo rm a l O rg a n iz a tio n s o f
C a th o lic Laymen and Laywomen
Summary
V II. CATHOLIC INVOLVEMENT IN EEDERAL LEGISLATION
POR BROADCASTING, 1 9 3 0 -1 9 ^ -0 ............................ ....
I n tr o d u c tio n
S o u rces
P a th e r Jo h n H arney: W L W L " P a tr io t"
H i s t o r i c a l O rig in s
C o n g re s sio n a l H earin g s and A c tio n on
W a g n e r-H a tfie ld ("H arn e y ") Amendment:
S e c tio n 3 0 7 (c ) o f 193^ A ct
A dvocate o r "Propaganda" S ta tio n s
C e n so rsh ip o f S p eak ers by Commercial
S ta tio n s
P a th e r C h a rle s C o u g h lin : The "Whip" o f
Royal Oak
H is to ry o f P a th e r C o u g h lin 's E a rly Y ears
CBS N etw ork E x clu d es C oughlin
C o u g h lin E s ta b lis h e s In d ep en d en t P riv a te
Network
C o n ten t o f C o u g h lin 's R adio A ddresses
C o u g h lin and th e Roman C a th o lic H ierarch y
v
Page
661
Chapter Page
The FGC and P u b lic Be a c t i o n to C oughlin
Network Ban P u b lic iz e d
S ta tio n s C ancel C o u g h lin ; R e a c tio n to PCC
PCC Response to C o m p lain ts a g a in s t N A B
1939 Code
The NAB, th e R adio Code, and C oughlin
C oughlin S e r ie s T erm in ated P erm anently
Roman C a th o lic R e a c tio n to th e NAB*s
Radio Code
Summary
V I I I . OPPICIAL C H U R C H BROADCASTING ACTIVITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES BY NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
1920-1961: THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC W ELFARE
CONPERENCE A N D THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OP
CATHOLIC MEN....................................................................... 8^9
I n tro d u c tio n
NCW C-NCCM and A m erican B ro a d c a s tin g
O f f ic ia l S ta tu s o f N C W C and N C C M
N C W C P rom otion o f C a th o lic R adio A c tiv i
t i e s by P u b lic a tio n
N C W C L egal D epartm ent and B ro a d c a stin g
C ensorship and S o c ia l C o n tro l: th e NCW C-
N C C M and Ju d g e R u th e rfo rd and th e N C C M
N C C M A c t i v i t i e s R e la te d to B ro a d c a stin g
NCCM : " O f f ic ia l" P rogram ing Agency f o r
N a tio n a l N etw ork C a th o lic Program s
H is to r ic a l B ackground
E p isc o p a l S u p p o rt o f N CCM Program ing
F in an cin g th e NCCM fls B ro a d c a s tin g
A c t i v i t i e s
N C C M P o lic i e s R eg ard in g N a tio n a l Network
Program ing
N C C M Program ing R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r
O ther N a tio n a l N etw ork S e r ie s
Network Radio S e r ie s by N C CM
R e la tio n s betw een NCCM and N a tio n a l
Networks
Summary
vi
Chapter Page
IX . LOCAL BROADCAST PROGR/IMING BY CATHOLIC GROUPS
ARB OFFICIAL DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS TO RADIO
TELEVISION RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LOCAL BROAD-
CASTING....................... 1152
I n tro d u c tio n
Chronology o f L o cal C a th o lic P rogram ing
L o ca l R adio Program s and S e r ie s
D io cesan H ie r a r c h y 's P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n ,
E ndorsem ent o f , C a th o lic P rogram ing
j
S u rv ey s and S tu d ie s o f Roman C a th o lic Broad-* I
c a s tin g : 1955-1958 I
R e lev a n t F in d in g s i n P re v io u s S tu d ie s j
C o n clu sio n s o f P rev io u s S tu d ie s ' j
O f f i c i a l D io c e sa n A ppointm ents: I n d iv id u a l
D ir e c to r s , O f f ic e s , and C om m ittees f o r
C o o rd in a tin g B ro a d c a stin g A c t i v i t i e s
R esponses to Q u e stio n n a ire S urvey j
C hronology o f D iocesan A p p o in tm en ts to
B ro a d c a s tin g
A n a ly s is o f Q u e stio n n a ire R esponses
D io cesan B ro a d c a st P rogram ing j
' D iocesan In flu e n c e upon L o ca l Com m ercial
B ro a d c a s tin g
S easons f o r D is p a rity o f D io ce san P o li
c i e s R e g ard in g B ro a d c a stin g
D is c re p a n c ie s in R esponses to Q u estio n
n a i r e Survey
Summary
X, BROADCASTING PRACTICES A N D POLICIES IN
SELECTED DIOCESES OF TH E UNITED STATES |
(PART I ) . ........................................................................... 1375|
I n tr o d u c tio n !
D ata on D io ce ses j
C le v e la n d , Ohio (1938)*
*D ates r e f e r to o f f i c i a l a p p o in tm e n ts o f. d io c e s a n
r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s f o r b r o a d c a s tin g .
vii
Chapter Page
B u ffa lo , New York (1939)
D enver, C olorado (19^2)
B o sto n , M a ssa c h u se tts (19^3)
New Y ork, New York (1950)
San F r a n c is c o , C a lif o rn ia (1952)
S t . L o u is , M isso u ri (1953)
Los A n g e le s, C a lif o r n ia (195*0
Grand R a p id s , M ichigan (1955)
C hicago, I l l i n o i s (1956)
K ansas C ity , M isso u ri (1956)
K ansas C i ty , K ansas (1957)
Newark, New J e rs e y (1958)
D e tr o it, M ichigan (I9 6 0 )
O th er D io ce ses and A rc h d io ce ses: M iscel
la n e o u s N otew orthy Data
Oklahoma C ity , Oklahoma (1925)
G a lv e s to n , Texas (1950)
B ro o k ly n , New York (1953)
S t . P a u l, M innesota (1958)
L i t t l e R ock, A rkansas (1958)
New O rle a n s , L o u isia n a (1959)
N a s h v ille , T ennessee ( — )
Summary
X I. BROADCASTING PRACTICES AN D POLICIES IN
SELECTED DIOCESES OF TH E UNITED STATES
(PART I I ) .....................................................................
I n tr o d u c tio n
W ashington, D. C. (1950/1952)
P e rso n n e l
P o lic i e s
P rogram ing
P o lic i e s R eg ard in g th e T e le v is e d Mass
C o o p e ra tiv e R e la tio n s
Roman C a th o lic s v s . D r. D. G. B am house
A udience
P rom otion o f S p e c ia l Program P r o je c t
S t . L o u is , M isso u ri (1953)
E x p re sse d A rch d io o esan P o lio ie s f o r
B ro a d c a stin g
C hronology, C o n te n t, and Form at o f P ro
gram ing
viii
1569
Chapter
P ro g ram in g P o li c i e s
L ia is o n w ith Com m ercial B ro a d c a st S ta tio n
P e rs o n n e l
B ro a d c a s t Program R a tin g s
C h icag o , I l l i n o i s (1956)
i
I
! A c t i v i t i e s and P o lic i e s o f A rch d io cesan
! B ro a d c a s tin g O ffic e
| P u b lis h e d Comments a b o u t B ro a d c a stin g
i L ia is o n b etw een A rch d io cesan O ffic e and
j Com m ercial B ro a d c a s te rs and n o n -C a th o lio
j R e lig io u s P ro d u c ers
I The M a rtin L u th e r F ilm In c id e n t
C h ro n o lo g ic a l A ccount o f S ta te m e n ts and
E v e n ts
I A fte rm a th : B ro a d c a sts o f F ilm i n O ther
C i t i e s
Summary
X II. BROADCASTING PRACTICES A N D POLICIES OP THE
ARCHDIOCESE OP N E W YORK..............................................
I n tr o d u c tio n
O f f i c i a l S ta te m e n ts o f P o lic y (by R adio-
T e le v is io n O ffic e )
A rc h d io c e sa n P o lic i e s R eg ard in g P erm issio n s
L o ca l A rc h d io c e sa n A c tio n s and P o lic ie s in
B ro a d c a s tin g
A rc h d io c e sa n L o cal Program ing
C ath o lic-O w n ed S ta tio n s i n th e A rch d io cese
A rc h d io c e sa n C o o p era tio n w ith C iv ic O rgani
z a tio n s i n Mass Media
L ia is o n w ith N a tio n a l N etw orks
I 4
! N etw ork P o l i c i e s and C a th o lic Church
I L ia is o n
j C o n s u lta tiv e L ia is o n betw een Networks and
A g en c ies and th e New York A rchdiocesan
O ffic e o f Radio and T e le v is io n Communica-
i t i o n s
! M ajor I n c id e n ts : N etw orks and th e Arch
d io c e s e
I s s u e s : th e A rch d io cesan O ffic e o f Broad
c a s t i n g and th e C o n tro v ersy betw een N C C M
and CBS
ix
Page
1829
Chapter
Involvem ent w ith C a th o lic Lay In d iv id u a ls
and O rg a n iz a tio n s v is - A - v i s B ro a d c a s te rs
New York A rch d io cesan S ta te m e n ts o f P rin
c ip le C oncerning B ro a d c a st Media
A ctio n s and S ta te m e n ts R e f l e c t in g I n c ip ie n t
N a tio n a l C a th o lic P o li c i e s
C o m p ilatio n o f M oral A p p ra is a ls o f T e le
v i s i o n Program s
C o o rd in a tio n o f S y n d ic a te d and N a tio n a lly
B ro a d c a st Program s O rig in a tin g i n
New York
C om piling B ata ab o u t C a th o lic E f f o r ts i n
P rogram ing
A s s is tin g L o c a l D io ceses by T ra in in g
D io cesan D ir e c to r s o f B ro a d c a stin g
O th er A c t i v i t i e s and S ta te m e n ts P o re -
shadow ing a N a tio n a l C a th o lic O ffic e
f o r B ro a d c a s tin g
Summary
X I I I . NATIONAL COORDINATION OP CATHOLIC BROADCASTING:
TH E CATHOLIC BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION; THE
EPISCOPAL COMMITTEE POR MOTION PICTURES,
RADIO A N D TELEVISION; AND DELIBERATIONS
A BOUT A NATIONAL CATHOLIC OPPICE POR BROAD
CASTING ....................................................................................
In tro d u c tio n
The C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n
Background to th e C B A
Membership
C o n s titu tio n a l Changes i n CBA, M odifying
P u rp o se and M embership
C o n tro v e rs ie s w ith in th e CBA
N a tio n a l CBA C o n ventions
R eg io n al M eetin g s o f CBA
O ther A c t i v i t i e s R e la te d to th e CBA
D e lib e ra tio n s a b o u t a N a tio n a l O ffic e by
D iocesan D ir e c to r s o f B ro a d c a s tin g and th e
A m erican B ishops
M eetings o f D iocesan D ir e c to r s
D e lib e r a tio n s and Porm al S ta te m e n ts in N C W C
by th e A m erican H ie ra rc h y
x
Page
2168
Chapter Page
N onhierarchy Views a b o u t a N a tio n a l C a th o lic
O ffic e f o r B ro a d c a stin g
I n te r n a ti o n a l L ia is o n : th e V a tic a n and th e
C a th o lic Church in A m erica
Summary
XIV• SUMMBY A N D CONCLUSIONS.................................................... 2368
C h ap ter I — I n tro d u c tio n and Background
C h ap ter I I —Review o f L i t e r a t u r e ; M a te ria l
and P ro ced u res
C h ap ter I I I — S tr u c tu r e o f Roman C a th o lic
Church H ierarch y
C h ap ter IV— O f f i c i a l V a tic a n S ta te m e n ts
R egarding B ro a d c a stin g
C h ap ter V — O f f ic ia l V a tic a n A c tio n s R eg ard in g
B ro a d c a stin g
P ap al Use o f Radio and T e le v is io n
C h ap ter VI—N o n o ffic ia l B ro a d c a s tin g by
C a th o lic Groups and I n s t i t u t i o n s i n th e
U n ited S t a t e s , 1920-1961
C a th o lic In s titu tio n -O w n e d R adio and T ele
v is io n S ta tio n s
Program ing P o lic i e s o f C a th o lic I n s t i t u
tion-O w ned S ta tio n s
C a th o lic S y n d ic a te d P rogram ing B ro a d c a st
by Commercial S ta tio n s
C h ap ter V II— C a th o lic In v o lv em en t i n F e d e ra l
L e g is la tio n f o r B ro a d c a s tin g : 1930-19^0
F a th e r John H arney, C .S .P .
Fath?.;’ C h a rles C ou g h lin .
C h ap ter V III— O f f ic ia l Church B ro a d c a stin g
A c t i v i t i e s i n th e U n ited S t a t e s : NCW C-
N C CM N a tio n a l O rg a n iz a tio n s , 1920-1961
The S ta tu s o f th e N C W C
N CW C-N CCM and A m erican B ro a d c a s tin g
NCCM : " O f f i c i a l 1 1 P rogram ing Agency f o r
N a tio n a l Network C a th o lic Program s
C h ap ter IX—L ocal Program ing by C a th o lic
Groups
xi
C h a p ter Page
O f f ic ia l D io cesan A ppointm ents o f Broad
c a s tin g C o o rd in a to rs
C h ap ter X— B ro a d c a stin g P r a c tic e s and P o l i c i e s
i n S e le c te d D io ceses o f th e U n ited S ta te s
( P a rt I )
O th er D io ceses in th e U n ite d S ta te s
C h ap ter XI— B ro a d c a stin g P r a c tic e s and P o l i
c i e s in S e le c te d D ioceses o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s ( P a r t I I )
W ashington, D. C.
S t . L o u is, M isso u ri
C hicago, I l l i n o i s
C h a p ter X II— B ro a d c a stin g P r a c tic e s and
P o lic i e s o f th e A rchdiocese o f New York
l i a i s o n w ith N a tio n a l N etw orks
C h ap ter X I I I — N a tio n a l C o o rd in a tio n o f
C a th o lic B ro a d c a stin g
C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n
D e lib e r a tio n s a b o u t a N a tio n a l O ffic e by
D iocesan D ir e c to rs o f B ro a d c a stin g and
th e A m erican B ishops
S y n th e s is o f C o n clu sio n s and In fe re n c e s
I n i t i a l H yp o th eses o f Study Confirm ed and
M odified
O ther I s s u e s D isco v ered in th e Study
Recomm endations f o r F u rth e r Study
C oncluding A n a ly s is
BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................
2539
APPENDIXES ................................................................................................. 2610
A ppendix A. P e rs o n a l In te rv ie w s Conducted
w ith R e p re s e n ta tiv e s o f Com m ercial
B ro a d c a s tin g , F e d e ra l G overnm ent,
and P r o te s ta n t and Roman C a th o lic
C hurches ........................................................ 2612
x i i
A ppendix B
A ppendix C
A ppendix I)
A ppendix E
A ppendix F
A ppendix G
A ppendix H
A ppendix I
A ppendix J
A ppendix J K
A ppendix L
Rank O rder o f A rch d io ce ses and
D io ceses a c c o rd in g to T o ta l Popur
l a t i o n in A rea .................. ....
Q u e s tio n n a ire S urvey M a te ria ls .
A m erican I n s t i t u t e o f Manage
m ent * s A u d it o f Roman C a th e lic
C hurch A d m in is tra tio n .......................
T i t l e s and S ources o f Documents
C o n ta in in g P ap al and V atican
O f f i c i a l S tate m e n ts R egarding
B ro a d c a s tin g , P u b lish e d i n th e
AAS, 1927-1961 . . . . ...................
V a tic a n S ta tu te s o f th e P o n tif i
c a l Commission f o r M otion P ic -,
t u r e s , R ad io , and T e le v is io n • •
T ab le s o f C om parative Program ing
R eco rd s o f B ro a d c a st S ta tio n s
L ic e n se d to C a th o lic I n s t i t u
t i o n s and to S e le c te d Competing
H o n s e c ta ria n S t a t i o n s .................. ....
E x c e rp ts from P ro p o sed and Ten
t a t i v e Code and S ta n d a rd s o f
P r a c tic e ...................................................
1958 Survey o f D io cesan Radio
and TV B ro a d c a stin g w ith S upple-
m e n ta iy Survey o f R a tio n a l Pro
gram s . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forms S ent to P a r t i c i p a n t s in
Program s by th e D iocesan R adio-
TV B u reau , B u f f a lo , Rew York . •
"The Long Road tow ard S ta tio n
D evelopm ent— o r th e PCC and Me,"
By R ev. Hugh M ichael Beahan,
D io cese o f Grand R a p id s, M ichigan
Form L e tte r s to L o cal C lergy
P a r t ic i p a n t s i n Program ing o f
A rc h d io cese o f W ashington, D. C.
Page
2618
2621
2636
26*+l
2650
2656
26j67
2671
2688
269^
2699
x i i i
Page
A ppendix M. S ta te m e n ts o f O b je c tiv e s in Ask-
a - P r i e s t Program S e r ie s by Arch
d io c e s e o f S t . L o u is 2703
A ppendix IT. S ta te m e n ts ab o u t B ro a d c a stin g
by H ie ra rc h y and C le rg y ....................... 2709
LIST OP SABLES
Table Page
1 . A cts o f th e Popes Documented i n A cta A p o s to li-
oae S e d is . 1920-1961 . . • . • • • . . . . . • • 1^8
/
2 . P a p a l and V a tic a n O f f i c i a l S ta te m e n ts R eg ard in g
B ro a d c a stin g P u b lis h e d i n th e AAS. 1927-1961 • 183
3 . O f f ic i a l V a tic a n Documents P e r ta in in g to B road
c a s tin g P u b lis h e d i n AAS by T hree P o p es,
1927-1961........................ 7 7 7 . • • • • ...........................187
*+. P ap al O f f ic i a l V a tic a n Documents P e r ta in in g to
B ro a d c a stin g P u b lis h e d i n th e AAS. 1920-1961;
G lass "A": C om plete Documents ...................... 189
5 . P a p a l O f f i c i a l V a tic a n Documents P e r ta in in g to
B ro a d c a stin g P u b lis h e d i n th e AAS. 1920-1961;
C la ss "B": P o r tio n s o f D ocum ents. .. ... . 193
6 . P a p a l O f f i c i a l V a tic a n Documents P e r ta in in g to
B ro a d c a stin g P u b lis h e d i n th e AAS. 1920-1961;
C la ss "C": R e fe re n c e s i n D ocum ents...........................19*+
7 . C la s s e s o f P a p a l S ta te m e n ts R eg ard in g B road
c a s tin g i n C a te g o rie s o f O f f i c i a l V a tic a n
Documents P u b lis h e d in AAS. 1 9 2 0 -1 9 6 1 ................... 198
8 . T ex t T o ta ls and A nnual A verages o f P ap al Docu
m e n ta tio n i n AAS R eg ard in g B ro a d c a s tin g ,
1927- 1961. .'7 7 7 .,. ...................................... 201
9 . N onpapal O f f i c i a l V a tic a n Documents P e r ta in in g
to B ro a d c a s tin g P u b lis h e d in th e AAS. 1920-
1 9 6 1 ........................ .....................................7 “7 20 7
1 0 . Chronology o f B ro a d c a s tin g T o p ics T re a te d in
O f f ic ia l AAS. Documents Is s u e d by Popes and
V a tic a n O f f ic e s , 1927-1961 • • • ...........................210
1 1 . P a v o ra b le and U n fa v o ra b le A p p ra is a ls o f Broad
c a s tin g Media i n P a p a l and H onpapal O f f ic ia l
V a tic a n D ocum ents, 1927-1961 ........................... • • 21^
xv
Table Page
12* I s s u e s i n B ro a d c a stin g D isc u ssed i n O f f i c i a l
P a p a l Documents i n AAS, 1920-1961 ...... 3^5
13* P a p a l Documents P u b lis h e d i n th e A cta A p o s to li-
ca e S e d is . 1931-1961. .....................................• • *+07
l*f. U t i l i z a t i o n o f R adio f o r M essages by Three
P o p es, 1 9 31-1961............................................... . . . . ^13
1 5 . P e rc e n ta g e o f T o ta l D ocum entation D evoted to
B ro a d c a st M essages by Three P o p e s, 1931-1961. **15
1 6 . B ro a d c a st M essages a s P e rc e n ta g e o f T o ta l
P a p a l D ocum entation d u rin g T en-Y ear P e r io d s ,
1931-1961 ................................ ^17
17* B ro a d c a st M essages a s P e rc e n ta g e o f T o ta l P a p a l
D ocum entation d u rin g S e le c te d P e r io d s , 1931-
1961.............................. . . ^19
1 8 , C a te g o rie s o f R adio A d d resses R e p o rted in A cta
A p o sto lio a e S e d is . 19 3 1 -1 9 6 1 . . . . . . . . . *+22
19* In te n d e d A udiences o f B ro a d c a st M essages:
I . E u c h a r is tic C o n g re sse s. . . • • • • • • • ^25
2 0 . In te n d e d A udiences o f B ro a d c a st M essages:
I I . C onventions o f C lerg y and L a it y ................... **26
2 1 . In te n d e d A udiences o f B ro a d c a st M essages:
I I I . To S e le c te d P a r ts o f th e C a th o lic W orld *f27 i
1
2 2 . S p e c ia l E v en ts Which O ccasioned B ro a d c a st
M e s s a g e s ................................. ^38
*
2 3 . C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s o f H ig h er E d u c a tio n T hat
Have H eld S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st L ic e n s e s . . . . k65
2*+o S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st S ta tio n s i n th e U nited,..
S ta te s O perated E x c lu s iv e ly u n d e r C a th o lic ‘
A u sp ic e s, A p r i l , 1927 > and F e b ru a ry , 1929 • • ^73
2 5 . C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s o f H ig h er E d u c a tio n Which
Owned S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st S ta ti o n s i n A u g u st,
19^ 1 . ^82
xvi
Table Page
26. S ta n d a rd B ro ad c a st S ta tio n s O p erated Commer
c i a l l y by C a th o lic N o n p ro fit O rg a n iz a tio n s ,
Ja n u ary 1 , 1959 ........................ *+86
27. Com plete L i s t o f S ta tio n s i n T ab le 26
C a te g o ry , 1 9 6 1 * ........................... 1*87
2 8 . Com mercial A M and TV S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic
R e lig io u s I n s t i t u t i o n s i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
c a . J u n e , 1955 ~ S eptem ber, 1957* . . . . . . ^89
2 9 . Com plete L i s t o f S ta tio n s i n T ab le 28 C a te g o ry ,
1961. ........................... !*90
3 0 . N oncom m ercial S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st S ta tio n s
O perated by N o n p ro fit O rg a n iz a tio n s ,
Ja n u a ry 1 , i 960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 +9l+
3 1 . S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic
I n s t i t u t i o n s , 1920-1961 . • . . . . . . . . • **98
3 2 . C um ulative L is tin g o f A ll S ta n d a rd B ro a d c a st
S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s ,
1920-1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
33* F requency M o d u latio n N oncom m ercial E d u c a tio n a l
S ta tio n s L ic e n se d to C a th o lic I n s t i t u t i o n s ,
P a l l , 1961 ( ? ) ..............................................................509
31 *. Noncom m ercial E d u c a tio n a l F requency M odulation
S ta tio n s O p erated by Church O rg a n iz a tio n s on
Commercial FM F re q u e n c ie s , Ja n u a ry 1 , 1961. • 510
3 5 . F requency M od u latio n S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic
I n s t i t u t i o n s , 19^1*1981 • • ................................ 512
3 6 . Com mercial T e le v is io n S ta tio n s O p erated by
E d u c a tio n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s , Septem ber 2 , 196I • 511 *
37* Summary o f C om parative P rogram ing D ata o f AM,
FM? and TV B ro ad c ast S ta ti o n s Owned by
C a th o lic and N o n sec tax lan L ic e n s e e s i n
S e le c te d C i t i e s , 1933-1961: I . R e lig io u s
P rogram ing..................................... 5**8
xvii
Table Page
3 3 . Summary o f C om parative P rogram ing D ata o f AM,
PM, and TV B ro a d c a st S ta tio n s Owned by
C a th o lic and N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n se e s in
S e le c te d C i t i e s , 1933-1961: I I • Com m ercial
P ro g ram in g ............................
39* Number o f Com m ercial R adio S ta tio n s Broadcast**
in g T ra n s c rib e d fiadio Program s S y n d ic a te d by
Homan C a th o lic P ro d u cers in th e U n ite d S ta te s
1935-1961 . . . . . . .
ifO. Number o f S ta ti o n s B ro a d c a stin g Fam ily T h e a te r
T e le v is io n P r o g r a m s ................................ • • >
i f l . Number o f Com m ercial T e le v is io n S ta tio n s B road
c a s tin g R ecorded T e le v is io n Program s S yndi
c a te d by Homan C a th o lic P ro d u c e rs i n th e
U n ite d S t a t e s , 1950-1961.................... ....
if 2 . Program C o n ten t o f Homan C a th o lic S y n d ica ted
R adio and T e le v is io n S e r ie s , 1935-1961. • . •
if 3 . A nnual T o ta ls o f R e lig io u s Program C o n ten t i n
th e Georgetown U n iv e rs ity Forum S y n d ic a te d
R adio S e r i e s , 19^0-1901 . . . • .............................
M f. B a te s and T i t l e s o f Program s w ith E x p l i c i t and
I m p lic it R e lig io u s C ontent i n Georgetown
U n iv e r s ity Forum Radio S e r i e s , 1946-1961• . .
4 $ . L e t t e r s S en t to th e F e d e ra l Radio and Communi
c a tio n s Com missions R egarding F a th e r C h a rle s
C o u g h lin , 1931-1939 ........................................................
t
if6 . A c tio n o f R adio S ta tio n s R eg ard in g th e Radio
Code o f 1939 a t th e N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f
B ro a d c a s te r s ' C o n v en tio n , A tla n tic C ity ?
N. J . , J u ly 1 3 , 1939........................................................
if7 . C om parative B udgets Spent on C a th o lic Hour
R adio and T e le v is io n P ro d u c tio n p e r Program
an d Season by N C C M and NBC, S e le c te d Y ea rs:
1950-1960 . . . . .............................................................
if8 • The C a th o lic Hour th ro u g h R a d io : Number o f
L e t t e r s R eceiv ed and S ta tio n s B ro a d c a stin g i n
S e le c te d Y e a rs , 1930-1960 ..........................................
x v iii
551
608 i
t
* t
t
612 |
616
618
j
628
629
789
j
816
1051
1083
T able
* 9 .
50.
51.
5 2 .
53.
55.
56.
57.
5 8 .
59.
60.
6 1.
"C om parison o f L is te n e r E a tin g s [ s i c : Should Be
L e t t e r R esp o n se] to S ta tio n A cc e p ta n ce, 19*+0-
1 9 6 0 , I n c lu s iv e " ( f o r C a th o lic H our th ro u g h
R a d i o ............................................... •
NCCM-Produced N etw ork Radio and T e le v is io n
S e r i e s , 19 3 0 -1 9 6 1 . . . . . ......................................
H ours o f R e lig io u s Program ing B ro a d c a st by
L ead in g D en o m in atio n s, May 23“ 2 9 , 1937 . . .
R e lig io u s D en o m in atio n al Program s B ro ad cast in
th e U n ite d S t a t e s , by Number o f S ta ti o n s ,
May 2 3 -2 9 , 1937 .............................................................
S e c u la r (N o n -C ath o lic Owned) S ta tio n s Broad
c a s t i n g C a th o lic Program s in th e U n ited
S t a t e s , O c to b e r, 1 9 3 o ...................................................
D io cesan A c t i v i t i e s i n B ro a d c a s tin g , a s
R e p o rted i n th e N.C.W .C. and N.C.C.M . P u b li
c a t i o n s , 1925“ 1950 ........................................................
Summary o f R esponses to Q u e stio n n a ire Survey;
D io c e ses o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1 9 6 1 ...................
D is tr i b u t i o n o f F i f t y U n ite d S ta te s A ccording
to R egions ...........................................................................
C h ro n o lo g ic a l L i s t by D io ceses o f A ppointm ents
to B ro a d c a stin g R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , 1920-1961.
I n d i v i d u a l s , O f f ic e s , and C om m ittees (In c lu d
in g "O th e r") A p p o in ted to O versee D iocesan
B ro a d c a s tin g A c t i v i t i e s , 1920-1961 . . . . .
P ro p o r tio n o f O f f i c i a l A ppointm ents to T o ta l
Number o f D io c e s e s , by R eg io n , 1 9 6 1 ...................
O f f i c i a l A ppointm ents by D io ceses and Arch
d io c e s e s to B ro a d c a stin g A c t i v i t i e s , 1961. •
C om parison betw een Q u estio n s / l - a and # l- b :
R espondents Whose A ppointm ents Were Concur
r e n t w ith E s ta b lis h m e n t o f P o s itio n o f
I n d iv id u a l D io cesan C o o rd in a to r f o r Broad
c a s t i n g v e rs u s R espondents Who Were S ucces
s o r s i n P o s itio n s P re v io u s ly C re a te d . . . .
xix
Page
1092
1096
1173
117^
1176
1187
1221
1222
1226
1230
1233
1235
1237
Table Page
6 2 . P e rc e n ta g e o f Time D evoted to B ro a d c a stin g
R e s p o n s ib i liti e s by D iocesan I n d iv id u a l
A p p o in te e s, O f f ic e s , and Com m ittees (" O th e r1 ') 1239
6 3 . O f f i c i a l D io cesan T i t l e s o r D e s ig n a tio n s :
I n d iv id u a ls and O ffic e s f o r Radio-TV • • • • .... 12*4-6
6*f. Q u e stio n # l - e : " I n d ic a te th e G en eral N ature
o f th e R e s p o n s ib ility He [o r I t ] Has with.
R egard to L o cal B ro a d c a stin g A c t i v i t i e s " . . • 12^-9
6 5 . Q u e stio n # l - f : " P le a s e L i s t H is M ajor S p e c ific
D u tie s R e la tiv e to Radio-TV" ....................... 1250
6 6 . Q u e stio n # 2 -b : "How Many O th er P eople Are
Employed i n th e O f f i c i a l D iocesan O ffic e o r
S t a f f ( In c lu d in g th e D ir e c to r ) f o r Each o f
th e F o llo w in g Types o f W o r k ? " ................................ 125*+
67* Q u e stio n #3~ a: • "Are T here Any R ecords i n th e
C hanceiy O ffic e P i l e s Which A re R e le v a n t to
B ro a d c a s tin g Q u e s t i o n s ? " ..................................................1257
6 8 . (Q u e stio n #3~ a) Y ears i n Which P i l e s o f M a te ria l
Were B e g u n ...................................................................................1258
69* Q u e stio n #3”cs " In A d d itio n to Documentary
M a te r ia l, M ight In fo rm a tio n Be A v a ila b le from
• • (D io cesan O f f i c i a l s , C le r ic o r Lay
Heads o f O rg a n iz a tio n s , Members o f O rganiza
tio n s ? ) • .. .• • •• • •• • •• 1262
7 0 . Q u e stio n " In Your D iocese Do Lav O rganiza
tio n s E x is t Which Are C oncerned w ith Radio and
T e le v is io n B ro a d c a s tin g ? " .................................... 126*f
71• Q u e stio n # 5 -a : " In Your D iocese Has a L ocal
C a th o lic Group ( th e D iocesan O f f ic e , D ir e c to r ,
C om m ittee, o r Lay O rg a n iz a tio n ) Produced P ro
gram s f o r B ro a d c a st O ver: R adio? T e le
v is io n ? " .. ... . 1272
72. Q u e stio n #5“ a ( P a r t I I ) : "Y ear i n Which P i r s t
[L o cal R adio o r T e le v is io n ] P ro d u c tio n Com
p le te d " ................................... ..... . 1273
7 3 . Q u e stio n #5”b : "Of th e R adio and TV Program s
P roduced L o c a lly u n d e r C a th o lic A uspices d u r
in g th e P a s t Two Y e a rs, How Many Were
xx
Table PaS©
Produced . . ( D ir e c tly o r I n d i r e c t l y by
Groups; by O th er M eans?) • • • • • • • • • • • 1280
7*+. Types o f L o cal P rogram ing P roduced by D io ceses
i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1959” 1 9 6 1 ....................... 128?
7 5 . Q u estio n # 2 -e : "How Does T h is O ffic e F u n c tio n
i n R e la tio n to th e L o cal D io cesan Chancery
O ffic e i n D ay-to-D ay D e c is io n s R eg ard in g L o ca l
Radio-TV P ro d u c tio n , S c h e d u lin g , C o n te n t,
C r itic is m ( i . e . , A p art from B road P o lic y
M a tte rs ? " ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 1289
7 6 . Q u estio n # 5 -e : . " I n d ic a te Method o f O b tain in g
B ro ad c ast A ir Time for* L o c a lly O rig in a te d
C a th o lic P ro g ram s. ( . . . Give th e A pproxi
m ate P e rc e n ta g e o f T o ta l P ro g ram in g Time
O btained by Each M ethod.)" .........................................1293
7 7. Q u e stio n # 5 "d : " . . . Over What P h ases o f
P re p a ra tio n and B ro a d c a st Does th e D iocese o r
I t s O f f ic ia l R e p re s e n ta tiv e E x e rc is e D ire c t
C o n tro l? " ....................................................... 1302
7 8 . Q u e stio n # 5 -e : "What P ro p o rtio n s o f th e T o ta l
Number o f L o c a lly Produced C a th o lic Program s
Have Been In te n d e d f o r A u d ien ces Which A re:
(P rim a rily C a th o lic ; P rim a r ily N o n -C ath o lic;
G en eral (C a th o lic and N o n -C a th o lic )? ]" • • • • 1306
79* Number o f R esponses to .Q u e s tio n #5~e (T ab le 7 8 ) . 1307
80• Q u e stio n # 6 -a : "Are C a th o lic L o ca l and N a tio n a l
Radio and TV Program s L is te d i n th e B ro a d c a st
S ch ed u les P r in te d i n L o cal N ew spapers?" . . . 1312
8 1 . Q u estio n j#6-b: "Do C a th o lic s i n Your D iocese
A p p raise and C r i t i c i z e ( C o n s tr u c tiv e ly , E i t h e r
P ro o r Con) th e Program ing P r a c t i c e s — In c lu d
in g Program C o n ten t and S c h e d u lin g — o f L o cal
Commercial R adio and TV S ta tio n s ? " . .. .. . 1316
8 2 . Q u estio n # 6 -c ( P a r t I ) : "What M ethods Are
Employed L o c a lly f o r Im plem enting th e Theo
r e t i c a l P r in c ip le s o f th e Church w ith R egard
to E ncouraging P ro p e r P r a c t i c e s by P ro fe s
s io n a l B ro a d c a s te rs How Are E f f e c ts B rought
ab o u t L o c a lly by Em ploying Means o f 'S o c ia l
F o rc e '? " . . • •• . .. • •• • • »• » .» • 1321
xxi
Table
Page
83* Q u e stio n # 6 -c ( P a r t I I ) : "Do You Use a D if f e r e n t
A pproach o r Method When D ealin g w ith C a th o lic
B ro a d c a s te rs th a n When D ea lin g w ith Won-
C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs ? " ............................................... 1328
84-. Q u e stio n # 6 -d : "Do C a th o lic s A ttem p t to I n f l u
ence L o cal Commercial B ro a d c a stin g by E s ta b
l i s h i n g E f f e c tiv e L ia is o n betw een L o cal R ad io -
TV S ta tio n s and . . • [D io cesan Chancery Office;
L o ca l C a th o lic O rg a n iz a tio n s ; C a th o lic I n d i
v id u a ls ; O t h e r ] ? " .................................................................. 1335
8 5 . Com parison o f S im ila r D ata from O’S hea*s Study
i n 1957 and th e P re s e n t Q u e s tio n n a ire S u rv e y . 1352
8 6 . Com parison o f S im ila r D ata from Summary o f
O’S h ea’s Study i n 1957 and th e P re s e n t Ques
tio n n a ir e S u r v e y .................................... 1353
8 7 . T o p ics P re s e n te d th ro u g h Ask and L earn Radio
S e r ie s , S ta tio n KOA, Denver ....•• ••• l*+30
8 8 . Roman C a th o lic Radio and T e le v is io n Program s
B ro ad c ast i n th e A rchdiocese o f D e tr o it by
M e tro p o lita n Commercial S t a t i o n s , 1959 . . . 1525
8 9 . E s tim a te d V alue o f B ro ad cast A irtim e D onated
by D e tr o it R adio and T e le v is io n S ta tio n s f o r
Roman C a th o lic P ro g ram in g , 1959 ............................. 1528
9 0 . C a th o lic , P r o t e s t a n t , and Je w ish R e lig io u s
Radio and T e le v is io n Program S e r ie s in
D e t r o i t, 1958-1959. . . . ................... . . . . . 1530
9 1 . Program S e r ie s Produced by th e C a th o lic A p o sto -
l a t e o f R adio and T e le v is io n , A rch d io cese o f
S t . L o u is , O ctober 195^ “ June 1961 . . . . . 1659
9 2 . Sample "P u lse " R a tin g s , 195*+“ 1956 • .........................1681
9 3 . Sample "P u lse " A udience R a tin g s f o r “Q u iz -a -
C a th o lic ," 1957 ................................................................. 1683
9*+. C om parative A udiences f o r Pour R e lig io u s T e le
v is i o n Program s i n S t. L o u is , I9 6 0 ........................ 1688
9 5 . C om parative A udiences f o r T hree R e lig io u s T e le
v is io n Program s in S t . L o u is , 1960-61 . . . . 1692
xxii
T ab le
9 6 .
9 7 .
9 8 .
9 9 .
100.
101.
102.
103.
l( h .
105.
106.
R adio and T e le v is io n Program s P roduced f o r
L o ca l S ta tio n s and N a tio n a l N etw orks i n Con
ju n c tio n w ith, th e O ffic e o f R adio and T e le
v i s i o n Com m unications o f th e A rch d io cese o f
New Y ork, 1953 th ro u g h 1958 ......................................
L o c a l and Network Program s o f C a th o lic C o n ten t
B ro a d c a st th ro u g h Radio and T e le v is io n S ta
t io n s i n New Y o rk , Week o f November 2 5 , 1961.
"T rendex" A udience R a tin g s f o r Program s o f
B ishop S heen, Com piled by th e New York O ffic e
o f Radio and T e le v is io n Com munications f o r
C a rd in a l S p ellm an , 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 5 6 ............................
" N ie lse n " A udience R a tin g s f o r Program s o f
B ishop S heen’ s " L ife I s W orth L iv in g " S e r i e s ,
195^ and 1955 ......................................................................
Number o f S ta tio n s T hat S cheduled th e Program s
o f B ishop Sheen ( " l i v e , " K in esco p e, o r V ideo
t a p e ) , 1952 - 1 9 5 9 .............................................................
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad c ast
S ta ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n S t . L o u is , 193*+“
19^ 9.............................................................................................
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad c ast
S ta ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n S t . L o u is , 1958 • •
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad cast
S ta ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n se c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n New O rle a n s , 1933“
1961 ......................
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f T e le v is io n
S t a ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n New O rle a n s , 1955“
1961. ....................................................................
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad cast
S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n se c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n New Y ork, 1 93^. • •
C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad cast
S ta ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n se c ta ria n L ic e n se e s i n S o u th Bend,
I n d ia n a , 19^8-1958 . . ...............................................
Page
1873
.1880
2116
2122
212*f
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
xxiii
Table Page
107* C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f T e le v is io n
S ta tio n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n s e e s i n S o u th Bend,
In d ia n a , 1952-1958 ......................................................... 2662
108. C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad c a st
S ta tio n s (PM) Owned by C a th o lic and by
S e le c te d N o n s e c ta ria n L ic e n s e e s i n C hicago,
I l l i n o i s , 19^8-1952 2663
109# C om parative P ro g ram in g R ecords o f T e le v is io n
S ta ti o n s Owned by C a th o lic and by S e le c te d
N o n se c ta ria n L ic e n s e e s i n G reen Bay,
W isco n sin , 1958-1961 266*+
1 1 0 . C om parative P rogram ing R ecords o f B ro ad c ast
S ta ti o n s (AM & PM) Owned by C a th o lic
L ic e n se e s i n A p p leto n and G reen Bay,
W isco n sin , 1957-1961 .................................................... 2665
xxiv
LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u re
I I . O rg a n iz a tio n a l C h a rt o f S tr u c tu r e o f Roman
j C a th o lic Church P r i o r to V a tic a n I I C o u n cil
! 2 , N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n feren ces A dm inis-
i t r a t i v e S tr u c tu r e ....................................................... . ,
| .
3 , P a id A d v ertisem en t i n th e W ashington P o st-T im es
H e ra ld n ew sp a p er, J u ly 2 3 , 1955 • • • • • • •
*+, "G re a t C rusade" v s , KW K-TV R e lig io u s P rogram s:
C om parative P u lse R a tin g s [195**-“ 55] • • • • •
5 , "G re a t C rusade" v s , RSD-TV R e lig io u s P rogram s:
C om parative P u lse R a tin g s ,[1951 + ~ 5 5 ] ....................
Page
13^
858
1599
16^0
16*H
XXV
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION A N D BA CK GRO U N D
R adio b r o a d c a s tin g s in c e 1920 and t e l e v i s i o n b ro a d
c a s tin g s in c e 19^1 bave to g e th e r em erged a s n o ta b le f o r c e s
i n co n tem p o rary A m erican s o c ie ty * The p r e c is e e f f e c t s o f
th e s e f o r c e s upon th e a t t e n t i o n , a t t i t u d e s , and b e h a v io r
o f th e m illio n s o f members o f th e m ass a u d ie n c e s a r e b e in g
s tu d ie d more and more e x h a u s tiv e ly A t th e p r e s e n t tim e
t e n t a t i v e c o n c lu s io n s re g a rd in g th e in flu e n c e o f m ass m edia
upon m ores and m o rals a re s t i l l p ro p o sed a s h y p o th e s e s .
^ D is c ip lin e d s o c i a l r e s e a r c h to d a te i s sum m arized
by Jo se p h T* K Lapper, The E f f e c ts o f Mass Com m unication
(G le n c o e , 1 1 1 .: The F re e P r e s s , I 9 6 0 ;. See a l s o W ilb u r
Schramm, The P ro c e ss and E f f e c ts o f Mass Com im m ication
(U rb an a , 1 1 1 .: The U n iv e r s ity o f I l l i n o i s P r e s s , 195!?);
Ray W halen, com p., Crime and V io len ce on T e le v is io n : A
R e p o rt o f O pinions and R e sea rc h S tu d ie s Done on T h is jjjues-
t i o n (O ttaw a: C anadian B ro a d c a stin g C o rp o ra tio n , 1$>9)«
I n d iv id u a l s tu d ie s in c lu d e th o se o f H ild e T . H im m elw eit,
A. N. Oppenheim, and Pam ela V in ce, T e le v is io n and th e C h ild
(London: O xford U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , l9 5 d ) , p u b lis h e d f o r th e
N u f f ie ld F o u n d atio n ; I n s t i t u t e f o r Com m unication R e s e a rc h ,
The San F ra n c is c o S tudy o f C h ild re n and Mass C om m unication:
P re lim in a ry R e p o rt No. 2: T e le v is io n (P a lo A lto , d a l i f . :
S ta n fo rd U n iv e r s ity , 1 9 ^ 9 ); P au l A. W itty , S chool C h ild re n
and T e le v is io n : Summary o f th e R e s u lts o f Ten N early "”
S tu d ie s o f C h ild re n * s t e l e v i s i o n V iew ing i n th e C hicago
M e tro p o lita n / r e a (flew frork: T e le v is io n In fo rm a tio n
O f f ic e , 1 9 6 6 ), W ilbur Schramm, Ja c k L y le , and Edwin B.
P a r k e r , T e le v is io n i n th e L iv es o f Our C h ild re n (P a lo A lto :
S ta n fo rd U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 b l) .
1
2
S o c i o l o g i s ts , p s y c h o lo g is ts , com m unications r e s e a r c h e r s ,
governm ent a g e n c ie s , an d in d u s tr y o r g a n iz a tio n s a re c u rio u s
and co n c ern ed a b o u t th e tr u e r o le p la y e d by b ro a d c a s tin g
2
m edia i n A m erica to d a y .
P o rin g th e same f o u r d e c a d e s, from 1920 th ro u g h
1 961, th e s e m edia have a f f e c t e d and have been a f f e c t e d by
■ a
th e many o rg a n iz e d s o c i a l g ro u p s i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
Among su c h a g e n c ie s i n t h i s c o u n try i s th e Homan C a th o lic
Church whose m em bership i n 1961 was ap p ro x im a te ly
2p0r ex am p le, th e C h ild S tudy A s s o c ia tio n o f
A m erica on March 2 1 , i 9 6 0 , was a d d re s s e d by D r. O tto
K lin e b e rg , p r o f e s s o r o f p sychology a t Columbia U n iv e r s ity ,
and by Jo sep h . T . K la p p e r, c o n s u lta n t on com m unications
r e s e a r c h to th e B e h a v io ra l H esearch S e rv ic e o f th e G en eral
E l e c t r i c Company, on th e to p ic o f The Maas M edia: T h e ir
Im pact on C h ild re n and Pam ily L ife (New Y ork; T e le v is io n
In fo rm a tio n O f f ic e , I 9 6 0 ) . P au l A. W itty , p r o f e s s o r o f
e d u c a tio n and d i r e c t o r o f th e P sy c h o -E d u c a tio n a l C lin ic a t
N o rth w e ste rn U n iv e r s ity i n C h icag o , p re s e n te d th e r e p o r t
c i t e d i n n . 1 above a t th e a n n u a l m e e tin g o f th e A m erican
A s s o c ia tio n f o r th e Advancement o f S c ie n c e , C hicago,
December 2 9 , 1959* C ongress in v e s tig a te d th e e f f e c t s o f
b r o a d c a s tin g upon y o u th : U . S . C o n g ress, S e n a te , Committee
on th e J u d i c i a r y , T e le v is io n and J u v e n ile D elin q u en cy :
I n te r im He p o r t o f th e Subcom m ittee to I n v e s tig a te J u v e n ile
D e lin q u e n c y . dVfch C o n g .. 1 s t S e a s . (W ashington: Govern
m ent P r i n t i n g O f f ic e , 1 9 5 5 )•' H e p rin ts o f s tu d ie s and
sp e e c h e s by r e s e a r c h e r s were d i s t r i b u t e d by th e N a tio n a l
A s s o c ia tio n o f B ro a d c a s te rs th ro u g h i t s T e le v is io n Inform a
t i o n O f f ic e .
3a p a r t i a l l i s t in c lu d e s th e N a tio n a l E d u c a tio n
A s s o c ia tio n , th e N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f T each ers o f E n g lis h ,
th e P a re n t-T e a c h e rs A s s o c ia tio n , th e N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n
f o r th e Advancement o f C olored P e o p le , th e N a tio n a l C o u n cil
o f C hurches o f C h r is t i n th e U n ited S ta te s o f A m erica, th e
N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n f o r B e tte r H adio and T e le v is io n , th e
A m erican M edical A s s o c ia tio n , th e A m erican Bar A s s o c ia tio n ,
and th e Pund f o r th e He p u b lic .
■ * K > m illio n o f th e a lm o st 180 m il lio n U . S . c i t i z e n s . As
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n have grown members o f th e C hurch have
w atc h e d , c r i t i c i z e d , a p p la u d e d , in f lu e n c e d , and b een i n f l u
en ced by th e b ro a d c a s t m e d ia . C a th o lic r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s
som etim es have c o o p e ra te d w ith b r o a d c a s te r s and a t o th e r
tim e s have re fu s e d to p a r t i c i p a t e i n b r o a d c a s tin g . In th e
a c tio n s and comments o f th e h ie r a r c h y , th e c le r g y , and th e
l a i t y w ere found en d o rsem en t and c r i t i c i s m o f b ro a d c a s tin g
p r a c t i c e s . On some o c c a s io n s fo rm a l s ta te m e n ts o f p o lic y
5
were e n u n c ia te d by Church spokesm en. But th e re was no
stu d y o f th e v a r io u s e x p re s s io n s o f p o lic y o f in d iv id u a l
le a d e r s o f th e Homan C a th o lic C h u rch .
*+Roman C a th o lic p o p u la tio n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s and
p o s s e s s io n s , e x c lu d in g U . S . m i l i t a r y p e rs o n n e l and fam i
l i e s i n t h i s c o u n try and o v e r s e a s , was ^ 0 ,1 0 ^ ,8 9 9 ;
Thomas B. JKenedy, e d . , “G en eral Summary," The O f f i c i a l
C a th o lic D ire c to ry f o r th e Y ear o f Our Lord 1961: G iv in g
th e S ta tu s o f th e C a th o lic Church a s o f Ja n u ary 1 , 1961;
U n ite d S ta te s E d itio n (New York? P . J . Kenedy and S o n s,
1 9 8 1 )) p . 2 fo llo w in g p . 1 2 9 1 . T o ta l U. S . p o p u la tio n ,
e x c lu d in g members o f arm ed f o r c e s and d ep en d en ts o v e r s e a s ,
was 179 >323,175 p lu s 237>900 p e rs o n s i n o u tly in g t e r r i
t o r i e s ; H arry H ansen, e d . , World Almanac 1961 and Book o f
P a c ts (New Yorks N. Y. W orld-T eiegram and th e S un, 1 9 6 1 ),
p . SO, c i t i n g a s so u rc e th e i 960 U . S . ce n su s o f 50 S ta te s
and th e D i s t r i c t o f C olum bia, s u p p lie d by th e d i r e c t o r o f
th e B ureau o f th e C ensus.
5por exam ple, th e A m erican b is h o p s ' N a tio n a l C atho
l i c W elfare C onference i n 1929 a p p o in te d th e N a tio n a l Coun
c i l o f C a th o lic Men to c o o p e ra te w ith th e N a tio n a l Broad
c a s tin g Company i n p ro d u c in g a n e tw o rk r a d io s e r i e s o f
r e l i g i o u s program s; d io c e s a n o f f i c i a l s have resp o n d e d to
b ro a d c a s t p ro d u c e rs who have r e q u e s te d C a th o lic spokesm en
to a p p e a r i n i n t e r f a i t h program s and i n program s o f g e n e ra l
d e b a te ; some b ish o p s have n o t i f i e d l o c a l b r o a d c a s te rs o f
th e p u rp o se and f u n c tio n o f n e w ly -a p p o in te d d io c e s a n
c o o r d in a to rs f o r r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s .
Problem
The problem o f t h i s stu d y was to i d e n t i f y th e
em erg in g p o l i c i e s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch re g a rd in g r a d io
and t e l e v i s i o n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s by d e s c r ib in g th e
p a t t e r n s o f a c tio n s by C a th o lic c le r g y and la y le a d e r s i n
m a tte r s . f com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g from 1920 th ro u g h 1961.
T o g e th e r w ith th e e x p re s s e d o r im p lie d p r i n c i p l e s u p o n
i
w hich c o n s is te n t a c tio n s w ere ta k e n , th e s e a c tio n s w ere
ju d g ed by t h i s r e s e a r c h e r to c o n s t i t u t e th e i d e n t i f i a b l e
p o lic y o f th e Church i n t h i s co u n try * The stu d y in c lu d e d
th r e e m ain p ro c e d u re s . (1 ) The o f f i c i a l , u n i v e r s a ll y
a p p lic a b le s ta te m e n ts o f th e Roman C a th o lic C h u rc h 's c e n
t r a l a u t h o r it y i n th e V a tic a n re g a rd in g i t s r o le i n r a d io
and t e l e v i s i o n were g a th e re d and s y n th e s iz e d i n o r d e r to
d is c e r n tr e n d s and ch an g es i n tr e n d s from 1920 th ro u g h
1 961. (2 ) N ex t, d a ta on th e p r a c t i c a l a p p l ic a tio n o f th e s e
u n i v e r s a l e c c l e s i a s t i c a l pronouncem ents i n th e C hurch i n
th e U n ite d S ta te s w ere r e p o r te d . Such d a ta in c lu d e d
n a t i o n a l and l o c a l s ta te m e n ts and d i r e c t i v e s by th e Church
o f f i c i a l s , and n a t i o n a l and l o c a l a c t i v i t i e s c a r r i e d on by
C hurch o f f i c e s and by o r g a n iz a tio n s o f la y p e r s o n s .
(3 ) Those a c tio n s ta k e n in th e U n ite d S ta te s were e v a lu a te d
a c c o rd in g to th e g e n e ra l p r e s c r ip t iv e norm s and tr e n d s f o r
th e u n iv e r s a l C hurch. T h erefo re th e o b je c tiv e o f th e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n was to d e s c rib e th e p r i n c i p l e s , la w s , and
d i r e c t i v e s t h a t were is s u e d by th e C a th o lic Church r e g a r d
in g b r o a d c a s tin g and to e v a lu a te them by s t a t i n g how
c l o s e ly A m erican Church a c t i v i t y w ith r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
had c o rre sp o n d e d to u n iv e r s a l p r i n c i p l e s o f th e C hurch.
I t was d i f f i c u l t to se ek c a u s e s in a h ig h ly m o b ile ,
dynam ic en d eav o r su ch a s b ro a d c a s tin g w hich) w h ile a r e c e n t
phenomenon i n s o c ie ty ) was em erging a s a b ro ad s y n th e s is
o f m odern b u s in e s s , la w , a r t , s c ie n c e , and e t h i c s . When
i n t e r a c t i o n ta k e s p la c e i n two a r e a s o f human a c t i v i t y a s
d i s s i m i l a r a s A m erican com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g and th e
a n c ie n t Church o f Rome, th e ta s k o f th e h i s t o r i a n becomes
e s p e c i a l l y com plex. B ut a s th e d o cu m en tatio n o f t h i s
f o r ty - tw o - y e a r p e r io d o f b ro a d c a s tin g was i n v e s tig a te d and
a p p r a is e d , c e r t a i n tr e n d s em erged re g a rd in g th e C a th o lic
v ie w p o in t on com m ercial r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
The h y p o th e se s w hich g u id ed th e in v e s t ig a t i o n o f
s o u rc e s w ere th e fo llo w in g .
(1 -a ) The few m ajo r pronouncem ents is s u e d by th e
V a tic a n to th e u n iv e r s a l C a th o lic Church re g a rd in g r a d io
t e l e v i s i o n were b ro a d ly s ta te d i n o r d e r to a llo w re a s o n a b le
a d a p ta tio n to th e v a r io u s c o u n tr ie s o f th e w o rld .
(1 -b ) The s ta te m e n ts w ere p r im a r ily p o s i t i v e and c o n s tr u c
t i v e , e n c o u ra g in g p ro p e r u s e o f th e m edia f o r le g itim a te
^The h y p o th e se s a re num bered to f a c i l i t a t e th e
v e r i f i c a t i o n o f e a c h o f them i n th e c o n c lu d in g C h a p te r XIV.
e n te rta in m e n t a s w e ll a s f o r r e l i g i o n ; th e s ta te m e n ts were
a ls o p a r t l y n e u t r a l o r n e g a tiv e , rem in d in g o f th e p o t e n t i a l
harm i f th e m edia be m is u se d . ( 1 - c ) S p e c ific law s o r re g u
l a t i o n s were n o t fo u n d i n V a tic a n d i r e c t i v e s .
(2 -a ) R adio and t e l e v i s i o n a c t i v i t y by th e C a th o lic
Church i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s was s p o r a d ic ; w here i n i t i a t e d ,
e f f o r t s depended more upon in d iv id u a ls th a n upon o f f i c i a l
a g e n c ie s o f th e C h u rch . (2 -b ) The s p o ra d ic e f f o r t s la c k e d
s u s ta in e d su p p o rt and c o n tin u ity and th e re b y in d ic a te d an
absence o f c l e a r l y - d e f i n e d le a d e r s h ip by C a th o lic ad m in is
t r a t o r s i n th e u se o f b r o a d c a s tin g . ( 2 - c ) When th e re was
a c tio n by Church a u t h o r i t i e s , i t was s tim u la te d by th e
i n i t i a t i v e and s u s ta in e d e f f o r t s o f in d iv id u a l c le rg y and
la y p e rso n s and o f in d iv i d u a l g ro u p s , who e v e n tu a lly
o b ta in e d o f f i c i a l en co u rag em en t and ev en fo rm a l a p p ro b a tio n
w hich was som etim es fo llo w e d by p o s i t iv e s u p p o rt by C hurch
a d m in is tr a to r s •
(3 ) W hile th e Church h ie r a r c h y h e s i t a t e d to produce
r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram s, in d e p e n d e n t r e l i g i o u s o rd e r s w ith in th e
Church u n d e rto o k s y n d ic a tio n o f r a d io and t e le v i s i o n s e r ie s .
( ^ - a ) The C hurch was r e l u c t a n t to u se ra d io and
t e l e v i s i o n f o r a p o s t o l i c p u rp o se s b ecau se C a th o lic ad m in is
t r a t o r s were u n c e r t a in o f th e m e d ia 's p o t e n t i a l re le v a n o e
and c o n tr ib u tio n to r e l i g i o n . O th er re a s o n s f o r o f f i c i a l
h e s ita n c y in c lu d e d th e com plex a d m in is tr a tiv e o r g a n iz a tio n
o f th e Church and i t s t r a d i t i o n a l o o n s e rv a tiv is m .
7
(*+-b) The Church le a d e r s were a ls o m in d fu l o f th e enorm ous
ex p e n se s e n t a i l e d in b ro a d c a s tin g ; th e n e e d f o r p e rs o n n e l
and m a te r ia l f o r o th e r com mitm ents su ch a s p a r i s h e s ,
s c h o o ls , and h o s p it a l s p re c lu d e d e x te n s iv e Church p a r t i c i
p a tio n i n b r o a d c a s tin g .
(5**a) The Church a u t h o r i t i e s a c c e p te d o f f e r s made
by b r o a d c a s te r s to u se t h e i r com m ercial f a c i l i t i e s f o r p ro
g ram in g , b u t th e Church o f te n d id so r e l u c t a n t l y and o n ly
when s p e c i f i c c o n d itio n s were m et r e g a r d in g program fo rm at
and c o n t e n t. (5 “b ) The Church o f f i c e s te n d e d to depend
upon th e g e n e r o s ity o f p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s f o r
f a c i l i t i e s a i r tim e , and p ro d u c tio n t a l e n t in c lu d in g p ro
d u c e r s , d i r e c t o r s , w r i t e r s , and a n n o u n c e rs . ( 5 -c ) The
Church a ls o e x p lo ite d th e re s o u rc e s o f com m ercial o rg a n iz a
t i o n s f o r t r a i n i n g C a th o lic spokesm en i n w orkshops and
se m in a rs co n d u cted by p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s . L o cal
and n a t i o n a l b r o a d c a s te r s ' c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e C hurch in
A m erica was u s e f u l and a m ic a b le .
( 6 ) When th e Church d io c e s e s e s ta b li s h e d o f f i c e s
o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n th e y d id n o t a p p o in t p r i e s t s w ith
s p e c ia l t r a i n i n g i n p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s tin g te c h n iq u e s
o f p r o d u c tio n o r o f au d ien ce r e s e a r c h and program a n a l y s i s ,
e t c e t e r a . W ith th e c o o p e ra tio n o f com m ercial b ro a d c a s te rs ,
p r i e s t - r e p r e s e n t s t i v e s g r a d u a lly came t c l e a r n b r o a d c a s tin g
by p e rs o n a l e x p e rie n c e in s te a d o f by fo rm a l t r a i n i n g .
(7**a) B ecause o f t h i s c o o p e ra tio n th e C h u rc h e s'
a p p o in te e s te n d ed to he b e n ig n i n t h e i r a p p r a i s a l o f th e
p ro b lem s o f b r o a d c a s te r s and o f t h e i r a tte m p ts to p ro v id e
p ro g ram in g f o r th e l o c a l and n a t io n a l a u d ie n c e s . ( 7 -b ) The
a p p o in te e s o f th e C hurch in flu e n c e d th e A m erican C a th o lic
“ o f f i c i a l 1 1 c o rp o ra te a t t i t u d e tow ards com m ercial b ro a d
c a s tin g ; t h i s a t t i t u d e in c lu d e d th r e e judgm ents:
( i ) B ro a d c a s te rs sh o u ld o p e ra te t h e i r in d u s
t r y w ith a s l i t t l e e x te r n a l c o n tr o l a s p o s s ib le
and n e c e s s a ry from governm ent and o th e r p u b lic and
p r i v a t e a g e n c ie s .
C ii) The e f f e c t s o f t e l e v i s i o n program ing w ere
n o t so o b v io u sly h arm fu l t h a t th e Church n eed ed to
o rg a n iz e a cam paign a g a in s t m oral la p s e s i n p ro
g ram in g c o n te n t o r s c h e d u lin g .
( i i i ) A C a th o lic n a t io n a l o f f ic e o f r a d io
t e l e v i s i o n i n th e U. S . m ig h t do more harm th a n
g o o d . But th e p o s s ib le s tr u c t u r e and f u n c tio n o f
su c h an o f f ic e was e x p lo re d and f i n a l d e c is io n
d e f e r r e d d u rin g th e y e a rs 1957 to 1961.
( 8 ) The C h u rc h 's in flu e n c e on C o n g re ssio n a l l e g i s
l a t i o n a f f e c t i n g b r o a d c a s tin g was in f r e q u e n t and p a r t i a l l y
e f f e c t i v e .
(9 ) Lay g ro u p s te n d ed to o p e ra te in d e p e n d e n tly o f ,
a lth o u g h n o t c o n tr a r y t o , th e o f f i c i a l Church a g e n c ie s .
A t tim e s th e s e la y g ro u p s and in d iv id u a ls c r i t i c i z e d th e
m o ral and a e s t h e t i c s ta n d a rd s o f com m ercial p ro g ram in g
more s e v e r e ly th a n d id th e C h u rch 's o f f i c i a l spokesm en f o r
th e s e m a tte r s .
(1 0 ) Through th e y e a rs f r i c t i o n d ev elo p ed among th e
N a tio n a l C ouncil o f C a th o lic M en's R a d io -T e le v is io n
D ep artm en t, th e C a th o lic B r o a d c a s te r s ' A s s o c ia tio n , and
s e v e r a l o f th e d io c e s a n o f f i c e s and p r i e s t - d i r e c t o r s o f
r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s . T h is s e r i e s o f m isu n d e rsta n d in g s
in d ic a te d a n ee d f o r i n t e r n a l c o o r d in a tio n o f Church
in v o lv em en t i n b r o a d c a s tin g m a tte r s •
(1 1 ) C e n so rsh ip o r p r i o r ad v ise m e n t on b ro a d c a s t
s c r i p t s w as: ( a ) a v a i l a b l e upon s p e c i f i c r e q u e s t by b ro ad
c a s t e r s ; (b ) g iv e n a s r e a c t i o n s o r s u g g e s tio n s r a t h e r th a n
a s w arn in g s o r t h r e a t s • The b r o a d c a s te r s u t i l i z e d t h i s
s e rv ic e w ith o u t s u r r e n d e r in g t h e i r a e s t h e t i c and e t j i i c a l
autonom y and w ith o u t a b d ic a tin g p e r s o n a l o r c o rp o ra te
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r program s o r i g i n a t in g w ith them .
These h y p o th e s e s m ig h t be r e s t a t e d more s p e c if ic a lly
a s q u e s tio n s , i n th e o r d e r i n w hich th e y a re s tu d ie d in
t h i s r e p o r t .
How was th e C a th o lic C hurch d i r e c t l y co n cern ed w ith
;p ro d u c tio n o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g f o r com m ercial s t a t i o n s ?
How d id th e N a tio n a l C o u n c il o f C a th o lic Men (NCCM) and i t s
R a d io -T e le v is io n D ep artm en t c o o p e ra te w ith com m ercial s t a
t io n s and n etw o rk s i n p ro d u c in g p ro g ram s? What was th e
e x te n t o f s y n d ic a te d p ro g ram s p ro d u ced by C a th o lic g ro u p s
such a s th e F ra n c is c a n and th e J e s u i t r e l i g i o u s o rd e rs ?
What was th e p r o p o r tio n o f r e l i g i o u s prog ram in g sc h ed u le d
by r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s t h a t w ere lic e n s e d to th e
N o rb e rtin e and H oly C ro ss and J e s u i t p r i e s t s ?
10
How was th e Church i n d i r e c t l y in v o lv e d w ith commer
c i a l b ro a d c a s tin g : by l i a i s o n w ith th e N a tio n a l A sso c ia
ti o n o f B ro a d c a ste rs and i t s Code A u th o rity ? by in f lu e n c e
on f e d e r a l l e g i s l a t i o n , a s i n th e R adio A ct o f 1927 > and i n
th e Com m unications A ct o f 193^ and amendments t h e r e t o ? by
com m unication w ith governm ent r e g u la to r y a g e n c ie s su c h a s
th e F e d e ra l Com m unications Commission a t th e tim e o f
F a th e r C h a rles C o u g h lin 's p o l i t i c a l u se o f b ro a d c a s tin g
s t a t i o n s ? and by te stim o n y o f C a th o lic r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n
C o n g re ssio n a l com m ittee h e a rin g s on n e tw o rk p ro g ram in g
p r a c t i c e s ?
How d id th e Church i n d i r e c t l y in f lu e n c e com m ercial
b ro a d c a s tin g th ro u g h la y g roups su ch a s th e C a th o lic Broad
c a s t e r s ' A s s o c ia tio n ? th e G a b rie l G u ild o f m edia p r o f e s
s io n a ls i n C hicago? th e C a th o lic A p c s to la te o f R a d io ,
T e le v is io n , and A d v e rtis in g among New York m edia em ployers
and em ployees? th e women's v ig ila n c e g ro u p i n S c a r s d a le ,
New Y ork?
> 9 .
How was th e C a th o lic Church d i r e c t l y in v o lv e d w ith
com m ercial management and o p e r a tio n o f l o c a l s t a t i o n s and
n a t io n a l n etw o rk s? What was th e e x t e n t o f C a th o lic a d v is e
ment o r c e n s o rs h ip on com m ercial program c o n te n t? Where
d id th e re q u e s t to s c r u t i n i z e th e s c r i p t s o r ig in a t e ? What
was th e i n t e n s i t y o f s c r u tin y and how d id i t a f f e c t
7
p ro g ram in g d e c is io n s ? I n w hat way d id th e C a th o lic Church
in f lu e n c e a d v e r t i s e r s i n o rd e r to e f f e c t fa v o ra b le p re s e n
t a t i o n o f C a th o lic v ie w p o in ts on m o ra l, d o c t r i n a l , and
o th e r s o c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t q u e s tio n s ? Why was th e Church
lic e n s e d to own and o p e ra te b ro a d c a s t f a c i l i t i e s w ith th e
ad v a n tag e o f ta x -e x em p t s t a t u s , y e t w ith o u t b e in g c l a s s i
fy
f i e d a s " a lie n o r r e p r e s e n ta ti v e o f a l ie n s ? " What was th e
e x t e n t o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f C a th o lic c le r g y and l a i t y i n
d is c u s s io n program s? What C a th o lic r e p r e s e n ta tio n i n i n t e r
f a i t h program s was p e rm itte d by Church o f f i c i a l s ?
What was th e r o le o f ea ch o f th e f o r c e s i n th e
C a th o lic Church and how were th e r e s p e c tiv e p u rp o se s and
a c t i v i t i e s i n t e r r e l a t e d w ith one a n o th e r and w ith b ro a d
c a s t i n g ? What was th e r e l a t i o n betw een NCCM's R a d io -
T e le v is io n D epartm ent and th e C a th o lic B r o a d c a s te r s ' A sso
c i a t i o n ? betw een e i t h e r o f th e s e a g e n c ie s and th e l o c a l
d io c e s a n p r i e s t - d i r e c t o r s o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n ? betw een
e a c h o f th e s e g ro u p s and th e R a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare
C o n fe re n c e 's (NCWC) E p is c o p a l Com mittee on M otion P i c t u r e s ,
R a d io , and T e le v is io n ? How were th e P a p a l and th e V a tic a n
n
1 In s ta n c e s in c lu d e d th e M a rtin L u th e r f ilm on
t e l e v i s i o n i n C h icag o , New Y ork, and W ashington, D. C .,
and th e more g e n e ra l p r a c t ic e o f th e th r e e n a t io n a l t e l e
v i s i o n n etw o rk s to c o n f e r w ith C a th o lic r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s
a b o u t program p l o t s , d ia lo g u e , f o rm a ts , and g u e s ts .
®See P aul B la n sh a rd , A m erican Freedom and C a th o lic
Power (2nd e d .; B o sto n ; Beacon P r e s s , 1 9 5 8 pp« 75-77»
1 2
d i r e c t i v e s f o r a n a t i o n a l o f f ic e o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
r e l a t e d to th e two n a t i o n a l m eetin g s o f o f f i c i a l l y ap p o in ted
d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s and th e E p isc o p a l Com m ittee?
The a c t i v i t i e s o f th e s e v a rio u s o f f i c i a l , non
o f f i c i a l , and u n o f f i c i a l C a th o lic g ro u p s and in d iv id u a ls
som etim es r e f l e c t e d c o n s i s t e n t a t t i t u d e s o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
s u p e r i o r s . These a t t i t u d e s i n tu r n in d ic a te d th e em erging
p o l i c i e s o f th e Roman C a th o lic Church w ith re g a rd to com
m e rc ia l b ro a d c a s tin g i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
Purpose
A m ain p u rp o se o f t h i s h i s t o r i c a l a n a ly s is was to
p ro v id e a so u rce o f in fo rm a tio n ab o u t th e C a th o lic C hurch*s
g o a l s , p u rp o s e s , and m eth o d s, so t h a t th e y m ight be
a p p r a is e d by A m erican b r o a d c a s te r s , c r i t i c s , and ed u ca
t o r s . ^ A n o th er p u rp o se o f t h i s s tu d y , w hich o u tl i n e s th e
i d e a l s and p r a c t i c e s o f th e C a th o lic Church i n r a d io and
t e l e v i s i o n , was to c o n tr ib u te to in fo rm ed p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n
b r o a d c a s tin g and c o o p e ra tio n w ith A m erican b r o a d c a s te r s by
th e C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y o f b is h o p s , c l e r g y , and l a i t y A
^Among th e s e a r e th e R a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f B road
c a s t e r s , th e f e d e r a l Com m unications Com m ission, th e
R a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C hurches o f C h r is t i n th e U n ite d S ta te s
o f A m erica, th e P r o t e s t a n t s and O ther A m ericans U n ite d f o r
S e p a r a tio n o f Church and S t a t e , n etw o rk and s t a t i o n p e r
s o n n e l, and. i n s t r u c t o r s and s tu d e n ts o f b ro a d c a s t communi
c a tio n s ,
^ I n c l u d e d h e re were th e U. S . b ish o p s* E p is c o p a l
Com m ittee on M otion P i c t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n ; l o c a l
d io c e s a n c h a n c e ry o f f i c e s and p r i e s t - c o o r d in a to r s o f
1 3
'f u r th e r p u rp o se o f th e s tu d y was to p ro v id e a u s e f u l w ork-
j ■ I
ling p a p e r f o r th e 1962-1963 V a tic a n E cum enical C o u n cil* s
s e c r e t a r i a t on r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n com m unications a s w e ll |
ias f o r th e V a tic an* s p erm anent P o n t i f i c a l Commission f o r
ICinema, Radio and T e le v is io n .
I * • *
1 ;
! The judgm ents and a c tio n s o f th e Roman C a th o lic !
i :
jChurch, c o r p o r a te ly and o f f i c i a l l y , o r u n o f f i c i a l l y in a j
jway t h a t e v e n tu a lly re a c h e s a u t h o r i t a t i v e d e c is io n -m a k e rs ,
j ■ l
i i n t e r e s t s and c o n c e rn s b r o a d c a s te rs and s c h o la rs o f b ro a d -
l
■ I
I c a s t in g . F o r w h a te v e r c o n s is te n t p o in ts o f view and p o l i - j
I :
jc ie s C a th o lic s have d ev e lo p e d and e f f e c t e d in th e a f f a i r s j
; i
i i
|o f b r o a d c a s tin g d u rin g th e p a s t f o u r d e c a d e s , t h e i r p r e s - |
!
i
ence may be f e l t by s t a t i o n and n etw o rk b r o a d c a s te r s , by !
!f e d e r a l r e g u la to r y a g e n c ie s , by tr a d e o r g a n iz a tio n s , and by ;
n o n -C a th o lic s g e n e r a l l y . W ith i t s h i e r a r c h i c a l s t r u c t u r e |
| b u i l t upon s tr o n g c e n t r a l a u t h o r i t y , th e C a th o lic C hurch i n j
I i
A m erica i s a s i g n i f i c a n t group among th e many g ro u p s w hich j
i
"■ i m m m m m m m m m m m — — — — — — —
b ro a d c a s tin g ; th e C a th o lic B ro a d c a ste rs* A s s o c ia tio n ; th e j
N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men*s R a d io -T e le v is io n D e p a rt- j
ment; v a r io u s r e l i g i o u s o rd e rs w hich p roduced ra d io and
t e l e v i s i o n program s f o r s y n d ic a tio n ; and p o s s ib ly th e
N a tio n a l O ffic e o f th e le g io n o f D ecency, l a t e r renam ed th e
N a tio n a l C a th o lic O ffic e f o r M otion P i c t u r e s .
1 1
C h a p ters IV and V w ere d r a f te d i n m im eograph form ,
a copy o f w hich was fo rw ard ed to th e o f f i c e r s o f th e P o n tif
i c a l Commission d u rin g th e C o u n c il’s d e lib e r a tio n s a b o u t
imass m e d ia . The re m a in d e r o f t h i s s tu d y was n o t y e t a v a i l -
jable u n t i l th r e e y e a r s a f t e r Pope P a u l VI had a lre a d y p ro - j
m ulgated th e V a tic a n I I docum ent, D eoretum de In s tru m e n tis
C om m unioationis S o o i a l i s . on December 4 , ' i$ 6 3 ,
1*+
make u p th e p o p u la tio n o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . In a democ
ra c y th e th in k in g and e f f o r t s o f a gro u p w hich c o n s t i t u t e s
a lm o st o n e -fo u rth o f th e p o p u la tio n ca n in f lu e n c e th e
a c tio n s o f th e o th e r th r e e - f o u r t h s w hich a r e n o t so c lo s e ly
12
c o o r d in a te d . A gro u p a s la r g e a s o n e - f o u r th o f th e t o t a l
p o p u la tio n can in f lu e n c e ev en more s tr o n g ly th e a t t i t u d e s
and a c tio n s o f th e s e n s i t i v e mass m edia o r g a n iz a tio n s w hich
depend upon p o p u la r s u p p o rt and a r e s e n s i t i v e to c r i t i c i s m
t h a t i s d ir e c te d to them by m a jo r p o p u la tio n g ro u p s .
Art in v e s t ig a t i o n o f th e is s u e s i n b ro a d c a s tin g i s
o f v a lu e to C a th o lic Ch\irch le a d e r s i n t h i s c o u n try because
th e e v e n ts and a c t i v i t i e s o f th e p a s t f o u r d ecad es have
o c c u rre d i n th e norm al c o n te x t o f u n i v e r s a l Church p o l i c i e s .
The fu n d am e n tal th e o lo g y and p h ilo so p h y o f th e C a th o lic
C hurch a re u n ch an g in g ; b u t th e a p p l i c a t i o n s o f th o s e b a s ic
d o c tr in e s i n th e form o f g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s to d i f f e r e n t
c o u n tr ie s o f th e w orld o f te n r e q u ir e s a s t u t e a d a p ta tio n to
th e im m ediate e n v iro n m e n t, f o r t h i s re a s o n th e re i s much
room f o r c o n tro v e rs y w ith in th e C hurch. The d a y -to -d a y
a p p l ic a tio n s do n o t s h a re th e e t e r n a l and u n changing s t a t u s
o f th e b a s ic a f f ir m a t i o n s . D if f e r in g cu sto m s and d i f f e r i n g
p r e s s u r e s i n v a r io u s tim e s and p la c e s p e rm it now one and
now a n o th e r p ru d e n t m o d if ic a tio n o f th e g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s
■ ^ h i s p o in t i s s t r e s s e d by B la n s h a rd , o p . c i t . .
p . 21^; see a ls o P au l B la n sh a rd , Communism, Dem ocracy, and
C a th o lic Power (B ostons Beacon P r e s s , 1 9 5 J J , p . 2 9 o .
15
t h a t a r e e n u n c ia te d by m a jo r s u p e r io r s o r a d m in is tr a to r s
13
i n Home. The e x te n t and th e b o u n d a rie s o f i n t e r p r e t a
tio n s o f d i r e c t i v e s re g a rd in g b r o a d c a s t m edia became more
e v id e n t a s th e a c t i v i t i e s and e v o lv in g p o l i c i e s o f th e 1^1
d io c e s a n d i s t r i c t s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch i n th e U n ite d
S ta te s w ere docum ented and a p p r a is e d .
The p r e s e n t stu d y c h ro n ic le d th e developm ent o f
some im p o rta n t r e l a t i o n s h i p s betw een th e t r a d i t i o n a l Homan
C a th o lic Church and m odem com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g i n
A m erica.
T erm inology
By Homan C a th o lic Church was m eant th e r e l i g i o u s
o r g a n iz a tio n w ith i t s e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s u p e r i o r , th e Pope i n
V a tic a n C ity . The Church a d m in is tr a tio n in c lu d e s th e Pope;
th e c o u n c ils o f th e b ish o p s o f a l l c o u n t r ie s ; th e a d m in is
t r a t i v e c o n g re g a tio n s and com m issions o f th e Holy S e e ,
w hich i s th e c e n t r a l a u th o r ity o f th e C hurch i n th e V atican ;
th e in d iv id u a l a rc h b is h o p s and b is h o p s ; th e c le r g y o f
p r i e s t s o r o rd a in e d m in is te r s o f r e l i g i o n and o f non
o rd a in e d men and women o f r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s ; and th e la y men
and women who c o n s t it u t e th e b u lk o f m em bership, to g e th e r
w ith t h e i r o f f i c i a l l y s a n c tio n e d o r in f o r m a lly a u th o riz e d
o r g a n iz a tio n s . In t h i s r e p o r t th e te rm s " C a th o lic Church"
13see C h a p te r I I I on th e e x e r c is e o f a u t h o r i t y
i n th e Homan C a th o lic Church h ie r a r c h y •
i
16
and " th e Church" a re synonymous w ith "Roman C a th o lic
C hu rch "; r e f e r e n c e s to o th e r d en o m in atio n s o r to p h y s ic a l
c h u rc h b u ild in g s a re e x p l i c i t *
By h ie ra rc h y was m eant th e r u lin g body in th e
C a th o lic C hurch; th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l p e rso n s i n th e sy stem
o f C hurch governm ent who p o s s e s s and e x e rc is e a u t h o r it y i n
m a tte r s o f f a i t h and m o rals and i n th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f
th e C hurch o rg a n iz a tio n * The term r e f e r r e d to th o s e who
have a c t u a l j u r i s d i c t i o n i n Church governm ent; n am ely , th e
p o p e , c o u n c ils , a rc h b is h o p s , b is h o p s , and th e c o n g re g a tio n s
o r co m m ittees i n th e V atican * The term d id n o t p e r t a i n to
o rd a in e d p r i e s t s , who a re f u l l y members o f th e c le r g y b u t
do n o t h o ld o f f i c i a l p o s it io n s o f a u t h o r ity e x te n d in g
beyond th e b o u n d a rie s o f t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e p a r is h c h u rc h e s*
The members o f th e C a th o lic Church were d e s ig n a te d by a
t r i p a r t i t e d i v i s i o n ; h ie ra rc h y ; c le rg y ,, in c lu d in g members
o f r e l i g i o u s o rd e rs w h eth e r o rd a in e d o r n o t; and l a i t y , o r
n o n o rd a in e d men and women.
A d io c e s e i s th e d i s t r i c t i n w hich a b ish o p h a s
a u t h o r i t y o v er C a th o lic Church members* At th e tim e o f th e
d io c e s a n su rv ey r e p o r te d i n C h ap ter IX, th e re were 11*+ su c h
14
d i s t r i c t s i n th e 50 S ta te s and th e D i s t r i c t o f C olum bia.
These d i s t r i c t s w ere c l u s te r e d in to 26 l a r g e r a d m in is tr a -
t i o n a l r e g io n s c a ll e d " a rc h d io c e s e s ," to make a t o t a l o f
l ^ I o t a l s w ere a c c u ra te to Ja n u a ry 1 , 1961; se e
K enedy, l o c . c i t .
17
1^-0 d io c e s e s and a r c h d io c e s e s I n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , e x c lu d
in g i t s t e r r i t o r i e s and p o s s e s s io n s . To t h i s t o t a l was
added th e V ic a r ia te A p o s to lic o f A lask a w hich b ro u g h t th e
15
g ran d t o t a l to 1^-1 e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d i v i s i o n s . Many of
th e s e r e g io n a l d iv i s i o n s in c lu d e d a r e a s i n w hich C a th o lic
p o p u la tio n was a s m a ll p ro p o rtio n o f th e t o t a l p o p u la tio n
i n th e a r e a .
P o l ic i e s w ere u n d e rsto o d to in c lu d e n o t o n ly fo rm al
s ta te m e n ts o f p r i n c i p l e s , b u t a l s o Judgm ents t h a t were
e n u n c ia te d l e s s fo rm a lly in co rresp o n d e n ce betw een o f f i c i a l
Church r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , a s w e ll a s a c tio n s ta k e n by Church
spokesm en. B ecause o f th e com plex and d is p a r a te s t r u c t u r e s
o f b r o a d c a s tin g i n v a r io u s c o u n tr ie s and th e co n seq u en t
la c k o f d e f i n i t i v e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s ta te m e n ts a p p ly in g u n i
v e r s a l d i r e c t i v e s to m ass m e d ia , th e a c tio n s ta k e n by
r e g io n a l Church o f f i c i a l s and t h e i r in fo rm a l comments and
co rresp o n d e n ce te n d e d to r e p r e s e n t th e c u r r e n t a t t i t u d e s o f
Church s u p e r io r s and to r e f l e c t i n c i p i e n t p r i n c ip l e s o r
em erging p o l i c i e s . The d is c u s s io n o f l i m i t a t i o n s and
l5 iiie V ic a r ia te A p o s to lic o f A lask a i s to be d i s
t i n g u i s h e d from th e d io c e s e o f J u n e a u , A la sk a . The e x te n t
o f th e su rv e y i s d e lim ite d i n d e f in in g "U n ited S ta te s " i n
th e te rm in o lo g y s e c t i o n below [p p . 21*2l+] and i n o u tlin in g
l i m i t a t i o n s l a t e r i n th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r and i n d e s c rib in g
te c h n iq u e s and p ro c e d u re s i n C h a p te r I I . P u rth e r d e t a i l s
o f C a th o lic h i e r a r c h i c a l s t r u c t u r e an d . f u n c tio n a re s e t
f o r t h i n C h ap ter I I I , in c lu d in g d e f i n i t i o n s o f te rm s such
a s H oly S e e , a rc h b is h o p , a r c h d io c e s e , d io c e sa n sy n o d s,
ca n o n s, v i c a r - g e n e r a l , c h a n c e llo r , and c h a n c e ry .
18
assu m p tio n s l a t e r i n t h i s c h a p te r was d e sig n ed to c l a r i f y
th e b ro ad i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e word " p o lic ie s " a s u se d i n
th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
U n iv e rs a l p r i n c i p l e s o r pronouncem ents were th o se
w hich o r ig in a te d i n th e V a tic a n and w ere d ir e c te d to th e
e n t i r e Roman C a th o lic C hurch m em bership on a l l c o n tin e n ts •
S o u rces f o r d e te rm in in g such p o lic y w ere Church law (dogm a,
d o c t r i n e ) , fo rm a l pronouncem ents ( e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r s ,
a p o s to lic c o n s t i t u t i o n s , m otu p r o p r i o s ) , and fo rm a l s t a t e
m ents ( e p i s t l e s to one o r s e v e r a l b is h o p s , p a p a l a d d r e s s e s ,
a l l o c u t i o n s , and c h iro g ra p h ! o r a u to g ra p h l e t t e r s ) , i n s o f a r
a s such com m unications were d i r e c t e d to th e w orld-w ide
C a th o lic m em bership. The f o r c e o f "law " o r " d ir e c tiv e " o r
" e x h o rta tio n " o r mere "w ish" f o r e a c h c a te g o ry o f pronounce
m ent i s c l a r i f i e d i n C h a p te r I I I , and th e v a rio u s i n t e r p r e
t a t i o n s t h a t a re p e r m itte d i n a n a t io n o r a re g io n a re
e x p la in e d t h e r e . The te rm " u n iv e r s a l" in c lu d e d any s t a t e -
im en ts o r o f f i c i a l a c tio n s ta k e n by co m m ittees o r o f f i c e s
e s ta b li s h e d i n th e V a tic a n , p a r t i c u l a r l y th e P o n t i f i c a l
; Commission f o r Cinema, R a d io , and T e le v is io n .
B jy i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f such u n iv e r s a l p r i n c i p l e s was
; m eant th e more s p e c if ic s ta te m e n ts by any o f th e 1^-1 d io
ce sa n a rc h b is h o p s o r b is h o p s in th e U n ite d S t a t e s , e i t h e r
; c o r p o r a te ly th ro u g h th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n fer
ence and i t s E p is c o p a l Committee on M otion P i c t u r e s , R a d io ,
and T e le v is io n ( c f , C h a p ter I I I ) , o r in d i v i d u a l l y a s th e
e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a d m in is tr a to r s o f t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e d io c e s e s .
Forms i n w hich such " in t e r p r e t a t i o n " a p p e a re d w ere p u b lic
X6
s ta te m e n ts by th e U. S . h ie r a r c h y , a d d re s s e s t o o rg a n iz a
t i o n s , fo rm a l w r itin g s such a s books o r a r t i c l e s i n o f f i -
17
c i a l l y appro v ed j o u r n a l s , ' and a n a ly s e s and co m m en taries
18
on th e s e s ta te m e n ts by inform ed c le r g y and l a i t y .
By p r a c t i c a l a p p lic a tio n o f p r i n c i p l e s was m eant
th e m e asu rab le e f f e c t s o f th e above t h e o r e t i c a l p o l i c i e s a s
m a n ife s te d i n th e o rg a n iz in g o f e p is c o p a l c o m m itte e s , th e
is s u in g o f p r e s c r i p t i v e norms f o r C hurch members ( c f • th e
le g io n o f Decency m otion p ic tu r e r a t i n g s y s te m ), th e form a
t i o n o f p r e s s u r e g ro u p s , and th e e s t a b l i s h i n g o f l o c a l d io
c e sa n o f f i c e s o r th e ap p o in tm en t o f p r i e s t s a s
l6]?or exam ple: Very R ev. R ap h ael M. H u b er,
O .F .M .C onv., e d . , Our B ishops S peak: N a tio n a l P a s t o r a l s
and A nnual S ta te m e n ts o f th e H ie ra rc h y o f th e U n ite d S ta te s ;
R e s o lu tio n s o f E p isc o p a l Com m ittees and Com m unications o f
th e A d m in is tra tiv e Board o f th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare
C o n fe re n c e : 1919-1951 (M ilw aukee: B ruce P u b lis h in g C o .,
T552T.— -------
l7 p o r exam ple: The H o m ile tic and P a s to r a l R eview ;
The A m erican E c c l e s i a s t i c a l Review : A M onthly P u b lic a tio n
f o r th e C lerg y ( Gum A pprobatione S u p erio ru m I W ith th e
A p p ro v al o f S u p e r io r s ! ;; C h a rles G. tierb erm an n , e t a l . . e d .,
The C a th o lic ^ E n cy clo p ed ia: An I n t e r n a t i o n a l Work o f R e fe r
ence on th e C o n s ti t u t i o n .D o c t r i n e . D is c i p l i n e , an d H is to ry
o f th e C a th o lic Church (Hew York: R o b e rt A p p leto n C o ., ~
1907-191^; p lu s su p p le m e n ts), 15 v o l s . p lu s In d ex v o lu m e.
■ ^ ih ese l a s t named were d i r e c t so u rc e s f o r th e
p r e s e n t stu d y o n ly i n s o f a r as th e y w ere found i n th e f i l e s
o f key Church r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s f o r r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s
a s i n th e Hew York and W ashington, D. C., a r c h d io c e s e s .
20
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s to c o o rd in a te r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a c t i v i t i e s
and to r e p r e s e n t fo rm a lly th e l o c a l e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u t h o r i
t i e s i n m a tte r s o f l o c a l and n a t io n a l b r o a d c a s tin g .
Hence th e m e asu rab le e f f e c t s o f p o lic y s ta te m e n ts
were c o n t r a s te d w ith th e b ro a d e r and l e s s ta n g ib le e f f e c t s
upon th e a t t i t u d e s and a c tio n s o f C a th o lic s and n o n -
C a th o lic s who were exposed to th e com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s
p ro g ram in g o f b ro a d c a s t m edia i n t h i s c o u n try . Those
l a t t e r e f f e c t s were n o t th e s u b je c t o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
"C om m ercial" in c lu d e d a l l n a t i o n a l n etw o rk s and
l o c a l s t a t i o n s e x c e p t th o se owned by n o n p r o f it i n s t i t u t i o n s
f o r e d u c a tio n a l b r o a d c a s tin g . P rogram ing em braced commer
c i a l and " s u s ta in in g " p r e s e n ta ti o n s , in c lu d in g p u b lic s e r
v ic e and r e l i g i o u s p ro gram ing w h eth er o r ig in a t in g d i r e c t l y
w ith th e s t a t i o n o r n etw o rk o r s u p p lie d by a program sy n d i
c a t o r .
R adio and t e l e v i s i o n r e f e r r e d to in d iv id u a l b ro ad
c a s t s t a t i o n lic e n s e e s and o p e r a tio n s , to n a t io n a l n e t
works* a d m in is tr a tiv e management and program p ro d u c tio n ,
to a d v e r t i s i n g a g e n c ie s whose c l i e n t s u t i l i z e d b r o a d c a s t
m edia, to tr a d e o r g a n iz a tio n s such a s th e N a tio n a l A sso c ia
t i o n o f B ro a d c a s te rs (NAB), to governm ent a g e n c ie s su c h a s
th e F e d e ra l Com m unications Commission (FCC), to s y n d ic a to r s
o f r e l i g i o u s prog ram in g ( e . g . , th e F ra n c is c a n Hour o f th e
C r u c i f i e d ) , and to v a r io u s la y o r g a n iz a tio n s co n c e rn e d w ith
b r o a d c a s tin g ( e . g . , th e N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men,
21
w hich c o o p e ra te d w ith th e n etw o rk s i n c o -p ro d u c in g n a t io n a l
r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s).
B ro a d c a stin g em braced th e management d e c is io n s by
n e tw o rk s and s t a t i o n s ; th e a d m in is tr a tiv e d e l i b e r a t i o n by
tr a d e o r g a n iz a tio n s ; and th e e x e c u tiv e ) l e g i s l a t i v e , and
j u d i c i a l a c tio n s by th e a g e n c ie s o f th e f e d e r a l g o v ern m en t.
S e c o n d ly , b r o a d c a s tin g r e f e r r e d to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
p ro g ram in g n o t so much i n th e a c tiv e se n se o f s tu d io p ro
d u c tio n a s i n th e l e s s d i r e c t b u t more s i g n i f i c a n t se n se o f
m a n a g e ria l d e c is io n -m a k in g , a s i n q u e s tio n s o f c o n t e n t,
fo rm a t, g u e s ts , and c e n s o rs h ip i n th e form o f advance
a p p r a i s a l o f p ro g ram s. B ro a d c a stin g i n th e p a s s iv e se n se
o f au d ien ce l i s t e n i n g and v iew in g was c o n s id e re d o n ly w ith
g e n e ra l au d ien ce r a t i n g s a s i n d i c a t o r s o f c i r c u l a t i o n o f
r e l i g i o u s o r s e c u la r p ro g ram in g and o f au d ien ce a t t e n t i o n .
The q u e s tio n o f th e e f f e c t s o f com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s p ro
gram ing upon C a th o lic o r n o n -C a th o lic a u d ie n c e s ’ a t t i t u d e s
and b e h a v io r was e x c lu d e d from th e p r e s e n t s tu d y , as
p o in te d o u t below i n th e o u tlin e o f l i m i t a t i o n s .
By th e U n ite d S ta te s was m eant th e f i f t y S t a t e s and
th e D i s t r i c t o f C olum bia w hich i n 1961 com prised th e U n ite d
S ta te s o f A m erica. The a re a in c lu d e d a t th e tim e o f th e
stu d y 1^1 a rc h d io c e s e s and d io c e s e s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch;
s i x o f th o se e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d iv is io n s were ex clu d ed from
th e s tu d y , le a v in g a t o t a l o f 135 d io c e s e s i n v e s t i g a t e d .
Those s i x d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s were in c lu d e d
n e i t h e r i n th e s t a t i s t i c s n o r i n th e commentazy in
C h ap ter IX b ecau se o f t h e i r p e c u li a r g e o g ra p h ic a l s t r u c
t u r e s . (1 ) Belm ont A bbey, N o rth C a r o lin a , w hich i n I960
c o n s is te d o f one c o u n ty o f 1 ,3 0 9 C a th o lic s , was red u ced i n
1961 to in c lu d e o n ly th e 59 C a th o lic s o f Belmont Abbey
m o n a ste ry . (2 ) A lle n to w n , P e n n s y lv a n ia , d io c e se was
c r e a te d i n P e b ru a z y , 1 9 6 1 , b u t i t s d io c e s a n a d m in is tr a tio n
was n o t y e t e s t a b l i s h e d a t th e tim e o f t h i s stu d y ; p r i o r to
1961 th e A llen to w n d i s t r i c t was p a r t o f th e P h ila d e lp h ia
. A rch d io cese whose b r o a d c a s tin g p o l i c i e s a re r e p o r te d in
C h ap ter IX . (3 ) The B y z an tin e B ite A rcheparchy o f
P h ila d e lp h ia g o v ern ed U k ra in ia n C reek C a th o lic s i n a l l
; p a r t s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s e x c e p t i n New York S ta te and in
th e New E ngland S t a t e s , (k) The j u r i s d i c t i o n o f th e b ish o p
o f th e U k ra in ia n C a th o lic D iocese o f S tam fo rd , C o n n e c tic u t,
i ex ten d e d th ro u g h New York S ta te and th e New E ngland S ta te s
and in c lu d e d a l l C a th o lic s o f th e P y z a n tin e U k ra in ia n B i te .
(5 ) The B y zan tin e B ite E x a rc h a te o f P itts b u r g h em braced a l l
C a th o lic s o f B u s in , H u n g arian (M ag y ar), and C ro a tia n e x tra c
t i o n i n th e e n t i r e U n ite d S t a t e s . ( 6 ) The e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f th e M il ita r y G rd in a r ia te ex ten d ed to a l l
C a th o lic members o f th e U n ite d S t a te s armed f o r c e s and
t h e i r f a m ilie s i n t h i s c o u n try and to a l l U . S . m ilita x y
p e rs o n n e l and t h e i r f a m il ie s and U. S . governm ent em ployees
s e rv in g o v e rs e a s ; c h u rc h a u t h o r i t i e s e s tim a te d th e number
23
o f th e s e C a th o lic s i n 1961 to he a p p ro x im a te ly two m i l l i o n .
The C a th o lic p o p u la tio n s f o r ea ch o f th e s i x e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
d iv is io n s were (1 ) 51J (2 ) 0; (3 ) 22 7 ,2 9 0 ; (^f) 8 7 ,5 9 5 ;
(5 ) 285,917; (6 ) 2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 . The p r e s e n t stu d y e x c lu d e d
th e d io c e sa n Church o f f i c i a l s who g o v ern ed th e s e 2 ,6 0 0 ,8 6 1
C a th o lic s because th e b ro a d c a s t s e r v ic e s a f f e c t i n g th o s e
C a th o lic s o r ig in a te d e i t h e r from n a t i o n a l c e n te r s o r from
s t a t i o n s t h a t e x is te d i n d io c e s e s a d m in is te re d by th e 135
l o c a l b ish o p s and c h a n c e ry o f f i c e s . The w id esp re a d d i s -
p lacem en t o f th e c o n s t i t u e n t s o f f i v e o f th e j u r i s d i c t i o n s
c i t e d above re n d e re d u n f e a s ib le any a tte m p ts by Church
le a d e r s to u t i l i z e o r in f lu e n c e b r o a d c a s t m ed ia. Belm ont
A bbey, th e s ix t h j u r i s d i c t i o n , was r e s t r i c t e d to so few
members o f th e C a th o lic C hurch t h a t b ro a d c a s tin g was o f no
19
p r a c t i c a l c o n c e rn . '
In c lu d e d i n th e stu d y w ere a l l b ro a d c a s t s t a t i o n s
lic e n s e d by th e PCC to o p e ra te co m m ercia lly i n th e d o m estic
U n ite d S t a t e s , a s w e ll a s a l l n a t i o n a l n etw o rk s t h a t se rv e d
th e s e s t a t i o n s by s u p p ly in g d i r e c t l y - “b ro a d c a s t o r re c o rd e d
-^S ource o f d a ta was K enedy, e d . , o p . c i t . .
p p . 2 9 ^-2 9 8 , 76 8 , 7 7 ^ -7 7 8 , and 7 8 3 -7 8 7 . S ix o th e r e c c l e s i
a s t i c a l j u r i s d i c t i o n s w hich were in c lu d e d i n th e O f f i c i a l
C a th o lic D ire c to ry . . . U n ite d S t a t e s E d itio n were s e n t
| q u e s tio n n a ire s b u t were n o t in c lu d e d i n th e p r e s e n t stu d y
b ecau se th e y were i n o u tly in g U. S . t e r r i t o r i e s t h a t d id
n o t p o s s e s s S ta te h o o d . The s i x j u r i s d i c t i o n s were th e
A rch d io cese o f San J u a n , P u e rto R ic o ; D iocese o f P o n ce,
P u e rto R ico ; D iocese o f A re c ib o , P u e rto R ico ; V ic a r ia te
I A p o s to lic o f C a ro lin e , M a rsh a ll I s la n d s ; V ic a r ia te Apos
t o l i c o f Guam; P r e la tu r e H u lliu s o f th e V irg in I s l a n d s .
2^
p ro g ram in g by te le p h o n e l i n e , c o a x ia l c a b l e , m icrow ave
r e l a y , o r d elay ed d i s t r i b u t i o n by ta p e o r f il m . R e g io n a l
n e tw o rk s were ex clu d ed from th e stu d y s in c e th e C h u rc h 's
j u r i s d i c t i o n a l d iv is io n s d id n o t c o in c id e w ith r e g io n a l
b ro a d c a s tin g d iv is io n s ; d io c e s e s w ere co n cern ed w ith lo c a l
s t a t i o n s w ith in t h e i r b o u n d a rie s , and th e N C W C and b is h o p s
o f th e U n ite d S ta te s were co n cern ed w ith n a t io n a l n etw o rk
p ro g ra m in g . E x e c u tiv e s o f th e W estinghouse B ro a d c a s tin g
Company were in te rv ie w e d on th e assu m p tio n t h a t t h i s com
pany was r e p r e s e n ta ti v e o f o th e r com panies w hich owned
c l u s t e r s o f w id ely s c a t t e r e d l o c a l s t a t i o n s .
The d a te s 1920 to 1961 w ere ta k e n a s i n c l u s i v e ,
from th e y e a r o f th e H arding-C ox e l e c t i o n r e tu r n s program ed
on
by K D K A i n P itts b u r g h to th e > end o f 1 9 6 1 . T h is f o r t y -
tw o -y e a r sp an was d iv id e d in to two tw e n ty -o n e -y e a r p e r io d s .
20/pke F e d e ra l Com m unication Com m ission s t a t e d t h a t
" re c o rd s o f th e D epartm ent o f Commerce, w hich th e n s u p e r
v is e d r a d i o , in d ic a te t h a t th e f i r s t s t a t i o n is s u e d a re g u
l a r b ro a d c a s tin g lic e n s e was WBZ, S p r i n g f ie l d , M a s s ., on
S e p t. 1 5 , 1921"; FCC, R adio and T e le v is io n B ro a d c a st P rim er.
INF B u l le t in No. 2-B (W ashington: F e d e ra l Com m unications
Com m ission, J u n e , 1959)> P» 1* Ik® FCC s t a t e d t h a t K D K A i n
P itts b u r g h " d id n o t r e c e iv e a r e g u l a r b ro a d c a s tin g lic e n s e
u n t i l Nov. 7 , 1921" a lth o u g h i t p r e s e n te d program s e x p e r i-
; m e n ta lly p r i o r to t h a t d a te a s SXK. C f. th e s ta te m e n t t h a t
I K D K A "was th e f i r s t c o m m e rc ia lly -lic e n s e d s ta n d a rd b ro ad
c a s t s t a t i o n l i s t e d i n th e D epartm ent o f Commerce r e c o r d s ,"
Sydney W • H ead, B ro a d c a s tin g i n A m erica: A Survey o f T e le
v is i o n and Radio (B o sto n : Houghton M if f lin C o .. 1 9 5 b ).
p . 109; Head c i t e s G leason 1 . A rch er re g a rd in g th e r i v a l
c la im s o f K Q W i n San J o s e , C a lif o r n ia ; 2ZK i n Hew R o c h e lle ,
New York; and 8M K ( l a t e r W W J) i n D e t r o i t : H is to r y o f R adio
to 1926 (New York: The A m erican H i s t o r i c a l Co. , l£ 3 8 ) ,
p p . 2d 7- 2 0 8 .
25
The f i r s t p e rio d e x te n d e d from 1920 to 19*+0, p r i o r to U. S .
in v o lv e m e n t i n W orld War I I , The second p e rio d e x te n d e d
from 19* + 1 > when com m ercial t e l e v i s i o n was a u th o r iz e d , to
th e end o f 1961. ^
As u se d in " la y group" o r " p re s s u re g ro u p ," th e
word "group" was d e fin e d a s an " i d e n t i f i a b l e , s t r u c t u r e d ,
c o n tin u in g c o l l e c t i v i t y o f p e rso n s who e n a c t r e c i p r o c a l
r o l e s a c c o rd in g to s o c i a l norm s, i n t e r e s t s , and v a lu e s i n
22
p u r s u i t o f common g o a l s ,"
In flu e n c e m eant to a f f e c t o r e f f e c t a t t e n t i o n ,
a t t i t u d e s , a c t i o n s , o r p o l i c i e s o f in d iv id u a ls o r g ro u p s
by d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t m eans.
O th er term s u s e d in th e in v e s t i g a ti o n a re d e fin e d
where th e y o c c u r i n th e body o f th e s tu d y . A b r i e f l i s t o f
th e m ost f re q u e n tly u se d s e t s o f i n i t i a l s f o r o r g a n iz a tio n s
h e re f o llo w s .
"On A p ril 3 0 , 19^1, th e [F e d e ra l C om m unications]
Com mission p ro m u lg ated r u l e s in c o r p o r a tin g t e l e v i s i o n
[ tra n s m is s io n s ta n d a rd s recommended by th e N a tio n a l T e le
v i s i o n System C om m ittee. • • . B u ies w ere ad o p ted f o r com
m e rc ia l o p e r a tio n e f f e c t i v e J u ly 1 , 1 9 ^ 1 ." F e d e ra l Commun
i c a t i o n s Com m ission, Seventh^A nnual R e p o rt o f th e F e d e ra l
Com m unications Com m ission, 19^1; c i t e d in "The E v o lu tio n o f
|T e le v is io n : 192^-1£m - 3 *" [ e d i t o r anonym ous], J o u rn a l o f
B ro a d c a s tin g , IV , No. 3 (S u m m er, I 9 6 0 ;, 235*
22R ev. Jo se p h H. F ic h te r , S . J . , S o c io lo g y : An
O b je c tiv e P r e s e n ta tio n o f th e B asic C oncepts o f S o cio lo g y
I(C h ic a g o : U n iv e rs iiy o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ), p . l lO .
glossary of Organizations Identified
by Initials in This Study
ABC A m erican B ro a d c a stin g Company
ACLU A m erican C iv il L ib e r ti e s U nion
BFC B ro a d c a s tin g and F ilm Commission o f th e
NCCC (q ,.v .)
CBA C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n
CBS C olum bia B ro a d c a s tin g System
CARTA C a th o lic A p o s to la te o f R a d io , T e le v is io n ,
and A d v e r tis in g
CRTA C a th o lic R adio and T e le v is io n A p o sto la te
(A rch d io cese o f S t . L o u is)
FGC F e d e ra l Com m unications Commission
FCCC F e d e ra l C o u n cil o f th e C hurches o f C h r is t
(m erged i n 1950 w ith th e NCCC)
NAB N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f B ro a d c a s te rs
N BC N a tio n a l B ro a d c a stin g Company
NCCC N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C hurches o f C h r is t i n th e
U n ite d S t a t e s o f A m erica
N CCM N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men
N C C W N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Women
N C W C N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C onference
POAU P r o t e s t a n t s and O th er A m ericans U n ited f o r
S e p a ra tio n o f Church and S ta te
L im ita tio n s and A ssum ptions
The p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t io n e x c lu d e d p o l i c i e s o r
a o t i v i t i e s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch r e g a r d in g e d u c a tio n a l
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n , w h eth er by p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n open-
c i r c u i t e d u c a tio n a l c h a n n e ls o r by u se o f c l o s e d - c i r c u i t
i n s t r u c t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n . I t e x c lu d e d C a th o lic u t i l i z a t i o n
o f b ro a d c a s tin g i n s c h o o ls . The s tu d y ex clu d ed C a th o lic
t r a i n i n g i n th e a e s t h e t i c s , c r i t i c i s m , o r p r o f e s s io n a l
a s p e c ts o f b ro a d c a s t m ed ia, w h eth e r i n c o lle g e d e p a rtm e n ts
o r a t o th e r academ ic l e v e l s . I t e x c lu d e d C a th o lic p a r is h e s
e x c e p t i n d i r e c t l y i n s o f a r a s th e y f e l l u n d e r d io c e s a n
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f l o c a l b is h o p s .
Only th o s e C a th o lic o r g a n iz a tio n s were i n v e s tig a te d
whose a c t i v i t i e s d i r e c t l y in v o lv e d com m ercial b ro a d c a s t
a f f a i r s and were docum ented i n th e f i l e s o f d io c e sa n o f f i
c i a l s who were a p p o in te d to o v e rse e r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
m a tte r s f o r th e C hurch. Hence th e re was no c o n s id e r a tio n
o f th e p a r i s h , s c h o o l, and p r o f e s s io n a l s o d a l i t i e s , n o r o f
th e K n ig h ts o f Colum bus, th e H oly Name S o c ie ty , th e
C a th o lic War V e te ra n s , o r o f o th e r g ro u p s w hich were n o t
a c c o u n te d f o r in d io c e s a n f i l e s on r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
T h is i n v e s t i g a t i o n was n o t co n cern ed w ith th e
e f f e c t s o f Church p o lic y and p r a c t i c e upon th e C a th o lic
p u b lic o r th e n o n -C a th o lic o n e . W hile v e ry s i g n i f i c a n t to
a co m p lete a p p r a i s a l o f Church in f lu e n c e i n r a d io and
28
t e l e v i s i o n , such a c o n s id e r a tio n o f e f f e c t s comes l o g i c a l l y
and c h r o n o lo g ic a lly a f t e r a n a ly s is o f ( a ) o f f i c i a l th e o ry
and p r i n c i p l e s r e g a r d in g l i a i s o n w ith th e b ro a d c a s tin g
i n d u s t r y , and (b ) p r a c t i c a l a p p l ic a tio n s o f th e s e g e n e r a l
d i r e c t i v e s by th e C hurch i n in d u s tr y and governm ent a f f a i r s .
A udience e f f e c t s o f prog ram in g were c o n s id e re d o n ly q u a n ti
t a t i v e l y i n term s o f num ber o f homes and p e rso n s r e c e iv in g
i program s r a t h e r th a n q u a l i t a t i v e l y a c c o rd in g to a u d ie n c e
c o m p o s itio n , o p in io n , and r e a c tio n to p ro g ram s. S u rv ey s
co n d u c ted by and f o r C a th o lic a g e n c ie s in d ic a te d th e e x t e n t
: o f r e l i g i o u s prog ram in g on com m ercial f a c i l i t i e s and p ro
v id e d d a ta o n ly o f th e e f f e c t s o f C a th o lic p ro g ram in g upon
th e a t t e n t i o n o f p o t e n t i a l a u d ie n c e s .
The q u e s tio n o f te c h n ic a l p ro d u c tio n o f program s
d id n o t e n t e r i n t o th e s tu d y , b u t th e c o o p e ra tio n o f
d io c e s a n o f f i c e s i n c o -p ro d u c in g program s by p la n n in g
f o rm a t, c o n te n t, g u e s t s , e t c e t e r a , d id im ply p o l i c i e s and
th e r e f o r e was in c lu d e d .
T h is stu d y was n e i t h e r an a n a ly s is o f f e d e r a l law
n o r one o f in d u s tx y tr a d e p r a c t ic e s and p h ilo s o p h ie s . I t
was n o t a stu d y o f C hurch la w , a d m in is tr a tiv e s t r u c t u r e ,
o r p ro c e d u re a s su ch ; where such in fo rm a tio n was r e l e v a n t
i t was drawn from e x i s t i n g s tu d ie s o f th o s e a s p e c ts o f th e
C a th o lic C hurch.
T h is stu d y com pared U n ite d S ta te s C a th o lic a c tio n
29
and th o u g h t w ith V a tic a n g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s ; i t d id n o t
compare U n ite d S t a t e s C a th o lic p o l i c i e s w ith E uropean o r
o th e r n o n -U n ited S t a t e s C a th o lic a c tio n and th o u g h t.
T h is was a n a n a ly s is o f c e n s o rs h ip o n ly i n s o f a r a s
c e n s o rs h ip was one o f th e a s p e c ts o f Church in flu e n c e i n
23
com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g i n A m erica.
2> +
T h is was n o t a stu d y o f th e L egion o f D ecency.
The N a tio n a l O ffic e o f th e L egion o f D ecency, w ith i t s
o r ig in s and a c t i v i t i e s , was d is c u s s e d o n ly a s an h i s t o r i c a l
an alo g u e to a p o t e n t i a l N a tio n a l O ffic e f o r R adio and T ele
v is io n B ro a d c a s tin g w hich m ig h t be e s ta b li s h e d by th e
b ish o p s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s a s an agency o f t h e i r ad m in is
t r a t i v e c o u n c il, th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n feren ce.
T h is was n o t a n a n a ly s is o f C a th o lic jo u r n a ls o r
p e r i o d i c a l s , a lth o u g h th e y d id p u b lis h new s, e d i t o r i a l
o p in io n , and f e a t u r e - a r t i c l e a p p r a i s a ls o f b ro a d c a s tin g
and Church a c t i v i t i e s i n com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s
23j»or a u t h o r i t a t i v e a n a ly s is o f th e Church*s p o s i
t i o n on c e n s o rs h ip i n com m unications m ed ia, see
R ev. H aro ld C. G a r d in e r , S . J . , C a th o lic V iew point on
C e n so rsh ip (G arden C ity , New Y ork: H anover H ouse, 1958);
se e a l s o R ev. Jo h n C o u rtn ey M urray, S . J . , " [C h a p te r] 7:
Should T here Be a Law?— The Q u estio n o f C e n so rsh ip ," W e
H old These T ru th s : C a th o lic R e f le c tio n s on th e A m erican
P r o p o s itio n (New Y ork: Sheed and Ward, i 9 6 0 ) , p p . l ^ - l T 1 *.
^ S u c h a s tu d y was made by R ev. P au l W . F acey , S .J .,
"The L eg io n of D ecency: A S o c io lo g ic a l A n a ly s is o f th e
Em ergence and D evelopm ent o f a S o c ia l P re s s u re Group"
(u n p u b lis h e d d o c to r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n , Fordham U n iv e r s ity ,
New Y ork, 1 9 ^ 5 ).
p ro g ra m in g •
The c e n t r a l c r i t e r i o n f o r d e te rm in in g w hich
p e r io d i c a l a r t i c l e s and w hich C a th o lic o r g a n iz a tio n s were
to be in c lu d e d i n t h i s stu d y was th e p re se n c e o f docum enta
t i o n from them o r c o n c e rn in g them i n th e f i l e s o f m a jo r
d io c e s a n o f f i c e s o f r a d io - te l e v is i o n * In th e s e key c e n te r s
Church p o lic y was m ost c l e a r l y s e e n , p a r t l y because i n
th e s e c e n te r s more th a n i n o th e rs p o s i t i v e a c tio n s and
s p e c i f i c s ta te m e n ts w ere c h ro n ic le d f o r re a s o n a b ly lo n g
p e r io d s o f tim e , some f o r s e v e r a l d e c a d e s . The key c e n te r s
o f b ro a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t y were th e o f f i c e s e s ta b lis h e d by
th e a rc h d io c e s e s o f New Y ork, W ashington, B. C ., and
S t . L o u is . They were i d e n t i f i e d by ( a ) th e d a ta p ro v id e d
by th e q u e s tio n n a ire s r e tu r n e d from 133 d io c e s e s , and
(b ) from th e e x te n t and n a tu re o f d a ta i n th e New York
A rc h d io c e san O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n C om m unications.
F or ex am p le, many o th e r d io c e s e s com m unicated w ith th e
New York o f f ic e th ro u g h th e y e a rs f o r in fo rm a tio n , a d v ic e ,
program a i d s , e t c e t e r a . The New York o f f ic e w as, i n
e f f e c t , th e u n o f f i c i a l c o o rd in a tin g c e n t e r f o r many Church
a c t i v i t i e s i n b ro a d c a s tin g w hich in v o lv e d o th e r d io c e s e s .
The d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s ' m eetin g in 1957 and th e C a th o lic
B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n (CBA) c o n v e n tio n s co n firm ed t h i s
c o l la b o r a ti n g r o le o f th e New York o f f i c e .
F u rth e r l i m i t a t i o n s may h e re be s t a t e d a s g e n e ra l
a s s u m p tio n s .
31
F i r s t , a stu d y o f p o l ic i e s c o u ld n o t e x p e c t to
c h r o n ic le a l l th e a c t i v i t i e s o f a l l th e d io c e s a n r a d io
t e l e v i s i o n o f f i c e s o r o f a l l p e rs o n n e l who d ev o ted some
tim e to b ro a d c a s t m a tte r s l o c a l l y o r n a t i o n a l l y . I t was
presum ed t h a t p o l i c i e s c o u ld be i d e n t i f i e d by c o n c e n tr a tin g
upon c e n t r a l s o u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n and upon th e m ost s i g
n i f i c a n t a v a ila b le d a t a . The 133 r e tu r n e d q u e s tio n n a ir e s
s u p p lie d d a ta a b o u t o f f i c e s t h a t were e s ta b lis h e d by U n ite d
S ta te s d io c e s e s . C orrespondence and o th e r docum ents i n th e
; f i l e s o f th e th r e e m ost a c tiv e d io c e s a n o f f i c e s s u p p lie d
su p p le m e n tary d a ta a b o u t th e o th e r d io c e s a n a c t i v i t i e s i n
th e co u n try * Because o f th e l i a i s o n o f th e NCWC*s E p is c o
p a l Com m ittee on M otion P i c t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n
w ith th e New York A rc h d io c e s e 's r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n o f f i c e ;
and b ecau se o f th e c o o p e ra tio n o f members o f th e A m erican
i h ie r a r c h y w ith t h i s same New York o f f i c e and w ith th e
a rc h d io c e s a n b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s i n S t . L o u is and
W ashington, D. C .; th e s e th r e e c e n te r s se rv e d a s r a l l y i n g
p o in ts f o r e x p lo r a tio n , d e l i b e r a t i o n , and d e c is io n s w hich
a f f e c t e d n a t i o n a l p a t t e r n s o f Church a c tio n in b ro a d c a s t-'
< A
• *
; i n g . •
Secondly, it was presumed that a study of policies
might include all the available major sources of informa
tion and that this would be more significant than to study
intensively only one of the Catholic offices or
organizations* An intensive study of one such phase of
Catholic broadcasting policy or activity would have been
difficult to assess for its significance without a broader
scale by which to judge the findings. Little historical
or analytical appraisal of Catholic endeavors in any of the
many phases of commercial and religious broadcasting had
been attempted prior to the present study. Hence it was
important first to delimit the scope and structure of
Catholic involvement in telecommunications in the United
States. Once the boundaries of the Church’s activities
were outlined, a subsequent study could select those
specific areas within the general scope of Catholicism and
broadcasting which warrant sustained investigation because
of their influence upon the policies of the Church. Other
wise one could not know whether a particular group that was
designated for exclusive study truly represented general
Catholic attitude and action; whether the group*s work was
endorsed by the hierarchy and official offices in the
Church; and whether the group’s policies and its effects
had significance which justify exhaustive research. One
could know the relative significance of research studies
of the various groups in question only after the broad
limits of Catholic activity in broadcasting matters were
outlined and appraised.
Another reason for the scope of the present study
33
was t h a t i n 1962 few o f th e g ro u p s o r o f f i c e s i n th e Church
had e x te n s iv e f i l e s and docum entary e v id e n c e . I t w ould
have been d i f f i c u l t to stu d y d e f i n i t i v e l y a s in g le g ro u p
b e fo re p e r ip h e r a l s o u rc e s o f d a ta were i d e n t i f i e d . I t was
a p a r t i a l i n t e n t o f th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h to i d e n t i f y th o se
s o u rc e s and to in d ic a t e th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s w hich e x i s te d
h i s t o r i c a l l y among th e s o u rc e s . T h is problem was e s p e
c i a l l y a c u te f o r th e e a r l y d ecad es o f b ro a d c a s tin g h i s t o r y ;
so u rc e m a te r ia l was more p l e n t i f u l f o r th e l a t e r d ecad e s
d u rin g w hich th e Church and b ro a d c a s tin g became more
in v o lv e d w ith each o t h e r . The y e a r s from 19^1 th ro u g h 1961
p ro v id e d e v id en ce o f C hurch le a d e rs * s p e c i f i c d e c is io n s
a f f e c t i n g b r o a d c a s tin g , w hereas d u r in g th e e a r l y y e a rs o f
r a d io b ro a d c a s tin g was n o t much in v o lv e d in th e co n c e rn s
and p la n s o f th e C a th o lic Church i n A m erica.
S p e c ific assu m p tio n s u n d e r ly in g t h i s stu d y in c lu d e d
th e f o llo w in g :
1 . I f Church a u t h o r i t i e s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s a re
to d ev elo p p o l i c i e s w hich p ro p e rly a f f e c t A m erican b ro ad
c a s tin g and w hich r e f l e c t V a tic a n d i r e c t i v e s , a s tu d y m ust
be made o f Church a c t i v i t i e s to 1962 to in d ic a te th e c a u s a l
seq u en ce o f p a s t C hurch a c tio n s i n r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
!a f f a i r s .
2 . I n c ip ie n t and em erging C hurch p o l i c i e s may be
d e fin e d a s th e p a t te r n s o f d e c is io n s and a c tio n s by Church
3^
a u t h o r i t i e s ) a s m a n ife s te d i n co rresp o n d en ce and docum ents
su ch a s r e p o r t s , m em oranda, and m in u tes o f m e e tin g s .
3* An e x te n s iv e stu d y o f Church d e c is io n s may
u t i l i z e q u e s tio n n a ir e s to a s c e r t a i n th e o v e r t a c tio n s o f
C hurch o f f i c i a l s th ro u g h o u t th e U n ite d S t a t e s . An in t e n
s iv e stu d y o f th e c o n tin u ity o f Church d e c is io n s may he
made by p e rs o n a l in te r v ie w s and by in v e s t ig a t i n g f i l e s o f
th e a rc h d io c e s a n o f f i c e s o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n w hich have
been m ost a c tiv e i n b r o a d c a s tin g .
*+. The s i z e , r a t e , and d i r e c t i o n o f change o r
tr e n d s i n Church p o l i c i e s th ro u g h tim e may be d e term in ed
by a n a ly z in g th e a v a ila b le d o cu m en tatio n from a p e r io d o f ~
f o u r d e c a d e s , 1920 th ro u g h 1961.
5 . The p re s e n c e o f th e s e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l p o l i c i e s
a f f e c t th e p o l i c i e s o f b r o a d c a s te rs to g r e a t e r o r l e s s e r
d e g r e e , depending upon th e a re a o f p o lic y and th e i n t e n s i t y
o f C hurch a c t i o n .
S ig n if ic a n c e o f th e Study
In 1957 M onsignor Tim othy F lynn*s New York o f f i c e
answ ered a re q u e s t f o r in fo rm a tio n ab o u t r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
by e x p la in in g t h a t l i t t l e o r n o th in g ab o u t b ro a d c a s tin g
25
was p u b lis h e d by C a th o lic a g e n c ie s . I n t h a t same y e a r
Pope P iu s X II is s u e d h i s E n c y c lic a l L e t t e r M iranda P ro rs u s
2 ^See C h ap ter I I , p . 7 9 , n . l l l , f o r l e t t e r from
M sgr. F ly n n s e n t to i n q u i r e r on December 3 0 , 1957.
35
on m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d i o , and t e l e v i s i o n . In h i s d ir e c
t i v e s th e P o n tif f in d ic a t e d th a t, a l l n a tio n s sh o u ld e s ta b
l i s h n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s f o r r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n w hich would
be s i m i l a r to th e o f f i c e s a lre a d y e s ta b li s h e d f o r m otion
p i c t u r e s . The Pope u rg e d d io c e s e s to a p p o in t l o c a l p r ie s t '
c o o r d in a to rs o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s .
Members o f th e b ro a d c a s tin g in d u s tr y re a d th e t e x t
o f th e e n c y c lic a l i n i t s l i t e r a l s e n s e . E d ito r s o f a
w eekly m agazine d e v o te d to th e b u s in e s s o f b ro a d c a s tin g
commented on S eptem ber 2 3 , 1957:
The 13,000-w ord e n c y c li c a l . . . i s a firm b u t
te m p e ra te docum ent. . • . I t i s i n th e e x e c u tio n
o f th e P o p e’s o r d e r s , how ever, t h a t th e r e i s
re a s o n a b le cau se f o r a la rm . The e n c y c li c a l
d i r e c t s th e e n lis tm e n t o f th e e n t i r e C a th o lic
p r ie s th o o d and l a i t y i n a m assiv e program o f s e l f -
d i s c i p l i n e . Can t h i s program be p u t i n t o e f f e c t
w ith o u t th e c o i n c id e n ta l c r e a tio n o f m achinery
f o r c e n s o rs h ip e x te n d in g f a r beyond th e C a th o lic
com m unity?
U nder th e P o p e’ s d i r e c t i v e , th e g e n e ra l mem
b e r s h ip o f th e c h u rc h i n ea ch c o u n try w i l l r e c e iv e
i t s i n s t r u c t i o n s from a n a t io n a l o f f i c e o f s u p e r
v is i o n w hich w i l l view m ovies and m o n ito r r a d io
and t v . Can i t be supposed t h a t a n a t i o n a l o f f i c e
o f s u p e rv is io n i n th e U. S . can d i r e c t th e m illio n s
o f U. S . C a th o lic s to tu n e i n o r tu n e o u t a r a d io
o r tv program w ith o u t a ls o e x e r tin g a p ro fo u n d
in f lu e n c e on th e program c h o ic e o f n o n -C a th o lic s ?
In s h o r t , can a sy stem a s e x te n s iv e a s t h a t o rd e re d
by th e Pope be in v o k e d so d e f t l y t h a t i t h a s th e
a u th o r it y to command C a th o lic co m p lian ce b u t n o t
th e power to f o rc e o f f th e a i r program s w h ich ,
how ever d i s t a s t e f u l to C a th o lic is m , a re p e r f e c t l y
a c c e p ta b le to o th e r . f a i t h s ?
The answ er to th e s e q u e s tio n s w i l l n o t be
d e f i n i t e u n t i l th e d o p e’s e n c y c li c a l i s p u t i n t o
e f f e c t . M eanwhile i t w i l l be th e c o n s id e ra b le
36
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e C a th o lic h ie ra rc h y i n A m erica
to e s t a b l i s h an o r g a n iz a tio n c o n fin e d to th e c h u rc h
i t s e l f and th e jo b o f b r o a d c a s te rs to c irc u m v e n t,
how ever p o s s i b le , th e e x p a n sio n o f th e o r g a n iz a tio n
i n t o n o n -C a th o lic a f f a i r s . 0
The Church in d ic a te d i n t e r e s t in th e b ro a d c a s te rs * r e a c t i o n
to th e P a p a l e n c y c lic a l; i n h is New York A rch d io cese f i l e s
M onsignor F ly n n s ta p le d a c lip p in g o f t h i s B ro a d c a s tin g -
T e le c a s tin g e d i t o r i a l to a memorandum t h a t s t a t e s :
"A tta c h e d was d e liv e r e d by hand to th e P o n t i f i c a l Commis
s io n [ f o r Cinem a, E a d io , and T e le v is io n ] on S eptem ber 2 8 ,
1 9 5 7 ."
The b r o a d c a s te r s ' co n c ern f o r p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s in
r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n m a tte r s was e v id e n t, w h ereas th e b ro a d
c a s tin g a c t i v i t y o f th e Church i n A m erica and i t s a p p lic a
t i o n o f p a p a l recom m endations have been s p o r a d ic . One
m ig h t be tem pted to pun t h a t th e in d u s tr y b u rn ed w h ile
Home f i d d l e d .
The h ie ra rc h y i n A m erica was g e n u in e ly i n t e r e s t e d
i n le a r n in g how b e t t e r to p a r t i c i p a t e i n b ro a d c a s tin g and
to c o o p e ra te w ith b r o a d c a s te r s f o r th e good o f s o c i e t y .
To t h i s end th e b ish o p s encouraged th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a
t i o n by recom mending i t to Church o f f i c e s t h a t w ere s o u rc e s
27
f o r d a t a . The h ie r a r c h y was u n c e r t a in ( a ) a b o u t th e
?6
"The P o p e 's E n c y c lic a l," B ro a d c a s tin g -T e le c a s tin g .
L I I I , No. 13 (S eptem ber 23, 1 9 5 7 ), 1 2 6 , em phasis s u p p lie d .
2?See q u e s tio n n a ire l e t t e r s o f t r a n s m i t t a l t h a t
w ere p h o to c o p ie d from p e rs o n a l l e t t e r s by B ishop Jam es A.
McNulty and B ishop John King M ussio, r e s p e c tiv e ly th e
37
s p e c i f i c s t r u c t u r e and e f f e c t s o f b ro a d c a s tin g a s a medium
o f m ass com m unication and a s a com m ercial e n t e r p r is e i n th e
U n ite d S t a t e s , and (b ) ab o u t th e h i e r a r c h y ’s own r e s p o n s i
b i l i t i e s i n b e s t c a r r y in g o u t th e g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s o f th e
H oly See re g a rd in g r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
The C a th o lic Church w ished to p la y i t s p ro p e r r o le
i n a s s i s t i n g men a s th e y l i v e to g e th e r in s o c ie ty .
A lth o u g h i t was co n c ern ed w ith th e u ltim a te and s p i r i t u a l
c o n s id e r a tio n s a f f e c t i n g men, th e Church a t th e same tim e
n e c e s s a r i l y became in v o lv e d to a g r e a t e r o r l e s s e r e x te n t
w ith th e n o n s p i r i t u a l c o n d itio n s w hich shape m e n 's l i v e s
on t h i s e a r t h . One com plex elem en t i n m en 's l i v e s i s com
m u n ic a tio n , in c lu d in g m ass com m unication by th e m edia o f
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . Because o f th e p o t e n t i a l in f lu e n c e
th e s e m edia may have f o r good o r e v i l , th e Church was e a g e r
t h a t p ro p e r c a re b e .e x e r c is e d i n u s in g them . To w hat
e x te n t d id t h i s " p ro p e r c a re " a f f e c t th e b r o a d c a s te r , th e
a u d ie n c e , and th e C hurch i t s e l f ?
ch a irm an o f th e E p is c o p a l Committee on M otion P i c t u r e s ,
R a d io , and T e le v is io n and th e e p is c o p a l m o d era to r o f th e
C a th o lic B r o a d c a s te r s ' A s s o c ia tio n . The l a t t e r spoke o f
t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n a s "w hat I c o n s id e r a v e ry e s s e n t i a l
and n eed ed stu d y " and i n a second p r iv a te l e t t e r r e f e r r e d
to t h i s "v ery v a lu a b le and tim e ly study?'; he ad d e d ,
" n a t u r a l l y , I c a n n o t sp eak f o r th e B ishops n o r ’ can I sp eak
f o r th e C .B .A ., b u t i f I am to judge t h e i r own i n t e r e s t i n
t h i s g r e a t f i e l d , I am c e r t a i n t h a t th e y would approve
e v e ry e f f o r t to b rin g th e H oly B a th e r 's mind i n t h i s
m a tte r to th e A m erican s c e n e ." P e rs o n a l l e t t e r s to t h i s
r e s e a r c h e r from Most R ev. John King M ussio, B ishop o f
S te u b e n v ille , O hio, November 2 , I9 6 0 .
38
Through th e w in te r o f 1960-1961 o th e r more p r e s
s in g c o n c e rn s and com m itm ents p re c lu d e d th e C h u rc h 's s u s
ta in e d c o n s id e r a tio n o f th e s p e c if ic r o le to be p la y e d by
th e Church i n A m erica w ith r e s p e c t to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
And y e t th e g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s t h a t w ere s e t down f o r th e
u n iv e r s a l Church were so o n e r o r l a t e r to be p u t in to some
form o f p r a c t i c e . The q u e s tio n w as, w hat d id t h i s p ra c
t i c a l a p p lic a tio n mean i n th e U n ite d S ta te s ? C hurch le a d
e r s w ere n o t q u ite s u r e . Thus th e re seemed g en u in e need
f o r a s y n th e s is o f g e n e ra l Church p o l i c i e s and d i r e c t i v e s ,
to g e th e r w ith a d e s c r ip tio n o f how th o s e p o l i c i e s had been
; a p p lie d in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . Such a stu d y co u ld p ro v id e
docum ented d a ta f o r th e b is h o p s ' E p is c o p a l Committee on
M otion P ic t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n , w hich o v e rs e e s th e
C a th o lic p o l i c i e s n a t i o n a l l y re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s tin g and
; f i l m s . The stu d y m ig h t a l s o be u se d a s a w orking p a p e r fo rj
j C a th o lic o f f i c i a l s who were com m issioned to d eterm in e th e
; f u n c tio n o f th e C a th o lic Church i n A m erican b r o a d c a s tin g .
To 1962 more th a n h a l f o f th e l*fl U n ite d S ta te s
[
| d io c e s e s had a p p o in te d p r i e s t s to d i r e c t r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
m a tte r s a t l e a s t p a r t - t i m e . In 1958 th e b ish o p s convoked
a n a t i o n a l m eetin g o f th o s e d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s to d is c u s s
th e s t r u c t u r e , f u n c tio n , and f e a s i b i l i t y o f e s t a b l i s h i n g
a n a t i o n a l o f f ic e f o r te lec o m m u n ic atio n s c o o r d in a tio n by
th e C hurch. S ince t h a t m eetin g no n a t i o n a l o f f ic e had been
fo u n d e d , a lth o u g h th e m a tte r was p r e s e n te d f o r c o n s id e r a
t i o n e a c h y e a r a t th e Am erican b is h o p s ’ N C W C b o ard m e e tin g
and a t t h e i r an n u a l g e n e ra l c o n fe re n c e s i n W ashington,
28
D. C. I n 1961 th e p r i e s t - d i r e c t o r s o f th e N a tio n a l
O ffic e o f th e le g io n o f Decency and M onsignor F ly n n o f th e
New York A rch d io cese O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n Com
m u n ic a tio n s d is c u s s e d w ith th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h e r th e
t e n t a t i v e f in d in g s o f th e p r e s e n t stu d y w h ile th e
r e s e a r c h e r was y e t i n th e p ro c e s s o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g s o u rc e s
o f d a ta ; th e s e Church o f f i c i a l s in d ic a t e d th e n eed f o r such
a s tu d y .
F u rth erm o re th e p r e p a r a to ry com m issions f o r th e
Second V a tic a n E cum neioal C o u n cil m e etin g i n 1962 and 1963
in c lu d e d one s e c r e t a r i a t w hich was c o n c ern ed e x c lu s iv e ly
w ith i n v e s ti g a t i n g and r e p o r tin g upon th e com m unications
m edia o f m otion p i c t u r e s , r a d i o , t e l e v i s i o n , and th e p r e s s .
The p r e s e n t stu d y c o u ld be u s e f u l i n in fo rm in g c e n t r a l
C hurch a u t h o r i t i e s o f th e s t a t u s o f b ro a d c a s tin g v i s - a - v i s
th e C a th o lic Church i n A m erica, f o r th e C o u n c il’s f u r t h e r
d e l i b e r a ti o n s and d e c is io n s .
A rev iew o f s tu d i e s w hich e x p lo re d problem s s i m i l a r
to t h a t o f in v e s ti g a t i o n in d ic a te d t h a t th e need d e s c rib e d
above h ad n o t p r e v io u s ly been f i l l e d . ^
2® A n a t io n a l C a th o lic o f f ic e o f b ro a d c a s tin g was
e s ta b li s h e d by th e A m erican h ie ra ro h y i n D ecem ber, 1965.
29see th e rev ie w o f l i t e r a t u r e and r e l a t e d s t u d i e s ,
C h a p ter I I .
In a w ord, th e s ig n if ic a n c e o f the^’p r e s e n t stu d y
was a p p a r e n t. I t r e p r e s e n te d an a tte m p t to p ro v id e answ ers
to some o f th e q u e s tio n s r a is e d by th e e d i t o r s o f B road
c a s tin g m agazine who t y p i c a l l y a r t i c u l a t e d th e c o n c e rn s o f
th e com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g in d u s tx y i n t h i s c o u n try ; i t
e x p lo re d th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e Church i n th e s e
m a tte r s ; and to 1962 no o th e r su ch s tu d y had been m ade.
O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e Study
In t h i s h i s t o r i c a l a n a ly s is th e i n v e s t i g a t o r
en d e av o red to i d e n t i f y th e p e rs o n s and e v e n ts who w ere
r e s p o n s ib le f o r C hurch d e c is io n s i n m a tte rs o f b r o a d c a s t
in g i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , and to c h r o n ic le th e s o u rc e s and
t h e i r e f f e c t s th ro u g h tim e from 1920 th ro u g h 1961. T h is
c h r o n o lo g ic a l tr e a tm e n t was d iv id e d t o p i c a l l y to f a c i l i t a t e
th e a n a ly s is o f c a u s a l seq u en ces w ith in m ajo r a g e n c ie s
w hich w ere in v o lv e d w ith Church a c t i v i t y . A f te r C h a p te r I I
on th e re v ie w o f l i t e r a t u r e and th e m ethods, te c h n iq u e s ,
and p ro c e d u re s em ployed i n t h i s s tu d y , C h ap ter I I I
d e s c r ib e s th e h i e r a r c h i c a l s t r u c t u r e o f th e Roman C a th o lic
C h u rch . C h ap ters IV and V su rv ey u n iv e r s a l Church p o lic y
s ta te m e n ts and th e b r o a d c a s t- r e la t e d a c t i v i t i e s o f th e
V a tic a n i n Rome from 1920 th ro u g h 1961. C h ap ter VI
c h r o n ic le s th e n o n o f f i c i a l , in d iv id u a l and group b ro a d
c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s by C a th o lic s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s from
1920 th ro u g h I 96I . C a th o lic in v o lv em en t i n f e d e r a l
l e g i s l a t i o n f o r b r o a d c a s tin g i n th e 1 9 3 0 's i s r e p o r te d in
C h ap ter V II . In C h a p te r V III a r e o u tlin e d th e b r o a d c a s t
in g a c t i v i t i e s o f o f f i c i a l Church n a t i o n a l o r g a n iz a tio n s
from 1920 th ro u g h 1 9 6 1 . The b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s o f
o f f i c i a l l o c a l and r e g io n a l C hurch o r g a n iz a tio n s a re
sum m arized i n C h a p te r IX f o r th e 127 U n ite d S ta te s d io c e s e s
w hich resp o n d ed to th e q u e s tio n n a ir e . D e ta ils o f s e le c te d
d io c e s e s ' p o l i c i e s a r e d e s c rib e d i n C h a p te rs X and X II .
C h ap ter XI co n c e rn s th e s p e c i f i c in c id e n t o f th e M a rtin
L u th e r f ilm th ro u g h t e l e v i s i o n i n C h icag o . The m ajo r
q u e s tio n o f a Roman C a th o lic n a t i o n a l o f f i c e f o r b ro ad
c a s tin g c o n s t i t u t e s C h a p te r X I I I . C h a p te r XIV c o n ta in s a
summary and c o n c lu s io n s on p o l i c i e s o f th e Church i n th e
U n ite d S ta te s r e g a r d in g com m ercial r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
b r o a d c a s tin g .
Summary
The p roblem o f t h i s stu d y was to i d e n t i f y th e
em erging p o l i c i e s o f th e Roman C a th o lic Church re g a rd in g
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s by i s o l a t i n g . th e
c o n s is te n t a c tio n s o f C hurch c le r g y and la y le a d e r s in
m a tte rs o f com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g th ro u g h
th e y e a r s from 1920 th ro u g h 1961. The o b je c tiv e o f th e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n wa3 to d e s c r ib e th e p r i n c i p l e s , la w s , and
d i r e c t i v e s t h a t w ere is s u e d by th e C a th o lic Churoh i n th e
U n ited S ta te s and to s t a t e how c l o s e ly A m erican Church
k-2
a c t i v i t y i n te lec o m m u n ic atio n s had c o rre sp o n d e d to V a tic a n
u n iv e r s a l d i r e c t i v e s f o r b ro a d c a s tin g .
The stu d y in v e s tig a te d th e d i r e c t and i n d i r e c t
in v o lv e m e n t o f C a th o lic h ie ra rc h y and la y o r g a n iz a tio n s
w ith com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g in c lu d in g n e tw o rk s , s t a t i o n s ,
tr a d e o r g a n iz a tio n s , and governm ent a g e n c ie s . The s tu d y
e x p lo re d th e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s among C a th o lic a g e n c ie s
su ch a s th e N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men’s R a d io -
T e le v is io n D ep artm en t, th e C a th o lic B ro a d c a ste rs* A s s o c ia
t i o n , th e d io c e s a n p r i e s t - d i r e c t o r s f o r r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
a f f a i r s , and th e n a t i o n a l o f f ic e f o r te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s
p r o je c te d by th e U n ite d S ta te s b is h o p s ' E p is c o p a l Com m ittee .
on M otion P i c t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n .
A m ain p u rp o se o f t h i s h i s t o r i c a l a n a ly s is was to
p ro v id e a so u rce o f in fo rm a tio n on th e C a th o lic C h u rc h 's
g o a ls , p u rp o s e s , and m eth o d s, so t h a t th e s e m ig h t be
a p p ra is e d by A m erican b r o a d c a s te r s , c r i t i c s , and e d u c a to r s ,
a s w e ll a s by th e C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y .
The stu d y was concerned w ith management p o l i c i e s
and w ith program ing d e c is io n s a t com m ercial s t a t i o n s and
n e tw o rk s r a t h e r th a n w ith th e l e s s ta n g ib le e f f e c t s o f
com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s program ing upon a u d ie n ce a t t i t u d e s
and b e h a v io r . The stu d y was a com p ariso n o f U n ite d S ta te s
C a th o lic a c tio n and th o u g h t w ith V a tic a n g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s
r a t h e r th a n w ith E uropean o r o th e r n o n -U n ite d S ta te s
C a th o lic a c tio n and th o u g h t in b ro a d c a s t m a tte r s .
The c e n t r a l c r i t e r i o n f o r d e te rm in in g w hich p e rio d
i c a l a r t i c l e s and w hich C a th o lic o r g a n iz a tio n s were to he
in c lu d e d i n t h i s stu d y was th e p re se n c e o f d o cu m en tatio n
from them o r c o n c e rn in g them i n th e f i l e s o f m ajor d io c e s a n
o f f i c e s o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n i n New Y ork, W ashington, D. C .,
and S t . L o u is . P o l i c i e s w ere presum ed to he i d e n t i f i e d by
c o n c e n tr a tin g upon th e s e c e n t r a l s o u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n and
upon th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t a v a ila b le d a t a .
Because no o th e r s tu d i e s o f t h i s to p ic were
r e s e a r c h e d , th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t ig a t i o n presum ed to o u tlin e
and a p p r a is e th e b ro a d l i m i t s o f C a th o lic a c t i v i t y by
i n v e s t i g a t i n g th e m a jo r s o u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n r a t h e r th a n
to stu d y i n te n s iv e ly o n ly one o f th e C a th o lic a g e n c ie s o r
s o u rc e s o f p o lic y i n b ro a d c a s tin g m a tte r s . Q u e s tio n n a ire s
i
s u p p lie d d a ta on th e e x te n s iv e , o v e r t a c tio n s o f th e
Church; in te rv ie w s and i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f so u rce m a te r ia l i n
th e c e n t r a l a rc h d io c e s a n o f f i c e s p ro v id e d in te n s iv e stu d y
i
o f th e c o n tin u ity o f Church p o l i c i e s a f f e c t i n g b r o a d c a s t-
in g .
The V a tic a n h a s recommended th e fo rm a tio n o f
n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s o f te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s. B ro a d c a s te rs have |
been co n c ern ed a b o u t th e d a n g e rs in v o lv e d i n a p p ly in g t h i s 1
recom m endation to th e U n ite d S t a t e s . The A m erican h i e r
a rc h y h a s been u n c e r t a in a b o u t th e d e t a i l s o f e x e c u tin g
th e s e p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s h u t d id a p p o in t l o c a l d io c e sa n
p r i e s t - d i r e c t o r s f o r r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s .
S in ce no stu d y had been made to 1962 (n o r to 1968
when th e f i n a l d r a f t o f th e m a n u sc rip t was c o m p le te d ), th e re
was c l e a r l y n eed f o r a s y n th e s is o f g e n e ra l Church p o l i c i e s
and d i r e c t i v e s to g e th e r w ith a d e s c r ip tio n o f how th e s e
p o l i c i e s had been a p p lie d in th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
T h is stu d y was. o rg a n iz e d b o th c h ro n o lo g ic a lly and
i
t o p i c a l l y a c c o rd in g to C hurch a g e n c ie s in v o lv e d i n b ro a d
c a s tin g a f f a i r s th ro u g h th e fo u r-d e c a d e p e rio d from 1920
th ro u g h 1961.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OP LITERATURE; MATERIAL AND PROCEDURES
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
The h re a d th o f th e stu d y was prom pted i n p a r t by
th e la c k o f s p e c if ic so u rc e s t h a t w ere d e v o te d e x c lu s iv e ly
to C a th o lic p o l i c i e s and p r a c t ic e s r e g a r d in g A m erican
b r o a d c a s tin g . S o u rces o f d a ta ran g ed from g e n e r a l in d e x e s ,
b o o k s, and r e s e a r c h s tu d ie s on b r o a d c a s tin g a t l a r g e , to
academ ic th e s e s and books by P r o t e s t a n t s and by C a th o lic s
on r e l i g i o u s b r o a d c a s tin g by ch u rch d e n o m in a tio n s.
G en eral S o u rces
B ib lio g r a p h ie s . in d e x e s . S ta n d a rd b ib lio g r a p h ie s
o f g e n e r a l r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n s u b je c ts l i s t e d some t i t l e s
w hich w ere r e le v a n t to th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n . B i b l i
o g ra p h ie s t h a t were co n su lted , in c lu d e d s ta n d a rd co m p ila
t i o n s o f d o c to r a l s tu d i e s in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . 1 S p ark s
r e p o r te d i n 1962 a b ib lio g ra p h y o f b r o a d c a s tin g
^A. H . T r o t i e r and M. Harman, co m p s., D o c to ra l
D i s s e r t a tio n s A ccepted by Am erican U n iv e r s it ie s (New Y ork:
H . W. W ilson Company. -Annually 1 9 ^ - 1 9 ^ ) ; In d ex to
A m erican D o c to ra l D is s e r ta tio n s (Ann A rb o r, M io h ig an :
U n iv e r s ity M ic ro film s , A nnually 1957“ 1 9 6 2 ).
* * 5
h6
2
d i s s e r t a t i o n s w hich su p p lem en ted th e p u b lis h e d v o lu m es,
Rodeman i n 1951 p re s e n te d a b ib lio g ra p h y w hich in c lu d e d
c r i t i c a l sum m aries o f m a s te r 's th e s e s and d o c to r a l
d i s s e r t a t i o n s i n b r o a d c a s tin g . F iv e c o m p ila tio n s i n
th e J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g p ro v id e d a d d i tio n a l t i t l e s
if
o f s t u d i e s r e l a t e d to th e p r e s e n t s u b j e c t . The same
j o u r n a l c o n ta in e d a n n o ta te d b ib lio g r a p h ie s o f a r t i c l e s
a b o u t b r o a d c a s tin g i n p e r io d ic a ls t h a t w ere d ev o ted
5 6 7 8
to jo u r n a lis m , s p e e c h , la w , p sy c h o lo g y , and m o tio n
^K enneth R . S p a rk s , A B ib lio g ra p h y o f D o c to ra l D is
s e r t a t i o n s i n T e le v is io n and R adio (S y ra c u s e , N. Y ,s
S y ra cu se U n iv e r s ity S ch o o l o f J o u rn a lis m , Newhouse Communi
c a tio n s C e n te r, 1 9 6 2 ),
3 N o rb e rt R o b e rt Rodeman, "The D evelopm ent o f Aca
dem ic R e se a rc h i n R adio and T e le v is io n f o r th e F i r s t H a lf
o f th e T w e n tie th C en tu ry (A B ib lio g r a p h ic a l L is ti n g and
H andbook)" (u n p u b lish e d Ph.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , N o rth w e ste rn
U n iv e r s it y , E v a n sto n , I l l i n o i s , 1951)*
^ " D o c to ra l D is s e r t a tio n s i n T e le v is io n and R a d io ,"
J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g , 1 , No, b ( F a l l , 1957)* 37 7 -3 8 3 ;
G rad u ate T heses and D is s e r t a tio n s on B ro a d c a s tin g : 1920-
1 9 5 6 ," I I , No. 1 (W in te r, 1 9 5 7 -5 8 ), 55-90; F ra n k lin H .
K now er, "G rad u ate T h eses and D is s e r t a tio n s on B ro a d c a s tin g :
1 9 5 6 -1 9 5 8 ," IV , No. 1 (W in te r, 1 9 5 9 -6 0 ), 77-87; F . H . Ehower,
"G ra d u ate T heses and D is s e r t a tio n s on B ro a d c a s tin g : 1959“
1 9 6 0 ," V, No. b ( F a l l , 1 9 6 1 ), 3 5 5 -3 7 0 ;.E . F ran k L e e , "Doc
t o r a l . D is s e r t a tio n s i n R adio and T e le v is io n a t Germ an.Uni
v e r s i t i e s : 1 9 2 0 -1 9 5 7 ," I I , No. . ( F a l l j 1 9 5 8 ), 3 6 9 -3 7 5 .
^Gordon G reb, "A n a ly sis o f B ro a d c a st L i t e r a t u r e :
The J o u rn a lis m Q u a r te r ly . 19^-8-1958." J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s t
i n g , i l l . No. 3 CSummer, 1 9 5 9 ), 2fH--25T^ ■ "
^ S tu a r t C ooney, "A n a ly sis o f B ro a d c a st L i t e r a t u r e :
th e Q u a r te r ly J o u rn a l o f S p eec h ," J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g ,
I , No r i " f l f e e r , 1 9 5 6 -5 7 ); 9 1 -9 6 ." ------------— “ -------------
7 "A n a ly s is o f B ro a d c a st L i t e r a t u r e : P e r io d ic a l
P u b lic a tio n s i n Law," J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g . I , No. 3
(Summer, 1 9 5 7 ), 290-30Ti
8J a m e s G. S a u n d e rs, "A n a ly sis o f B ro a d c a st L i t e r a
t u r e : P e r io d ic a l P u b lic a tio n s i n P sy ch o lo g y : 1950-1960:
* * 7
9
p i c t u r e s . The J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g a ls o c o n ta in e d a
l i s t o f p e r io d i c a l a r t i c l e s c o n c e rn in g program c o n te n t
a n a ly s is Some s o u rc e s o f h i s t o r i c a l d a ta p e r t in e n t to
th e p r e s e n t stu d y w ere l i s t e d i n b ib lio g r a p h ie s by th e
N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f E d u c a tio n a l B ro a d c a s te rs y1^ by th e
U n ite d S ta te s D epartm ent o f H ealth y E d u c a tio n ) and Wel-
12
f a r e 's O ffic e o f E d u c a tio n ) by th e Colum bia B ro a d c a s tin g
l4-
S y stem , and by in d iv i d u a l c o m p ile rs su ch a s Cooper and
An A n n o tated B ib lio g ra p h y ." J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g . V I,
N o. 1 (W in te r, 1 9 6 1 -6 2 ),
^Raymond f i e l d i n g , "B ro a d c a st L it e r a t u r e i n M otion
P ic tu r e P e r io d ic a ls : A B ib lio g ra p h y ," J o u r n a l o f B road
c a s t i n g . I l l , No. 2 ( S p r in g , 1959% 1 7 2 -1 ^ 2 .
10P ra n c is E . B a rc u s , "A B ib lio g ra p h y o f S tu d ie s o f
R adio and T e le v is io n Program C o n te n t: 1 9 2 8 -1 9 5 8 ," J o u rn a l
o f B ro a d c a s tin g . IV , No. ( F a l l , 1 9 6 1 ), 3 5 5 -3 6 9 .
^ B u r to n P a u lu , comp• , R a d io -T e le v is io n B ib lio g ra p h y :
! Books and M agazine A r t i c l e s on~the N o n te c h n ic a l A sp ec ts o r
i B ro a d c a s tin g P u b lis h e d betw een Ja n u a ry 1 . 1949. and June 20,
11952 O Jrb'ena. 111.: NAfcB.' 1 9 5 2 3 . ----------
12P a t r i c i a B. Ham i l l and G e rtru d e G. B ro d e ric k ,
1 R adio and T e le v is io n : A S e le c te d B ib lio g ra p h y (W ashington,
D. C .: U. S . Governm ent P r i n t in g O ffic e ^ l9 b 0 ) .
^G B S R e fe re n ce L ib r a r y , R adio and T e le v is io n B i b l i - I
Q graphy: November. 1941 ( 5 th e d .; New Y ork: Colum bia j
iB ro a d c a s tin g S ystem , 1 9 ^ 1 ); CBS R e fe re n c e L ib r a r y , R adio
I and T e le v is io n B ib lio g ra p h y : May. 19^2 ( 6 th e d .; New Y ork: j
Colum bia B ro a d c a s tin g S ystem , 1 ^ 2 ) ; c£ s R e fere n ce L ib r a r y ,
"R ecen t W ritin g s on R a d io : May 19*+2-December 1 9 ^ f: A Sup
p le m en t to th e CBS R adio and T e le v is io n B ib lio g ra p h y "
i(New Y ork: Colum bia B ro a d c a s tin g S y stem , 1 9 ^ 5 ).
iL
■ " I s a b e lla M. C o o p er, B ib lio g ra p h y on E d u c a tio n a l
B ro a d c a s tin g (C h icag o : U n iv e r s ity o f Chicago JPress,
kQ
l«5
R o se. ' A sh 's d ir e c to r y l i s t e d g e n e r a l r e p o s i t o r i e s o f
l 6
p u b lic a tio n s on com m ercial and r e l i g i o u s b r o a d c a s tin g .
Of s u b s t a n tia l u se i n l o c a t i n g so u rc e m a te r ia l on
e a r l y r e l a t io n s h i p s betw een A m erican b ro a d c a s tin g and th e
C a th o lic Church were th e b ib li o g r a p h ie s p ro v id e d by th e
v a r io u s g ra d u a te th e s e s and d i s s e r t a t i o n s c i t e d below and
in c lu d e d i n th e b ib lio g ra p h y o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
S o u rces o f docum ents o f r e c o r d w ere th e G en e ra l
L ib ra ry o f th e f e d e r a l Com m unications Commission i n
W ashington^ D. C .; th e G en eral L ib r a r y o f th e R a tio n a l
B ro a d c a s tin g Company i n New York C ity ; th e l i b r a r y c o l l e c
t i o n s o f th e U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th e rn C a l if o r n i a , S t . L o u is
U n iv e r s ity , th e U n iv e r s ity o f D e t r o i t , L oyola U n iv e r s ity
17
o f Los A n g e le s, and th e C a th o lic U n iv e r s ity o f A m erica. '
15
•'Oscar R ose, R adio B ro a d c a s tin g and T e le v is io n :
An A n n o tated B ib lio g ra p h y CNew Y ork: h7 W. W ilson C o .,
T W 7T .
^ L e e A sh, co m p ., S u b je c t C o lle c tio n s : A Guide to
S p e c ia l Book C o lie c t i o n s a n d S u b je c t km phases a s R e p o rted
by tf n l v e r s l t y . C o lle g e , p u b lic and ^ S p e c ia l L ib r a r ie s ixf^Ehe
iU n ite d S t a t e s , th e T e r r i t o r i e s . and Canada CNew Y ork: * " i
R . k . Rowker C o ., S u b je c t h e a d in g s r e le v a n t to th e !
p r e s e n t stu d y w ere: " C a th o lic C hurch i n th e U. S ."
(C a th o lic U n iv e rs ity o f A m erica L ib r a r y , W ashington, D. C .);
"C om m unications" (U. S . f e d e r a l C om m unications Commission
iL ib ra ry , W ashington, D. C .); " H is to ry " o f r a d io b ro a d c a s tin g
(A m erican B ro ad castin g -P aram o u n t T h e a te r s , I n c . , A m erican
B ro a d c a s tin g Co. D iv is io n , G en e ra l L ib ra ry ,,N e w York C ity ;
C olum bia B ro a d c a stin g System R e fe re n c e L ib r a r y , New York
C ity ; N a tio n a l B ro a d c a stin g C o ., I n c . G en eral L ib r a r y ,
!New York C ity ; N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f R adio and T e le v is io n
B r o a d c a s te r s , R esearoh D epartm ent L ib r a r y , W ashington,
D. C .) .
17The R esearch D epartm ent L ib r a r y o f th e NAB i n
W ash in g to n , D. C^, was n o t a b le to make a v a ila b le to t h i s
The card catalogues in each of these lib r a r ie s were inves
tig a te d . Of special relevance were the Federal Communica
tio n s Commission's Mail and F iles D ivision documents from
the early decades of broadcasting; these sources included
1 data on the National A ssociation of Broadcasters (NAB) and
F ather Coughlin during the decade of the 1930's . Also
valuable were the records on f ile in the FCC's Public Refer
ence Boom in Washington, D. C.; th a t source provided access
; to "composite week" program logs of broadcast sta tio n s from
1927 to the p resen t, which were kept in storage a t the
archives repository in Alexandria, V irg in ia.
Books. M any books were w ritten on the o rig in s and
i development of radio and te le v isio n broadcasting in the
United S ta te s. These works contained references to
re lig io u s broadcasting and to the Roman Catholic Church's
i a c tiv itie s in programing through commercial networks and
|s ta tio n s .
P artic u la rly h elp fu l were Goldsmith and
i Lescarboura's early commentary on re lig io u s programing
18
1 e ffo rts by broadcast s ta tio n s , S hurick's chronologies and
: research er the records of th a t a sso c ia tio n 's h is to ry .
Other sources provided inform ation; among them were the
f i l e s of the FCC, h is to ric a l books, and academic studies
such as David R, Mackey, "The National A ssociation of
B roadcasters: I ts F ir s t Twenty Years" (unpublished Ph.D.
d is s e rta tio n , Northwestern U niversity, Evanston, I llin o is ,
1 9 5 6 ).
16Alfred N. Goldsmith and Austin C. Lesearboura,
This Thing Called Broadcasting: A Simple Tale of an Idea.
50
data on the e a r lie s t record of programs of r e l i g i o n , ^
Banning's quoting of church le a d e rs' reactions to th e ir
20
f i r s t use of rad io , Emery's documentation on le g is la tiv e
and ju d ic ia l and adm inistrative actions prompted by or
21
i a ffe c tin g relig io u s in te r e s ts , and Schramm's case-study
references to in cid en ts th a t involved broadcasters and the
22
i churches• Head's survey also supplied many u sefu l re fe r-
23
ences to h is to ric a l stu d ies and to documentary sources.
Atkinson provided d e ta ils of programing, commercial
s ta tu s , and network a f f ilia tio n of radio sta tio n s w ith fre
quencies licensed between 1922 and 19^1 to American
An Experiment. A Mighty Industry . A Daily H abit, and A
Basic Influence in Our Modem C iv iliz a tio n (New York:
I Henry Holt and Co., 1930). ’
^ E . P. J . Shurick, The E ire t Quarter Centracy- of
I American Broadcasting (Kansas b ity : Midland Publishing”
I Co., I$*f6 ) •
20
William Peck Banning, Commercial Broadcasting
I Pioneer: The W S A J P Experiment. 19^2-1926. P ublication of
1 the Business H isto ric al Society (Cambridge, Mass•: Harvard
U niversity P ress, 19^6).
21Walter B. Emery, Broadcasting and Government:
i R esp o n sib ilities and Regulations (toast Lansing, M ich.:,
Michigan State U niversity Presa, 1 9 6 1).
22Wilbur Schramm, R esponsibility in Mass Communica
tio n * Federal Council of the Churches of C hrist in America
! S eries on E thics and Economic L ife , Vol. IX (New York:
Harper and B rothers, 1 9 5 7 ). I t was s ig n ific a n t th a t th is
work was underw ritten by the Federal Council of Churches;
the t i t l e was accordingly entered below in the l i s t of
P ro testan t research and publications in broadcast m atters.
^Sydney W . Head, Broadcasting in America: A Sur-
ve^ o f Television and Radio (Boston: Houghton M ifflin d o ..
i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h ig h e r l e a r n i n g , in c lu d in g sev en Homan
p J L j .
C a th o lic u n i v e r s i t i e s .
On th e q u e s tio n o f F a th e r C h a rle s C oughlin and
developm ents o f th e NAB Code a s w e ll a s on F a th e r John
H a rn e y 's in v o lv em en t w ith th e W a g n e r-H a tfie ld amendment to
The Com m unications A ct o f 193*». h e l p f u l in fo rm a tio n on
pC
s o u rc e s o f d a ta was fou n d i n W h ite 's stu d y (19^7)» i n
S m ead's h i s t o r i c a l s y n th e s is (1959) »2* * i*1 McMahon's
d i s s e r t a t i o n on f e d e r a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b ro a d c a s tin g
(I960).27
A lthough th e g ro w th o f b r o a d c a s tin g a t la r g e was
c h r o n ic le d i n many p u b lis h e d w o rk s, th e developm ent o f
r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g was s tu d ie d by few r e s e a r c h e r s and
a u t h o r s •
0 ) 1 .
CTC a r r o ll A tk in s o n , A m erican U n iv e r s it ie s and
; C o lle g e s T h at Have H eld B ro a d c a st L ic e n se (B o sto n : "Header
i P u b lis h in g Company, 19^-1 )• ■ ■ ’
^ L le w e lly n W h ite. The A m erican R adio (C h icag o :
U n iv e r s ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 9 ^ 7 ). • ■ - .
^ E lm e r E . Smead, Freedom o f Speech by R adio and
1 T e le v is io n (W ashington. D. .C .: P u b lic A f f a i r s P r e s s ,
1 9 5 9 ). “
27
'R o b e rt S e a rs McMahon, " F e d e ra l R e g u la tio n o f th e
!R adio T e le v is io n B ro a d c a st I n d u s tr y i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
1927*1959 w ith S p e c ia l R e fe re n c e to th e E s ta b lis h m e n t and
O p e ra tio n o f W orkable A d m in is tra tio n S ta n d a rd s" (unpub
l i s h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , The Ohio S ta te U n iv e r s ity ,
Colum bus, I 9 6 0 ) . T h is r e s e a r c h r e p o r t o r i g i n a l l y ap p eared
a s " R e g u la tio n o f B ro a d c a s tin g : H a lf a C entury o f Govern
m ent R e g u la tio n o f B ro a d c a s tin g and th e Heed f o r F u rth e r
L e g is la tiv e A c tio n ," A S tudy f o r th e Com m ittee on I n t e r
s t a t e and F o re ig n Commerce, House o f R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s , 8 5 th
C o n g ., 2nd S e s s ., on H . R e s. 99» Subcom m ittee p r i n t
Academic s tu d ie s . DuBourdieu was the f i r s t scholar
in the United States to consider the general question of
28
re lig io u s broadcasting in America. His doctoral d isse r
ta tio n (1933) reported the extent of relig io u s radio pro
graming and the subject-m atters to which the broadcast time
was devoted: ta lk , music, worship serv ices, drama, and the
lik e . The 325 sta tio n s fo r which questionnaire responses
were returned broadcast a to ta l of 3>280 relig io u s programs
of varying lengths of which 151 or about per cent were
Boman Catholic programs; of the 151 programs, 62 were
broadcast through network f a c i l i t i e s , of which * 4 - 0 were
through N BC. Boman C atholics gave a higher percentage of
th e ir program time to sermons than did any single Protes
ta n t denomination, although h is to ric a lly the Catholic
Church put much emphasis upon worship and especially upon
the litu rg y o f the Hass; but C atholics were the only denom-
29
in atio n not to use Bible readings in th e ir broadcasts.
In the Chicago area which DuBourdieu studied personally .
during a sample week of broadcasts, January 17~2*+, 1932,
(Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government P rin tin g O ffice,
1958).
^W illiam J . DuBourdieu, "Religious Broadcasting in
the United States" (unpublished Ph.D. d isse rta tio n , North**
i western' U niversity, Evanston, 111. , 1933).
29Ib id .. pp. 98, 128, m-6, 9 * + i p. 130: "Thus the
Boman Catholics gave 53 per cent o f th e ir time to discus
sion as against *f8 per cent fo r Fundam entalists, *f0 per
cent fo r Conventional P ro te sta n ts, and 3*t per cent fo r
Irreg u lar P ro te sta n ts•"
Roman Catholic broadcasts were twenty quarter-hour pro
grams on Sunday, with no programs on weekdays. Catholics
did not participate in CBSfs weekday Morning Devotional
Services which was allocated to various denominations on
the basis of their numerical strength; the stated basis of
nonparticipation was "on the ground of church regula
tions."30
McCracken*s attempt to define and appraise the
status of religious education by radio ( 19* + * + ) was not
wholly successful because stations which responded to his
inquiry did not distinguish between religious broadcasting
and "religious education broadcasting"; the latter was the
concern of the study which received thirty-one responses
from seventy-eight stations and broadcasting executives in
the United States.31
Other studies of the use of broadcasting in the
s e r v ic e o f r e l i g i o n w ere co m p leted i n 19*+7 by M a rtin on
the utilization of radio by institutions which were asso-
32
iciated with religious bodies; and by Brown, who found
that the greatest portion of public service program time
, — i .......... i ■ i i in
30lbid.. p. 1^6.
31 John W. McCracken, "The Status of Religious Edu
cation by Radio", (unpublished Master's thesis, Wayne Uni
versity, Detroit, Michigan, 19^)•
32Robert Granville Martin, Jr., "Radio Relations
for Denominational Colleges and Universities" (unpublished
Master*s thesis, University of Oklahoma, Norman, 19*+7).
5 * f
o f a C edar B a p id s, Iow a, s t a t i o n was d e v o te d to r e l i g i o n . ^ 3
In 19*1-8 Hovey s tu d ie d r e l i g i o u s b r o a d c a s tin g i n th e l i s t e n
in g a r e a o f Eau C l a i r , W isco n sin ; i n 19*+9 M cB iraie com
p a re d th e r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g p o l i c i e s o f sev en l o c a l
s t a t i o n s i n Iow a, o f w hich f o u r tr a n s m itte d no C a th o lic
p ro g ram s, two b r o a d c a s t th e Sunday a f te rn o o n C a th o lic H our,
and one sch ed u led th r e e q u a r te r - h o u r C a th o lic program s d u r-
in g th e week a s w e ll a s two C a th o lic program s on Sunday.
I n 19*1-9 H ollow ay r e p o r te d th e r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g o f
n in e “ ty p i c a l re lig io u s -o w n e d s t a t i o n s " i n th e U n ite d
S t a t e s , o f w hich one was lic e n s e d to a Homan C a th o lic
36
i n s t i t u t i o n .
S tu d ie s o f s i m i l a r l y r e s t r i c t e d scope were p r e
p a re d by T ild e n i n 1 9 5 0 , ^ by H o lto n i n 1 9 5 2 ,^ and by
33irw in Brown, "Analysis of Public In te re st Pro
grams as Broadcast by Tw o R epresentative Iowa S tations dur
ing a Representative One Week Period" (unpublished M aster's
th e s is , State U niversity of Iowa, Iowa C ity, 19*1-7)*
3 * + Howard Hovey, "Religious Broadcasting in the Eau
C laire Wisconsin L istening A rea" (unpublished M aster's
th e s is , U niversity of Wisconsin, Madison, 19*1-8).
3R o b ert Sheldon McBimie, "A D escriptive Study of
I R eligious programs of Seven R epresentative Iowa, Radio Sta
tio n s during a Selected Week in 19*>-9" (unpublished M aster's
th e s is , State U niversity of Iowa, Iowa City* 19*1-9).
36jieonar£ j,. Holloway, J r . , "An Analysis of the
! Nature and. Purposes of R eligious Broadcasting" (unpublished
M aster's th e s is , U niversity of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma,
19*+9).
37philip Nelson T ilden, "A Survey o f Religious
Radio and Television in the P ort Worth-Dallas Area, 1953“
195*1-" (unpublished M aster's th e s is , Texas C hristian Univer
s ity , Port Worth, 1 9 5 6 ).
3&Del Dolton, "A Survey and Study of Religious
"" ------------- 55
39
Perrow i n i 9 6 0 . They w ere h e lp f u l i n su p p ly in g i s o l a t e d
d a ta on th e e x te n t o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g i n v a rio u s p a r ts
o f th e c o u n try . S p e c if ic d a ta i n th o s e s tu d ie s w ere th u s
a v a ila b le f o r c o r r o b o ra tio n o f th e Roman C a th o lic q u e s tio n
n a i r e re sp o n se s i n th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
In 1951 Weber r e p o r te d th e e s ta b lis h m e n t and d e v e l-
bO
opment o f a r e lig io u s r a d io s t a t i o n i n S t . L o u is; and
Eshelm an i n I960 co m p leted a d e s c r i p t i v e stu d y o f a l l
A m erican ra d io s t a t i o n s t h a t b r o a d c a s t f o r s p e c i f i c a l l y
T * h l
r e l i g i o u s p u rp o s e s •
In a r e p o r t i n 1958 w h ich was more com prehensive
t han th o s e o f th e s tu d i e s c i t e d ab o v e , Gordon a n a ly z e d th e
e x te n t and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , a s w e ll a s p r o f e s s io n a l c r i t i
c ism , o f r e lig i o u s p ro g ram in g i n th e U n ite d S ta te s from
1951 to 1957* Of th e t o t a l o f 7,183 l o c a l and n a tio n a l
Programm ing i n Texas i n 1950-1951" (u n p u b lis h e d M a ste r1 s
t h e s i s , U n iv e rs ity o f H o u sto n , H o u sto n , 1 9 5 2 ).
^ M ax w ell V. P e rro w , "A D e s c rip tiv e A n a ly sis o f th e
R e lig io u s Programming and R e lig io u s Program m ing P o l i c i e s o f
th e Radio and T e le v is io n S ta ti o n s i n th e Los A ngeles A rea,
1957" (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r’ s t h e s i s , U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th ern
C a lif o r n i a , i 9 6 0) .
^ R o b e r t W illiam W eber, "KFUO: R e lig io n in R adio;
a H i s t o r ic a l Study o f a R e lig io u s R adio S t a t i o n , w ith P e r
t i n e n t R eferen ce to R adio i n th e U n ite d S ta te s " (unpub
l i s h e d M a ste r’s t h e s i s , U n iv e r s ity o f M is s o u ri, C olum bia,
1 9 5 1 ).
k l
D avid L . E sh elm an , U A S urvey o f Am erican R e lig io u s
R adio B ro ad c a st S ta ti o n s " (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r’s t h e s i s ,
U n iv e r s ity o f W isco n sin , M adison, I 9 6 0 ) .
program s b r o a d c a s t, Homan C a th o lic n a t i o n a l netw o rk p ro
gram s c o n s titu t e d 4-54- program s o r a b o u t 6*03 p e r c e n t ,
w h ile C a th o lic l o c a l program s num bered 128 o r ab o u t 1*7 p e r
c e n t , f o r a t o t a l o f 582 program s an d 8 .1 p e r c e n t o f th e
t o t a l num ber o f r e l i g i o u s program s b ro a d c a s t i n th e U n ite d
4-2
S t a t e s . In 194-9 H ollow ay r e p o r te d th e g e n e ra l p h ilo s o
p h ie s o r p o l i c i e s r e g a r d in g r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g a t
4-3
l a r g e . In 1959 Knock r e p o r te d th e developm ent o f
r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g by r a d io n e tw o rk s .
P r o t e s t a n t S ources
B ooks. D uring th e p a s t th r e e d ec ad es many g e n e ra l
books w ere p u b lis h e d on th e p h ilo s o p h ie s o f (a ) em ploying
r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n m edia f o r r e l i g i o u s c o n t e n t, and (b ) i n f l u
e n c in g com m ercial b r o a d c a s te r s to program a c c o rd in g to a
c h u rc h g r o u p 's c r i t e r i a o f a c c e p t a b i l i t y . T y p ic a lly , w orks
t h a t s tu d ie d th e s e im p o rta n t q u e s tio n s w ere p re p a re d by
in d iv i d u a ls and a g e n c ie s w hich w ere n o t a s s o c ia te d w ith th e
kp
^G rover B. G ordon, "An A n a ly s is o f R e lig io u s R adio
iProgram m ing i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1951-1957" (u n p u b lish e d
B a c h e lo r o f D iv i n i t y 's t h e s i s , B u tle r U n iv e r s ity ,
I n d ia n a p o lis , I n d ia n a , 195 8 )•
^ L e o n a r d l . H ollow ay, J r . , "An A n a ly s is o f th e
N atu re and P urposes o f R e lig io u s B ro a d c a s tin g " (u n p u b lish e d :
M a s te r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e r s ity o f Oklahom a, Norman, 194-9)*
^ S t a n l e y K nock, "The D evelopm ent o f Network R e lig i
ous R adio B ro a d c a stin g i n th e U n ite d S ta te s " (u n p u b lish e d
M a s te r 's t h e s i s , A m erican U n iv e r s ity , W ashington, D. C .,
1 9 5 9 ).
Homan C a th o lic Church* M ost s tu d ie s t h a t d id re a c h p r i n t
w ere th e p ro d u c ts o f th e f e d e r a l C o u n c il o f C hurches o r o f
th e o r g a n iz a tio n w ith w hich i t m erged i n 1950, th e N a tio n a l
C o u n cil o f Churches o f C h r is t i n th e U n ite d S ta te s o f
A m erica (NCCCUSA o r , more sim p ly , NCCC) and i t s B ro a d c a st
in g and f ilm Commission (B fC ).
P r o te s ta n t p u b lic a tio n s were c o n s u lte d b ec a u se th e y
o f te n r e f e r r e d to Homan C a th o lic a c t i v i t i e s and s ta te m e n ts
and b e c a u s e , a s com m entaries on P r o t e s t a n t p o l i c i e s , th e y
in d ic a te d th e m anner i n w hich n o n -C a th o lie r e l i g i o u s b o d ie s
fo rm u la te d b ro a d c a s tin g p h ilo s o p h ie s .
Among th e s e b o o k s, th e f e d e r a l C o u n cil o f Churches*
iB ro ad castin g ; and th e P u b lic (1938) o u tlin e d a g e n e ra l
p h ilo s o p h y and enum erated s te p s f o r c h u rc h u t i l i z a t i o n o f
r a d io ; i t p ro v id e d co m p arativ e h i s t o r i c a l d a ta o f s u s t a i n
in g and com m ercial r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s, and o f s t a t i o n s and
n e tw o rk s w hich b ro a d c a s t program s o f th e v a r io u s denom ina-
if5
t i o n s . P a r k e r , Inm an, and S nyder a u th o re d i n 19^8 a
m anual f o r p la n n in g p ro d u c tio n and f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g a b a s ic
p o lic y f o r b ro a d c a s tin g r e l i g i o n , R e lig io u s R a d io : What to
UA y
iDo and How. T h is was com plem ented i n 1961 by P a r k e r 's
If 5
'f e d e r a l C o u n cil o f th e C hurches o f C h r is t i n
A m erica, B ro a d c a stin g and th e P u b lic (New Y ork: A bingdon
P r e s s , 1 9 3 8 ).
^^Everett C. Parker, E linor Inman, and Hoss Snyder,
R eligious Radio: What to Bo and H ow (New York: Harper and
fcrosT, 19^6 )•
k7
R e lig io u s T e le v is io n . The P r o te s ta n t R adio Commission
p ro d u ced a g e n e ra l com mentary i n 1 9 5 0 , R adio and T e le -
LQ
v i s i o n . v W olseley i n 1951 o f fe re d d i r e c t i v e s on I n t e r -
l+ Q
p r e tin g th e Church th ro u g h P re s s and R a d io . P a r k e r ,
B a rry , and Sinythe*s The TV-Radio A udience and R e lig io n was
su p p o rte d by th e NCCC's B ro a d c a stin g and F ilm Com m ission i n
C q
1 9 5 5 . A n d e rso n 's How You Can B ro a d c a st R e lig io n was p r e
p a re d f o r th e N CCC i n 1957 a s an o u tlin e o f te c h n iq u e s f o r
e f f e c t i v e program ing and a s a re m in d e r t h a t th e program s .
o u g h t to he e s s e n t i a l l y r e l i g i o u s and y e t m ust e x p l o i t th e
a s s e t s o f com m ercial m e d i a .^ Kimsey i n 1958 s u g g e s te d
How to C onduct R e lig io u s R adio P ro g ram s.^ 2 In I9 6 0 th e
NCCC's B ro a d c a s tin g and F ilm Commission p u b lis h e d The
Church and th e Mass M edia, ab o u t th e r e l a t i o n betw een th e
t r a d i t i o n a l ch u rch o r g a n iz a tio n and co n tem p o rary p u b lic
^ E v e re tt C. Parker, Religious Television
(New Yorks ' Harper and Bros• , 19&1)• ■
^ P r o t e s t a n t R adio Com m ission, R adio and T e le v is io n
(New Y ork: P r o te s ta n t R adio Com m ission, 1 9 5 0 ).
^R oland e . Wolseley, In terp retin g the Church
through Press and Radio (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg tr e s s ,
l&TTT -------- “
'’p B v e re tt C. P a r k e r , D avid W. B a rry ; and D a lla s W.
Sm vthe, The TV-Radio A udience and R e lig io n (New Y ork:
H a rp e r and B r o s ,, 1 9 5 5 ) . -------------------
^ L o i s J . A n d erso n , e d . , How Io n Pan B ro a d o a a t
R e lig io n (New Y ork: N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f th e tih u rch es o f
C h r is t i n th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m erica, 1957)*
^2Jam es E . k im sey , How to C onduct R e lig io u s R adio
P rogram s ( S t . L o u is: The Bethany £ r e s s , 19>b)•
a g e n c ie s o f m ass co m m unication. B achm an's d e t a i l e d sum
mary and a p p r a i s a l o f com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g in th e U n ite d
!S t a t e s , The Church i n th e W orld o f R a d io - T e le v is io n . i n
i 960 e x p lo re d th e q u e s tio n s and c a u tio n s t h a t were i n t r o -
I duced by c h u rc h u se o f th e s e m edia; th e book was prom pted
by th e a u t h o r 's p a r t i c i p a t i o n on th e S tudy Commission on
! th e R ole o f R a d io , T e le v is io n and f ilm s i n R e lig io n w hich
a*
had b ee n e s ta b li s h e d by th e NCCC. C ite d above on page
I 50 was Schram m 's a n a l y s is o f d is p a r a te sy stem s o f communi
c a tio n s and b r o a d c a s tin g i n th e w o rld , and o f s p e c if ic
p ro b le m -a re a s i n A m erican r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n ; t h a t volum e
was th e n i n t h i n a s e r i e s on " th e E th ic s and Econom ics o f
S o c ie ty " w hich had b ee n i n i t i a t e d in 19^9 by a stu d y com
m itte e o f th e f e d e r a l C o u n cil o f C h u rch es. The f e d e r a l
C o u n cil o f C hurches i n 1950 m erged w ith th e N CCC b u t
r e t a i n e d i t s c o r p o r a te i d e n t i t y and i n 1957 p u b lis h e d
55
Schram m 's R e s p o n s ib ility i n Mass C om m unication.
The Moody B ib le I n s t i t u t e in 19^5 p u b lis h e d
^NCCC Broadcasting and film Commission, The Church
1 and the Mass Media (New York: National Council of the j
;Churches of C hrist in the U .S . A., I960).
1 _
^VJohn W . Bachman. The Church in the World of Radio-
I T elevision (New York: A ssociation P ress, I960)•
55
'W ilbur Schramm, R esponsibility in Maes Communioa-
i tio n . fe d e ra l Council of 'the Church of C hrist in America~
S eries on E thics and Economic L ife, Vol. IX. (New York:
Harper and B ros., 1957).
- 60
56
L o v e le s s * Manual o f G ospel B ro a d c a s tin g : i n th e same y e a r
th e R adio P re s s i n A t l a n ta , G e o rg ia , p r i n t e d L ow e's Suc-
57
c e s s f u l R e lig io u s B ro a d c a s tin g . I n 19*+8 th e P r o t e s t a n t
R adio Commission r e l e a s e d R e lig io u s M usic f o r R adio by
58
S o h m itz.
Academic s t u d i e s . She academ ic s t u d i e s m ost s im i
l a r to th e p r e s e n t one w ere th o s e w hioh en d eav o red to o u t
l i n e th e b ro a d c a s tin g p o l i c i e s o f s p e c i f i c c h u rc h g ro u p s .
But i n e a c h o f th e s t u d i e s a t t e n t i o n was fo c u se d u p o n th e
e x c lu s iv e ly r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g by th e P r o te s t a n t denom i
n a t io n s ; th e v a r io u s c h u r c h e s ' v iew s o r te c h n iq u e s f o r
in f lu e n c in g com m ercial b ro a d c a s t c o n te n t w ere n o t th e sub
j e c t o f s c r u t i n y . She f i r s t t h e s i s a p p e a re d i n 19*+8 w ith
W o lsey 's a n a ly s is o f th e L a t t e r Lay S a i n t s ' u se o f r a d io
T h is was fo llo w e d i n 19^9 by P a u s t 's r e p o r t o f d i f f i c u l t i e s
e n c o u n te re d by P r o t e s t a n t r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s te r s
a s i d e n t i f i e d by a n a l y s i s o f p e r i o d i c a l a r t i c l e s , program
s c r i p t s and s t a t i o n l o g s , and by c o rre sp o n d e n c e w ith p e rso n s
56
' W endell p . L o v e le s s . Manual o f G ospel B ro a d c a stin g
(C h icag o : Moody [B ib le I n s t i t u t e J J^ re ss, 19*0 J .
^ S . P . Lowe, S u c c e s s fu l R e lig io u s B ro a d c a s tin g
( A tla n ta , G eorgias The Badio £ r e s s , 1 ^ 5 ) .
58 C h a rle s h . S c h m itz , R e lig io u s M usic f o r R adio
(New Yorks P r o t e s t a n t R adio Com m ission, 19*+8).
^ H e b e r G rant W olsey, " R e lig io u s B ro a d c a s tin g by
th e L . L . S . (Mormon) Church" (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s ,
N o rth w e ste rn U n iv e r s ity , E v a n sto n , I l l i n o i s , 1 9 ^ 8 ).
61
who w ere a t f o r ty s t a t i o n s . 6 ° The v a r io u s r e l i g i o u s u s e s
o f b ro a d c a s tin g by th e Second A ssem bly o f th e W orld C o u n c il
6 l
o f C hurches were r e p o r te d i n 1956 by B u m s. The M etho
d i s t C hurch p o lic ie s f o r r e l i g i o u s b r o a d c a s tin g from 19^8
62
to 1958 w ere d e s c rib e d by S w a rtz . In 1958 S ta sk o
r e p o r te d b ro a d c a s tin g by J e h o v a h 's W itn e s s e s . And i n
i 960 Fenn d e s c rib e d th e S eventh Bay A d v e n tis t C h u rc h 's
6L.
u t i l i z a t i o n o f t e l e v i s i o n . I n 1961 S an d ers co m p leted a
. d i s s e r t a t i o n on th e L u th e ra n n e tw o rk t e l e v i s i o n s e r i e s
l T h is I s th e L i f e . 1952 to 1 9 5 8 .65 Of th e s e s t u d i e s ,
S w a rtz ' work was p e rh a p s th e m ost s i m i l a r i n scope to th e
6°Any D ick F a u s t, "An A n a ly s is o f th e P roblem s o f
P r o t e s t a n t H e lig io u s R adio and T e le v is io n Program m ing"
(u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r's t h e s i s , Temple U n iv e r s ity ,
P h ila d e lp h ia , 19^9)•
^ H e le n J . B u m s, "A S tudy o f th e H e lig io u s B road
c a s tin g o f th e Second Assembly o f th e W orld C o u n cil o f
C hurches" (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , A m erican U n iv e r
s i t y , W ashington, B. C«, 1 9 5 6 ).
6 % a ro ld L . S w a rtz , "A S tu d y o f H e lig io u s B road
c a s tin g P o lic i e s and P r a c tic e s o f th e M e th o d ist C hurch 19^8
to 1958" (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , B oston U n iv e r s it y ,
jB o s to n ,.1 9 5 8 ;.
63jam es LeBoy S ta s k o , "B adio B ro a d c a s tin g a s Used
i by J e h o v a h 's W itn esses" (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s ,
; B oston U n iv e r s ity , B o sto n , 1 9 5 8 ).
^ R ic h a r d Lee F enn, "S urvey o f th e U ses o f T e le
v i s i o n by th e S eventh Bay A d v e n tis t C hurch" (u n p u b lis h e d
M a s te r 's t h e s i s , A m erican U n iv e r s it y , W ashington, B. C .,
I960).
6 F r e d e r i c k B rooks S a n d e rs , "A H is to ry o f th e
L u th e ra n T e le v is io n P ro d u c tio n T h is I s th e L ife from 1952-
1958" (u n p u b lish e d P h .B . d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r s ity o f
M ic h ig an , Ann A rb o r, M ich ig an , 1 9 6 1 ).
62
p r e s e n t in v e s t i g a t i o n b ecau se be su rv ey e d th e w ork done by
M e th o d is t in d iv id u a ls and by lo c a l and n a t i o n a l M e th o d ist
g ro u p s . He c i t e d n a tio n a l, c o o p e ra tio n o f M ethodism w ith
o th e r d en o m in atio n s i n b ro a d c a s t m a t t e r s . He a n a ly z e d th e
e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f th e M e th o d ist-o rg a n iz e d b r o a d c a s tin g com
m itte e w hich was form ed i n 19^8 and he commented upon
(
s ta te m e n ts o f p o lic y by th e n a t io n a l C o u n c il o f C hurches o f
C h r i s t 's B ro a d c a stin g and F ilm Com m ission. He o u tli n e d th e
M e th o d is t b r o a d c a s te r s ' problem s i n f in a n c in g t e l e v i s i o n ,
t h e i r la c k o f r e s e a r c h and program p ro m o tio n , and t h e i r
n e e d to te a c h se m in a ria n s to u t i l i z e e f f e c t i v e l y th e s e new
m e d ia .
B ata in th e s e s tu d i e s were a t l e a s t i n d i r e c t l y
r e l e v a n t to a stu d y o f Homan C a th o lic p o l i c i e s r e g a r d in g
com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g .
Homan C a th o lic S o u ro es
B ooks. Among C a th o lic p u b lic a tio n s was Y zerm ans'
c o m p ila tio n o f e x c e r p ts from a d d re s s e s and e n c y c li c a l
l e t t e r s o f Pope P iu s X II on th e p u rp o se s and p ro p e r d e v e l
opment o f com m unication m edia ly n c h 's p h ilo s o p h ic a l j
i
an d a e s t h e t i c a n a ly s is o f th e s o c i a l f u n c tio n o f m o tio n
p i c t u r e s and t e l e v i s i o n , u rg e d t h a t th e m e d ia 's p o t e n t i a l
^ f i e v . V in cen t A. Y zerm ans, e d . , V a lia n t H e ra ld s
o f T ru th : P lu s X II and th e A rts o f Com m unication
(W e s tm in ste r, M aryland: th e Newman P r e s s , 191?8)•
e x c e lle n c e can be d ev e lo p ed f u l l y o n ly by th e c o l la b o r a
t i o n o f c r e a tiv e p ro d u c e rs and a r t i s t s w ith th e " c r e a tiv e
th e o lo g ia n s " who sh o u ld fo rs a k e th e lim ite d r o le o f
" w o rrie d m o r a l i s t s . " ^ F i s c h e r 's p o p u la riz e d d is c u s s io n
o f th e a u d ie n c e 's c u l t u r a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s was in te n d e d
to a c q u a in t th e au d ie n ce w ith th e q u a l i t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r i s
t i c s o f m odem m ass m edia i n o rd e r to h e lp i t t o d e v e lo p a
c r i t i c a l f a c u l ty by w hich to a p p ra is e co n tem p o rary m edia
68
p r o d u c tio n s , G e tle in and G a r d in e r 's M ovies, M o ra ls , and
ART a l s o was a p o s i t iv e a n a ly s is o f m ass m edia i n A m erica
w hich s i m i l a r l y a tte m p te d to d ev elo p a m atu re and c r i t i c a l
y e t a p p r e c ia tiv e a u d i e n c e .^ A b r i e f th ir ty - tw o page
p am p h let by McQuade was an a p o lo g ia f o r com m ercial b ro a d
c a s t i n g w hich e x p la in e d th e s t r u c t u r e o f th e a r t and in d u e -
t i y i n t h i s c o u n try and u rg e d e d u c a to rs and p a r e n ts to
a p p r a is e th e m edia r e a l i s t i c a l l y and to e x p l o i t th e good
f e a t u r e s o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . ^ More g e n e ra l s t u d i e s
w ere c o n c e rn ed w ith th e p h ilo so p h y o f c e n s o rs h ip and i t s
6?Rev. William F. lynch, S .J ., The Image In d u stries
(New York: Sheed and Ward, 1959)*
68gdward F is c h e r , The S creen A r ts ; A Guide to
F ilm and T e le v is io n A p p re c ia tio n (New Y ork: Sheed and
Ward, I 9 6 0 ) .
^ F r a n k G e tle in and R ev. H aro ld C. G a rd in e r, S . J . ,
M ovies. M o ra ls, and ART [ s i c ] (New Y ork: Sheed and Ward,
1 9 6 1 ).
70jam es J . McQuade, S . J . . T V and W e ( S t . L o u is :
The Q u e e n 's Work P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ).
6*+
a p p l i c a t i o n to th e A m erican m edia o f p r i n t and m o tio n p i c -
71
t u r e s , w ith im p lic a tio n s f o r b ro a d c a s t com m unications*
The B ureau o f In fo rm a tio n o f th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic
W elfare C onference (NCWC) p u b lis h e d th e p ro c e e d in g s o f a
com m unications se m in ar w hich was h e ld a t M anhattan C o lle g e
i n New York i n A ugust o f 1958* I t was " th e f i r s t U . S .
C a th o lic n a t i o n a l - l e v e l sem in ar on com m unications" f o r
72
d io c e s e s , r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s , and i n s t i t u t i o n s , ' and was
c o n d u c te d w ith th e p e rm is s io n and a s s is ta n c e o f th e A rch
d io c e s e o f New York and Very R everend M onsignor Tim othy J*
F l y n n . ^ The se m in ar d ev o ted m ost o f i t s f iv e days o f
s e s s io n s to q u e s tio n s o f th e C h u rc h 's i n t e r n a l p u b lic r e l a
t i o n s among p a r i s h e s , s c h o o ls , r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s , e t c e t e r a ,
71V eraon J* B ourke, "M oral Problem s B e la te d to
C e n so rin g th e M edia o f Mass C om m unications." P roblem s o f
C om m unications i n a P l u r a l i s t i c S o c ie ty : P ap ers D e liv e re d
a t a C o n f e r e n c e on C om m unication, th e F o u rth i n a S e r i e s o f
A n n iv e rsa ry C e le b r a tio n s . March. 2 0 . 2 1 . 22 and 2 3 . 19i?b
(M ilw aukee: M arq u ette tm i v e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 3 b ), p p . I l 3 “
137; Jo h n C o g ley , e d . , R e lig io n in A m erica ( n . p . : M e rid ie n
B ooks, 1 9 5 8 ), w hich was an an th o lo g y by th e Fund f o r th e
R e p u b lic , in c lu d in g c h a p te r s by R ev. John C ourtney M u rray ,
S . J . , Rev* W a lte r Qng, S . J . , and R ev. G ustave W eig el, S . J . ;
| R ev. H a ro ld C. G a rd in e r, S . J . , C a th o lic V iew point on
C e n s o rs h ip . V o l. I I o f The C a th o lic V iew point S e r i e s , e d .
! by Jo h n J . D elaney (G arden C ity . New Y ork: H anover House
i [D oubleday and C o ., I n c . ] , 19 5 8 ); R ev. John C ourtney Murray,:
| S . J . , W e H old These T r u th s : C a th o lic R e fle c tio n s on th e
A m erican P r o p o s itio n (New York: Sheed and Ward, 196O)•
^ N a t i o n a l C a th o lic W elfare O ffic e B ureau o f I n f o r
m a tio n , The Church and th e Com m unications A rts (W ash in g to n ,
D. C .: N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n feren ce, 1959)> " F o re
w o rd ," p . i i i .
^ M o n sig n o r F ly n n h e ld a d u a l p o s it io n a s D ir e c to r
o f th e B ureau o f In fo rm a tio n o f th e A rch d io cese o f New York
65
and to c o n s id e r a tio n s o f p ro p e r e x p l o i t a t i o n o f th e r e l i
g io u s and s e c u l a r p r e s s f o r C a th o lic n ew s. P ages 158 to
179 w ere d ev o ted to a summary o f s ta te m e n ts and d is c u s s io n
c o n c e rn in g r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n ; th e s e s s io n s on b r o a d c a s t
in g in c lu d e d p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s . T h is was th e s o le
p r in te d docum ent t h a t was p re p a re d by an o f f i c i a l C a th o lic
C hurch ag e n cy . I n 1962 th e N C W C o f f i c e p u b lis h e d a new
e d i t i o n o f th e b o o k le t , w hich was s e t i n d i f f e r e n t ty p e b u t
i n no way r e v is e d ; fro m 1958 to 1962 no f u r t h e r w ork on th e
s u b je c t had b een p u b lis h e d by th e C hurch ag en cy . I t was
n o te w o rth y t h a t th e N C W C B ureau o f In fo rm a tio n i t s e l f
o b ta in e d f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n to in q u ir in g C a th o lic s c o p ie s o f
i p u b lic a tio n s by th e P r o t e s t a n t NCCC B ro a d c a stin g and F ilm
Com m ission. C a th o lic a g e n c ie s had p u b lis h e d n o th in g r e l a
t i v e to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
She NCWC's o f f i c i a l m onthly p u b lic a tio n was o f h i s
t o r i c a l v a lu e i n t r a c i n g th e o r i g i n and developm ent o f th e
r » *
| NCWC's E p is c o p a l Com m ittee on M otion P ic tu r e s w hich was
{expanded i n 1957 to in c lu d e r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n , and i n
|s tu d y in g th e NCCM B ad io and T e le v is io n D e p a rtm e n t's e f f o r t s
w ith th e N BC C a th o lic Hour and CBS . C hurch o f th e A ir s e r i e s
i . „ • - . . . . . .
| In Ju n e o f 1919 th e f i r s t is s u e o f th e N C W C B u l le t in was
{ p u b lish ed ; i n J a n u a ry o f 1930 i t became th e N C W C Be v iew ;
land a s D ir e c to r o f th e A rch d io cesan O ffic e o f B adio and
T e le v is io n C om m unications.
66
i n Ja n u a ry o f 1932 i t became C a th o lic A c tio n and was sup
p lem en ted from Ja n u a ry 193*+ to A ugust 19**7 by th e N CCM
M onthly B u l l e t i n ; and t h i s su p p lem en t changed i n Septem ber
o f 19^7 to C a th o lic Men, th e o f f i c i a l b u l l e t i n o f th e
N a tio n a l C ouncil o f C a th o lic Men. I n th e p ag es o f t h i s
m onthly m a n y - title d n e w s l e tte r w ere c h r o n ic le d th e d ev e lo p
m ents o f th e N C W C l e g a l d e p a rtm e n t) th e N C W C E p is c o p a l
Com mittee on M otion P i c t u r e s ) th e N CCM E ad io and T e le v is io n
D epartm ent) The C a th o lic H our, and o th e r n a t i o n a l and l o c a l
b r o a d c a s tin g en d e a v o rs w hich were i n i t i a t e d and s u p p o rte d
by C hurch r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
O f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n s . S e v e ra l m a jo r s o u rc e s p ro
v id e d a re c o rd o f fo rm a l pronouncem ents by th e Roman
C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y .
S i s t e r C la u d ia C a r le n 's two in d e x e s to th e e n c y c li
c a ls and to th e n o ta b le p u b lic s ta te m e n ts o f th e po p es o f
th e tw e n tie th c e n tu ry p ro v id e d a g u id e to th e to p ic s t h a t
7k
w ere commented upon by th e r e c e n t P o n t i f f s • As th e
| o f f i c i a l re c o rd o f th e a c t s and t r a n s a c t i o n s o f th e H oly
j S e e ) in c lu d in g th e pope and th e c e n t r a l V a tic a n a d m in is tra -j
; , 1
| t i v e o f f i c e s , th e A cta A n o s to lic a e S e d is s u p p lie d
^ S i s t e r M. C la u d ia C a rle n , I.H .M ., e d . , A Guide
to th e E n c y c lic a ls o f th e Roman P o n t i f f s from Leo X III to
i!he P r e s e n t Day Cl675-1937) CNew YorJb: H. W . W ilso n .C o .,
1 9 3 9 ); idem . e d . . D ic tio n a ry o f P a n e l P ronouncem ents:
Leo X IlT T o P iu s m 'C I 8 7 p f e 5 7 7 "(few ?6rT£: ' T .‘T : Kenedy
and S o n s,
67
o r ig in a l-la n g u a g e t e x t s and o f f i c i a l t r a n s l a t i o n s o f
>
d e c r e e s , s ta te m e n ts , and o th e r m ajo r pronouncem ents o f
p o lic y f o r th e u n iv e r s a l Roman C a th o lic Church o r , upon
o c c a s io n , f o r th e C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y and. th e Church member-
7 5
s h ip o f s p e c i f i c c o u n tr ie s o f th e w o rld. ry
E d itio n s o f th e m ajo r a d d r e s s e s o f Pope P iu s X II
76 77
w ere p re p a re d by th e V a tic a n P re s s and by Y zerm ans.
E x c e rp ts from p a p a l s ta te m e n ts w hich p e r ta in e d to th e
p r e s s , cin em a, r a d io , and t e l e v i s i o n w ere com piled by
75
fyA ota A p o a to lic a e S e d la : Commentarium O f f io ia le
(Rome: T y p is P o l y g l o t t i s V a tic a n is , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 6 1 ). Volumes
s e a rc h e d ran g ed from 1 9 2 0 , Annus X II— V o l. X I I . to 1 9 6 1 ,
Annus L I I I — V o l. L I I I o r S e r ie s I I I — V o l. 1117 An In d ex
Rerum A n a ly ilc u s o r A n a ly tic a l In d ex o f T o p ics f o r e a c h o f
th e f o r ty - o n e volum es l i s t e d th e A cta o r a c t s and s t a t e
m ents o f th e popes ( in c lu d in g l i t i e r a e e n c v o lic a e . e p i a -
to l a e a n o s to lic a e . m otu p r o p r io . c o n a iit u tlo n e a a p o s to T i-
o a e . l i t t e r a e a p o a to li c a e . _ c h ir o g r a p h s . e p i s t u l a e n o .v c lic a .
l i t i e r a e d e o r e t a le a . a d h o r ta tio n e s a p o a t o l i c a e . co n v en -
i i o n e s . e o i s t o l a e . s o lle m n ia c a n o n iz a tio n u m . h o m llia e T
aerm o n es. h o r t a t i o n e s . a llo c u tio n s a . o r a t i o n e s . n u n t i i
r a d io p h o n ic i, s a c ra c o n s i s i o r i a . and so llemne~a co n v e h iio n e s,
w hich c o n s t i t u t e th e v a r io u s c a te g o r ie s o f p u b lic p a p a l
s ta te m e n ts ) ; a ls o l i s t e d were th e A cta o r a c t s and d e c re e s
o f th e S acred C o n g re g a tio n s, th e T r i b u n a ls , and th e O ffic e s
o f th e H oly S e e 's a d m in is tr a tio n i n th e V a iic a n . See
C hapter. I l l f o r - a n a l y s i s o f th e s e u n iv e r s a l pronouncem ents
w hich p e r t a i n to b ro a d c a s t m a tte r s .
^ . . . , P is c o r s i e R adiom easaggi de Sua S a n titA
P io X II (Romes T ip o g r a f ia J o i i g l o t t a V a tic a n a , 1 9 ^ 0 -l9 l? b ),
20 v o l s .
77
V in cen t A. Y zerm ans, e d . , The U nw earied A d v o cates
P u b lic A d d resses o f Pone P iu s X II ( S t . C loud, M in n eso ta: ~
. . . . 1956). 2 v o ls .; The Major Addresses of Pope Pius
X II (S t. Cloud, Minnesota! . . . , 1961), 2 v o ls.
68
Pa s q u a l l ^ and by Y z e rm a n s .^ I t was p e rh a p s I n d i c a t i v e
o f th e p o p u la r in s t e a d o f academ ic em phasis o f th e s e l a s t
two c o m p ila tio n s t h a t th e y in c lu d e d q u o ta tio n s o f v e ry few
o f th e same e x c e r p ts and t h a t t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e b i b l i o g r a
p h ie s d id n o t c o n ta in t i t l e s o f p e r t i n e n t s ta te m e n ts to
w hich b o th e d i t o r s sh o u ld have had a c c e s s .
The o f f i c i a l pronouncem ents by th e C a th o lic b ish o p s
o f th e U n ite d S t a te s i n fo rm a l assem b ly a s members o f th e
N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C onference w ere co m p iled i n Our
i B ish o p s S peak: N a tio n a l P a s to r a ls and A nnual S ta te m e n ts o f
„ 80
th e U n ite d S ta te s . . . 1919-1951. I n d iv id u a l c o p ie s o f
i s ta te m e n ts t h a t w ere is s u e d from 1952 to 1961 w ere o b ta in e d
81
; from th e N C W C n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s i n W ashington, D. C.
The t e x t s o f fo rm a l d e c re e s and s ta te m e n ts by
V a tic a n and U n ite d S t a t e s members o f th e h ie r a r c h y , and
! b r i e f d e s c r ip tio n s o f n o tew o rth y C a th o lic a c t i v i t i e s in th e
?®G. P a s q u a li, Stam pa. Cinem a. B adio N e lla P a ro la
d i P io X II (A lb a, Cuneo L Ita ly J: S tam pato N e lla P ia
I S c c ie tA San P a o lo , 1953) •
79yzermans, V a lia n t H e ra ld s o f T ru th : se e n . 55,
ia b o v e • j
80Very R ev. R aphael M. H uber, O .F .M .C onv., com p.,
I Our B ish o p s Speak: N a tio n a l P a s to r a l s and A nnual S t a t e
m ents o f th e H ie ra rc h y o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s : R e s o lu tio n s
o f e p is c o p a l Com m ittees and. Com m unications o f th e A&mlnis-
I t r a t i v e Board o f th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n fe re n c e :
1919-1951 (M ilw aukee: Bruce P u b lis h in g C o .. 1 9 5 2 ). ”
^ F o rm a l s ta te m e n ts is s u e d by th e b is h o p s o f th e
U n ite d S t a t e s w hich were i n some way r e le v a n t to th e p re s e n t
stu d y in c lu d e d "G o d 's Law: The M easure o f M an's C o n d u ct,"
is s u e d November 18, 1951; " R e lig io n , Our Most V i t a l N a tio n a l
A s s e t," November 16, 1952; " C e n s o rs h ip ," November 15, 1957;
69
f ilm and b ro a d c a s t m edia th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld , were pub**
l i s h e d by th e V a tic a n 's P o n t i f i c a l Commission f o r C inem a,
B adio and T e le v is io n i n i t s b i-m o n th ly B u l le t in D' In fo rm a
t i o n . 82
S e v e ra l h i s t o r i c a l d a ta c o n c e rn in g C a th o lic e f f o r t s
i n b r o a d c a s tin g i n th e U n ite d S ta te s were found i n A rb o is
( and P i c h a r d 's com prehensive s u m m a r y O t h e r d a ta on
i C a th o lic Church h i s t o r y and on p o in ts o f d o c trin e an d
i a u t h o r i t y i n th e Boman C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y were i n The
8*f
i C a th o lic E n cy c lo p ed ia and i t s su p p lem en tary v o lu m e s. Con
te m p o ra ry s t a t i s t i c s were in The O f f i c i a l C a th o lic D ire c -
+ r w 85
t o r y .
"The B ish o p s Speak on freedom and P e a c e ," [ n . d . ] 1959;
"U nchanging Duty i n a Changing W orld," November 1 8 , 1 9 6 1 .
^ C o m m issio n P o n tif ic a le P o u r l e Cinema, l a B adio
e t l a T ^ l^ v is io n , B u l le t in I)'In fo rm a tio n [Borne: T ip o g r a f ia
S P o l i g l o t t a V a tic a n a , 1 9 5 1 -1 9 6 1 ], ±-X ( J a n .- P e b ., 1951 ~
! N o v .-D e e ., 1 9 6 1 ), n o s . 1 -7 3 .
^ J a n i c k A rb o is and B . P . P ic h a r d , B a d io - t^ l^ v is io n
p o u r l e C h r is t; h i s t o i r e de l a r a d io e t de l a t e l e v i s i o n
i c a th o li a u e s C la r is : A. b a y a rd , [ c a . 1960 T ).
^ C h a r l e s G. H erberm ann, e t a l . , e d s . , The C a th o lic
E n c y c lo p e d ia : An I n t e r n a ti o n a l Work o'f R efe ren ce _on th e
C o n s titu t io n , f e e t r i n e . D is c ip lin e . and H is to ry o f th e
! O a th o lic Church Cl!? v o l s . : New Y ork: B o b e rt A p p leto n Com-
; p a n y , 1907“1 9 l1 +)» B ev. V in c e n t C. H p p k in s, S . J . , e d . , The
C a th o lic E n c y c lo p e d ia : Supplem ent I I . V o l. X V III, Second
S e c tio n (tfew Y ork: th e G ilm ary S o c ie ty , 1 9 5 1 ).
^^ujhomas B. K enedy, e d .« The O f f i c i a l C a th o lic
D ire c to ry f o r th e Y ear o f Our h o rT " l9 6 1 : G iving S ta tu s o f
th e C a th o lic Church a s o f Jan u ary l % 1961: U n ite d S ta t e s
E d itio n (jtfew 1 *0r k : P . j . Kenedy ana S o n s, 1 9 6 l) .
O th er p o t e n t i a l s o u rc e 8 o f in fo rm a tio n d id n o t
p ro v id e h i s t o r i c a l d e t a i l s o f Roman C a th o lic a c t i v i t i e s i n
86
b r o a d c a s tin g . Nor d id V o llm a r's The C a th o lic Church i n
A m erica; An H i s t o r i c a l B ib lio g ra p h y l i s t among i t s t i t l e s
o f d o cu m en ts, b o o k s, t h e s e s , a r t i c l e s , and c o l l e c ti o n s any
r e f e r e n c e o th e r th a n to two books a b o u t R a th e r C oughlin
w hich w ere w r i t te n in 1933 > p r i o r to th e b ro a d c a s tin g
87
e v e n ts o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h a t d e c a d e .
Academic s t u d i e s . Academic r e p o r t s on s p e c i f i c a l l y
C a th o lic s u b je c ts c o n ta in e d i n d i r e c t m en tio n s o f to p ic s i n
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
R olan commented b r i e f l y upon th e r a d io a c t i v i t i e s
o f R a th e r C oughlin and t h e i r e f f e c t s upon th e M B 's 1939
c o n v e n tio n and th e NAB's s e lf - r e g u l a t o r y code o f p r a c -
88
t i c e s . R a c e y 's h i s t o r i c a l a n a ly s is o f th e L egion o f
R ecency p ro v id e d some in fo rm a tio n and commentary on th e
C a th o lic C h u rc h 's e x e r c is e o f a u t h o r i t y w ith re g a rd to
86p 0r ex am p le, c f . James J . W alsh, A m erican J e s u i t s
(New Y o rk ;. The M acm illan Company, 1 9 3 ^); Theodore M aynard,
The S to ry o f A m erican C a th o lic ism (New Y ork; The M acm illan
Company, 19M-2); T heodore Roem er, O .R .M .C ap., The C a th o lic j
Church i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s ( S t . L o u is; B . H erd er Book
Company, 1 9 5 0 ).
^Tgdward V o llm ar, S . J . , The C a th o lic C hurch i n
A m erica; An H i s t o r i c a l B ib lio g ra p h y (New B runsw ick% N. J . :
The S carecro w P r e s s , 1 9 5 6 ).
— ®®Rev. Jo h n P a tr ic k R o lan , S . J . , "R adio C e n so rsh ip :
A S o c ia l Problem " (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , S t . L o u is
U n iv e r s it y , 1 9 ^ 0 ).
71
a g e n c ie s w hich w ere e s ta b li s h e d to c a r r y o u t th e h i e r
a r c h y 's broad d i r e c t i v e s ; h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n p ro v id ed d a ta
on th e L egion o f D ecency a s an an alo g u e o f s im ila r o f f i c i a l
Church a c tio n s i n e s t a b l i s h i n g an agency i n th e U n ite d
89
S ta te s f o r r a d io an d t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s . * One academ ic
t h e s i s i n v e s tig a te d Roman C a th o lic a p p r a i s a l o f le g itim a te
90
t h e a t e r in New Y ork,
The p re d o m in a n t ty p e o f stu d y was r h e t o r i c a l a n a ly
s i s by g ra d u a te s tu d e n ts m a jo rin g i n s p e e c h . A lthough th e y
were l i t t l e a k in t o th e p r e s e n t h i s t o r i c a l stu d y o f p o l i
c ie s i n b r o a d c a s tin g , th o s e s tu d ie s d id p ro v id e h i s t o r i c a l
d a ta w hich o c c a s io n a lly i d e n t i f i e d s o u rc e s o f f a c t u a l
m a te r ia l t h a t was germ ane to th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
Paul W. Facey, S.J., "The Legion of Decency:
A Sociological Analysis of the Emergence and Development
of a Social Pressure Group" (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation
! Fordham University, New York, 19*+5) • A pamphlet which
! briefly summarized the function of the Legion was written
! by Rev. Aveiy Dulles, S,J«, The Legion of Decency
! (New York: American Press, 1956). diher sources of infor-
I mation on the Legion of Decency and the MPAA Code were
Motion Picture Association of America, A Code to Govern the
Making of Motion Pictures (New York: MPAA, 1951 * - ) ; £uth ■
Inglis. Freedom of _the Movies (Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 19^7); Olga J. Martin, Hollywood * s Movie
Commandments: A Handbook for Motion Picture Wriiersand
Reviewers CNew fork: r i . W. Wilson Co., 1937); “
Rev, Harold C • Gardiner, S.J,, Catholic Viewpoint on Cen-
j sorship. Vol. II of The Catholic Viewpoint Series,
L e d , Jo h n J . D elaney (G arden C ity , New Y ork: H anover House
: (D oubleday a n d C o ., I n c . ] , 1 9 5 8 ;,
^ M ic h a e l F ra n c is K e lly , "The R e a c tio n o f th e
< C a th o lic Churoh to th e C om m ercial. T h e a tre i n New York C ity ,
1900-1958" (u n p u b lis h e d t h e s i s , S ta te U n iv e rs ity o f Iow a,
; Iowa City, 1 9 5 8 ).
72
Of tw en ty -tw o th e s e s i n th e c a te g o ry o f "S p ea k ers" i n th e
i J o u m a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g * s f i r s t t o p i c a l in d e x o f 1 ,2 7 5
th e s e s and d i s s e r t a t i o n s on b r o a d c a s tin g , no few er th a n
! s i x w ere d ev o ted to Boman C a th o lic clergym en who u s e d
91
! b r o a d c a s tin g m ed ia. 7 B ishop ( a t t h a t tim e M onsignor)
F u lto n J . S h e e n 's sp e e c h e s w ere a n a ly z e d by f iv e g ra d u a te
s t u d e n ts , w h ile F a th e r C h a rle s E . C o u g h lin 's work was
92
: s tu d ie d by one s tu d e n t. The th e s e s by L a rk in and by
Craw ford p ro v id e d h i s t o r i c a l d a ta on b o th p ro m in en t
C a th o lic b ro a d c a s tin g f i g u r e s . Each stu d y r e p o r te d th e
im p act o f th e two s p e a k e rs by a n a ly z in g au d ien ce re sp o n se
and th e num ber o f s t a t i o n s t h a t b ro a d c a s t th e a d d r e s s e s .
From th o s e th e s e s one c o u ld im ply p o l i c i e s o f th e h ie r a r c h y
^ "G raduate T h eses and D is s e r t a tio n s on B ro a d c a st
i n g ," J o u r n a l o f B ro a d c a s tin g . I I , No. 1 (W in te r, 1 9 5 7 -5 8 ),
I 57-90} " S p e a k e rs ," p . 8 ^ .
^2fiev. John Jo se p h R ozak, "M onsignor F u lto n J .
iS h e e n , th e R adio S p eak er" (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r's t h e s i s ,
U n iv e r s ity o f M ich ig an , Ann A rb o r, 1 9 ^ 8 ); Mary L o u ise
iS c h a e f e r , "The R h e to ric o f C o n sig n o r F u lto n John Sheen"
(u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , S y racu se U n iv e r s ity , S yracuse,
1 New Y o rk , 19*+$); R ev. H enry E ..M a lo n e , "The R a d io -p re a c h in g
I A rt o f th e R ig h t R everend M onsignor F u lto n John Sheen"
; (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , C a th o lic U n iv e rs ity o f
j A m erica, W ashington, D. C ., 19*+9); R o b e rt C. S ta g e r , "A
i C r i t i c a l A n a ly s is o f B ishop F u lto n J . S h e e n 's Use o f Inven
t i o n i n S e le c te d R adio and T e le v is io n T alk s R eg ard in g Com-
i munism from 1936 to 1953" (u n p u b lis h e d .M a s te r's t h e s i s ,
; B ow ling Green U n iv e r s ity , Bow ling G reen , O hio, 1 9 5 5 );
J u a n ita J • L a r k in , " F u lto n - J . S h e e n 's C a re e r on R adio and
TV" (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e r s ity o f W isco n sin ,
M adison, 195*0; P au l K. C raw fo rd , "The R ise o f th e R everend
C h a rle s Edward C o u g h lin , R adio S p eak er" (u n p u b lish e d
M a s te r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e r s ity o f W isco n sin , M adison, 1 9 3 6 ).
! and o f th e o f f i c i a l C a th o lic a g e n c ie s w hich s u p p o rte d th e
b ro a d c a s t a c t i v i t i e s o f th e two p r i e s t s • B oth churchm en
in d iv i d u a ll y em ployed r a d io a s e a r l y a s 1 9 2 6 , Sheen i n
New York C i t y ^ and C o u g h lin i n D e t r o i t . ^ The te n - y e a r
r a p id r i s e and sudden d isa p p e a ra n c e from th e a irw a y s by
B a th e r C o u g h lin 's program s th ro u g h a p r i v a t e ly - n e g o t i a t e d
r a d io n etw o rk o f s t a t i o n s c o n tr a s te d s tr o n g ly w ith th e
s te a d y p o p u la r ity o f M onsignor Sheen from 1930 to 1952 i n
. th e o f f i c i a l C a th o lic H our r a d io s e r i e s th ro u g h NBC and
from 1952 to 1957 in. h i s s e r i e s th ro u g h th e ABC t e l e v i s i o n
n e tw o rk , L ife I s W orth L iv in g .
In 19*+6 S i s t e r Rosemary f f a f f s tu d ie d C a th o lic
c o lle g e u t i l i z a t i o n o f r a d io f o r e d u c a tio n ; w h ile u s e f u l
i n i t s e l f , th e stu d y fo c u se d on an a r e a o f b ro a d c a s tin g
t h a t was e x p l i c i t l y e x c lu d e d from th e p r e s e n t stu d y o f
C a th o lic p o l i c i e s v is - & - v is com m ercial b r o a d c a s t i n g .^
More r e le v a n t to th e h i s t o r i c a l developm ent o f
Church p o lic y was th e su rv e y co n d u c ted by O 'S h ea. B ata
f o r 1956-1957 d e s c rib e d th e e x te n t o f C a th o lic l o c a l and
i n a t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n prog ram in g by b o th " li v e " and f ilm
9 3 L a rk in . o p . c i t . . p . 3 2 .
^ C ra w fo rd , o p . c i t . . p . 19•
^ S i s t e r Rosemary f f a f f , "An I n v e s ti g a ti o n o f th e
T rends i n R adio E d u c a tio n i n th e C a th o lic C o lle g e s and
U n iv e r s i t ie s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s " (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r 's
t h e s i s , C a th o lic U n iv e r s ity c f A m erica, W ashington, B. C .,
96
p r o d u c tio n . 7 H is d a ta were o b ta in e d from q u e s tio n n a ir e
re s p o n s e s by se v e n ty ch an cery o f f i c e s and d io c e s a n d i r e c
t o r s o f b r o a d c a s tin g , o r 58 p e r c e n t o f th e 128 C a th o lic
97
o f f i c e s to whom q u e s tio n n a ir e s were s e n t . 7 T w e n ty -th re e
d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s o f b ro a d c a s tin g had been a p p o in te d by
1957* O th er in fo rm a tio n i n th e stu d y in c lu d e d d a ta on
sem in ary t r a i n i n g i n t e l e v i s i o n , p e rs o n n e l and p h y s ic a l
f a c i l i t i e s f o r p r o d u c tio n , and in te n d e d a u d ie n c e s . Much
o f th e f a c t u a l m a te r ia l was n o t p e r t i n e n t to th e p r e s e n t
s tu d y o f p o l i c i e s , b u t in f e r e n c e s r e f l e c t i n g c h u rc h p o lic y
w ere draw n from p o r tio n s o f 0 *S h e a 's d a t a .
The stu d y t h a t was m ost germ ane to th e p r e s e n t
r e s e a r c h was co m p leted i n 1962. I t was a m a s t e r 's t h e s i s
by W roblewaki on th e h i s t o r y o f th e N a tio n a l C o u n c il o f
C a th o lic M en's r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n a c t i v i t i e s , w ith
s p e c ia l em phasis on The C a th o lic H o u r, a r e l i g i o u s program
98
s e r i e s o f th e NSC r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n n e tw o rk s . 7 A f te r
h a v in g o u tlin e d th e e x t e n t o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g by
96jjev. Jo h n A lo y siu s O 'S h ea, "A S urvey o f th e
S ta tu s o f C u rre n t C a th o lic f ilm and T e le v is io n P ro d u c tio n
! i n th e U n ite d S ta te s " (u n p u b lish e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e r
s i t y o f S o u th ern C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s, 1 9 5 8 ).
97
7 'I n th e p r e s e n t stu d y re s p o n s e s were r e c e iv e d
fro m 133 o r 92 p e r c e n t o f th e 1^5 o f f i c i a l C a th o lic
d io c e s a n so u rc e s t h a t e x is te d in J u n e , 1 961.
98&ev. Edward P . W roblew ski, C .S .P ., "The C a th o lic
H our: An H i s t o r i c a l S urvey o f th e C h u rc h 's f i r s t O f f i c i a l
Use o f R adio and T e le v is io n in A m erica" (u n p u b lish e d
M a s te r 's t h e s i s , S t . P a u l 's C o lle g e , W ashington, P . C .,
1962).
A m erican n etw o rk s and th e P r o te s ta n t in f lu e n c e t h e r e i n |
i
p r i o r to C a th o lic p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n n a t i o n a l b r o a d c a s tin g , j
th e a u th o r s tu d ie d th e d e v e lo p in g o r g a n iz a tio n and program
p o lic y o f The C a th o lic H o u r, w hich was b ro a d c a s t by NBC
ra d io from 1930 to 1950 and by N BC r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
from 1950 to I9 6 0 . In c lu d e d was an a n a ly s is o f tr e n d s in
c o n t e n t, fo rm a t, and p a r t i c i p a n t s th ro u g h th e th r e e d e c a d e s .
Changes i n c o n te n t r e f l e c t e d re fin e m e n ts o f program p o lic y
by th e N CCM a s b r o a d c a s tin g p a t t e r n s an d a u d ien ce t a s t e s
ch an g ed . Changes i n fo rm a t and s p e a k e rs w ere in tro d u c e d
b ec au se o f m ajo r c r i t i c i s m s o f th e program and b ecau se o f
in c r e a s in g e x p e rie n c e i n u t i l i z i n g th e m e d ia. Growth in
th e c o v e ra g e o f th e program s e r i e s w as m easured by s t a t i o n
a c c e p ta n c e and by l i s te n e r - v ie w e r re s p o n s e . A lso d is c u s s e d
w ere in d u s tr y r e l a t i o n s betw een b ro a d c a s tin g s t a t i o n s and
n e tw o rk s on th e one h a n d , and NCCM ’s D epartm ent o f R adio
99
and T e le v is io n on th e o th e r .
I n p ro g re s s i n 1962 was G eaney’s stu d y o f P a th e r
C o u g h lin ; he d e s c rib e d to t h i s r e s e a r c h e r h is p r e lim in a r y
100
f in d in g s and su g g e ste d s e v e r a l u s e f u l h i s t o r i c a l s o u r c e s .
^ i h i s o u tli n e o f th e t h e s i s c o n te n t was p ro v id e d
by R ev. Edward W roblewski i n an in te rv ie w a t S t . P a u l’ s
C o lle g e , W ashington, D. C ., on. T h u rsd ay , November 2 , 1 9 6 1 ,
and i n a p e rs o n a l l e t t e r to th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h e r ,
March 2 , 1 9 6 2 .
lOOfiev. John Geaney., C .S .P ., "The C ontem porary
C a th o lic P re s s R e a c tio n to Rev. C h a rle s E . C o u g h lin , 1926-
1936" (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r’s t h e s i s , S t . P a u l’ s C o lle g e ,
W ash in g to n , D. C ., 1963)*
U n p u b lish ed s u rv e y s o f C a th o lic r a d io and tele**
v i s i o n p ro g ram in g i n th e U n ited S ta te s were made by th e
d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s o f b ro a d c a s tin g i n New York C ity and
Grand R ap id s i n 1956101 and i n 1 9 5 8 ,102 r e s p e c t i v e l y . I n
th e New York A rc h d io c e se -sp o n so re d su rv ey 1 ,8 7 7 o r 58 p e r
c e n t o f th e n a t i o n 's 3 ,2 1 9 AM, FM, and t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s
re sp o n d e d to th e q u e s tio n n a ire on p ro d u c tio n and program
s c h e d u lin g o f C a th o lic p r e s e n ta ti o n s . Some d a ta p e r ta in e d
to p o lic y d e c is io n s by C a th o lic d io c e s a n h ie r a r c h y . Not
vexy p e r t i n e n t were o th e r su rv ey s o f th e n a t i o n a l program
103
a u d ie n c e f o r C a th o lic r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m in g , o f r e l i g i o u s
loL
f ilm p r o d u c tio n , o f l o c a l a u d ie n c e s f o r C a th o lic r e l i
g io u s p ro g ra m in g ,1 0 ^ and o f th e L egion o f D ecen cy 's r a t i n g s
101K ellam de F o r e s t R esearch S e r v ic e , " E x te n t o f
C a th o lic Program m ing i n th e U n ite d S ta te s " (New Y ork: f o r
O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n Com m unications o f th e A rch
d io c e s e o f New Y ork, 1 9 5 6 ). (M im eographed.)
10% e v . Hugh M ichael B eahan, "1958 S urvey o f
D io ce san R adio and TV B ro a d c a stin g w ith S upplem entary Study;
o f N a tio n a l Program s" (G rand R a p id s, M ich ig an : D io cesan
O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n , 1 9 5 8 ). (M im eographed.)
103
I re n d e x , I n c . , "T rendex S p e c ia l R e p o rt: S urvey
o f th e R e lig io u s Program A udience, May 1957" (New Y ork:
P re p a re d f o r O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n Com m unications
o f th e A rch d io cese o f New Y ork, 1 9 5 7 ). (M im eographed.) |
10^K ellam de F o r e s t R esearch S e r v ic e , " R e lig io u s
F ilm P ro d u c tio n S u rv e y , O ctober 1 9 , 1956" (New Y ork: P re
p a re d f o r O ffic e o f R adio and T e le v is io n Com m unications o f
th e A rc h d io ce se o f New Y ork, 1 9 5 6 ). (M im eographed.)
10^Edward G. Doody and Company, "S iz e and C harac
t e r i s t i c s o f th e Q u iz-A -C ath o lic A u d ien ce, March and A p r i l ,
1958" ( S t . L o u is: P re p a re d f o r A rch b ish o p Jo se p h E .
R i t t e r , S eptem ber *+, 1 9 5 8 ). (M im eographed.)
77
f o r f ilm s b ro a d c a s t by l o c a l t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s in
New York from 195^ to 1 9 5 7 .10^ No stu d y o f th e e x te n t o f
C a th o lic p ro g ram in g was r e p o r te d more r e c e n tly th a n
O th er C a th o lic s o u r c e s . S o u rces o f s im ila r d a ta
were th e U n ite d S t a te s d io c e s a n o f f i c e s o f ra d io and t e l e
v i s i o n w hich were p e r s o n a lly in v e s tig a te d by t h i s
r e s e a r c h e r . Of p a r t i c u l a r v a lu e w ere th e f i l e s o f th e
d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s o f b ro a d c a s tin g i n New Y ork, W ashington,
P . C ., and S t . L o u is . C o rresp o n d en ce, memoranda, m in u te s
o f m e e tin g s , com m ittee e v a lu a tio n s t u d i e s , and o th e r
r e p o r t s w ere made a v a ila b le to th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h e r
w ith o u t r e s t r i c t i o n . The f i l e d docum ents p ro v id e d num er
ous r e f e r e n c e s to o th e r s o u rc e s o f d a t a . Xhe o f f i c i a l
b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s o f many o th e r U n ited S ta te s
10^"H ollyw ood F e a tu re F ilm s T e le c a s t i n th e
New York A re a , 195*+> 1 9 5 5 , 1956, 1957" (New York: O ffic e
o f R adio and T e le v is io n Com m unications o f th e A rch d io cese
o f New Y ork, 1 9 5 8 ). (M im eographed.)
10^ L e tte r from M sgr. Tim othy J . F ly n n , D ir e c t o r ,
R adio and T e le v is io n C om m unications, A rchdiocese o f
New Y o rk , to E l l i s S c h w itz e r, M o rristo w n , N. J . , d a te d
S eptem ber 2 1 , I9 6 0 : "The 1956 su rv e y to w hich you r e f e r
h a s n o t b een b ro u g h t u p to d a te and I am n o t aw are o f any
e x te n s iv e su rv e y c o v e rin g th e same ground t h a t h a s been
u n d e rta k e n s in c e 1 9 5 6 ." L e t t e r from R ev, Hugh M. B eahan,
D ir e c to r o f D io cesan O ffic e o f R adio euid T e le v is io n ,
D io cese o f Crand R a p id s , to t h i s r e s e a r c h e r , n o t d a te d (b u t
en v e lo p e p o stm ark ed Ju n e 2 6 , 1 9 6 1 ), r e f e r r e d to h is s u rv e y i
i n 1958 a s a " r a t h e r in fo rm a l su rv e y . • . made f o r th e
C a th o lic B ro a d c a ste rs* A s s o c ia tio n C onvention i n 1 9 5 8 ."
d io c e s e s w ere docum ented i n th e c o rresp o n d e n c e and o th e r
re c o r d s o f th e s e th r e e im p o rta n t d io c e s a n c e n te r s .
T h at th e s e p u b lis h e d b o o k s, u n p u b lis h e d t h e s e s ,
su rv e y r e p o r t s , and docum ents c o n s ti t u t e d th e Roman
C a th o lic a n a ly s is and a p p r a i s a l o f A m erican b ro a d c a s tin g
was in d ic a te d i n in te r v ie w s w ith spokesm en f o r th e C a th o lic
C hurch, w ith r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g ,
and w ith p e rs o n s i n a g e n c ie s o f th e f e d e r a l g o v ern m en t.10®
T h e ir comments w ere co n firm ed i n co rresp o n d e n ce d e s c rib e d
i n th e fo llo w in g p a ra g ra p h s .
I n 1956 P r o f e s s o r V ernon J . Bourke o f S t . L o u is
U n i v e r s i t y 's D ep artm en t o f P h ilo so p h y p re s e n te d a p a p e r a t
M arq u ette U n iv e r s ity , M ilw aukee, on "M oral Problem s o f
C en so rin g th e M edia o f Mass C om m unication." In a l e t t e r to
M onsignor F ly n n , who h ad r e q u e s te d a copy o f th e p a p e r,
P r o f e s s o r Bourke e x p la in e d t h a t he "c o u ld n o t d ev e lo p any
v e ry d e f i n i t e can o n s on c e n s o rin g " b ecau se he f e l t circu m
s c rib e d by th e i n s i s t e n c e i n t h i s c o n fe re n c e on th e
p lu r a lis m o f A m erican s o c i e t y . Hence he a p o lo g iz e d : " I t
i s q u ite p o s s ib le t h a t you w i l l n o t f in d i t [ th e p a p e r]
v e ry u s e f u l . As a m a tte r o f f a c t , I c o u ld f in d v e ry l i t t l e !
m a te r ia l on th e q u e s tio n o f c e n s o rin g ( p a r t i c u l a r l y by
10®The nam es o f th o s e p e rso n s a re l i s t e d i n th e
A ppendix A; t h e i r s ta te m e n ts a re r e p o r te d passim i n th e
re m a in in g c h a p te r s o f th e d i s s e r t a t i o n .
79
109
C a th o lic w r i t e r s ) w hich was u s e f u l ."
In th e same y e a r M onsignor F ly n n s e n t c o p ie s o f
h i s o f f i c e 's p r o f e s s io n a l su rv e y s o f C a th o lic prog ram in g
and a u d ie n c e s to M onsignor Andrew M. D esk u r, A s s is ta n t
E x e c u tiv e S e c re ta ry f o r th e V a tic a n P o n t i f i c a l Commission
on Cinem a, R a d io , and T e le v is io n . The l a t t e r re sp o n d e d :
"T h is e n q u iry 9 w hich y o u i n i t i a t e d and w hich i s th e r e f o r e
v e ry much to y o u r c r e d i t , i s th e f i r s t o f i t s k in d i n th e
1 1 0
w o rld ."
I n December o f 1957 M onsignor F ly n n resp o n d ed to a
r e q u e s t f o r in fo rm a tio n :
I am a f r a i d t h a t th e r e i s v e ry l i t t l e l i t e r a t u r e
a v a ila b le on th e s u b je c t o f C a th o lic t e l e v i s i o n .
To my know ledge, a lm o s t n o th in g h a s been w r i tte n
on th e s u b je c t . T here i s no s p e c i f i c code t h a t
g o v e rn s C a th o lic t e l e v i s i o n . . . . I know t h i s
p ro v id e s you w ith no h e lp a t a l l a s f a s [ s i c ] a s
y o u r com ing p a n e l d is c u s s io n i s c o n c e rn e d , b u t
th e r e i s no p r i n t e d m a te r ia l to w hich to d i r e c t
y o u r a t t e n t i o n . You m ig h t p o s s ib ly lo o k a t back
i s s u e s o f A m erica m a g azin e. M r. Jo h n F . S hanley
o f th e New York Tim es does a b i-w e e k ly t e l e v i s i o n
! colum n f o r t h a t m a g azin e.-1 1 1 -1
i :
To sum u p : The s tu d ie s m ost s i m il a r to th e p r e s e n t
one w ere co n cern ed w ith v a r io u s d en o m in atio n s o f P r o te s ta n t
109 l,e tte r from P r o f e s s o r V ernon J . B ourke, March 26,
j 1 9 5 6 . T h is comment a n te d a te d R ev. H . C. G a rd in e r, S . J . ' s
| C a th o lic V iew point on C e n s o rs h ip , o p . c i t . . i n 1958.
I l l 0 L e t t e r from M onsignor Andrew M. D eskur, V a tic a n
|C i t y , to R everend ( l a t e r M onsignor) T . J . F ly n n , J u ly 5 ,
11957.
; " ^ l e t t e r from M onsignor F ly n n to M rs. M arion A.
Towne, T uckahoe, New Y ork, December 3 0 , 1957.
c h u rc h e s . She w orks w hich d id re a c h p r i n t were a lm o st
e x c lu s iv e ly th e p ro d u c ts o f th e F e d e ra l C o u n cil o f C hurches
and o f th e N a tio n a l C o u n c il o f C hurches o f C h r i s t 's Broad
c a s tin g and F ilm Com m ission. I n d iv id u a l P r o te s ta n t
r e s e a r c h e r s and a u th o rs e x p lo re d th e f i e l d o f r e l i g i o u s
p ro g ram in g and a u d ie n c e a n a l y s i s . Roman C a th o lic s tu d i e s
w ere v e ry few ; th e y w ere co n cern ed w ith b ro ad q u e s tio n s o f
com m unication and c e n s o r s h ip and w ith r h e t o r i c a l a n a ly s e s
o f p ro m in en t C a th o lic c le r g y who spoke th ro u g h n a t io n a l
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
M a te r ia ls and P ro c e d u re s
C o lle c tio n and T reatm en t o f B ata
In o rd e r to i d e n t i f y s o u rc e s o f d a ta f o r t h i s h i s
t o r i c a l stu d y o f C a th o lic Church p o l i c i e s o v e r a f o u r -
decade p e r io d , i t was n e c e s s a ry to in v e s ti g a t e f i l e s o f
u n p u b lis h e d docum ents and to in te r v ie w r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f
th e C hurch) o f com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g ) and o f th e f e d e r a l
g o v ern m en t. These p rim a ry s o u rc e s a r e h e re sum m arized in
; o r d e r to in d ic a t e th e scope o f th e s e a rc h f o r o r i g i n a l
m a te r ia l and f o r docum entaxy c o r r o b o r a tio n o f o r a l t e s t i
mony. The d i s p a r i t y o f s o u rc e s c o n tr ib u te d to o b j e c t i v i t y
i n c o l l e c t i n g ) p r o c e s s in g ) and i n t e r p r e t i n g d a ta ) and th u s
I s tre n g th e n e d th e r e l i a b i l i t y and v a l i d i t y o f th o se d a t a .
F i l e s i n v e s t i g a t e d . The N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare
C o n fe re n c e 's B u sin ess O ffic e and th e B ureau o f In fo rm a tio n
i a t th e NCWC's n a t io n a l o f f i c e s i n W ashington made a v a ila b le
f o r th e p r e s e n t stu d y th e p u b lic a tio n s o f th e N C W C and I t s
o r g a n iz a tio n s from 1920 th ro u g h 1961 • The N C W C N a tio n a l
C o u n cil o f C a th o lic M en's o f f i c e o f th e e x e c u tiv e d i r e c t o r
i n W ashington, D. C. r e le a s e d r e p o r t s and c o n f i d e n t i a l
memoranda re g a rd in g b r o a d c a s tin g p o l i c i e s o f th e N C W C and
NCCM. f a s t r e p o r ts o f th e N CCM f o r th e E p is c o p a l Com mittee
on M otion P i c t u r e s , B a d io , and T e le v is i o n , and c o r r e s
pondence c o n c e rn in g th e C a th o lic r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n p ro
gram s th ro u g h n a t i o n a l n e tw o rk s , w ere made a v a ila b le a t th e
o f f i c e o f th e NCCM's R a d io -T e le v is io n D epartm ent i n
New York C ity .
The d io c e sa n o f f i c e r s f o r b r o a d c a s tin g i n C h icag o ,
C le v e la n d , D enver, D e t r o i t , K ansas C ity (K a n sa s ), New Y ork,
! S t. L o u is , and W ashington, D. C ., p e r m itte d t h i s r e s e a r c h e r i
to i n v e s t i g a t e t h e i r f i l e s .
The R ev. C e le s tin J . S t e i n e r , S . J . , C h a n c e llo r o f
Ith e U n iv e r s ity o f D e tr o it and fo rm e r p r e s id e n t o f th e
|C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs ' A s s o c ia tio n , opened a l l o f h i s f i l e s ;
on th e CBA.
The n a tio n a l o f f i c e o f th e S acred H e a rt Program i n
|S t . L o u is p la o ed i t s f i l e s a t th e d is p o s a l o f th e re s e a rc h e s
The Church f e d e r a t io n o f G re a te r C h icag o , D ep a rt
m ent o f R adio and T e le v is io n , and t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s W EK B ;
.82
(TV) and W GN-TV i n C hicago gave a c c e s s to t h e i r f i l e s on
th e in c id e n t in v o lv in g th e f ilm M a rtin L u th e r . 11^
The f e d e r a l Com m unications C om m ission's O f f i c e 'o f
th e S e c r e ta r y , M ail and f i l e s D iv is io n , and L ib ra ry D iv i-
; s i o n , gave a c c e s s to a r c h iv e s r e c o r d s on f a t h e r C o u g h lin
! and to a l l so u rce m a te r ia l f i l e d i n th e fCC G en eral
| L ib r a r y . The fCC B ro a d c a st B u re a u 's P u b lic B e fe re n c e Room
j p ro v id e d s t a t i o n b r o a d c a s tin g re c o rd s o f C a th o lic - lic e n s e d
s t a t i o n s and com m ercial s t a t i o n s t h a t w ere i n th e same
r e g io n s a s C a th o lic s t a t i o n s .
The Colum bia B ro a d c a s tin g System T e le v is io n N etw ork
p e r m itte d th e r e s e a r c h e r to i n v e s ti g a t e th e f i l e s o f i t s
| D epartm ent o f Program P r a c tic e s o f f i c e s i n New York C ity
I and Los A n g e le s, i n o r d e r to ta b u la t e a u d ie n c e c o m p la in ts
and to stu d y c o rre sp o n d e n c e betw een e x e c u tiv e s o f CBS-TV
i and c o m p la in a n ts a b o u t C a th o lic o r P r o t e s t a n t m a tte r s o f
I 7
| program c o n te n t.
j
P erso n s i n t e r v i e w e d Xu an e f f o r t to v e r i f y
i
I te s tim o n y from v a r io u s s o u rc e s t h i s r e s e a r c h e r in te rv ie w e d
| s e le c te d C a th o lic Church a u t h o r i t i e s who resp o n d ed to th e
^^D o cu m en ts from th e s e s o u rc e s were, in v e s t i g a t e d
| and p e rs o n n e l w ere in te rv ie w e d i n an a tte m p t to d eterm in e
i th e c a u s e s t h a t prom pted WGN-TV to remove th e M a rtin L u th e r
f e a t u r e f ilm from a sc h e d u le d t e l e c a s t i n December o f 195b;
W B K B (TV) su b s e q u e n tly b ro a d c a s t th e c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i l m i n
A p r il o f 1957.
H 3 s e e A ppendix A f o r com plete l i s t i n g o f p e rs o n s
and t h e i r p r o f e s s io n a l o r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l p o s i t i o n s .
83
q u e s tio n n a ir e , lo c a l Church o f f i c i a l s i n A m erican d io c e s e s
who had know ledge o f b ro a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s o f th e Church
o r who th e m se lv e s p a r t i c i p a t e d in any way i n r a d io
t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s , and p ro d u c e rs o f s y n d ic a te d r e l i g i o u s
p ro g ra m in g . S ec o n d ly , r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s o f C a th o lic o r g a n i
s a t i o n s p ro v id e d p e r s o n a l commentary on th e N a tio n a l Coun
c i l o f C a th o lic M en's R a d io -T e le v is io n D ep artm en t, on th e
C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n , and on CARTA ( th e
C a th o lic A p o s to la te o f R a d io , T e le v is io n , and A d v e r tis i n g ) .
T h ir d ly , f e d e r a l agency a d m in is tr a to r s w ere q u e rie d
a b o u t b ro a d p a t t e r n s o f Roman C a th o lic in f lu e n c e u p o n com-
: m e rc ia l b ro a d c a s tin g and ab o u t s p e c if ic in c id e n t s o f th e
p a s t f o u r d ecad es ( e . g . , R a th e r C oughlin i n D e t r o i t ,
; R a th e r H arney and W L W L in New Y ork, L oyola U n iv e r s ity and
W W L-TV i n New O rle a n s , and th e M artin L u th e r f ilm r e l a t i v e
j to WGN-TV i n C h ic a g o ).
F o u r th ly , in te rv ie w s were h e ld w ith l o c a l and
! n a t i o n a l com m ercial b r o a d c a s te rs who c o o p e ra te d w ith
; C a th o lic Church r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , o r who have been a s s o -
i ‘
| c i a t e d w ith n o ta b le i n c id e n t s in v o lv in g b r o a d c a s te rs and
i
| th e C a th o lic C hurch, o r who p o sse sse d any d o c u m e n ta tio n
! a b o u t su ch i n c i d e n t s . These b r o a d c a s te rs in c lu d e d a d m in is -
! t r a t o r s o f l o c a l s t a t i o n s , e x e c u tiv e s o f n a t i o n a l n e tw o rk s ,
i
! and o f f i c e r s o f p r o f e s s io n a l tr a d e a s s o c i a ti o n s . A lso
! in te rv ie w e d were p e rs o n s i n a l l i e d f i e l d s su ch a s b r o a d c a s t
Qb
m agazine p u b lic a t io n and p e rso n s r e t i r e d from b ro a d c a s tin g
who w ere fo rm e rly a s s o c ia te d w ith a c t i v i t i e s in v o lv in g th e
C a th o lic C hurch and com m ercial r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n m ed ia.
f i f t h l y , P r o t e s t a n t le a d e r s i n d en o m in atio n al
c h u rc h b r o a d c a s tin g w ere in te rv ie w e d . Because o f t h e i r
; p o s i t io n s o f a u t h o r i t y i n l o c a l c o u n c ils o f ch u rch es th e y
had o b se rv e d th e r e l a t i o n s betw een t h e i r C a th o lic c o u n te r
p a r t s and l o c a l b r o a d c a s te r s on m a tte r s o f program sc h e d -
iu li n g and i n t e r f a i t h program p o l i c i e s .
S e le c tio n o f in v e s tig a te d d io c e s e s . The d io c e s e s
! t h a t w ere s tu d ie d w ere s e le c te d f o r v a r io u s r e a s o n s .
Q u e s tio n n a ire s w ere s e n t to a l l d io c e s e s o f th e Roman
I
jC a th o lic Church i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s . Those d io c e s e s were
, s e le c te d f o r more d e t a i l e d in v e s t ig a t i o n w hich in d ic a te d
i n t h e i r re s p o n s e s to th e q u e s tio n n a ire t h a t th e y p o s s e s s e d
j r e c o r d s f o r a p p ro x im a te ly a decade o r more o f C a th o lic
j b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t y and w hich la y on o r n e a r a f a i r l y
; d i r e c t r o u te b etw een Los A ngeles and New York C ity * These
i d io c e s e s in c lu d e d m a jo r c i t i e s i n w hich lo c a l and n a t i o n a l
i b r o a d c a s tin g w ere r e l a t i v e l y e x te n s iv e • In m ost sm a ll
i c i t i e s and d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s th e r e l a t i v e l y
i '
| sm a ll C a th o lic and t o t a l p o p u la tio n s were r e f l e c t e d by th e
; sm a ll a d m in is t r a tiv e s t a f f s o f C a th o lic chancery o f f i c e s
; and c o n s e q u e n t i n a b i l i t y o f th e s t a f f s to u t i l i z e r a d i o -
I t e l e v i s i o n m edia f o r a p o s to lic p u rp o s e s . In many d io c e s e s
85
com m ercial t e l e v i s i o n s ig n a ls were r e c e iv e d from n e ig h b o r
in g r e g io n s and th e r e f o r e were beyond th e j u r i s d i c t i o n o r
in f lu e n c e o f l o c a l C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y . N a tio n a l n etw o rk
p ro g ram in g was o f c o u rs e r e c e iv e d i n a r e a s where n e tw o rk -
a f f i l i a t e d s t a t i o n s e x i s t e d ; t h i s p ro g ram in g u s u a lly
o r ig in a t e d i n New York and Los A ngeles and was th e immedi
a te c o n c e rn o f ch u rch a u t h o r i t i e s i n th e s e two c e n t e r s .
T h e re fo re th e h ie r a r c h y i n th e r e s t o f th e A m erican dioceses
depended upon th e New York and Los A n g eles ch u rch o f f i c i a l s
to e f f e c t l i a i s o n w ith n etw o rk b ro a d c a s tin g a d m in is tr a to r s
and th e re b y to in f lu e n c e n etw o rk program c o n te n t and
s c h e d u lin g , a s was in d ic a t e d by th e re s p o n s e s to th e ques
tio n n a ir e and by th e le n g th y l e t t e r s t h a t accom panied many
I l k
o f th e r e tu r n e d q u e s tio n n a ir e fo rm s.
E xcluded from p e rs o n a l in v e s t i g a t i o n b ecau se o f
g e o g ra p h ic a l lo c a ti o n and b ecau se re s p o n d e n ts to th e q u es- ;
tio n n a ir e in d ic a te d t h a t few docum ents w ere a v a ila b le f o r
s tu d y , w ere th e New E n g la n d , s o u th e a s te r n , s o u th e rn , and
n o rth w e s te rn p o r tio n s o f th e U n ited S t a t e s . T h is
i
r e s e a r c h e r v i s i t e d th e w e s te rn , s o u th w e s te rn , c e n t r a l ,
n o r t h - c e n t r a l , and e a s t e r n p o r tio n s o f th e c o u n try . On
t h i s r o u te la y e i g h t c i t i e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s w hich
ra n k e d among th e f i r s t e le v e n i n m e tro p o lita n p o p u la tio n
se rv e d by t e l e v i s i o n , in c lu d in g two o th e r c i t i e s among th e ;
ll*+See C h a p te r IX f o r d e t a i l e d a n a ly s is o f th e s e
d a t a .
86
n e x t f i f t e e n l a r g e s t c ity - c o u n ty a r e a s i n th e c o u n try .^*5
H ^ nqw Y ork, Los A n g e le s, C h ica g o , D e tr o it,
: San F ra n c is c o -O a k la n d , S t . L o u is , W ashington, C le v e la n d ,
K ansas C ity (M o .), and D enver ran k ed 1 s t , 2 n d , 3 r d , 5 th ,
i 7 th , 9 t h , 1 0 th , 1 1 th , 22nd, and 2 6 th r e s p e c tiv e ly ; D ec a tu r
(1 1 1 .) ra n k e d l6 * tth o f 182 m e tr o p o lita n co u n ty a r e a s ran k ed
! by m a rk e tin g r e s e a r c h e r s . P o p u la tio n o f th e s e e le v e n
s e le c te d m e tro p o lita n a r e a s t o t a l e d 39*036,900 o r 3 6 .2 p e r
c e n t o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s t o t a l o f 1 1 0 ,1 +99*?00 f o r 182
a r e a s ra n k e d . S ources "U. S . M e tro p o lita n M ark ets:
M e tro p o lita n County A reas Ranked by P o p u la tio n ; E s tim a te s
a s o f J a n . 1 , 19&0, co m p iled by S a le s M anagem ent," T e le
v i s i o n F a c tb o o k . 1961 Spring-Sum m er E d itio n (R ad n o r, P a .:
i T ria n g le P u b lic a tio n s , I n c . , 1 9 6 1 ), p p . 33~36.
B ecause Roman C a th o lic d io c e s a n j u r i s d i c t i o n s were
n o t c o -e x te n s iv e w ith c i v i l m e tr o p o lita n b o u n d a rie s d e t e r -
I m ined by m a rk e tin g r e s e a r c h e r s , th e p o p u la tio n t o t a l s
! d i f f e r e d w id e ly f o r th e same o r s i m i l a r m e tro p o lita n a r e a s .
! Of th e l^ fl Roman C a th o lic d io c e s e s i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
th e e le v e n d io c e s e s v i s i t e d p e r s o n a lly by t h i s r e s e a r c h e r
! co m p rised a t o t a l ( n o t m e re ly C a th o lic ) p o p u la tio n o f
; 3 5 ,2 2 9 ,9 7 8 ; to i b i s t o t a l were added th e t o t a l s f o r th e
d io c e s e s o f B rooklyn and Newark (N. J . ) b ecau se b ro a d c a s ts
! from New York C ity c o n s t i t u t e d th e p ro g ram in g r e c e iv e d i n
th o s e two d io c e s a n a r e a s . The p e r s o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f
th e New York A rc h d io ce san o f f i c e s th u s in c lu d e d d a ta
a f f e c t i n g th e B ro o k ly n and Newark d io c e s e s , i n w hich a re a s
th e p o p u la tio n was ^ ,^ 3 6 ,8 9 7 and 2 ,8 1 8 ,7 8 9 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
T h is b ro u g h t th e g ran d t o t a l to 2 ,6 8 5 ,6 6 m - p e rs o n s r e s i d
in g i n th e j u r i s d i c t i o n a l a r e a s o f d io c e s e s v i s i t e d . Thus
d io c e s a n l o c a l p o l i c i e s w ere s tu d ie d by p e rs o n a l i n v e s t i
g a tio n i n m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s i n w hich 2 3 .2 p e r c e n t o f th e ;
n a tio n * 8 179*323*175 p e rs o n s r e s id e d ; p o l i c i e s a f f e c t i n g
b r o a d c a s tin g i n th o s e c i t i e s p o t e n t i a l l y a f f e c t e d 2 3 .2 p e r
c e n t o f th e n a t io n a l p o p u la tio n i n m a tte r s o f l o c a l p ro
gram ing and p o t e n t i a l l y a f f e c t e d a p p ro x im a te ly 95 p e r c e n t j
o f th e n a t i o n a l p o p u la tio n i n m a tte r s o f n a t io n a l n etw o rk j
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n p ro g ra m in g . S o u rc e s: Thomas B .
Kenedy, e d . . The O f f i c i a l C a th o lic D ir e c to ry f o r th e Y ear j
o f Our L ord 1961: (riv in g -Qae S ta tu s o f th e C a th o lic Ofaurch
a s o f J a n u a ry 1 . 1961: U n ite d S t a t e s E d itio n (liew Y ork: <
£• J . Kenedy and S o n s, l $ 6 l ) , d io c e s a n p o p u la tio n t o t a l s
e n te r e d on le a d in g page o f ea ch d io c e s a n s e c tio n ; Harxy
H ansen, e d . , World Almanac 1961 and Book o f P a c ts
(New Y ork: N. Y• W o rld -ie le g ra m and th e S un, 1 9 6 l) , p . 8 0 ,
c i t i n g a s so u rc e th e I9 6 0 U n ite d S t a t e s Census o f 50
S ta te s and th e D i s t r i c t o f C olum bia, s u p p lie d by th e
d i r e c t o r o f th e B ureau o f th e C ensus; "RAB C h a lle n g es
87
Method
The h i s t o r i c a l m ethod was ch o se n a s th e m ost l o g i
c a l and f e a s i b l e f o r d e te rm in in g th e p o l i c i e s o f th e Roman
C a th o lic Church re g a rd in g com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g from 1920
to 1961* An e x p e rim e n ta l stu d y m ig h t be u s e f u l i n an
a n a ly s is o f th e e f f e c t s o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g upon a t t e n
t i o n , a t t i t u d e , and b e h a v io r o f an a u d ie n c e ; c o n c lu s io n s
m ig h t r e f l e c t th e r e s u l t s o f C hurch p o l i c i e s i n p r e s e n tin g
i r e l i g i o u s c o n te n t th ro u g h b r o a d c a s tin g m edia and m ig h t i n
t u r n a f f e c t f u tu r e p o lic y d e c is io n s r e g a r d in g u t i l i z a t i o n
o f th e m edia f o r p ro p a g a n d iz in g o r m is s io n a ry p u rp o s e s .
But an e x p e rim e n ta l stu d y i s n o t d e s ig n e d to t e s t re a s o n s
f o r d e c is io n s made by o th e r p e rs o n s i n p re v io u s d e c a d e s .
A d e s c r ip tiv e su rv ey o f one s p e c i f i c p o in t i n tim e
would have been d i f f i c u l t and n e c e s s a r i l y in c o m p le te
i b ecau se o f th e lim ite d e x te n t o f C a th o lic Church d e c is io n s
| i n b ro a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s in any g iv e n y e a r . T h is la c k
I o f fo rm u la te d p o l i c i e s was b e s t i d e n t i f i e d and a p p r a is e d
Census on Radio C o u n t," B ro a d c a s tin g . L X II, No. 16
( A p r il 1 6 , 1 9 6 2 ), 68-7 1 ; "TV Momes Up to 9 0 # , Census
F in d s ," B ro a d c a s tin g . LXII ' No. 17 ( A p r il 2 3 , 1 9 6 2 ), 70-71.;
i In th e ra n k in g o f d io c e s a n r e g io n s by t o t a l p o p u la-:
; t i o n o f e a c h , th e c i t i e s p e r s o n a lly v i s i t e d i n th e c o u rse
i o f r e s e a r c h i n th e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n ran k ed 1 s t , 2nd,
! 3 r d , 6 th (B ro o k ly n ), 7 th , 8 t h , 1 3 th (N ew ark), 1 5 th , 3 2 n d ,
I 3 9 th , ^ 3 r d , M fth (K ansas C i ty - S t. J o s e p h , M o .), w ith
i K ansas C ity , K an sas, ran k ed among th e second f i f t y l a r g e s t
d io c e s e s . See A ppendix B f o r l i s t o f d io c e s e s v i s i t e d ,
; t h e i r t o t a l p o p u la tio n s . C a th o lic p o p u la tio n s , and ra n k
i o r d e r s among U n ite d S t a te s d io c e s e s .
88
i n r e l a t i o n to p re c e d in g c a u s e s w hich had shaped c u r r e n t
c irc u m s ta n c e s . F u rth e rm o re , a stu d y th ro u g h f o u r d e c ad e s
in d ic a te d r e c u r r e n t o p in io n s and a c tio n s from w hich w ere
i n f e r r e d o f f i c i a l a t t i t u d e s t h a t r e f l e c t e d em erging p o l i
c i e s . A lthough a t a g iv e n tim e fo rm a l p o l i c i e s w ere few ,
th e a c tio n s and s ta te m e n ts o f C hurch r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
th ro u g h an ex ten d ed p e r io d o f tim e in d ic a te d th e o r i g i n s
and d i r e c t i o n s o f p o l i c i e s . F e a s i b i l i t y was p r e d ic a te d
upon th e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f e x ta n t docum ents and o f C hurch
spokesm en who c o u ld d e s c r ib e and e x p la in p a s t C a th o lic
p o s i t i o n s i n b ro a d c a s tin g m a tte r s . A g ain , th e la c k o f
d o cu m en tatio n f o r a d e s c r ip tiv e su rv e y o f b u t one p o in t o f
tim e w ould have made a com prehensive stu d y v e ry d i f f i c u l t
i f n o t im p o s s ib le , w hereas ad eq u ate d o c u m en ta tio n and d a ta
f o r f o u r d ecad es were a v a ila b le to j u s t i f y c o n c lu s io n s and
im p lic a tio n s ab o u t th e Roman C a th o lic C hurch*s p o l i c i e s
re g a r d in g com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
T h is d e s c r ip tio n o f Church s ta te m e n ts a rd a c tio n s
th ro u g h tim e was a ls o a n a l y t i c a l i n s o f a r a s i t c o n ta in e d
s ta te m e n ts o f a p p a re n t c a u s a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s among e le m e n ts
w hich form ed th e c o n te x t from w hich ev o lv e d g e n e ra l p o l i
c i e s o r p a t te r n s o f a c t i v i t y w ith r e f e r e n c e to A m erican
b r o a d c a s tin g m edia by Church r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . When th e s e
d a ta w ere c lu s te r e d f o r g iv e n p e r io d s o f y e a r s , g e n e r a liz a
t i o n s em erged w hich p ro v id e d an in d e x to th e d e v e lo p in g
89
p o l i c i e s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch. B ecause many C hurch
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s th e m se lv e s o f te n w ere n o t f u l l y aw are o f
in d e p e n d e n t a c tio n s o r p o l i c i e s o f f e llo w Church r e p r e s e n
t a t i v e s i n o th e r r e g i o n s , no s in g le e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s o u rc e
was a b le to p ro v id e a d e f i n i t i v e s ta te m e n t o f n a t i o n a l
p o l i c i e s . T h e re fo re i t was th e ta s k o f th e p r e s e n t
r e s e a r c h to s e a rc h f o r th e d a ta w hich ta k e n a s a w hole
co u ld he s y n th e s iz e d a s a c o n s tr u c t o f a v a ila b le o f f i c i a l
C a th o lic p o l i c i e s on b r o a d c a s tin g . B a ta o f v a r io u s d io
c e s e s , and w ith in th e s e d io c e s e s th e d a ta o f v a r io u s p o in ts
i n tim e th ro u g h th e fo u r-d e c a d e p e r io d , c o n s t it u t e d th e
e le m e n ts o f a b ro ad su rv e y o f C hurch p o l i c i e s .
A c r i t i c a l a p p r a i s a l o f th e s e d a ta a c c o rd in g to
l e g a l , p r o f e s s i o n a l , s o c i a l , and m o ral c r i t e r i a re m a in s to
be draw n u p . Of c o u rse no h i s t o r i c a l i n v e s t i g a ti o n o f
c a u s a l seq u en ces can f u l l y ig n o re im p lie d judgm ents o f th e
d a ta b e in g p r e s e n te d . But a c r i t i c a l stu d y o f th e C a th o lic
Church p o l i c i e s t h a t a r e h e re p r e s e n te d m ust com pare and
c o n t r a s t them w ith a s e t o f e x te r n a l s ta n d a rd s by w hich to
ju d g e , su c h a s th e U n ite d S ta te s f e d e r a l law s g o v e rn in g
b r o a d c a s tin g , a b r o a d c a s tin g a s s o c ia tio n * s s e lf - r e g u la to x y i
code o f p r i n c i p l e s , th e freedom s e x p re s s e d i n th e Amend
m ents to th e U n ite d S t a t e s C o n s titu tio n , th e p o l i c i e s
ad o p te d by o th e r r e l i g i o u s o r g a n iz a tio n s , o r o th e r e x te rn a l;
c r i t e r i a .
T ech n iq u es and P ro c e d u re s
In o r d e r to d e te rm in e Roman C a th o lic p o l i c i e s o r
fo rm a l s ta te m e n ts o f d i r e c t i v e s f o r th e Church m em bership
th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld , i t was n e c e s s a ry to in s p e c t th e p ro
nouncem ents o f th e p o p es and o f th e V a tic a n c o n g re g a tio n s
o r com m issions w hich g o v ern ed th e a d m in is tra tio n o f Church
d o c tr in e and d i s c i p l i n e . These fo rm a l pronouncem ents w ere
i d e n t i f i e d by s e a rc h in g th e A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is f o r a l l
s ta te m e n ts , a d d r e s s e s , o f f i c i a l re s p o n s e s to i n q u i r i e s ,
e t c e t e r a , on th e to p ic o f b ro a d c a s tin g ; a ls o i s o l a t e d
w ere r e f e r e n c e s made to b ro a d c a s tin g i n the co u rse o f
a d d r e s s e s on o th e r t o p i c s , and a l l sp eech es made by th e
1 1 6
po p es th ro u g h th e b r o a d c a s tin g m ed ia. Formal V a tic a n
s ta te m e n ts w ere th e n e x c e rp te d and sum m arized. B ecause o f
th e s m a ll num ber o f su ch r e f e r e n c e s , r e f in e d te c h n iq u e s o f
c o n te n t a n a ly s is w ere n o t r e q u ir e d ; sim ple te c h n iq u e s w ere
a d e q u a te f o r e x t r a c t i n g and c a te g o r iz in g p e r t i n e n t ,
p a s s a g e s . From th e s e e x c e r p ts a s y n th e s is o f " u n iv e r s a l
C hurch" d i r e c t i v e s was drawn up i n C h ap ter IV . These
e x c e r p ts and d i r e c t i v e s c o n s titu t e d th e u n iv e r s a l s t a t e
m ents o f p o lic y w hich were a p p lic a b le i n th e l o c a l d io c e se s;
o f th e w o rld by th e b is h o p s , whose a u th o r ity w ith in t h e i r
own j u r i s d i c t i o n a l a r e a s o r d io c e s e s i s a b s o lu te and
l l 6 p o r c o n te n ts o f A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is . se e
n . 75 a b o v e .
117
s u b je c t to th e pope and V a tic a n c o u n c ils a lo n e .
In o rd e r to l e a r n th e l o c a l p o l i c i e s o f th e h i e r
arc h y i n th e d io o e s e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s i t was im p o rta n t
to i d e n t i f y th o se d io c e s e s w hich p o s s e s s e d docum entary
r e c o r d s t h a t m ig h t be re s e a rc h e d f o r d a ta r e le v a n t to th e
p r e s e n t s tu d y . Q u e s tio n n a ire s w ere drawn up and s e n t to
th e d io c e s e s in o r d e r to o b ta in p re lim in a x y in fo rm a tio n on
; a v a i l a b i l i t y o f r e c o r d s •
Q u e s tio n n a ir e a . (The s i x t h d r a f t o f th e q u e s tio n
n a i r e was made on May 1 2 , 1961, a f t e r f iv e d r a f t s had been
r e v is e d w ith a s s is ta n c e from members o f th e d i s s e r t a t i o n
!co m m ittee• The s i x t h d r a f t condensed th e q u e s tio n n a ir e to
f o u r p a g e s; i t was com posed m ain ly o f c h e c k li s ts i n o r d e r
t o e n s u re re sp o n se and to a s s i s t i n c a te g o r iz in g in d iv id u a l
re s p o n s e s . A f i f t h page was added f o r re sp o n d e n t i d e n t i f i -
i c a tio n and f o r b r i e f i n s t r u c t i o n s on r e tu r n in g th e com-
1 1 Q
p l e t e d q u e s tio n n a ir e . E l i t e ty p e was u se d i n o r d e r to
f i t th e q u e s tio n s o n to f o u r p ag e s and to p r e s e n t a more
co n d e n sed , a t t r a c t i v e a p p e a ra n c e . Boxes in s te a d o f l i n e s
^ ^ S e e C h a p ter I I I f o r an e x p la n a tio n o f th e adm in
i s t r a t i v e a u t h o r it y i n th e Roman C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y .
lld g e e A ppendix C f o r c o p ie s o f th e q u e s tio n n a ir e ,
th e l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i t t a l , th e l e t t e r s o f in tr o d u c t io n and
; recom m endation . a n d th e su p p lem en tary p o s tc a rd and f o llo w -
u p l e t t e r s t h a t w ere em ployed to s o l i c i t re s p o n s e s to th e
iq u e s tio n n a ir e s u rv e y .
w ere p ro v id e d f o r an sw ers w h erev er p o s s i b l e , f o r boxes
a id e d re s p o n d e n ts to se e q u ic k ly th e p la c e s to m ark answ ers,
; and boxes in d ic a te d t h a t o n ly m arks w ere needed in s t e a d o f
num bers o r w o rd s. I t was th o u g h t t h a t th e m arking o f an
"X" on a l i n e i s n o t a s co m p lete and d e f i n i t e and " s a t i s
fy in g " a s m arking an "X" i n a sm a ll sq u a re b o x .* ^ The
q u e s tio n n a ire c o p ie s w ere re p ro d u c e d by s p i r i t d u p lic a tin g
( o r h e c to g ra p h p r o c e s s ) b ecau se t h i s m ethod ( a ) was q u ic k e r
i and l e s s ex p e n siv e th a n m im eograph re p r o d u c tio n f o r th e
q u e s tio n n a ire m a ilin g , and (b ) em ployed sm oother d u p lic a t
in g p a p e r (s u b s ta n c e 20 p a p e r) w hich was e a s i e r to w r ite
on w ith e i t h e r pen o r p e n c il th a n was m im eograph p a p e r.
I t was a ls o l i g h t e r i n w e ig h t f o r m a ilin g . In r e d e s ig n in g
th e fo rm a t o f th e q u e s tio n s a f t e r th e t e s t m a ilin g i t was
d e c id e d to draw d o u b le u n b ro k en l i n e s betw een e a c h m a jo r
is e c ti o n i n o rd e r to e x p e d ite th e an sw erin g o f th e q u e s tio n -
n a ir e by th o s e to whom c e r t a i n s e c tio n s d id n o t p e r t a i n .
L e t t e r s o f t r a n s m i t t a l . A o n e-p ag e l e t t e r was com
posed w hich a tte m p te d to s o l i c i t c o o p e ra tio n by in c o rp o
r a t i n g th e fo llo w in g e le m e n ts : ( a ) in d ic a t io n o f o f f i c i a l j
: i n s p i r a t i o n and s a n c tio n by th e popes and th e A m erican
ib is h o p s ; (b ) in tr o d u c tio n to e n c lo s e d fo u r-p a g e
11^JProm th e num ber o f m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e "Yes-No"
!boxes w hich were l e f t b la n k i n th e r e tu r n e d q u e s tio n n a ir e s ,
i t would seem t h a t t h i s re a s o n in g was n o t s tr o n g ly su p
p o rte d by th e r e s u l t s o f th e s u rv e y .
93
q u e s tio n n a ir e , in c lu d in g comment t h a t two p ag es m ig h t n o t
a p p ly to many d io c e s e s and t h a t m ost an sw ers were to "Y es-
No" c h e c k l i s t s ; ( c ) a p p e a l f o r "g e n e ro u s c o o p e ra tio n " ;
(d ) prom ise to send summary o f f in d in g s ; ( e ) re m in d e r ab o u t
s e lf - a d d r e s s e d , stam ped en v elo p e e n c lo s e d ; ( f ) e x p re s s io n
o f g r a t i t u d e . The l e t t e r s were in d iv i d u a ll y ty p e w r itte n ,
l e s t p o t e n t i a l re s p o n d e n ts ig n o re an im p e rso n a l f o r m - l e t t e r
s u rv e y . P ic a ty p e was u se d so t h a t th o s e who r e c e iv e d th e
l e t t e r c o u ld q u ic k ly r e a d i t upon o p en in g th e p a c k e t o f
e n c lo s u r e s in th e e n v e lo p e . The ty p e w r itte n l e t t e r h e a d
i d e n t i f i e d th e stu d y w ith th e "UNIVERSITY OP SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA/Dept. o f T eleco m m u n icatio n s /L o s A ngeles 7,
C a lif o r n ia " ; t h i s was in te n d e d to c o n firm th e s ta te m e n t in
th e body o f th e l e t t e r t h a t t h i s was a g ra d u a te r e s e a r c h
s tu d y , and i t p ro v id e d an a c c u ra te a d d re s s i n th e e v e n t
t h a t th e e n c lo se d r e tu r n - a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e s we ire n o t u se d
by re s p o n d e n ts in r e tu r n in g th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s . A f te r th e
s ig n a tu r e was w r i t t e n "Jam es A. Brown, S .J ./D o c to r a l C andi
d a te " in o rd e r to i d e n t i f y th e s e n d e r , h i s academ ic s t a t u s ,,
and th e s e r io u s i n t e n t o f th e s tu d y . A t th e lo w er l e f t o f
i
th e l e t t e r page w ere w r i t t e n "M a ilin g A d d re ss": and th e
a d d re s s c o rre sp o n d in g to th e home m a ilin g a d d re s s on th e
s e lf - a d d r e s s e d , stam ped en v elo p e w hich was e n c lo se d f o r
r e tu r n in g th e q u e s tio n n a ir e ; in th e e v e n t t h a t t h i s e n v e r-
lope was m is p la c e d , th e q u e s tio n n a ire c o u ld th u s be re tu r n e d
to th e p ro p e r ad d ress* As an added p r e o a u tio n th e r e t u r n
a d d re s s was w r itte n on th e f i n a l page o f th e q u e s tio n n a ir e .
A lso e n c lo se d w ere p h o to -re p ro d u c tio n s o f l e t t e r s
o f in tr o d u c tio n and a p p ro v a l by two members o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s h ie r a r c h y : M ost R ev. Jam es A. M cN ulty, B ishop o f
P a te rs o n (New J e rs e y ) and ch airm an o f th e N C W C E p is c o p a l
Com m ittee on M otion P i c t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n ; and
M ost R ev. John King M u ssio , B ishop o f S te u b e n v ille (O h io ),
member o f th e E p is c o p a l Committee on M otion P i c t u r e s ,
R a d io , and T e le v is io n , and e p is c o p a l m o d e ra to r o f th e
120
C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n . The p h o to c o p ie s
re p ro d u c e d th e o r i g i n a l l e t t e r s i n f u l l s i z e , 8 1 /2 in c h e s
by 1 1 , on w h ite bond p a p e r, in c lu d in g th e e p is c o p a l c o a t-
o f-a rm s and th e s ig n a tu r e o f e a c h b is h o p .
E n v e lo p e s. W hite r e c ta n g u la r e n v e lo p e s m easu rin g
b l A in c h e s by 9 1 /2 w ere u se d to sen d th e q u e s tio n n a ir e ,
l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i t t a l , l e t t e r s o f i n t r o d u c t i o n , and s e l f -
a d d re s s e d e n v e lo p e , b ec au se i t was th o u g h t t h a t th e t r i p l e
fo ld e d c o n te n ts o f a f i r s t - c l a s s - l e t t e r en v elo p e would
r e c e iv e more a t t e n t i o n from r e c i p i e n t s th a n would f u l l -
p a g e -s iz e g ray e n v e lo p e s o r M anila o n e s . On th e s e m a ilin g
e n v e lo p e s was p la c e d th e same r e t u r n a d d re s s a s in th e
l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i tt a l and on th e l a s t page o f th e
1 2 0 p h o to -re p ro d u c tio n s o f b o th l e t t e r s a re i n
A ppendix C•
q u e s tio n n a ir e . She e n c lo s e d en v elo p e was w h ite , re c ta n g u
l a r , and o n ly s l i g h t l y s m a lle r th a n th e en v elo p e i n w hich
i t was e n c lo se d o B eing b in c h e s by 8 - 7 / 8 , th e r e t u r n
en v elo p e was e n c lo s e d w ith o u t f o ld ; t h i s made i t p o s s ib le
f o r th e p o t e n t i a l re s p o n d e n ts to see im m ed ia tely th e re d
s e v e n -c e n t a ir m a il stam p t h a t was a f f i x e d and th e p u r p le -
in k ru b b e r-sta m p e d "VIA AIR MAIL" le g e n d s w hich in d ic a te d
th e d e s ir e f o r prom pt re s p o n s e . R esp o n d en ts a ls o c o u ld
se e q u ic k ly t h a t th e e n c lo s e d en v elo p e was s e lf - a d d r e s s e d ,
a g a in in d i c a t i n g a n o te o f u rg e n c y a s w e ll a s co n v en ien ce •
I t was th o u g h t t h a t u n le s s r e c i p i e n t s o f th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s
a c te d p ro m p tly th e le n g th y form and i t s accom panying
l e t t e r s w ould be m isp la c e d and n o t a n sw e re d . The r e t u r n
e n v e lo p e s w ere la r g e enough f o r th e t r i p l e - f o l d e d f i v e -
page q u e s tio n n a ir e . No r e t u r n a d d re s s was -ty p e w ritte n on
th e r e t u r n e n v e lo p e s b ecau se t h i s r e s e a r c h e r was n o t su re
o f th e s p e c i f i c o f f i c i a l i n each d io c e s e who f i n a l l y would
j answ er th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s ; f u r t h e r , t h i s p re c lu d e d th e
tim e-co n su m in g ta s k o f ty p e w r itin g in d iv id u a l r e t u r n
i a d d r e s s e s ; f i n a l l y , i t su g g e ste d to r e c i p i e n t s th e n o te o f
i anonym ity w hich m ig h t en co u rag e re s p o n d e n ts who had few
d a ta to r e p o r t f o r t h e i r d io c e s e s .
Two s e v e n -c e n t re d a ir m a il stam ps w ere a f f ix e d to
th e o u te r en v elo p e and one s e v e n -c e n t r e d a ir m a il stam p
i was a f f ix e d to th e e n c lo s e d r e t u r n e n v e lo p e . B oth
96
e n v e lo p e s b o re th e le g e n d "VIA AIR MAIL," ty p e w r itte n i n
c a p i t a l l e t t e r s o r stam ped in p u r p le - in k ru b b e r stam p
c h a r a c te r s a t th e u p p e r r i g h t and lo w e r l e f t c o m e r s .
These m ark in g s were in te n d e d to a t t r a c t a t t e n t i o n and to
s u g g e s t u rg e n c y .
The com plete m a ilin g to ea ch d io c e s e th u s in c lu d e d
an o u te r e n v e lo p e , a l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i t t a l , two l e t t e r s o f
recom m endation, a f iv e - p a g e q u e s tio n n a ir e , and an e n c lo s e d
r e t u r n en v e lo p e ; th e w e ig h t was s l i g h t l y l e s s th a n two
ounces f o r f i r s t - c l a s s m a ilin g by a i r m a il. The r e t u r n
en v e lo p e to g e th e r w ith th e fiv e -p a g e q u e s tio n n a ire form
w eighed s l i g h t l y l e s s th a n one ounce f o r f i r s t - c l a s s m a il-
121
in g by r e t u r n a i r m a il.
M a ilin g s . On May 2 6 , 1961, a t f o u r o 'c lo c k i n th e
a f te rn o o n n in e t e s t q u e s tio n n a ire s w ere s e n t to s e l e c te d
d io c e s e s w hich la y on a f a i r l y d i r e c t r o u te betw een
Los A n g eles and D e t r o i t . T h is t e n t a t i v e p a th was s e le c te d
a s th e m ost f e a s i b l e f o r a jo u rn e y on w hich th e r e s e a r c h e r
c o u ld in s p e c t f i l e s and in te rv ie w r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f
C hurch, governm ent, and p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s tin g . On
12lMany re s p o n d e n ts added l e t t e r s o f comments to
th e r e tu r n e d q u e s tio n n a ir e s , th e re b y in c r e a s in g th e w e ig h t
o f th e r e tu r n e d e n v e lo p e s ; alm o st e v e ry re s p o n d e n t a f f ix e d
a d d i t i o n a l p o sta g e to com pensate f o r th e a d d i tio n a l w e ig h t.
S e v e ra l o th e r re s p o n d e n ts re tu rn e d co m p leted q u e s tio n n a ir e s
o r e x p la n a to ry l e t t e r s w ith o u t q u e s tio n n a ir e s in t h e i r own
o f f i c i a l le t t e r h e a d e n v e lo p e s , and th e y p a id t h e i r own
p o s ta g e •
97
Ju n e 1 and on June 2 a d d i tio n a l q u e s tio n n a ire s w ere s e n t
to C i n c i n n a t i , Los A n g e le s, and San F ra n c is c o , th e f i r s t
i n o r d e r to add a n o th e r p o t e n t i a l s to p p in g -p la c e f o r a
jo u rn e y t o th e M idw est; th e o th e r two c i t i e s w ere added i n
o r d e r to o b ta in d a ta from c e n te r s a lre a d y v i s i t e d p e rs o n
a l l y so t h a t th e q u e s tio n n a ir e in fo rm a tio n re c e iv e d m ig h t
be com pared w ith in fo rm a tio n o b ta in e d th ro u g h p r i o r p e r
s o n a l in te r v ie w s . These v i s i t s w ere to be a form o f v e r i
f i c a t i o n o f th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e 's v a l i d i t y and r e l i a b i l i t y .
W hile a w a itin g re s p o n s e s to th e t e s t q u e s tio n n a ir e s
th e r e s e a r c h e r ty p e w ro te in d iv id u a l c o p ie s o f th e l e t t e r o f
t r a n s m i t t a l t h a t w ere to be u se d i n th e su b se q u en t m a ilin g s
to th e d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . A t o t a l o f l*+5
l e t t e r s w ere ty p e w r itte n in d iv id u a lly on w h ite " s u b s ta n c e
16" ( o r 16 pound) ty p in g p a p e r. Typing p a p e r r a t h e r th a n
l e t t e r h e a d s t a t i o n e r y was u sed so th a t th e U n iv e r s ity o f
; S o u th e rn C a lif o r n i a a d d re s s m ight be p la c e d a t th e to p
l e t t e r h e a d p o s it io n w ith o u t th e c o s t o f u s in g o f f i c i a l
: u n i v e r s i t y s t a t i o n e r y . I t was th o u g h t t h a t p l a i n p a p e r
i m ig h t a l s o cau se a su b c o n sc io u s fa v o ra b le r e a c tio n to th e
in q u ir y ; re s p o n d e n ts m ig h t i n f e r t h a t a "p o o r s c h o la r " was
s e e k in g in fo rm a tio n in s t e a d o f a r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a la r g e
i n s t i t u t i o n w hich s u p p lie d ex p e n siv e bond l e t t e r h e a d p a p e r .
I n a th re e -w e e k i n t e r v a l seven re s p o n s e s w ere
: r e c e iv e d from th e t e s t m a ilin g . One re sp o n d e n t n o te d :
" I n my o p in io n th e q u e s tio n s on t h i s q u e s tio n n a ire do n o t
f i t o u r a rc h d io c e s e " ; i t was assumed t h a t he m eant t h a t
b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s and p o l i c i e s i n t h a t re g io n w ere
n o n e x is te n t o r were so few t h a t i t was n o t p o s s ib le to
an sw er more f u l l y su ch q u e s tio n s . A n o th er re sp o n d e n t
s t a t e d t h a t e s s a y re s p o n s e s would have been e a s i e r f o r him
to p ro v id e b ecau se th e q u e s tio n n a ire c h e c k l i s t c a te g o r ie s
w ere c o n f in in g ; he added two p ag es o f ty p e w r itte n commen
t a r y to th e co m p leted q u e s tio n n a ir e . A f te r a n a ly z in g
re s p o n s e s to th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s , and h a v in g found n o o th e r
s u g g e s tio n s by re s p o n d e n ts f o r im p ro v in g th e c o n te n t o r
sequence o f q u e s tio n s , t h i s r e s e a r c h e r , w ith th e a p p ro v a l
o f th e ch a irm an o f h i s com m ittee and w ith th e su b se q u e n t
a p p ro v a l o f th e o th e r two members o f th e co m m ittee, p r e
p a re d a d d i ti o n a l c o p ie s o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire f o r m a ilin g
122
to a l l th e d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . The d a te on
th e l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i t t a l was June 1 8 , 1961. The co m p lete
m a ilin g to A m erican d io c e s e s was on Monday m orning a t
e i g h t o 'c l o c k , June 1 9 , 1961. A ir m a il d e liv e r y w ould
b r in g th e l e t t e r s to r e c i p i e n t s to w ard s th e m iddle o f th e
q June 9> 1961, th e ch airm an o f th e d i s s e r t a
t i o n com m ittee approved th e q u e s tio n n a ire ; on June 16 th e
second member o f th e com m ittee approved by te le p h o n e ; and
by p o s t a l c a rd p ostm arked June 16 and re c e iv e d June 17 th e
t h i r d com m ittee member approved th e q u e s tio n n a ire • I t
sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t some d i f f i c u l t i e s in i n t e r p r e t i n g
re s p o n s e s d id o c c u r a f t e r th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s were r e tu r n e d
and a n a ly z e d by th e r e s e a r c h e r .
w eek, th u s a v o id in g th e Monday w eek-end a c c u m u la tio n o f
m a il a s w e ll a s th e F rid a y p ostponem ent o f b u s in e s s " u n t i l
a f t e r th e week e n d ," w hich m ig h t c o n tr ib u te to p r o c r a s t i n a
t i o n and u ltim a te n o n re s p o n s e . I t was e s tim a te d t h a t th e
a i r m a il l e t t e r s would a r r i v e i n West C oast c i t i e s on
T u esd ay , i n Rocky M ountain and C e n tra l P la in s c i t i e s and
i n m a jo r c i t i e s on s c h e d u le d - a ir lin e tr a n s c o n t in e n t a l
r o u te s on Tuesday o r W ednesday, in M idwest and E a s t C o ast
c i t i e s and i n th e m a jo r c i t i e s o f th e S outh on W ednesday
o r T h u rsd a y , and i n c i t i e s t h a t were l e s s a c c e s s ib le by
d i r e c t a i r l i n e f l i g h t s on T h ursday.
The O f f i c i a l C a th o lic D ire c to ry p ro v id e d n am es,
a d d r e s s e s , and t i t l e s o f a d m in is tr a to r s i n each d io c e s e o f
12^
th e .U n ite d S t a t e s . L e t t e r s w ith q u e s tio n n a ir e s w ere
m a ile d t o ea ch d io c e se and a d d re sse d to e i t h e r ( a ) th e
d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n , i f a p r i e s t was so
named i n th e D ire c to ry l i s t i n g o f a p p o in te e s to o f f i c i a l
p o s i t i o n s ; o r (b ) th e c h a n c e llo r o f th e d io c e s e who, a s
s t a t e d i n th e l e t t e r o f t r a n s m i t t a l , was e x p e c te d to answ er
th e q u e s tio n n a ir e h im s e lf o r to d e le g a te th e ta s k to "who
e v e r i n y o u r d io c e s e i s b e s t q u a l if i e d to do s o ." I t was
th o u g h t t h a t th e a u t h o r i t y o f th e c h a n c e llo r would be added
to th e recom m endations o f h ie ra rc h y whose l e t t e r s h ad b een
e n c lo s e d i f th e c h a n c e llo r p a sse d on to a s u b o rd in a te t h i s
123ihomas B. K enedy, e d . . op. oit.. passim.
100
r e q u e s t f o r d a ta on l o c a l d io c e s a n r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
m a t t e r s •
R e tu rn s and fo llo w -u p re m in d e rs . On Monday,
! June 1 2 , one t h r e e - c e n t p o s ta l c a rd was s e n t a s a re m in d e r
to e a ch o f th e f o u r d io c e s e s among th e t e s t sam ple o f
May 2 6 , June 1 , and June 2 , w hich had n o t y e t re s p o n d e d .1 ^
B ecause th e r e s e a r c h e r l e f t Los A ngeles on Ju n e 25
to b e g in h i s p e r s o n a l v i s i t to s e le c te d c i t i e s from w hich
re s p o n s e s to th e i n i t i a l q u e s tio n n a ire m a ilin g w ere
r e c e iv e d , he s t a t e d a s r e t u r n a d d re s s i n th e g e n e ra l m a il-
125
in g h i s re s id e n c e i n D e t r o i t , M ichigan, ly J u ly 20
n in e ty - o n e re s p o n s e s t o th e su rv ey were re c e iv e d i n D e tr o it,
i n a d d i t i o n to n in e re s p o n s e s to th e i n i t i a l t e s t m a ilin g .
These re s p o n s e s in c lu d e d r e tu r n e d q u e s tio n n a ire s accom
p a n ie d by e x p la n a to ry l e t t e r s , q u e s tio n n a ire s r e tu r n e d
w ith o u t com m entaxy, and l e t t e r s o f e x p la n a tio n and d e s c r ip
t i v e com m entary i n p la c e o f com pleted q u e s tio n n a ir e s .
12^A copy o f th e p o s ta l c a rd rem in d e r i s i n
A ppendix G.
1 2 5(phe i t i n e r a r y o f p e rs o n a l in v e s t i g a t i o n o f
! s e l e c t e d U n ite d S ta te s d io c e s e s was D enver, June 26 to 29;
j K ansas C i ty , K an sas, and K ansas C ity , M is s o u ri, June 29 to
I J u ly 1; S t . L o u is , J u ly 2 to 7; D e c a tu r, I l l i n o i s , J u ly 7
j to 8; C h ic ag o , J u ly 9 to 18; D e t r o i t , J u ly 18 to 20;
I ( v a c a tio n and o th e r com m itm ents, J u ly 21 to A ugust 3 ) ;
j D e t r o i t , A ugust 3 to 6; ( o th e r com m itm ents, A ugust 6 to 15);
I D e t r o i t , A ugust 16 to Septem ber 8; C le v e la n d , S eptem ber 8
| t o 15; W ashington, D. C ., Septem ber 15 to 2*f; New York
I C ity , S eptem ber 24- to O cto b er 15; W ashington, D. C .,
O cto b er 15 to November 18; New York C ity , November 18 to
| December 9; and r e t u r n to Los A n g ele s, December 1 0 .
101
On T h u rsd ay , J u ly 2 0 , p o s t a l c a rd rem in d e rs were
s e n t to th o se d io c e s e s from w hich no r e p l i e s had b een
r e c e iv e d . E x tra tim e was p e rm itte d beyond th e u s u a l two
to th r e e w eeks betw een f i r s t m a ilin g and f i r s t re m in d e r
f o r th e fo llo w in g r e a s o n s , ( a ) The r e s e a r c h e r was d e la y e d
i n h i s t r i p from Los A n g eles to th e M idw est, a r r i v i n g i n
D e tr o it on th e e v e n in g o f J u ly 18; i t was to th e D e t r o i t
a d d re s s t h a t re s p o n s e s w ere m a ile d , (b ) Some re s p o n d e n ts
r e p l ie d t h a t th e r e t u r n o f q u e s tio n n a ir e s would be d e la y e d
u n t i l th e r e t u r n o f p e rs o n s who w ere on v a c a tio n from
t h e i r o f f i c e s d u rin g th e mid-summer s e a s o n , (c ) B ecause
m ost q u e s tio n n a ir e s w ere s e n t to th e d io c e s a n c h a n c e llo r s ,
th e r e was th e n o rm al d e la y w ith in a h ig h ly s tr u c tu r e d
o r g a n iz a tio n w h ile r e q u e s ts f o r d a ta w ere fo rw ard ed to
s u b o rd in a te o f f i c i a l s , (d ) S e v e ra l re sp o n d e n ts r e p l i e d
t h a t th e y needed tim e to stu d y l o c a l f i l e s in o rd e r to
126
o b ta in th e answ ers to q u e s tio n s ask ed i n th e s u rv e y .
On Sunday, A ugust 2 0 , fo llo w -u p q u e s tio n n a ir e s and
accom panying l e t t e r s o f e x p la n a tio n w ere s e n t to d io c e s e s
w hich had n o t y e t re s p o n d e d . These r e q u e s ts were p u t i n
th e m a il on Monday, A ugust 2 1 , and w ere s e n t by r e g u l a r
f i r s t - c l a s s p o sta g e i n e n v e lo p e s t h a t w ere s im ila r to
T h at i t was n o t alw ays n e c e s s a ry o r p o s s i b le to
re v ie w l o c a l re c o r d s i n o r d e r to su p p ly d a ta f o r th e su rv ey
was in d ic a te d by th e f a c t t h a t many re s p o n d e n ts answ ered
and r e tu r n e d th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s on th e same day on w hich
th e y w ere r e c e iv e d . I t was a ls o p o s s ib le t h a t some o f f i c e s
w ere w e ll o rg a n iz e d o r had o n ly sm a ll f i l e s on th e t o p i c .
102
th o se u s e d i n th e o r i g i n a l m a ilin g d e s c rib e d ab o v e. A ir
m a il was n o t needed a t t h i s p o in t; i t had n o t prom pted
r e t u r n o f th e f i r s t s e t s o f q u e s tio n n a ir e s t h a t w ere s e n t
to th e s e ta rd y r e c i p i e n t s . The e n c lo s e d s e lf - a d d r e s s e d
e n v e lo p e s w ere stam ped w ith a ir m a il p o sta g e and had a f f ix e d
to them "VIA AIR MAH" c o lo re d s t i c k e r s to s u g g e s t to th e
r e c i p i e n t s t h a t th e y e x p e d ite t h e i r r e s p o n s e s .
On A ugust 26 f i v e s e c o n d -m a ilin g s o f q u e s tio n n a ir e s
w ere made to re s p o n d e n ts who had w r i t t e n and asked f o r a
second copy o f th e q u e s tio n n a ir e b ecau se th e y had l o s t th e
f i r s t copy by th e tim e th e p o s t a l c a r d rem in d e r had
re a c h e d them o r had s t a t e d th e nam es o f o th e r p e rso n s to
whom to send th e q u e s tio n n a ir e and th e r e q u e s t f o r i n f o r
m a tio n . These f i v e s e t s o f form s w ere s e n t to P a te r s o n ,
New J e r s e y ; S pokane, W ashington; S p r i n g f i e l d , M assachusetts;
P o r tla n d , M aine; and B u f f a lo , New Y ork. They were s e n t by
r e g u l a r f i r s t - c l a s s m a il, b u t th e e n c lo s e d s e lf - a d d r e s s e d
e n v e lo p e s had a i r m a il p o s ta g e stam ps a f f ix e d to them .
The t o t a l o f re s p o n s e s r e c e iv e d i n t h i s su rv e y was
133 o r 92 p e r c e n t o f th e lH-5 o f f i c i a l C a th o lic d io c e s a n
s o u rc e s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s to w hich q u e s tio n n a ire s w ere ;
s e n t . T h is la r g e p r o p o r tio n o f re sp o n se was a t t r i b u t e d
i n p a r t to th e te c h n iq u e s w hich were em ployed in p r e p a r in g
th e q u e s tio n n a ire and th e l e t t e r s o f t r a n s m i t t a l and
recom m endation, and i n s o l i c i t i n g re s p o n s e s by th e con
s e c u tiv e m a ilin g s th ro u g h th e s e v e r a l m onths t h a t were
103
d ev o ted to th e s u r v e y . More s i g n i f i c a n t c a u se s o f th e
many re s p o n s e s w ere th e encouragem ent and th e s u p p o rt t h a t
were g iv e n th e stu d y b y members o f th e C a th o lic h ie ra rc h y
who h e ld p o s itio n s o f a u t h o r i t y i n b ro a d c a s tin g com m ittees
and o r g a n iz a tio n s , and th e i n t e r e s t and co n cern o f d io c e s a n
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s who re sp o n d e d to th e q u e s tio n n a ire i n s p i t e
o f th e p a u c ity o f l o c a l b ro a d c a s tin g e f f o r t s by th e C hurch,
T a b u la tio n and a n a l y s i s o f q u e s tio n n a ire r e tu r n s
a re p re s e n te d a t le n g t h i n C h a p ter IX , Because th e ques
tio n n a ir e was d e s ig n e d to e l i c i t th e maximum resp o n se from
Church o f f i c i a l s and to in d i c a t e th e p o t e n t i a l l y more f r u i t
f u l s o u rc e s o f p e r s o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n , th e q u e s tio n s con
ta in e d t h e r e i n and th e an sw ers re c e iv e d were n e i t h e r so
e x te n s iv e n o r so m in u te ly d e t a i l e d t h a t th e y p e rm itte d
g r e a t ly d e t a i l e d s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s . They d id p ro v id e
d e s c r ip tiv e d a ta on th e e x te n t o f g e n e ra l a c t i v i t y o f th e
C a th o lic Church i n A m erican b r o a d c a s tin g , From th e s e d a ta
was d eterm in ed th e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f in fo rm ed p e rso n s and
docum entaiy s o u rc e s f o r f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . I t rem ained
| f o r th e f i e l d - s t u d y i n v e s t i g a t i o n to i d e n t i f y d e t a i l s o f
c a u se s and tr e n d s i n th e s e a c t i v i t i e s , so a s to d e s c rib e
em erging p o l i c i e s .
f i e l d stu d y o f d io c e s e s . The r e s e a r c h e r p e r s o n a lly
in v e s tig a te d th e e le v e n d io c e s a n c e n te r s w hich were
s e le c te d b ecau se o f t h e i r g e o g ra p h ic a l lo c a tio n and t h e i r
10*f
a f f ir m a tiv e q u e s tio n n a ir e re s p o n s e s re g a rd in g a v a i l a b i l i t y
o f d o cu m en tatio n o f l o c a l b ro a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s and p o l i
c i e s . She i n v e s t i g a t i o n so u g h t to c o rro b o ra te and s u p p le
m ent th e in fo rm a tio n t h a t was o b ta in e d i n th e q u e s tio n n a ire
su rv ey by in te rv ie w s and by in s p e c ti o n o f dooum ents w hich
s u p p lie d h i s t o r i c a l d a ta and r e f e r e n c e s to o th e r s o u rc e s o f
in fo rm a tio n such a s spokesm en f o r Church and b ro a d c a s tin g
who were a s s o c ia te d w ith n o te w o rth y e v e n ts i n th e m e d ia .
In e a c h d io c e s e i n i t i a l in te r v ie w s were h e ld w ith
re s p o n d e n ts to th e q u e s tio n n a i r e . ]?rom th e s e re s p o n d e n ts
and from t h e i r a s s o c i a t e s were o b ta in e d th e names o f o th e r
p e rso n s i n th e a r e a who w ere in v o lv e d w ith th e C a th o lic
Church i n m a tte rs o f b r o a d c a s tin g . M ost o f th e s e o th e r
p e rso n s were th e n in te r v ie w e d . They in c lu d e d C a th o lic
Church r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ) spokesm en f o r n o n -C a th o lic ch u rch
f e d e r a t io n s ) com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g e x e c u tiv e s ) and o f f i
c i a l s o f a s s o c ia te d p r o f e s s io n a l g ro u p s and f e d e r a l agen
c i e s .
B ecause o f th e b ro ad scope o f th e q u e s tio n b e in g
s tu d ie d and b ecau se th e in te r v ie w e r was a member o f th e
Roman C a th o lic c le r g y and was so d re s s e d ) in te rv ie w s u su a lly
w ere n o n d ir e c tiv e ) i n t h a t c o n v e rs a tio n ab o u t g e n e ra l
b ro a d c a s tin g to p ic s g r a d u a lly d is c lo s e d p e r t i n e n t s p e c i f i c
d a t a , p e rs o n a l v ie w s) and o p in io n s o f th e is s u e s b e in g
s tu d ie d . I t was th o u g h t t h a t t h i s te c h n iq u e re n d e re d
105
i in te rv ie w e e s more b e n ig n and com m unicative th a n would
i in te n s e d i r e c t q u e s tio n in g , and t h a t su ch in te rv ie w s would
; s u g g e s t s o u rc e s o f f u r t h e r in te r v ie w s and in v e s tig a tio n s
w h ich , p r e v io u s ly unknown to th e i n v e s t i g a t o r , would n o t
have been r e v e a le d th ro u g h d i r e c t q u e s tio n in g . In th e
co u rse o f th e s e in te r v ie w s th e r e s e a r c h e r d id em phasize
s e le c te d to p ic s w hich w ere d i r e c t l y p e r t i n e n t to th e sub
j e c t o f th e s tu d y . These p o in ts o f p a r t i c u l a r c o n c ern were
i d e n t i f i e d a t th e o u t s e t o f th e in v e s t i g a t i o n ; to them were
added o th e r is s u e s im p o rta n t to b r o a d c a s tin g and th e
C a th o lic Church w hich w ere d is c lo s e d by in te rv ie w e e s and
by docum ents i n i n v e s t i g a t e d ’f i l e s .
The is s u e s em p h asized i n th e in te rv ie w s were th o se
127
o u tlin e d i n th e p re v io u s c h a p te r . They in c lu d e d th e
tr e n d s o f p o l i c i e s re g a r d in g b r o a d c a s tin g a s e x p re s se d i n
!o f f i c i a l s ta te m e n ts and p r i v a t e com m unications o f Church
a d m in is tr a to r s ; th e p ro g ram in g p r i n c i p l e s o f r a d io and
j t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s t h a t w ere lic e n s e d to th e C a th o lic
IChurch; th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s betw een C a th o lic r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s
•ana l o c a l and n etw o rk b r o a d c a s te r s i n th e m a tte r o f a d v is e -
iment upon program s c r i p t s o r c e n s o rs h ip o f them ; th e
in v o lv em en t o f C hurch spokesm en w ith , and t h e i r in flu e n c e
u p o n , b ro a d c a s tin g l e g i s l a t i o n , w ith p a r t i c u l a r re fe re n c e
to H. B . 7716 (1932) and H. R . 1735 (1933) by
12^See C h a p te r I , p p . 5-11•
Congressm an B lan d , th e B i l l b i l l (S . 2910, 1933 )»# th e
MeFadden b i l l to amend th e R adio Aot o f 1927 (H. R . 7986,
73rd C o n g re ss, 193*0 > and th e h e a rin g s o f O cto b er, 193*+,
b e fo re th e FCC B ro a d c a s t B iv is io n r e l a t i v e to b ro a d c a s t
l e g i s l a t i o n in v o lv in g c e n s o rs h ip and program ing by C a th o lic
a g e n c ie s ; h e a rin g s on New O rlean s c h a n n e l b and S t . L ouis
ch an n el 11 i n w hich J e s u i t u n i v e r s i t i e s were c o m p e titiv e
a p p lic a n ts w ith l o c a l and n a t i o n a l g ro u p s w hich p u t th e
q u e s tio n o f a l i e n o w n ersh ip J>y an i n t e r n a t i o n a l C a th o lic
r e l i g i o u s o rd e r; F a th e r C h a rle s £ • C o u g h lin and h is u se o f
n a t i o n a l ra d io from 1929 to 1939 > and th e e f f e c t s o f th e
i NAB a c tio n s a t th e 1939 a n n u a l c o n v e n tio n ; c a n c e lla tio n o f
th e f ilm M artin L u th e r by WGN-TV, C h icag o , and su b se q u en t
a c tio n s upon th e same m a tte r i n M ilw aukee, New Y ork, and
W ashington, B. C .; C a th o lic c o o p e ra tio n w ith lo c a l and
n a t i o n a l b r o a d c a s te r s i n p re p a rin g r e l i g i o u s program s and
i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n i n t e r f a i t h p ro g ram s; C a th o lic Church
ap p o in tm en t o f o f f i c i a l r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s to o v ersee b ro a d -
! o a s t a f f a i r s f o r r e s p e c tiv e d io c e s a n c e n te r s ; i n t e r n a l
tr e n d s o r i n c o n s is te n c i e s and c o n f l i c t s among C a th o lic
I
b ro a d c a s tin g o r g a n iz a tio n s su ch a s th e N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f
i C a th o lic M en's R a d io -T e le v is io n D ep artm en t, th e C a th o lic
B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n , and th e d io c e s a n o f f ic e s o f
: r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n ; C a th o lic p u b lic a tio n and commentary upon
! com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g p r a o t i c e s . T hese were th e m ain
to p ic s o f q u e s tio n in g i n in te r v ie w s .
S p e c ific q u e s tio n s were o u tlin e d b e fo re th e i n t e r
v ie w s; th e y were p u t d i r e c t l y i f by th e end o f th e non
d i r e c t i v e p a r t o f th e in te rv ie w th e y h ad n o t a r i s e n spon
ta n e o u s ly . W ritte n n o te s were ta k e n d u rin g th e s e i n t e r
view s e x c e p t i n th e in te r v ie w o f W illiam T a n k e rsle y o f th e
CBS T e le v is io n N e tw o rk 's Program P r a c tic e s D ep artm en t, f o r
w hich a tw o -a n d -o n e -h a lf-h o u r ta p e re c o rd in g p ro v id e d th e
i b a s is o f a fo rty -tw o -p a g e v e rb a tim t r a n s c r i p t o f th e i n t e r
v ie w .
The u se o f a ta p e r e c o r d e r w ith in te rv ie w s was
r e j e c t e d , a lth o u g h i t s re c o rd u n d o u b te d ly would have been
more p r e c is e th a n t h a t o f m anual n o te - ta k in g f o r m in u tia e
o f o r a l te s tim o n y , in c lu d in g l i t e r a l re p ro d u c tio n o f s t a t e
m ents and p h ra s e o lo g y . The ta p e r e c o r d e r was n o t u s e d f o r
ith e fo llo w in g r e a s o n s : (1 ) I t was th o u g h t t h a t i n t e r -
i v iew ees w ould be l e s s a t e a se w ith a m icrophone p r e s e n t and
w ith know ledge t h a t e v e ry word would be tr a n s c r ib e d th a n
ith e y were w ith o u t th e p re se n c e o f a r e c o r d e r ; in te rv ie w e e s
iwere f r a n k and u n p o s in g w ith o u t th e ta p e r e c o r d e r . (2 ) The
I c a s u a l in te rv ie w in g w hich was u se d to e x p lo re background
d a ta and to d is c o v e r f u r t h e r s o u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n d id n o t
jle n d i t s e l f to e f f i c i e n t q u e s tio n in g ; th e in te rv ie w s were
le n g th y , some o f them l a s t i n g s e v e r a l h o u rs ; o f te n i n t e r
view s were d i s j o i n t e d by i n t e r r u p t i o n s , and o f te n th e y were
co n d u c ted d u rin g th e c o u rs e o f many d ay s and i n many
l o c a t i o n s su ch a s o f f i c e s , r e s t a u r a n t s , and s tu d io s ; s u s
ta in e d ta p e - r e c o r d in g o f su ch in te r v ie w s would n o t have
b een w h o lly f e a s i b l e . (3 ) The t r a n s c o n tin e n ta l jo u rn e y
; r e q u ir e d by th e s e a rc h f o r d a ta made u s e o f even a com pact
lig h tw e ig h t ta p e r e c o r d e r im p r a c tic a b le .
The is s u e s l i s t e d above w ere o f p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e rn
i n th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f f i l e s . Documents were s e le c te d f o r
t h e i r re le v a n c e to th e c e n t r a l to p ic s o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
Documents w ere i d e n t i f i e d and a p p ra is e d a s s i g n i f i
c a n t to th e stu d y b e c a u se th e y w ere r e c o r d s o f Church o f f i
c i a l s o r p r o f e s s io n a l b ro a d c a s t o f f i c i a l s and b ecau se o f
t h e i r im p o rta n c e . Im p o rtan ce was d e fin e d by (1) q u a n t i t i e s
su ch a s th e num ber o f docum ents on a g iv e n i s s u e , th e num
b e r o f s e p a r a te i n c i d e n t s w hich o c c a sio n e d th e docum ents,
i th e le n g th s o f th e d o cu m en ts, th e num ber o f p e rso n s men
tio n e d i n th e c o rre sp o n d e n c e and r e p o r t s , and th e e x te n t o f
ith e p e r io d o f tim e d u rin g w hich e a c h to p ic engaged th e
a t t e n t i o n s o f th e w r i t e r s , and (2 ) q u a l i t i e s such a s th e
; a u t h o r i t y o f th e a u th o r o f th e docum ent, th e p e rso n o r
jagency to whom th e docum ent was s e n t o r f o r whom in te n d e d ,
jth e e x t e n t to w hich th e c o n te n t was on Church d i s c i p l i n e
land d i r e c t i v e s i n b r o a d c a s t m a tte r s , th e p u b lic and o ffi-?
c i a l o r p r iv a t e and in fo rm a l s t a t u s o f th e docum ent, and
th e i n t e n s i t y o f n e g a tiv e o r n e u t r a l o r p o s itiv e o p in io n
e x p re s s e d upon i s o l a t e d in c id e n ts o r g e n e ra l p o l i c i e s in
109
th e C hurch.
I t would have b een presu m p tu o u s and p e d a n tic to
a tte m p t to w eig h t th e s e s o u rc e m a te r ia l s by c o n s tr u c tin g a
i fo rm u la w hich In c o rp o ra te d th e v a r io u s f a c t o r s d e s c rib e d
above so a s to a r r i v e a t an in d e x o f " re le v a n c e " o r " s e r i
o u sn e ss" o f g iv e n is s u e s in v o lv in g th e C a th o lic Church and
i oft
b r o a d c a s tin g . On th e o th e r h a n d , i n s e l e c t i n g docum ents
128por ex am p le, th e d eg ree o f f a v o ra b le o p in io n
: e x p re s s e d i n a docum ent m ig h t be w e ig h te d on a m in u s-5 to
a p l u s - 5 s c a l e , from a low o f " s tr o n g ly a g a in s t" to a h ig h
o f " s tr o n g ly i n f a v o r o f " ; th e ty p e o f docum ent m ig h t be
ir e p r e s e n te d by a l - t o - 5 s c a le from p e r s o n a l l e t t e r s ,
th ro u g h u n o f f i c i a l m em oranda, fo rm a l e p i s t o l a r y r e s p o n s e s ,
com m ittee r e p o r t s , to p u b lic s ta te m e n ts o f fo rm a l p o lic y ,
i The p ro d u c t o f th e s e two f i g u r e s m ig h t th e n be f a c to r e d by
a num ber w hich i s a f u n c tio n o f th e a u t h o r it y o f th e source,
su ch a s on a l - t o - 7 s c a le w hich r e p r e s e n ts (1 ) an in d iv id
u a l la y C a th o lic , th ro u g h (2 ) a l a y C a th o lic o r g a n iz a tio n ,
~ i (3 ) an in d iv id u a l p r i e s t , (* * ■ ) an o f f i c i a l o f a d io c e sa n
ch a n c e ry o f f ic e o r c o m m itte e , (5 ) a b is h o p , (6 ) th e E p isc o
p a l Committee on M otion P i c t u r e s , B a d io , and T e le v is io n , to
I (7 ) a p a p a l s ta te m e n t o r a d i r e c t i v e from th e V a tic a n . A
! f u r t h e r m ath em atic al f a c t o r m ig h t be in tro d u c e d a s a fu n c
t i o n o f th e co m p lex ity o f in te rc h a n g e ; th e p ro d u c t o f th e
p re v io u s f a c t o r s m ig h t be d iv id e d by x m inus th e num ber o f
a g e n c ie s o r in d iv id u a ls in v o lv e d i n a“ g iv e n i s s u e , where x
e q u a ls th e t o t a l num ber o f a g e n c ie s w hich ap p eared i n th e ”
body o f docum ented d a ta f o r a l l i s s u e s s tu d ie d . A lte m a -
i t i v e l y a g e n c ie s m ig h t be w eig h ted a c c o rd in g to t h e i r p o s i-
j t i o n i n C h u rc h -b ro a d c a stin g m a tte rs su ch a s (1 ) in d iv id u a l
I c i t i z e n , laym an, member o f b r o a d c a s t a u d ie n c e ; (2 ) c i v i c
! o r la y o r g a n iz a tio n o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; (3 ) b ro a d c a s t s t a
t i o n o r management; (*0 n etw o rk m anagem ent; (*+) governm ent !
i r e p r e s e n ta ti v e ; (4 ) m in o r Church o f f i c i a l i n a d io c e s e ;
; ( 5 ; C a th o lic h ie r a r c h y : U . S . b is h o p s and V a tic a n a u t h o r i
t i e s . O th er f a c t o r s m ig h t be in tro d u c e d to r e f in e th e
! fo rm u la .
But th e r e s u l t o f t h i s burdensom e m a th em atic al
m easurem ent m ig h t o b sc u re th e v e ry p o in t o f th e s tu d y ,
, w hich i s to tr a c e th e l o g i c a l and c h r o n o lo g ic a l developm ent!
o f C a th o lic Church p o l i c i e s . Such a m a th e m a tic a l in d e x o f
C a th o lic Church c o n c e rn f o r and in v o lv e m e n t i n th e s e
and o r a l te stim o n y i t would have b een te n d e n tio u s to choose
ev id en c e a r b i t r a r i l y and a c c o rd in g to m erely p ra g m a tic
norm s o f a v a i l a b i l i t y o f m a te r ia l o r o f c o n s is te n c y o f d a ta
on g iv e n q u e s tio n s .
A ll docum ents i n th e f i l e s in s p e c te d by t h i s
r e s e a r c h e r were re a d a t l e a s t i n a c u r s o r y way in o r d e r to
d e te rm in e th e re le v a n c e o f e a c h to i s s u e s co n cern ed w ith
th e p r e s e n t s t u d y . T h o s e docum ents w hich s u p p lie d b r i e f
in fo rm a tio n such a s n am es, d a t e s , o r r e f e r e n c e s to f u r t h e r
so u rc e m a te r ia l were removed from th e f i l e s and t h e i r p e r
t i n e n t p o r tio n s were tr a n s c r i b e d by hand o r by ty p e w r ite r ;
su ch was done w ith some docum ents o f th e PCC, NAB, CBS,
NBC, NCCM, and th e d io c e s a n r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n o f f i c e s i n
D enver and S t . L o u is . Documents c o n ta in in g many d a ta were
rem oved from th e f i l e s and re p ro d u c e d by e le c tr o - c h e m ic a l
p ro c e s s e s o r p h o to g ra p h ic o n e s . P h o t o g r a p h y was
em ployed a lm o st e x c lu s iv e ly f o r re p ro d u c in g docum ents from
th e f i l e s o f th e New York: and W ashington a rc h d io c e s a n
v a r io u s is s u e s m ig h t p ro v id e c r i t e r i a by w hich to com pare
r e l a t i v e em phases by th e Church and by b ro a d c a s t p r o f e s
s i o n a ls on g iv e n i s s u e s ; b u t w h e th e r t h i s la b o r io u s compu
t a t i o n would be s t a t i s t i c a l l y v a l i d o r r e l i a b l e w ould be
open to s e r io u s q u e s tio n .
■ ^ T h e in v e s tig a te d f i l e s a r e d e s c rib e d a b o v e ,
p p . 8 0 -8 2 , and b elow , p p . 1 1 7 -1 1 8 .
^ F a c sim ile r e p r o d u c tio n p r o c e s s e s in c lu d e d th o s e
m a n u factu red u n d e r th e b ran d nam es o f G e v a e rt, N ord,
O z a lid , S p e e d - 0 - P r in t, V e r if a x , T herm ofax, and X erox.
Ill
o f f i c e s o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n , and f o r docum ents from th e CM
f i l e s o f Very Rev* C e le s tin J* S t e i n e r , S . J . , from th e
NCW C, th e C lev elan d d io c e s a n c h a n c e ry , W BKB-TV i n C h ic ag p ,
and th e Church f e d e r a tio n o f G re a te r C hicago • O th er
s o u rc e s lo a n e d f o r s e v e r a l m onths th e more le n g th y docu
m ents w hich th e r e s e a r c h e r c o p ie d a t h i s l e i s u r e ; among
th e s e s o u rc e s were th e d io c e s a n r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n o f f i c e s i n
S t . L o u is , C hicago, New Y ork, and D e t r o i t , a s w e ll a s th e
o f f i c e s o f th e NCW C, th e D e tr o it C o u n c il o f C h u rc h e s, th e
CBS T e le v is io n Network Program P r a c ti c e s D ep artm en t, th e
PCC L ib ra ry D iv is io n o f th e O ffic e o f th e S e c r e ta r y , and
th e CM f i l e s o f f a t h e r S te in e r and o f Mr* W illiam M urphy.
| R e l i a b i l i t y and V a lid ity
The r e l i a b i l i t y o f o r a l and w r i t t e n d a ta was t e s t e d
by r e f e r e n c e to o th e r s o u rc e s i n o r d e r to v e r i f y s ta te m e n ts
and a c tio n s o f C a th o lic p o lic y -m a k e rs . The NCWC's n a t i o n a l
; B u l le t in and C a th o lic A c tio n and th e V a tic a n P o n t i f i c a l
I C om m ission's i n t e r n a t i o n a l B u l l e t i n d ' In fo rm a tio n c h r o n i-
| c le d s ta te m e n ts and b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s by th e U n ite d
I 1
! S ta te s h ie ra rc h y and t h e i r d io c e s e s . S ta te m e n ts and
| re c o rd s from o th e r s o u rc e s in c lu d e d ( 1 ) n a t io n a l an d d io -
i c e sa n C a th o lic le a d e r s and o r g a n iz a tio n s su ch a s th e NCW C,
j NCCM, and C a th o lic B ro a d c a s te rs A s s o c ia tio n ; (2 ) r e p r e s e n -
: t a t i v e s o f n a t io n a l and l o c a l com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g and
i •
o f p r o f e s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n s ; and (3 ) f e d e r a l agency
. . . - - • - ii2
s t a f f s . The r e l i a b i l i t y was s tre n g th e n e d by th e m u l t i p l i c
i t y o f a u t h o r i t a t i v e so u rc e s o f o r a l and w r i t t e n te s tim o n y .
The assu m p tio n o f f a c t u a l v e r a c ity and co m p leten ess i n docu
m en tary d a ta and in te rv ie w d a ta was su p p o rte d by th e s t a t u s
o f th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l , p r o f e s s io n a l,' and g o v ern m en tal r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e s . T h e ir p o s itio n s o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y r e f l e c t e d
t h e i r a u th e n tic know ledge o f a c t i v i t i e s and p o lic y -m a k in g
i n t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e f i e l d s o f com petence. The v e r i f i c a t i o n
o f th e s e d a ta was s u p p lie d by in v e s tig a tio n and a n a l y s i s o f
e v id e n c e from th e many d is p a r a te so u rc e s w hich p ro v id e d
in fo rm a tio n on th e same is s u e s and e v e n ts b u t from q u ite
d i f f e r i n g p o in ts o f view and from v a ry in g d eg re e s o f
in v o lv e m e n t i n th o s e i s s u e s .
!
The 92 p e r c e n t re sp o n se to th e q u e s tio n n a ire s u r
v ey o f C a th o lic d io c e s e s n o t o n ly p ro v id e d f a c t u a l d a ta to
g e n e ra l q u e s tio n s o f l o c a l Church p o l i c i e s b u t a ls o s e rv e d
a s an in d e x to th e s p e c i f i c d io c e s e s w hich w ere n b re
a c tiv e i n b ro a d c a s tin g and p o sse sse d more docum ented d a ta
th a n m ost d io c e s e s in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . Because th e
New York A rch d io cese O ffic e o f Radio and T e le v is io n Com
m u n ic a tio n s was e s ta b li s h e d i n a c i t y w hich was b o th a
c e n te r o f b ro a d c a s tin g m edia and th e p rim ary a rc h d io c e s e
*
i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , th e com plete e ig h t-d ra w e r s e t o f
f i l e s w ith c ro s s -in d e x e d do cu m en tatio n p ro v id e d th e s in g le
\
I m ost im p o rta n t r e p o s ito r y o f d a ta f o r th e p r e s e n t
113
l^ i
s tu d y . I s s u e s i n b ro a d c a s tin g ) d e f i n i t i o n o f p o l i c i e s ,
and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f p ro m in en t C a th o lic c e n te r s o f b ro ad
c a s t p ro d u c tio n w ere r e p r e s e n te d by th e r e p o r t s , c o r r e s
p o n d en ce, and memoranda f i l e d i n th e New York A rch d io cesan
o f f i c e . To v e r i f y th e s e d a ta and to supplem ent them , th e
r e s e a r c h e r in v e s t ig a t e d f i l e s and in te rv ie w e d r e p r e s e n ta
t i v e s i n th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l , b r o a d c a s tin g , and governm en
t a l c e n te r s l i s t e d above on p ag es 80-84-.
The v a l i d i t y o f o r a l and w r i tt e n d a ta was p r e d i
c a te d u p o n th e s o u rc e s o f th o se d a t a , nam ely th e members
o f th e h ie r a r c h y who p la n n ed and e x e c u te d p o lic y d e c is io n s
f o r th e C a th o lic d io c e s e s i n t h i s c o u n tr y . There w ere no
o th e r d i r e c t s o u rc e s o f p o lic y . The d io c e s a n r e p r e s e n ta
t i v e s , in c lu d in g c h a n c e llo r s o f d io c e s e s , resp o n d ed by
q u e s tio n n a ir e , l e t t e r , and o r a l in te r v ie w , and by g r a n tin g
a c c e s s to d io c e s a n docum ents w hich re c o rd e d p o lic y
^ lfjjh e a u t h o r i t y and com petence o f th e New York
A rc h d io c e s e 's b r o a d c a s tin g o f f ic e was in d ic a te d by comments;
made o r a l l y and i n w r i tin g by members o f th e C a th o lic
ih ie ra rc h y and l a i t y . I*or ex am p le, in re sp o n se to a r e q u e s t
I by t h i s r e s e a r c h e r f o r in fo rm a tio n a b o u t b ro a d c a s tin g p o l i -
ic ie s in Los A n g e le s, H is E x c e lle n c y A lden J . B e ll, AuxiHaxyi
B ishop an d C h a n c e llo r o f th e A rch d io cese o f Los A ngeles
iand member o f th e NCWC's E p is c o p a l Committee, f o r M otion
P i c t u r e s , R a d io , and T e le v is io n , s t a t e d : "My f i r s t o b s e r
v a tio n i s t h a t th e r e h a s been l i t t l e developm ent a lo n g th e
l i n e s y o u c o n te m p la te e x p lo r in g . Are you f a m il i a r w ith
iM onsignor F ly n n 's o f f i c e i n New York C ity ? He i s w orking
d i r e c t l y w ith t e l e v i s i o n and r a d i o , and i t i s one o f th e
few o f f i c e s t h a t h a s advanced i n th e d i r e c t i o n you a r e sug
g e s t i n g . You sh o u ld lo o k i n t o t h i s o r g a n iz a tio n ." ( L e tt e r
d a te d F e b ru a ry 2 0 , 1 9 6 1 .)
114-
s ta te m e n ts and c o rre sp o n d e n c e t h a t a n te d a te d th e a d o p tio n
o f p o l i c i e s .
The b ish o p s and t h e i r a d m in is tr a to r s were re s p o n
s i b l e f o r th e f u n c tio n in g o f th e o f f i c e s and a g e n c ie s o f
th e C hurch i n th e r e s p e c tiv e Roman C a th o lic d io c e s e s .
They had a u th o r ity to a p p ly to l o c a l c irc u m s ta n c e s th e
g e n e ra l norm s t h a t w ere d e te rm in e d by th e Pope and by
V a tic a n c o n g re g a tio n s . D io cesan a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' s ta te m e n ts
and d e c is io n s c o n s t i t u t e d l o c a l p o lic y — a t l e a s t a p p lie d
p o l i c y . The fo rm a l p o lic y d i r e c t i v e s t h a t w ere a p p lie d
l o c a l l y w ere re c o rd e d i n d io c e s a n f i l e s and i n p u b lic docu
m ents o f re c o rd ( e . g . , A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is ) . T here were
no o th e r so u rc e s o f p o l i c y • I f one was to stu d y o f f i c i a l
Church p o lic y , one c o u ld go to no o th e r so u rce th a n to th e
b is h o p s and t h e i r a d m in is tr a tiv e o f f i c e s f o r o r a l d a ta and
docum entary d a t a . Any o th e r s o u rc e s su ch a s l o c a l p r i e s t s ,
n e w sp a p e rs, j o u r n a l s , e t c e t e r a , were .secondary and sim ply
r e f l e c t e d o f f i c i a l p o l i c i e s o r h a z a rd e d u n o f f i c i a l , p r iv a te
TOO
(a lth o u g h p u b lic ly e x p re s s e d ) e s tim a te s and o p in io n s .
f a r t h e r t e s t o f v a l i d i t y w hich was beyond th e j
scope o f th e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t would have b een to
: i n v e s t i g a t e th e colum ns o f th e l o c a l s e c u la r m e tro p o lita n
n ew sp ap ers and th e l o c a l d io c e s a n C a th o lic n e w sp a p e rs.
News s t o r i e s , f e a t u r e a r t i c l e s , and e d i t o r i a l co m m entaries
r e f l e c t e d lo c a l s ta te m e n ts and a c t i o n s , i f a n y . o f C hurch
le a d e r s i n b r o a d c a s tin g . P a r t i c u l a r l y r e le v a n t w ould have ;
b een new spaper r e p o r ts o f C a th o lic p r e l a t e s ' p u b lic s t a t e
m ents ab o u t b r o a d c a s tin g .
115
The p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n d is c lo s e d a la c k o f s u s
ta in e d and o rg a n iz e d a c t i v i t y toy th e C a th o lic C hurch i n
th e f i e l d o f b r o a d c a s tin g . C e rta in ty p e s o f so u rc e m ate
r i a l , p a r t i c u l a r l y o f f i c i a l re c o r d s o f s p e c i f i c a p p l ic a
ti o n s o f g e n e ra l d i r e c t i v e s , were n o t ab u n d an t i n many
d io c e s a n c e n te r s in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . But ad e q u ate
a u th e n tic d a ta were a v a ila b le to t e s t th e h y p o th e s e s p ro
p o sed i n t h i s s tu d y .
G eneral and s p e c i f i c pronouncem ents f o r th e u n i
v e r s a l w orld-w ide C a th o lic Church m em bership em anated from
V a tic a n C ity . A ll su ch u n iv e r s a l s ta te m e n ts were w orded
i n g e n e r a l term s and en jo y ed v a iy in g d e g re e s o f " f o rc e o f
law " o r o f " e x h o rta tio n " i n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and a p p lic a
t i o n s by th e b ish o p s th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld . A lth o u g h m ajo r
docum ents were few , m in o r docum ents su ch a s s p e e c h e s ,
s ta te m e n ts to groups m eetin g i n Borne, r a d io a d d r e s s e s ,
e t c e t e r a , were num erous b u t b r i e f . They in d ic a te d th e
b ro a d b o u n d a rie s o f Church th in k in g on b ro a d c a s tin g q u es
t i o n s . O f f ic i a l t r a n s l a t i o n s re n d e re d th e s u b s ta n c e o f
docum ents w hich had b een p re p a re d i n i t i a l l y i n a la n g u ag e
f o r e ig n to E n g lis h . But a c cu rac y and c o n s is te n c y demanded'
t h a t c i t a t i o n s o f p a r t i c u l a r l y s i g n i f i c a n t p a s sa g e s be i n
th e o r i g i n a l la n g u a g e , w hich u s u a lly was L a ti n .
The o f f i c i a l s ta te m e n ts by th e b is h o p s o f th e
U n ite d S ta te s i n fo rm al assem bly p ro v id e d few comments on
116
b r o a d c a s tin g q u e s t i o n s . T h e o p in io n s o f l o c a l b is h o p s
and t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and l o c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s
o f p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s w ere r e f l e c t e d i n c o rre sp o n d e n c e w ith
p e rs o n s i n d io c e s a n a d m in is tr a tiv e o f f i c e s and in r e p o r t s
by d io c e s a n c o m m itte e s. The f i l e s o f o f f i c i a l d io c e s a n
a p p o in te e s f o r r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s were r e p o s i
t o r i e s f o r th e s e r e p o r t s and c o rre s p o n d e n c e . In th e b ro a d
c a s tin g o f f i c e f i l e s w ere th u s r e p o r te d th e m ost o f f i c i a l
e x p re s s e d o r im p lie d p o l i c i e s on r e c o r d .
The v a l i d i t y o f th e d a ta f u r t h e r depended upon th e
com petence o f th e in te rv ie w e e s a s in fo rm ed spokesm en f o r
th e a g e n c ie s w hich th e y r e p r e s e n te d . V a lid ity a ls o
demanded t h a t th e w r i t t e n d o cu m en tatio n t r u l y r e p r e s e n te d
th e co m p lete e x ta n t re c o rd on th e is s u e s b e in g i n v e s t i
g a te d , so t h a t th e r e s e a r c h e r co u ld su rv e y th e u n iv e r s e o f
a v a i l a b l e d a ta on th e g iv e n to p ic s and d e term in e fro m h i s
r e l a t i v e l y o b je c tiv e p o s it io n a s an academ ic i n v e s t i g a t o r
w hat m a te r ia l s were r e le v a n t and r e p r e s e n ta tiv e from among
th e m ass o f d o cu m en ts. The sim p le r form s o f m acrocosm ic
c o n te n t a n a ly s is w ere em ployed in th e s e l e c t i o n o f docu
m ents p e r t i n e n t to g iv e n is s u e s • C o n ten t o f docum ents was
^ S o c c a s io n a l s ta te m e n ts o f in d iv id u a l p r e l a t e s
when i n t h e i r own d io c e s e s o r when sp e a k in g a t n a t i o n a l
e v e n ts p ro v id e d an in d e x o f th e m ost fo rm a lly a r t i c u l a t e d
o p in io n s on b ro a d c a s tin g ; th e s e o p in io n s r e f l e c t e d w hat
e v e r p o l i c i e s e x i s t e d . S ta tu te s and d e c re e s o f l o c a l
d io c e s a n synods em bodied l o c a l r e g u la t i o n s , among w hich
w ere in c lu d e d a few s ta te m e n ts ab o u t b r o a d c a s tin g .
117
a p p r a is e d by th e c r i t e r i a o f (1 ) a u t h o r it y o f th e s o u rc e ;
(2 ) i n t e n s i t y o f d i r e c t i v e f o r c e , w h e th e r s u g g e s tio n o r
e x h o r ta tio n o r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d e c re e ; (3 ) e x te n t to w hich
docum ents co n cern ed q u e s tio n s o f b r o a d c a s tin g l e g i s l a t i o n
and co m m ercial s t a t i o n o p e ra tio n ; and (*0 th e d u r a tio n
d u rin g w hich g iv e n i s s u e s were th e s u b je c t o f c o rre s p o n
d e n c e , r e p o r t s , m em oranda, e t c e t e r a . A p p ra is a l o f docu
m ents a c c o rd in g to th e s e c r i t e r i a ap p e ared ad e q u a te to
p ro v id e a b a s is f o r a n a ly s is and l o g i c a l in d u c tio n from
d o c u m e n ta tio n o f d e t a i l e d a c tio n s and d e c is io n s to a t
l e a s t im p lie d p o lic y tr e n d s i n th e Homan C a th o lic C hurch
13^
i n t h i s c o u n tr y .
Two p o in ts m ig h t be n o te d re g a rd in g th e i n t e g r i t y
o f s o u rc e s and th e o b j e c t i v i t y o f th e r e s e a r c h e r i n t h i s
com plex and som etim es s e n s i ti v e a r e a o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s
among C h u rch , p r o f e s s io n , and governm ent.
F i r s t , th e s o u rc e s in d ic a te d t h e i r c o n c e rn t h a t
th e s e i s s u e s be e x p lo re d a s a c c u r a te ly and c o m p le te ly a s
p o s s ib le so t h a t th e p ro p e r p o l i c i e s w hich were n o t
a lre a d y o p e r a tiv e m ig h t be more c l e a r l y d e lin e a te d i n th e
f u t u r e . These s o u rc e s w ere th e m se lv e s a d m in is tr a tiv e
13^The o r i g i n a l l e t t e r s and o th e r docum ents in v e s
t i g a t e d i n th e c o u rse o f t h i s stu d y rem ain i n th e f i l e s
w here th e y were fo u n d ; b u t c o p ie s re p ro d u c e d from th e
o r i g i n a l docum ents a r e i n th e p o s s e s s io n o f th e r e s e a r c h e r
who ca n be com m unicated w ith th ro u g h P r o v in c ia l R e sid e n c e ,
892 W est B o ston B o u le v a rd , D e t r o i t ,: M ichigan, ^ 8 2 2 1 .
o f f i c i a l s who w ere d i r e c t l y r e s p o n s ib le f o r th e a c t i v i t i e s
and p o l i c i e s o f t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e o f f i c e s o r a g e n c ie s and
who th e r e f o r e p e r s o n a lly c o n tr o lle d th e r e p o s i t o r i e s o f
: e x ta n t d o c u m e n ta tio n . Because th e s e p e rs o n s knew t h a t
o th e r s o u rc e s were s u p p ly in g a s s is ta n c e and re s o u rc e m ate
r i a l s , th e fo rm e r r e a l i z e d t h a t i t w ould be h e lp f u l to a
v a l i d s tu d y , u s e f u l to t h e i r own w o rk , and a t th e same tim e
l e s s com prom ising, i f a l l r e le v a n t d a ta w ere made a v a ila b le
to t h i s r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t . D io cesan d i r e c t o r s o f b r o a d c a s t
in g i n m a jo r m e tr o p o lita n a r c h d io c e s e s , netw ork o f f i c i a l s ,
f e d e r a l governm ent o f f i c i a l s , and many o th e r o f f i c i a l s p ro
v id e d a c c e s s w ith o u t r e s e r v a ti o n to th e f i l e s r e q u e s te d .
F or ex am p le, th e CBS T e le v is io n N etwork p u t a t th e re s e a rc h
e r ' s d is p o s a l a l l n e tw o rk c o rre s p o n d e n c e , memoranda, and
d i r e c t i v e s o f th e P rogram P r a c tic e s D epartm ents i n New York
and H ollyw ood; th e s e docum ents in c lu d e d w r itte n communica
t i o n s w ith in th e n e tw o rk a d m in is tr a tio n and betw een th e
n etw o rk and in d iv i d u a ls o r g ro u p s i n th e n a tio n a l au d ie n ce
who c o rre sp o n d e d w ith th e n etw o rk re g a r d in g program c o n te n t,
!fo rm a t, and s c h e d u lin g . A lso p u t a t th e d is p o s a l o f th e
r e s e a r c h e r w ith o u t r e s t r i c t i o n were th e f iv e f i l e d raw ers
o f d a ta i n th e W ash in g to n , D. C ., a rc h d io c e s a n b ro a d c a s tin g !
o f f i c e and th e e i g h t d raw ers o f d a ta f i l e d i n th e New York
;a rc h d io c e s a n b r o a d c a s tin g o f f i c e . Of c o u rse th e s e s o u rc e s !
d id r e q u e s t t h a t th e s in g l e q u a l i f i c a t i o n upon u s e o f th e
d a ta be t h a t th e r e s e a r c h e r in fo rm them o f m a te r ia ls to be
; in c o rp o r a te d i n th e f i n a l r e p o r t w hich c o n s titu t e d th e
i p r e s e n t stu d y b ecau se o f th e p o s s ib ly c o n f id e n tia l c h a ra c
t e r o f some d a t a . T h at su b se q u e n t p e rm is s io n was i n f a c t
| g ra n te d i n w r itin g o r o r a l l y by a l l s o u rc e s w ith o u t excep
t i o n f o r u se i n th e d i s s e r t a t i o n r e p o r t . But some so u rc e s
asked t h a t f u r t h e r p e rm is s io n be so u g h t f o r some p r i v a t e
; co rresp o n d en ce and memoranda i f th e d i s s e r t a t i o n l a t e r be
| p u b lis h e d as a b o o k . B ecause ev en p e r s o n a l co rresp o n d en ce
i w hich p e r ta in e d i n any way to b ro a d c a s tin g q u e s tio n s was
i f i l e d i n th e d io c e s a n b r o a d c a s tin g f i l e d ra w e rs, i t seemed
re a s o n a b le to assum e t h a t a l l e x ta n t docum ents t h a t were
; p e r t i n e n t to th e p r e s e n t stu d y o f C hurch b ro a d c a s tin g
p o l i c i e s were a v a ila b le f o r in s p e c t i o n . U ndoubtedly
i s t r i c t l y p e rs o n a l c o rre sp o n d e n c e on o th e r m a tte rs o f l i t t l e
j p e r tin e n c e to b r o a d c a s tin g was k e p t i n o th e r f i l e s ; p o s s i-
j b ly th o s e l e t t e r s c o n ta in e d o c c a s io n a l re f e r e n c e s to b ro a d -
; c a s t i n g , b u t i f th e y h ad c o n ta in e d more th a n in c id e n ta l
: comments th e y w ould h av e been f i l e d i n a p p ro p ria te p la c e s
; i n th e e x te n s iv e b r o a d c a s tin g f i l e s . In two d io c e s e s docu-
; m ents o n b ro a d c a s tin g w ere n o t r e ta i n e d by d io c e sa n d ir e c
t o r s o f b r o a d c a s tin g . In D e tr o it th e d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r
i who had been a p p o in te d to o v e rse e b ro a d c a s tin g q u e s tio n s
t h a t w ere fo rm e rly i n th e c a re o f th e d i r e c t o r o f th e
i C o n f r a te rn ity o f C h r i s t i a n D o c trin e knew o f no f i l e d d a ta
on F a th e r C h a rle s C o u g h lin 's b ro a d c a s tin g o f th e 1 9 3 0 's .
The d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r i n C hicago d id n o t have any documen
t a t i o n on th e W GN-TV i n c i d e n t w ith th e f ilm M a rtin L u th e r .
In b o th p la c e s w h a te v e r m a te r ia l had been f i l e d was n o t i n
th e p o s s e s s io n o f th e l o c a l d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s ; t h i s
r e s e a r c h e r was n o t a b le to a s c e r t a i n w h eth e r such m a te r ia ls
were e x t a n t i n th e f i l e s o f o th e r d io c e s a n a d m in is t r a to r s .
In th e s e two m a tte rs th e f i l e s o f n o n ch u rch a g e n c ie s and
th e in te rv ie w s w ith C a th o lic o f f i c i a l s and spokesm en o f
o th e r o r g a n iz a tio n s p ro v id e d th e d a ta o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
The f i l e s o f d io c e s a n b is h o p s and c h a n c e llo r s were
n o t in s p e c te d . The re s p o n s e s to th e q u e s tio n n a ire su rv e y
in d ic a te d t h a t m ajo r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s u p e r io r s u s u a lly
r e f e r r e d b ro a d c a s t m a tte r s to s u b o rd in a te o f f i c i a l s . Dio
ce san b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s t h a t were in v e s tig a te d p e rs o n
a l l y by t h i s r e s e a r c h e r had been e s ta b li s h e d s p e c i f i c a l l y ■
to co n d u ct a l l b u s in e s s w hich p e r ta in e d to b r o a d c a s tin g ;
b is h o p s , c h a n c e llo r s , and o th e r members o f th e h ie ra rc h y
r e f e r r e d to th e s e o f f i c e s q u e s tio n s p e r ta in in g to r a d io
and t e l e v i s i o n . A lth o u g h f i n a l d e c is io n s o f m ajo r p o l i c i e s
i n d io c e s e s were made by th e m ajo r a d m in is t r a to r s , a p p o in - :
t e e s i n charge o f d io c e s a n b ro a d c a s tin g a f f a i r s ( a ) u s u a lly
i n i t i a t e d c o n s id e r a tio n o f th e q u e s tio n f o r w hich p o lic y
was to be d e te rm in e d , (b ) s u p p lie d f a c t u a l d a ta and recom'
; m en d atio n s f o r c o n s id e r a tio n by m ajo r s u p e r io r s ,
121
( c ) r e c e iv e d memoranda and co rre sp o n d e n ce from s u p e r io r s
a f t e r p o l i c i e s had b een d e te rm in e d ) (d ) a c te d a s o f f i c i a l
spokesm en f o r m ajo r d io c e s a n a d m in is tr a to r s by announcing
and c l a r i f y i n g p o lic y s ta te m e n ts f o r l o c a l and n a t io n a l
b r o a d c a s te r s . The b r o a d c a s tin g o f f i c e f i l e s docum ented
th e c o n s id e r a tio n and su b se q u e n t a c tio n s ta k e n i n d io c e s e s
on q u e s tio n s o f b r o a d c a s tin g .
Second, th e p e r s o n a l s t a t u s o f th e r e s e a r c h e r
r e in f o r c e d th e a tte m p t f o r o b j e c t i v i t y i n s e le c tio n and
tr e a tm e n t o f d a t a . The s tu d y i t s e l f was p re p a re d a s a
d o c to r a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t and n o t a s a f i e l d .study o r an
a n a ly s is f o r any agency o f th e Roman C a th o lic C hurch. The
r e s e a r c h e r s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e d t h a t f a c t when he was
in tro d u c e d to in te r v ie w e e s . E jq a lic it c l a r i f i c a t i o n was
made by th e r e s e a r c h e r b ecau se a s a c l e r i c o f th e Roman
C a th o lic Church he wore a b la c k s u i t and w h ite "Roman
c o l l a r " and was a d d re s s e d by th e t i t l e o f " R a th e r." The
r e s e a r c h was n e i t h e r s u b s id iz e d n o r u n d erw ritten by any
o f f i c e o r d io c e se o f th e C a th o lic C hurch, n o r was i t
fin a n c e d by any fo u n d a tio n o r p r o f e s s io n a l b ro a d c a s tin g
o r g a n iz a tio n . E x p en ses o f th e d o c to r a l program o f s tu d ie s
a n d 'o f th e p r e s e n t d i s s e r t a t i o n r e s e a r c h were borne
e n t i r e l y by th e S o c ie ty o f J e s u s , an "exem pt" r e l i g i o u s
o rd e r o f th e Roman C a th o lic C hurch. As an exem pt o r d e r ,
th e J e s u i t o rd e r and i t s m em bership w ere d i r e c t l y s u b je c t
122
to th e V a tic a n i n m a tte r s o f a s c e t i c a l d i s c i p l i n e ; i n " a l l
m a tte rs o f s u b s t a n t i a l im p o rta n c e " th e o r d e r i s exem pt from
th e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f l o c a l Church a d m in is tr a to r s su ch a s
135
d io c e s a n b is h o p s . F u rth erm o re th e members o f th e
S o c ie ty o f J e s u s d e f e r r e d any e c c l e s i a s t i c a l p re fe rm e n t in
th e form o f h i e r a r c h i c a l p o s it io n s o f ra n k ( e . g . , m onsig-
n o r , b is h o p , c a r d i n a l) e x c e p t i n th e r a r e a p p o in tm e n ts to
su ch p o s i t io n s in th e f o r e ig n m is s io n s . Double s a fe g u a rd s
13E x e m p tio n o f r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s so d e s ig n a te d
e x te n d s to a l l b u t a few s p e c i f i c m a tte r s such a s o r d in a
t i o n to th e p r ie s th o o d , d io c e s a n p e rm is s io n to h e a r con
f e s s i o n s o f th e l a i t y , and e p is c o p a l a p p ro b a tio n p r i o r to
p u b lic a t io n o f b o o k s. See Jo h an n es B a p tis t S a g m u lle r,
"E x em p tio n ," The C a th o lic E n c y c lo p e d ia (New Y ork: R o b e rt
A p p leto n Company, 1 9 0 9 ), V, p p . A )b-70 7 . No e p is c o p a l
a p p ro v a l i s r e q u ir e d f o r academ ic r e p o r t s o f s c h o la r ly
r e s e a r c h . And e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a p p ro v a l o f p u b lis h e d w r i t
in g s p e r t a i n s o n ly to m a tte r s o f f a i t h o r m o rals i n th o se
w o rk s, n o t to su ch m a tte r s a s a d m in is tr a tiv e d e c is io n s
and judgm ents ab o u t o r a c t i c a l p o l i c i e s . The te c h n ic a l
s ta te m e n t o f e x p la n a tio n now accom panies m ost p u b lis h e d
w orks w hich e x h i b it th e "Im p rim atu r" ( " l e t i t be p r in te d " )
o r " N ih il O b sta t" (" n o th in g s ta n d s i n th e way" o f p u b lic a
t i o n ) :
The n i h i l o b s ta t and im p rim a tu r a r e o f f i c i a l d e c la r a
t i o n s t h a t a book o r p am p h let i s f r e e o f d o c t r i n a l o r
m o ral e r r o r . No im p lic a tio n i s c o n ta in e d t h e r e i n t h a t
th o s e who have g ra n te d th e n i h i l o b s ta t and im p rim a tu r i
a g re e w ith th e c o n t e n ts , o p in io n s o r s ta te m e n ts
e x p re s s e d .
W ith in r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s , members m ust o b ta in p e rm is s io n
from t h e i r s u p e r io r s f o r p u b lic a tio n b u t n o t f o r th e p u b lic
r e p o r t o f academ ic r e s e a r c h su ch a s d i s s e r t a t i o n s o r th eses.
P e rm issio n s f o r p u b lis h e d w orks c o n c e rn th e presum ed v a lid -;
i t y and a c c u ra c y o f th e d a ta and th e a c c e p t a b i l i t y o f th e
s t y l e f o r p u b lic p e r u s a l . But th e e x p re s s e d im p lic a tio n s
and c o n c lu s io n s , e s p e c i a l ly i n a s c h o la r ly s tu d y , a r e th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e a u th o r - r e s e a r c h e r .
123
were thereby provided for integrity in investigating these
matters of Church policy: (a) the Jesuit order had little
to gain or to lose by objective candid exploration of the
development of Church policies on practical matters of
broadcasting in dioceses and in the nation at large,
because progress or regress of individual dioceses in those
questions did not reflect upon the aptitude and efficiency
of the Jesuit religious order with regard to broadcasting;
and (b) disclosure of confidential and relatively private
diocesan information to the Jesuit researcher in no way
compromised the internal decisions or actions of diocesan
officers because they and the Jesuit order are independent
of each other; data neither originated with nor depended
upon Jesuit individuals who were subject to the administra
tive discipline of the diocesan chancery offices which
directly govern diocesan priests and laymen. 1 3 6
It would be ungracious and untrue to disclaim the
outstanding support given this project and the encourage
ment given this researcher not only by the hierarchy but
by the diocesan priests and lay officials associated with
agencies of the Catholic Church. Their cooperation and
•*^In matters of specifically Jesuit activity
there is of course a degree of involvement and bias which
must be more carefully guarded against, such as in the
comparative hearings for a television channel in
New Orleans by WWL-TV and Loyola University, in the Sacred
Heart program series, and in Jesuit authors* commentaries
on communication media.
1 2 * +
f ra n k n e s s re n d e re d more v a l id and r e l i a b l e , and a t th e same
tim e more f e a s i b le and p le a s a n t, t h i s e n t i r e r e s e a r c h . One
iw ould f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t to s p e c ify sh o rtc o m in g s i n th e
v e r a c i t y o r com plete c a n d id n e s s o f p e rs o n s who g ra n te d
a c c e s s to docum ented r e c o r d s and to t h e i r own p e r s o n a l
r e c o l l e c t i o n s , o p in io n s , and comments on th e q u e s tio n o f
C a th o lic Church p o l i c i e s re g a rd in g com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g
i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s . In te rv ie w e e s w ould be e x p e c te d to
be somewhat r e t i c e n t a b o u t d e l ic a te and c o n t r o v e r s i a l ques
t i o n s in w hich th e y and t h e i r d io c e s e s to o k p a r t ; b u t i n
th e c o u rse o f t h i s r e s e a r c h in te rv ie w e e s c a n d id ly d is c u s s e d
th e q u e s tio n s p u t by th e r e s e a r c h e r and sp o n ta n e o u s ly
o f f e r e d s u g g e s tio n s on f u r t h e r s o u rc e s o f in f o r m a tio n . I t
seemed t h a t th e c l e r i c a l s t a t u s o f th e r e s e a r c h e r c o n t r i b
u te d to t h i s f r a n k n e s s .
B r ie f m en tio n m ig h t be made o f th e r e l a t i v e m e r its
j o f a Roman C a th o lic clergym an in s te a d o f a n o n -C a th o lic
; laym an a s a r e s e a r c h e r on th e p r e s e n t to p ic • C a th o lic
C hurch a d m in is tr a to r s were more a v a i l a b l e to a c l e r i c and
I w ere l e s s r e l u c t a n t to be o u tsp o k en i n t h e i r comments upon
; i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f th e Church th a n th e y m ig h t have been
e x p e c te d to be w ith n o n c l e r ic s . A lth o u g h C hurch o f f i c i a l s
w ould be in c lin e d to f a v o r th e C hurch*s p o s i t io n and to
p r e s e n t i t s re a s o n s f o r c e r t a i n a c t i o n s i n th e b e s t l i g h t ,
th e y would be more c a n d id w ith a f e llo w c l e r i c th a n w ith a
p e rs o n who was n o t o f th e same f a i t h . C hurch o f f i c i a l s
who were i n t e n t upon id e n tif y in g and c o r r e c t in g s o u rc e s o f
g en u in e em barrassm ent o r problem s i n Homan C a th o lic o p in io n
and a c tio n s re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s tin g w ere s tr a ig h tf o r w a r d i n
t h e i r d is c u s s io n o f th e m a tte rs and w ere l i b e r a l i n m aking
a v a ila b le th e d o cu m en tatio n t h a t e x i s te d i n o f f i c i a l f i l e s .
I t i s q u e s tio n a b le w h eth er C a th o lic o f f i c i a l s w ould e x e r
c is e su ch la c k o f c o n s tr a in t in d is c u s s in g com plex and
p o t e n t i a l l y c o n tr o v e r s ia l m a tte rs w ith a laym an, p a r t i c u
l a r l y a n o n -C a th o lic laym an, who c o u ld more e a s i l y m is
u n d e rs ta n d th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l c o n te x t and m i s i n t e r p r e t th e
d a ta made a v a ila b le to him . The same re a s o n in g seemed
v a l i d f o r C a th o lic b ro a d c a s te rs * and f e d e r a l governm ent
o f f i c i a l s * re sp o n se s to a c l e r i c i n v e s t i g a t o r . On th e
o th e r h a n d , n o n -C a th o lic churchm en, b r o a d c a s te r s , and gov
ernm ent spokesmen c a n d id ly d is c u s s e d w ith a C a th o lic
u n o f f i c i a l r e p r e s e n ta tiv e t h e i r c o m p la in ts and t h e i r s a t i s
f a c t i o n s w ith th e p o s it io n s o f th e C a th o lic Church on some
i s s u e s . A lthough n o n -C a th o lic spokesm en m ight have b een
i
more o u tsp o k en in d is c u s s in g th e s e m a tte r s w ith fe llo w
n o n - C a th o lic s , th e y seemed to m a n ife s t c o n fid e n c e i n a
C a th o lic r e s e a r c h e r 's u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e b r o a d c a s te r s '
p o s i t i o n v is - & - v is th e C a th o lic C hurch. A n o n -C a th o lic
r e s e a r c h e r m ight a ls o te n d to be c o n c ilia to x y w ith C a th o lic j
o f f i c i a l s and b r o a d c a s te rs o f C a th o lic f a i t h i n o r d e r to
o b ta in a t l e a s t m inim al c o o p e ra tio n by a v o id in g c o n tro v e r
s i a l m a tte r s ; b a t t h i s would p re c lu d e o b ta in in g in fo rm a tio n
on c e r t a i n im p o rta n t m a tte rs such a s c o n f l i c t s among p e r
so n s and p o l i c i e s o f n a t io n a l C a th o lic b ro a d c a s tin g o rg a n i
z a tio n s and i n t e r n a l d io c e sa n problem s a f f e c t i n g d e c is io n s
ab o u t b r o a d c a s tin g . The C a th o lic c l e r i c was a b le to p u t
q u e s tio n s w hich were som etim es d e l i c a t e m a tte rs i n p u b lic
b u t w hich i n p r iv a te were d is c u s s e d w ith ca n d o r and w ith
th e p r e c is io n t h a t was p o s s ib le in o r a l d is c o u r s e • Church
a d m in is tr a to r s presum ed t h a t background in fo rm a tio n
d iv u lg e d to th e J e s u i t r e s e a r c h e r would be u se d w ith p ro p e r
d i s c r e t i o n i n o rd e r to e x p lo re th e is s u e s a c a d e m ic a lly
r a t h e r th a n to aro u se c o n tro v e rs y f o r i t s own s a k e .
V ario u s h y p o th e se s were c o n s tru c te d to e x p la in
C a th o lic Church d e c is io n s and a c tio n s on g iv e n i s s u e s ; th e
h y p o th e s e s w ere th e n a n a ly ze d and r e j e c t e d , a c c e p te d , o r
m o d ifie d i n th e l i g h t o f th e d a ta g a th e r e d . C o n c lu sio n s
w ere draw n c o n c e rn in g tre n d s in Church p o l i c i e s upon com-
jm e rc ia l b r o a d c a s tin g . In a tte m p tin g to a v o id o v e r s im p lif i- j
c a tio n i n e x p la in in g how th e f a c t s su p p o rte d a h y p o th e s is , j
th e r e s e a r c h e r s tu d ie d co m b in atio n s o f c a u s a l f a c t o r s w hich!
1 ' I
'o p e r a te d to b rin g a b o u t a g iv e n e f f e c t .
One m ight r e c a l l th e comments o f o th e r s c h o la r s who I
s tu d ie d th e background to p o lic y fo rm a tio n . P a r k e r , B a rry ,
land Smythe d e s c rib e d t h e i r stu d y a s " d is tin g u is h e d more by
127
b r e a d th th a n by p r e c i s i o n ."
. . . we have c o n s id e re d o u r problem to be d e fin e d
b y th e t o t a l i t y o f th e s i t u a t i o n in s t e a d o f by th e
a s p e c ts o f i t w hich c o u ld be p u t u n d e r a m ic ro sc o p e .
W e have t r i e d to ta c k le a la r g e s u b j e c t by com ing
a t i t from a num ber o f d ir e c tio n s and u s in g d iv e r s e
a v a i l a b l e r e s e a r c h to o ls t h a t w ere n o t alw ays con
s i s t e n t w ith ea c h o t h e r , and c e r t a i n l y n o t depen
d e n t upon ea ch o t h e r . . . .
T h is m u ltif a c e te d ap p ro ach to a problem i s , i n
r e s e a r c h te rm s , p a r a l l e l to th e c o n d itio n o f th e
p o lic y -m a k e r h im s e lf , and was d e s ig n e d w ith t h i s
i n m in d . P o lic y fo rm a tio n i s c h a r a c te r iz e d by th e
n ee d f o r m aking s p e c i f i c d e c is io n s a t s p e c if ic
tim e s i n th e c o n te x t o f a com plex s i t u a t i o n i n
w hich some know ledge i s s p e c i f i c , b u t much i s com
p o se d o f h unch, e x p e rie n c e , i n s i g h t , p re c o n c e p tio n
and i n c i d e n t a l in f o rm a tio n . The d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
o f th e p o lic y -m a k e r w ith th e r e s e a r c h e r i s o f te n
p r e c i s e l y b ecau se th e l a t t e r d e f in e s h i s c o n tr ib u
t i o n so n a rro w ly i n term s o f t h a t w hich i s
" r e s e a r c h a b l e ," o r am enable to a g iv e n m eth o d o lo g i
c a l p ro c e d u re , r a t h e r th a n in te rm s o f th e more
c o m p lic a te d t o t a l problem th e p o lic y -m a k e r m ust
r e s o l v e . W e have t r i e d — r i g h t l y o r w ro n g ly , and
w ith w hat s u c c e s s th e r e a d e r m ust ju d g e — to m atch
r e s e a r c h p ro c e d u re s to th e t o t a l i t y o f th e problem ;
and where th e a v a ila b le p ro c e d u re s a re in a d e q u a te
to th e co m p le x ity o f th e p ro b lem , o u r f in d in g s
u n d o u b te d ly r e f l e c t th e f a c t . 1^?
Summary
The wide scope o f th e stu d y was prom pted by th e
la c k o f re s o u rc e m a te r ia l s d ev o ted e x c lu s iv e ly to C a th o lic j
p o l i c i e s r e g a rd in g A m erican b r o a d c a s tin g . G en eral s t u d i e s j
o f com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g and o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g
p ro v id e d h i s t o r i c a l d a ta and r e f e r e n c e s to f u r t h e r s o u rc e s i
13 7 |ijv erett C. P a r k e r , David W. B a rry , and D a lla s W.
Sm ythe, The TV-Badio A udience and R e lig io n (New Yorks
H a rp e r and B r o th e r s , 1 9 5 5 ), P» 392• "
o f in f o rm a tio n . The l i t e r a t u r e o f r e l i g i o u s b ro a d c a s tin g
was dom inated by s t u d i e s o f P r o te s ta n t ch u rch a c t i v i t i e s
and p o l i c i e s i n r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m in g , au d ien ce a n a l y s i s ,
and p h ilo s o p h ie s o f u t i l i z a t i o n o f th e m edia f o r a p o s to lic
p u rp o se s; m ost o f th e s e p u b lic a tio n s were p re p a re d u n d e r
th e a u s p ic e s o f th e NCCC's B ro a d c a stin g and F ilm Commis
s io n . The few Roman C a th o lic s tu d ie s an a ly z e d th e broad
to p ic s o f com m unications a e s t h e t i c s ; s e v e r a l s tu d ie s were
r h e t o r i c a l a n a ly s e s o f th e r a d io a d d re s s e s o f F a th e r
C h a rle s E . C o u g h lin and B ishop F u lto n J . Sheen. S tu d ie s
o f th e L egion o f D ecency, The C a th o lic Hour s e r i e s th ro u g h
N BC r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n , and th e e x te n t o f C a th o lic t e l e
v is i o n and f ilm p ro d u c tio n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s in 1957“
1958, p ro v id e d in fo rm a tio n o f some re le v a n c e to th e p r e s e n t
t o p i c . C o m p ila tio n s o f a d d re s s e s o f popes and A m erican
b is h o p s , and th e NCWC*s m onthly news p u b lic a t io n s , s u p p lie d
t e x t s o f o f f i c i a l s ta te m e n ts and h i s t o r i c a l d a ta .
The d io c e s a n d i r e c t o r s o f b ro a d c a s tin g i n s e le c te d
m ajor m e tro p o lita n c e n te r s p ro v id e d o r a l te stim o n y and
d o cu m en ta tio n o f C a th o lic Church d i r e c t i v e s and a c t i v i t i e s
re g a rd in g b r o a d c a s tin g . The Grand R ap id s (M ig h ican ),
S t . L o u is , and New York o f f i c e s o f r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n
r e p o r te d th e e x te n t o f C a th o lic r e l i g i o u s program ing and
a u d ie n c e s i n 1956 and 1958. The d io c e s e s w hich were
s e le c te d b ecau se o f t h e i r g e o g ra p h ic a l lo c a tio n and because
129
t h e i r re s p o n s e s to a q u e s tio n n a ire su rv e y o f th e n a t i o n 1 s
d io c e s e s in d ic a te d a v a i l a b i l i t y o f d o cu m en tatio n were
th o se o f San F ra n c is c o , Los A n g e le s, D enver, K ansas C ity
(K a n sa s ), S t . L o u is , C h icag o , D e t r o i t , C le v e la n d , New York,
and W ashington, D. C.
To s tre n g th e n th e r e l i a b i l i t y and v a l i d i t y o f th e
d a t a , f u r t h e r in fo rm a tio n was o b ta in e d from a d i v e r s i t y o f
a u t h o r i t a t i v e so u rc e s w hich in c lu d e d th e f i l e s and p e rs o n a l
te stim o n y o f c l e r i c and la y r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f l o c a l and
n a t io n a l C a th o lic C hurch c e n t e r s , f e d e r a l agency ad m in is
t r a t o r s and s t a f f m em bers, lo c a l and n a t io n a l p r o f e s s io n a l
b r o a d c a s te r s , and P r o t e s t a n t le a d e r s i n b ro a d c a s tin g .
The h i s t o r i c a l m ethod was th e m ost l o g i c a l and
f e a s ib le f o r s tu d y in g th e em ergence and developm ent o f
Homan C a th o lic p o l i c i e s re g a rd in g com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g
i n th e U n ited S ta te s th ro u g h f o u r d e c a d e s . S c a r c ity o f
d o cu m en tatio n f o r a g iv e n p e rio d o r r e g io n p re c lu d e d
a n a ly s is o f a s e le c te d l o c a l C a th o lic c e n te r o f b ro a d c a s t
in g . The s ig n if ic a n c e o f such in fo rm a tio n c o u ld n o t be
d e term in ed w ith o u t a b ro a d e r know ledge o f th e r e l a t i o n s h i p
o f th e C a th o lic Church to b ro a d c a s tin g i n A m erica.
V a tic a n d i r e c t i v e s to th e w orld-w ide Church were
com pared w ith s ta te m e n ts o f th e C a th o lic h ie ra rc h y in
A m erica and w ith th e d io c e s a n a c tio n s re g a rd in g b ro a d
c a s tin g » Q u e s tio n n a ir e s , in te r v ie w s , and docum ents p ro
v id e d d a ta c o n c e rn in g th e fre q u e n c y and s ig n if ic a n c e o f
130
to p ic s r e le v a n t to b ro a d c a s tin g ; th e to p ic s were a p p ra is e d
a c c o rd in g to th e c r i t e r i a o f a u t h o r it y o f th e s o u rc e ,
i n t e n s i t y o f command o r e x h o r ta tio n , p e rtin e n c e to b ro ad
c a s tin g l e g i s l a t i o n and com m ercial s t a t i o n o p e r a tio n , and
th e p e r io d o f tim e d u rin g w hich th e to p ic s were o f c o n c e rn
to th e C hurch. Prom t h i s m acrocosm ic a n a ly s is was drawn
ev id e n ce o f d e t a i l e d a c tio n s and d e c is io n s and a t l e a s t
im p lie d p o lic y tr e n d s i n th e C hurch.
Spokesmen f o r th e o f f i c e s and a g e n c ie s o f P r o te s
t a n t and C a th o lic C h u rch , g overnm ent, and b ro a d c a s tin g
p r o f e s s io n were c a n d id in in te rv ie w s and p e rm itte d a c c e s s
to docum entary r e c o r d s . Prom t h e i r p o s itio n s o f a u t h o r ity
was i n f e r r e d th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f th e in fo rm a tio n d iv u lg e d
by them .
The r e s e a r c h e r 's s t a t u s a s a d o c to ra l s c h o la r and
a s a J e s u i t c l e r i c o f th e Roman C a th o lic Church may have
c o n tr ib u te d to th e o b j e c t i v i t y o f th e s tu d y , b o th i n
c o l l e c t i n g d a ta and i n a n a ly z in g and r e p o r tin g th o s e d a ta
i n an u n p u b lis h e d d i s s e r t a t i o n f o r an academ ic d e p a rtm e n t
o f a s e c u la r u n i v e r s i t y .
CHAPTER III
STRUCTURE OP THE R O M A N CATHOLIC CHURCH HIERARCHY
I n tr o d u c tio n
In o rd e r to i d e n t i f y and a p p r a is e th e p o l i c i e s o f
an o r g a n iz a tio n , i t i s n e c e s s a ry to o u tli n e th e sy stem o f
s a n c tio n s o r a u t h o r i t y w ith in t h a t o r g a n iz a tio n .1 C e n tra l
a u t h o r i t y i n th e Roman C a th o lic C hurch i s e x e rc is e d hy
a d m in is tr a to r s i n V a tic a n C ity and i n ea ch o f th e e c c l e s i
a s t i c a l t e r r i t o r i e s c a l l e d d io c e s e s th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld .
P o l i c i e s on g iv e n i s s u e s may be p a r t i a l l y i d e n t i f i e d by
d e te rm in in g th e c o n s is te n c y o r c o n f l i c t among th e p a t te r n s
o f s a n c tio n s . Among th e q u e s tio n s w hich a r i s e a r e : who
i n i t i a t e p o l i c i e s i n th e V a tic a n and i n th e d io c e s e s o f th e
U n ite d S ta te s ? How do th e y com m unicate th e s e p o l i c i e s ?
W ith w hat f o r c e o f law o r e x h o r ta tio n do th e y make known
th e p o l i c i e s ? And, to w hat e x te n t a r e th e p o lic ie s
e n fo rc e d ? P u rth e rm o re , w hat r e l a t i o n s h i p s e x i s t betw een
th e b ro a d e r s ta te m e n ts o f th e V a tic a n re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s t- ;
in g and th e more s p e c i f i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f th o se
^Sam uel Hugh B ro c k u n ie r, "P roblem s o f H i s to r ic a l
A n a ly s is ," The S o c ia l S c ie n c e s i n H i s t o r i c a l S tu d y : A
R e p o rt o f th e fromm ittee on r iis io r io g r a p f iy l B u lle x in
(New f o r k : S o c ia l S c ie n c e R e search C o u n c il, 195*0, p* 102.
131
132
s ta te m e n ts in th e d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s ?
The s a n c tio n in g a u th o r ity o f th e Roman C a th o lic
h i e r a r c h ic a l o r g a n iz a tio n may he o u tlin e d hy d e s c r ib in g
th e s tr u c tu r e and f u n c tio n o f th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f th e
C hurch. By s t r u c t u r e i s m eant "a r e l a t i v e l y perm anent o r
p e r s i s t e n t o r g a n iz a tio n o f p a r t s , " and by f u n c tio n i s m eant
" th e ty p e o r ty p e s o f a c tio n o f w hich a s tr u c t u r e i s d ie
's
t i n e t l y c a p a b le ." I n th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r th e o r g a n iz a tio n
o f th e C a th o lic C hurch i s a n a ly z e d a c c o rd in g t o : th e
s t r u c t u r e s o f th e V a tic a n and th e d io c e s e s , th e mode o f
com m unicating V a tic a n and d io c e sa n a u t h o r it y by w r i t t e n
and spoken s ta te m e n ts , and th e l o c a l d io c e s a n i n t e r p r e t a
t i o n and a p p lic a tio n o f a u t h o r it y f o r r e s i d e n t c le r g y and
3
la y p e rs o n s .
% o x n e ll H a r t, " S tr u c tu r e " and " P u n e tio n ," D ic
tio n a r y o f S o c io lo g y , e d . by H. P . P a i r c h il d (Hew Y ork:
P h ilo s o p h ic a l L ib r a r y , 1 9 ^ ) » PP* 310*, 125; c f .
R ev. P au l W . P ace y , S . J . , "The L egion o f D ecency: A
S o c io lo g ic a l A n a ly s is o f th e Em ergence and D evelopm ent o f
a S o c ia l P re s s u re G roup" (u n p u b lish e d P h.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n ,
Pordham U n iv e r s ity , New Y ork, 1 9 ^ 5 ), p* 35*
3i n th e l a s t p a r t o f th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r and i n
su b se q u en t c h a p te r s a stu d y o f th e v a r io u s d i s t i n c t fu n c
t io n s and t h e i r i n t e r r e l a t i o n c o n s t i t u t e s a stu d y o f th e
s t r u c t u r e " in a c tio n " b ecau se th e f u n c tio n s a re i n d i c a t o r s
o f o r g a n iz a tio n a l s t r u c t u r e . See P a c e y , o p . c i t . . p . 3 6 .
The s tr u c t u r e i s m a n ife s te d by th e e f f e c t s o f i t s o p e ra
t i o n , j u s t a s th e t h e o r e t i c a l p o l i c i e s re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s t
in g a re e v id en ced by th e p r a c t i c a l r e s u l t s o f s p e c i f i c
d e c is io n s made upon r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n q u e s tio n s .
133
h
S true tore of Homan Catholic Hierarchy*
The governm ent o f th e Homan C a th o lic Church con
s i s t e d o f a h ie r a r c h y o r ra n k in g o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l p e rs o n s
who i n i t i a t e , p ro m u lg a te , and s a n c tio n Church s ta te m e n t o f
d o c tr in e s and d i r e c t i v e s p e r ta in in g to th e f a i t h and to
5 ft
m o r a ls .y The H oly S ee° ta k e n i n i t s g e n e ra l sen se r e f e r r e d
to th e a c tu a l s e a t o r r e s id e n c e o f th e suprem e pow er o f th e
^ F o r an o r g a n iz a tio n a l c h a r t o f th e C a th o lic h i e r
arch y se e T . L in c o ln B o u scaren , S . J . , and Adam C. E l l i s ,
S . J . , Canon Law: A T ex t and Commentary (M ilw aukee: The
Bruce P u b lis h in g C o ., 19*ft>), p p . lb O - lo l; c f . Edward L .
H e sto n , C .S .C ., The H oly See a t Work (M ilw aukee: The B ruce
P u b lis h in g C o ., 1 9 ^ 0 ), p . See T ab le 1 , p . 131 **
-*Ford and B e lly made th e c l e a r d i s t i n c t i o n betw een
e t h i c s and m o ra ls : " e t h i c s i s th e s c ie n c e o f m o ra lity
b ased on re a s o n ; i t c o n s id e r s man i n th e n a t u r a l o r d e r ,
p o s s e s s e d o f a n a t u r a l d e s t i n y . M oral th e o lo g y in c lu d e s
e t h i c s and go es beyond i t — a b s o rb s i t , so to sp e a k . M oral
th e o lo g y s tu d i e s man i n th e s u p e r n a tu r a l o r d e r , p o s s e s s e d
o f a s u p e r n a tu r a l d e s tin y ; i t i s a s c ie n c e b ased n o t o n ly
on r e a s o n ~ n o r p r i n c i p a l l y on re a s o n — b u t e s p e c i a lly on
r e v e l a ti o n and on th e te a c h in g o f th e C hurch. B eason i s
th e suprem e argum ent i n e t h i c s ; a u t h o r i t y i s th e s o v e re ig n
g u id e o f th e th e o lo g ia n ." T h e re fo re a .b r i e f d e s c r ip tio n o f
th e s t r u c t u r e o f a u t h o r it y i n th e C a th o lic Church c l a r i f i e s
th e d i r e c t i v e pow er o f th e Church h ie r a r c h y f o r th e g e n e ra l
Church m em bership. The p r e s e n t stu d y i s concerned w ith th e
e x e r c is e o f such a u t h o r it y i n m a tte rs o f f a i t h and m o ra ls
w hich p e r t a i n to b r o a d c a s tin g . See Jo h n C. F o rd , S . J . , and
G erald K e lly , S . J . , Q u e stio n s i n Fundam ental M oral T heology.
V o l. I o f C ontem porary M oral Theology S e r ie s (W e stm in ste r. I
M aryland: The Newman P r e s s , 195b) , p • 3 • C h a p ters I , "The
Church and th e M oral Law," I I , " D o c trin a l V alue and I n t e r
p r e t a t i o n o f P ap al T e a c h in g ," and I I I , "E p isc o p a l Teach
in g ," p p . 3 - h l , p ro v id e u s e f u l background in fo rm a tio n on
th e to p ic s d is c u s s e d i n th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e p r e s e n t chap
t e r .
^The L a tin S a n c ta Sedes l i t e r a l l y means "H oly
C h air" o r "Holy S e a t."
THE SOVEREIGN POETIFF
SACRED CONGRE TRIBUNALS OFFICES COMMISSIONS
GATIONS
Holy Office Penitentiary Chancexy Biblical
Consistorial Interpretation of
Oriental Signature
Datary Code of Canon
Sacraments Law
Council Rota Secretariat For Revision of
Religious of State the Vulgate -
Propagation S. Archaeology
of the Faith Secretariat For Protection of
Rites of Briefs Historical &
Ceremonial Artistic Monu
Seminaries & Secretariat ments of Holy See
Universities of Latin Heraldry for
St. Peter*s Letters Papal Court
Basilica
NUNCIOS AND APOSTOLIC DELEGATES
T H E HI ER ARCH Y
ORDINARY GOVERNMENT
Archbishops
Bishops
Vicars Apostolic
Prefects Apostolic
Superiors of Missions
Major Superiors in Exempt
Religious Communities
EXTRAORDINARY. GOVERNMENT
Diocesan Synods
Provincial Councils
Plenary Councils
m " c i B B g r
uounoxx
R e lig io u s
P ro p a g a tio n
o f th e F a ith
R ite s
C erem onial
S e m in a ries &
U n iv e r s it ie s
S t . P e t e r 's
B a s ilic a
o f S ta te
S e c r e ta r ia t
o f B r ie f s
S e c r e ta r ia t
o f L a tin
L e tte r s
jror nevxsxon ox
th e V u lg a te .
S . A rchaeology
F o r P r o te c tio n o f
H i s t o r i c a l &
A r t i s t i c Monu
m ents o f H oly See
H e ra ld ry f o r
P a p a l C o u rt
NUNCIOS AND APOSTOLIC HELEGATES
T H E H I E R A R C H Y
ORDINARY G O V ER N M EN T
A rchbishops
B ishops
V ic a rs A p o s to lic
P r e f e c ts A p o s to lic
S u p e rio rs o f M issio n s
M ajor S u p e rio rs i n Exempt
R e lig io u s Communities
EXTRAORDINARY. G O V ERN M EN T
D io cesan Synods
P r o v in c ia l C o u n cils
P le n a ry C o u n cils
m m cmsr
T
THE FAITHFUL (LAITY)
F ig . 1 . O rg a n iz a tio n a l c h a r t o f s tr u c t u r e o f Roman
C a th o lic C hurch p r i o r to V a tic a n I I C o u n c il.
*S ourcej Edward L . H esto n , C .S .C ., The Holy See a t Work (M ilw aukee: Bruce
P u b lis h in g C o ., 1 9 5 0 ), p . 7 .
M i
U J
-F:
135
C hurch, th e p o p e, to g e th e r w ith th e v a r io u s e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
a u t h o r i t i e s who c o n s titu t e d th e c e n t r a l a d m in is tr a tio n .
The term was synonymous w ith " A p o s to lic S e e," "H oly Apos
t o l i c S e e ," "Homan C h u rch ," and "Roman C u r ia ." '7
The governm ent o f th e C hurch was headed by th e pope
who was a ls o d e s ig n a te d by th e t i t l e s o f so v e re ig n p o n t i f f ,
supreme p o n t i f f , and H oly R a th e r. H is p a p a l a d v is o r s were
p r e l a t e s w ith th e t i t l e o f c a r d i n a l ; th e y c o n s titu t e d th e
m em bership o f th e v a r io u s Homan c o n g re g a tio n s , t r i b u n a l s ,
and o f f i c e s w hich have been i n s t i t u t e d by th e popes f o r
th e governm ent o f th e C hurch. The re g io n s o f th e w o rld
where th e C a th o lic C hurch was e s ta b li s h e d beyond th e s t a tu s
o f m is s io n t e r r i t o r y w ere d iv id e d i n t o e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
t e r r i t o r i e s c a lle d d io c e s e s and h ead ed by b is h o p s . Gener
a l l y s e v e r a l d io c e s e s were grou p ed i n t o l a r g e r a d m in is tra
t i v e t e r r i t o r i e s c a ll e d p ro v in c e s ; and i n m a tte rs o f
common co n cern to th e d io c e s e s th e p ro v in c e s were s u b je c t
to th e a u th o r ity o f th e " m e tro p o lita n " who was a rc h b ish o p
o f a dom inant a rc h d io c e s e in th e g ro u p . T e r r i t o r i a l l y
th e re was no d if f e r e n c e betw een a d io c e s e and an a rc h
d io c e s e ; th e pow er o f th e e p is c o p a l r u l e r h im s e lf was th e
7 paul M aria B aum garten, "H oly See," The C a th o lic
E n c y c lo p e d ia : An I n t e r n a t i o n a l Work o f R eferen ce to th e
C o n s titu tio n . D o c trin e . D is c ip lin e , and h i s t o r y o f th e
C a th o lic Church (Hew Y ork: R o b e rt A p p leio n C o .,
V II , p . t h i s work i s h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d to a s The
C a th o lic E n c y c lo p e d ia , fo llo w e d by y e a r in w hich c i t e d
volume was p u b lis h e d .
136
o
o n ly d iffe re n c e * A d io c e s e c o n s is te d o f th e t e r r i t o r y o r
ch u rch e s s u b je c t to th e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f th e b is h o p . The
pope e s ta b lis h e d d io c e s e s e i t h e r by c r e a t i n g them anew o r
by d iv id in g o r u n if y in g a lre a d y e x i s t i n g d io c e s e s ; he
rem ained s o le judge o f th e tim e and m anner o f e s ta b lis h m e n t
and a lo n e d eterm in ed w hat p o r tio n o f th e Church m em bership
sh o u ld be e n tr u s te d t o ea c h b ish o p * The b ish o p s and o th e r
m ajo r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d i g n i t a r i e s o f a p ro v in c e assem b led
u n d e r th e p re s id e n c y o f th e a rc h b is h o p o r m e tro p o lita n f o r
a p r o v in c ia l c o u n c il w hich c a n o n ic a l l e g i s l a t i o n p r e s c r ib e d
a t l e a s t each tw en ty y e a r s ; i f s p e c i a l c irc u m sta n c e s
re q u ire d , th e b ish o p s m ig h t m eet more o f t e n . The s t a t u t e s
o r d e c re e s t h a t w ere p ro p o sed by th e b is h o p s i n su ch a
c o u n c il were su b m itte d to th e S acred C o n g reg atio n o f th e
9
C o u n cil i n th e V a tic a n f o r e x a m in a tio n and a p p ro v a l.
The im p o rta n t p o in t to be n o te d i s t h a t ea ch b ish o p
ruled* a d io c e se a s i t s c h i e f p a s to r u n d e r th e d i r e c t i o n and
a u th o r ity o f th e s o v e re ig n p o n t i f f , th e p o p e . The e p is c o
p a te was m o n a rc h ic a l; th e suprem e a u t h o r i t y i n a d io c e s e
d id n o t b elo n g to a " c o lle g e " o r s e n a te o f p r i e s t s o r
®See A. Van H ove, " H ie ra rc h y ," The C a th o lic Encyclo
p e d ia (191*+), V II , 3 22-323; and " D io c e s e ." The C a th o lic
E n cy c lo p ed ia (1 9 0 9 ), V , 1 -6 ; c 'f . E ev . W illiam Humphrey.
S.J.. tlfrbs e t O rb isi o r The Pope a s B ishop and P o n tif f
(London: Thomas B a k e r, 1&99)* PP» Mf-4-5.
^Edward 1 . H e sto n , C .S .C ., The Holy See a t Work
(M ilw aukee: The B ruce P u b lis h in g C o ., l9 !? 0 ), p p . 77“ 7 ^ 6
137
bishops but resided In the single person of the resident
bishop who was called the Ordinary of the diocese
The structure of Church authority may be described
as both vertical and horizontal* Power flowed “vertically"
from the papacy as the supreme head of the Church through
whom was transmitted the power and authority of the first
pope, St. Peter; that power was given to Peter by Christ
when the Church was first established. Power was organ
ized “horizontally" or individually in the episcopacy, the
bishops in the dioceses throughout the world. The bishops'
authority was transmitted from the apostles and, as with
the pope, their power was not created by men who occupied
ecclesiastical rank in the Church but by God Himself
For that reason “the power of each bishop over his diocese,
^See A. Van Hove, "Bishop," The Catholic Encyclo
pedia (1 9 0 7 ), I I , 581-589.
-^This is the structure of authority in the Roman
Catholic Church; understood and exercised as such by the
hierarchy of the Catholic Church, it is irrelevant to dis
cuss here the objections and rival claims to this power
and authority by other non-Catholic church groups. Mary
published works analyze the objections, discuss reasons,
and describe the historical evolution of the Church govern
ment through the centuries from the time of Jesus Christ
to the twentieth century. Whatever the persuasion of
others in these matters, the internal structure of the
Catholic Church functions on these principles of the
division of hierarchical jurisdiction. A study of the
internal policies of the Catholic Church need describe
only that Church's own definition and explanation of power
and authority as exercised by its governing bodies and
individual leaders.
138
th e r i g h t to g overn i t , i a a d i r e c t pow er w hich th e Pope
12
c a n n o t s u p p re s s , o r red u ce to to o n arro w l i m i t s . " T h is
was an im p o rta n t p o in t to r e c a l l when a n a ly z in g th e a c tio n s
o f th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C onference (NCWC), a
v o lu n ta ry o r g a n iz a tio n o f th e b is h o p s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s
13
w hich fo rm a lly assem bled ea ch f a l l i n W ashington, D. C.
The N C W C
h a s n o t and n e v e r can have any m andatory l e g i s l a
t i v e pow er. N o th in g can be done i n a d io c e se
e x c e p t by p e rm is s io n o f th e O rd in a ry . . . . The
c o o r d in a tio n o f e p is c o p a l e f f o r t s ac h ie v e d th ro u g h
th e C onference i s n o t th e r e s u l t o f s u b o rd in a tio n
o f in d iv id u a l pow er c e n te r s to one s u p e r io r c e n te r ;
th e r e i s none su ch i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s . 14^ 1 ?
A p o sto lic d e le g a te s w ere r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f th e
V a tic a n who had no d ip lo m a tic s ta n d in g i n g o v ern m en tal
a f f a i r s o f a c o u n try b u t were a p p o in te d to work w ith th e
h ie r a r c h y o f a n a tio n i n o rd e r to s u p e rv is e i n a g e n e ra l
^ M ic h a e l W illiam s and J u l i a E e ra a n , The C a th o lic
C hurch i n A c tio n (New Y ork: The M acm illan C o ., 1^3^) >
p . 1 8 9 , c i i e d by P a c e y , o p . c i t . . p . ^ 8 .
13gee C h a p ter V III i n w hich i s d e s c rib e d th e NCW C,
i t s la y N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men, and i t s fiad io and
T e le v is io n D epartm ent w hich p ro d u ced r e l i g i o u s program s i n
c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e n a t io n a l n e tw o rk s and r e p r e s e n te d th e
A m erican b is h o p s , t h e i r d io c e s e s , and th e re b y th e C a th o lic
p o p u la tio n o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
l^» 1 5 p acey y p p . c i t . . p p . **9“ 5 l . As d e s c rib e d i n
C h a p te r V I I I , th e b is h o p s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s v o te d to
m a in ta in th e m selv es i n su ch a p erm anent a s s o c ia tio n ; sub
s e q u e n tly th e pope to o k p a in s to c l a r i f y t h a t th e a s s o c ia
t i o n p ro m ised many b e n e f i t s b u t m ust alw ays rem ain a
v o lu n ta ry a s s o c ia tio n i n w hich in d iv i d u a l b ish o p s m ig h t
ta k e p a r t o r n o t , a s e a c h w ish e d .
139
16
way and to e x p e d ite e c c l e s i a s t i c a l b u s in e s s • A p o s to lic
d e le g a te s se rv e d a s in te r m e d ia r ie s betw een th e V a tic a n and
th e h ie r a r c h y o f a c o u n try ; th ro u g h th e s e d e le g a te s c o u ld
be tr a n s m itte d th e a u t h o r i t a t i v e d i r e c t i v e s o f th e pope and
o f th e c e n t r a l c o n g re g a tio n s o f th e V a tic a n .
A p le n a ry c o u n c il c o n s is te d o f th e h ie ra rc h y o f an
e n t i r e c o u n try . B ecause no member o f th e h ie r a r c h y i n a
c o u n try had a u t h o r ity o v e r th e b is h o p s and a rc h b is h o p s , a
s p e c ia l le g a te was a p p o in te d by th e v V a tic a n and p r e s id e d in
th e name o f th e H oly S ee; o f te n th e p rim a te o f th e c o u n try
was so a p p o in te d . Canon Law e x p la in e d th e p u rp o se o f th e s e
r a r e l y convened n a tio n w id e c o u n c ils o f th e h ie r a r c h y .
'The f a t h e r s assem b led i n p r o v i n c i a l o r p le n a ry
c o u n c il s h a l l make c a r e f u l e x a m in a tio n and p r e
p a re a p p r o p r ia te l e g i s l a t i o n on m easu res w hich
in . ea c h t e r r i t o r y may seem b e s t s u it e d f o r th e
sp re a d o f th e F a i t h , th e r e g u l a t io n o f c o n d u c t,
th e c o r r e c tio n o f a b u s e s , th e s e ttle m e n t o f con
t r o v e r s i e s , and th e a d o p tio n and p r e s e r v a tio n o f
u n ifo rm d i s c i p l i n e . '1 '
The th r e e p le n a ry c o u n c ils o f th e h ie r a r c h y o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s w ere convened a t B a ltim o re , M ary lan d , i n 1 8 5 2 , 1866,
1% e s to n , o p . c i t . . p . 157* A p o s to lic d e le g a te s
sh o u ld n o t be c o n fu se d w ith th e a p o s to lic n u n c io s who were
th e fo rm a l d ip lo m a tic r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f th e V a tic a n to
th e n a tio n s o f th e w o rld .
1 ^ I b id . . p . 7 9 9 q u o tin g a t r a n s l a t i o n o f Canon
num ber 290 o f th e Code o f Canon Law; f o r o r i g i n a l L a tin
t e x t se e Codex Iu rd s C an o n ic! P i i X P o n t i f i c i s Maximi Iu ssu
D ig e s tu s B e n e d ic t! Papae X V A u c to r iia te P ro m u lg atu s (LBomal;
T y p is P o l y g l o t t i s V a tlc a n ia L V atican P o ly g lo t ( M u ltilin -
g u a l) P r e s s ] , MCMXXX1II), p . 7 8 .
lh o
and 1881 * . No p le n a ry c o u n c il was h e ld betw een 188H- and
1961.18
The c le rg y in c lu d e d a l l th o s e who were i n th e ran k
o f c l e r i c by r e c e p tio n o f a t l e a s t th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
m in o r o rd e r o f to n s u r e , w hich c a r r i e d w ith i t s e v e r a l
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and p r i v i l e g e s o f th e c l e r i c a l s t a t e . $y
e x te n s io n th e term " c le rg y " i n Canon Law r e f e r r e d to a l l
to whom c l e r i c a l p r i v i l e g e s w ere e x te n d e d i n some way,
in c lu d in g members o f r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s a lth o u g h th e y be non
o rd a in e d men and w om en The te rm " th e f a i t h f u l " was
u se d i n many p ap al and e p is c o p a l s ta te m e n ts and r e f e r r e d
to a l l th o se members o f the. Roman C a th o lic Church who were
n o t num bered among th e ra n k s o f th e c l e r g y . These non
c le r g y were a ls o c a lle d th e l a i t y o r la y p e rs o n s .
The c le rg y p a r t i c i p a t e d i n th e g e n e ra l a d m in is tra
t i o n o f a d io c ese by m eans o f th e d io c e s a n sy n o d . T his
was a m eetin g a t w hich p o in ts p e r t a i n i n g to th e m o ral and
e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d i s c i p l i n e o f th e d io c e s e were p u b lic ly
d is c u s s e d and s e t t l e d . H ere " in th e synod th e b ish o p i s
th e s o le l e g i s l a t o r ; th e members m ay, a t th e r e q u e s t o f
20
th e b is h o p , g iv e t h e i r a d v ic e ." T h is m eetin g made i t
^ R e v . P e lic ia n A . F oy, O .F .M ., e d . , N a tio n a l
C a th o lic Alm anac. 1961 ( P a te r s o n , N. J . s S t . A n th o n y 's
G u ild , 1 9 6 1 ) , p . * 3 8 3 .
^ S e e W illiam H . F a n n in g , " C l e r i c ," The C a th o lic
E n c y c lo p e d ia (1 9 0 8 ), IV , *+9~50.
20A. Yon Hove, " B ish o p ," The C a th o lic E n cy c lo p ed ia
I b l
p o s s ib le f o r th e b ish o p to ta k e ad v a n tag e o f th e know ledge
and e x p e rie n c e o f th e c le r g y i n h i s d io c e s e ; b u t he was
p e r f e c t l y f r e e to a c c e p t t h e i r a d v ic e o r to r e j e c t i t
b ecau se th e power to r u l e came n o t from th e c o n s titu e n t
c le rg y th ro u g h a d e m o c ra tic p ro c e s s b u t from God by th e
ap p o in tm en t o f th e p o p e . In a d d itio n t o th e sy n o d , th e
b ish o p had a group o f c o n s u l t o r s o r c o u n s e lo r s , som etim es
c a lle d a c h a p te r o f c a n o n s. The b ish o p a lo n e was re s p o n s i
b le f o r th e d e c is io n s made i n m a tte rs a f f e c t i n g h i s d io
c e s e . As th e g e n e ra l r u l e r o f h i s d io c e s e " in h i s adm in
i s t r a t i o n he m ust conform to th e g e n e ra l law s o f th e
Church" r a t h e r th a n to r u l i n g s o f o th e r d io c e s e s o r o f
21
c o n fe re n c e s o f b is h o p s . The o n ly j u r i s d i c t i o n to w hich
th e b ish o p was s u b je c t was t h a t o f th e c e n tr a l a u t h o r ity
o f th e Roman C a th o lic C h u rch , th e pope and th e c o u n c ils o f
(1909)» V, 6 . S ta tu t e s and d e c re e s w hich were p ro m u lg ated
by d io c e s a n synods w ere n o t g a th e re d i n th e co u rse o f th e
p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n . The f i r s t s p e c i f i c d io c e sa n l e g i s
l a t i o n i n th e form o f a s t a t u t e was i n 1952 in P ro v id e n c e ,
Rhode I s la n d ( S ta tu te s num ber 165 and 3 3 0 . O ctober 8 , 1952,
F o u rth Synod o f th e D iocese o f P ro v id e n c e ); see C h a p te r X
f o r d e t a i l s . One o f th e l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h i s stu d y was to
c o n fin e r e s e a r c h to d io c e s a n s ta te m e n ts and re c o rd s w hich
were f i l e d in d io c e sa n o f f i c e s o f b ro a d c a s tin g o r w ere
k e p t by d io c e sa n spokesm en who answ ered th e q u e s tio n n a ir e .
I t was judged t h a t o n ly th e docum ents a v a ila b le from Church
b ro a d c a s tin g r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s w ere s i g n i f i c a n t l y o p e r a tiv e ;
o th e r docum ents t h a t w ere e x ta n t b u t n o t known by a p p o in t
e e s to b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s w ere d is c o u n te d a s n o t p r a c
t i c a l l y e f f e c t iv e among d io c e s a n p o l i c i e s .
? i
Van H ove, l o c . c i t e
142:
th e C hurch, w hich in c lu d e d th e p o p e .
The a d m in is tr a tiv e c e n te r o f th e d io c e sa n g o v ern
m ent was th e c h a n c e ry o f f i c e . W hile th e b ish o p was th e
g o v e rn in g a u t h o r i t y , many o f th e b u s in e s s d e t a i l s o f th e
d io c e s e were l e f t to th e d i r e c t o r s o f v a rio u s com m ittees
22
and b o a rd s and to t h e i r s e c r e t a r i a l s t a f f s . A p p o in tees
co n d u c ted d io c e sa n a f f a i r s w ith a u t h o r i t y d e le g a te d by th e
b ish o p and were r e s p o n s ib le to him f o r t h e i r d e c is io n s ;
h ence th e a c tio n s o f d io c e s a n o f f i c e r s re p re s e n te d th e
p o l i c i e s o f th e d io c e s e , a s i n t h e i r c o o rd in a tin g o f ra d io
and t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s o f th e d io c e s e . The chancery was
th e o f f i c e where w ere w r i t te n th e docum ents is s u e d i n th e
name o f th e b ish o p ; t h i s o f f ic e p ro c e s s e d a l l o f f i c i a l
co rresp o n d e n ce r e g a r d in g th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f th e d io c e s e .
A c h a n c e llo r was an a s s i s t a n t to th e O rd in ary o f th e d io
c e s e ; i n la rg e d io c e s e s and a rc h d io c e s e s th e c h a n c e llo r
o f te n en jo y ed th e ra n k o f a u x i li a r y b i s h o p . ^
22See R ev. Jo h n A. O’S h ea, "A Survey o f th e S ta te s
o f C u rre n t C a th o lic F ilm and T e le v is io n P ro d u c tio n i n th e
U n ite d S ta te s " (u n p u b lis h e d M a s te r 's t h e s i s , U n iv e rs ity o f
S o u th e rn C a lif o r n i a , Los A n g ele s, 1 9 5 8 ), p . 26, n . 1 .
^ S t r i c t l y s p e a k in g , th e " c h a n c e llo r" s i g n i f i e s
one who " c a n c e ls " o r a f f i x e s th e s e a l w hich a u th e n tic a te s
docum ents o f a c tio n s ta k e n by th e b is h o p . F o r t h i s re a s o n j
th e q u e s tio n n a ire s u s e d in th e p r e s e n t re s e a r c h were s e n t
to th e c h a n c e llo r s i n d io c e s e s i n w hich no b ro a d c a s tin g
o f f i c e s had been e s ta b li s h e d ; i t was th o u g h t t h a t b ecau se
o f t h e i r a d m in is tr a tiv e p o s i t i o n c h a n c e llo r s b e s t knew th e i
d o cu m en ta tio n a v a ila b le f o r t h i s s u rv e y and would r e la y the;
q u e s tio n n a ire to p r o p e r d io c e s a n a d m in is tr a to r s .
1^3
To sum u p : th e autonom y o f th e in d iv id u a l b ish o p s
i n t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e s e e s o r d io c e s e s , p lu s th e a u t h o r it y
e x e rc is e d o v e r th e b is h o p s by th e p o p e , to g e th e r c o n s t i
tu te d th e h e a r t o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u t h o r it y i n th e Roman
C a th o lic C hurch. To t h i s d i r e c t a u t h o r it y co u ld be added
th e i n d i r e c t a d v is o ry s a n c tio n w hich was d e riv e d from coun
s e l and d e l ib e r a ti o n i n (1 ) th e com bined e p is c o p a l a c tio n
and p o l i c i e s o f a p ro v in c e and o f a n a t i o n a l p le n a ry coun
c i l , and (2 ) th e v o lu n ta r y , c o o p e ra tiv e u n io n o f a l l th e
b is h o p s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s th ro u g h t h e i r an n u a l m eetin g
and t h e i r N C W C o r g a n iz a tio n .
T ra n sm issio n o f P ap a l A u th o rity
P ap al a u t h o r it y was com m unicated th ro u g h w r i t t e n
and spoken s ta te m e n ts . The p o n t i f i c a l docum ents is s u e d by
th e pope i n h i s own name w ere to be d is tin g u is h e d from
docum ents t h a t were p u b lis h e d by o f f i c e s o f th e Roman
C u ria in th e V a tic a n .
P a p a l W ritte n S ta te m e n ts
Among th e many c a te g o r ie s o f p a p a l docum ents, th e
m ost s i g n i f i c a n t w ere th e fo llo w in g . C o n s titu tio n e s
a p o s to lic a e ( a p o s to l ic c o n s t i t u t i o n s ) were o r d in a r ily
em ployed f o r dogm atic and d i s c i p l i n a r y pro n o u n cem en ts.
L i t t e r a e a p o s to lic a e ( a p o s to l ic l e t t e r s ) u s u a lly co n cern ed
e x e c u tiv e and a d m in is tr a tiv e a f f a i r s . L i t t e r a e d e o r e ta le s
--- — -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1W
( d e c r e t a l l e t t e r s ) o f f i c i a l l y p ro c la im e d c a n o n iz a tio n s .
L i t t e r a e e n c y c lic a e ( e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r s ) g e n e r a lly r e f e r r e d
to s p e c i f i c s u b je c ts o f c o n c e rn to C a th o lic s th ro u g h o u t th e
2b
w o rld . Motus p r o p r i i (n o t t r a n s l a t e d , b u t r e f e r r e d to
25
sim p ly a s "motu p r o p r io s " ) y c o n s t i t u t e d a l e s s fo rm a l
m anner o f com m unicating p a p a l d e c r e e s . E p is to la e (sim p le
l e t t e r s ) w ere more s o c i a l i n c o n te n t th a n o th e r p a p a l
w r i t t e n s ta te m e n ts and w ere a d d re s s e d to one o r s e v e r a l
c a r d i n a l s , b is h o p s , r e l i g i o u s , o r la y p e o p le . C h iro g rap h !
(a u to g ra p h l e t t e r s ) w ere u s u a lly s e n t to a c a r d in a l by th e
| pope w ith an in fo rm a l s ta te m e n t o f h i s view s on some
j 2 ^
j im p o rta n t m a tte r .
S e v e ra l o th e r ty p e s o f docum ents w ere is s u e d by th e
i
p o p e s . They in c lu d e d e p i s t u l a e e n c y c lic a e ( e n c y c lic a l e p is-|
i
t i e s ) w hich d if f e r e d from e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r s in b e in g
a d d re s se d p r im a r ily o r e n t i r e l y o n ly to a p o r tio n o f th e
w o rld ’ s h ie r a r c h y . E p is tu la e a p o s to lic a e ( a p o s to lic l e t t e r s )
2 U -
The term " e n c y c lic a l" d e r iv e s from i t s o r i g i n a s
a c i r c u l a r l e t t e r w hich was p a s s e d from one to a n o th e r o f
th e group a d d re s s e d . E n c y c lic a ls a re now a d d re s se d to a l l
th e b is h o p s o f th e w orlds " to o u r V en e rab le B re th re n ,
P a t r i a r c h s , P rim a te s , A rc h b ish o p s, B ish o p s and o th e r lo c a l
O rd in a rie s i n peace and communion w ith th e Holy S e e ."
25
^ T ra n s la te d a s " o f o n e ’s own ac c o rd " i n a l i s t o f
b r i e f d e f i n i t i o n s o f c a te g o r ie s o f p a p a l docum ents, The
Pope S p e a k s. I , No. 1 ( E i r s t q u a r t e r , 19J&) , 7 9 -8 0 .
2^These d e s c r ip tio n s w ere d e riv e d from th e enum era
t i o n o f p a p a l docum ents by S i s t e r M. C la u d ia C a rle n , I.H .M .,
A Guide to th e E n c y c lic a ls o f th e Roman P o n tif f s from
Leo X II I to th e P re s e n t Day (1 8 7 8 -1 9 3 7 ) (New Y ork: Ih e
H 7“W. W ilson (5o., 1 9 3 9 ), P . '7.
p e r ta in e d to m ajo r a d m in is tr a tiv e m a tte r s . B u lla d o g m a tic s
(d o g m atic b u l l s ) were p a p a l e d i c t s ; b ecau se o f th e s i g
n if ic a n c e o f th e s u b je c t m a tte r th e l e t t e r s were s e a le d
w ith a round le a d e n s e a l (a b u l l a ) o r w ith a r e d - in k
im p rin t o f th e d e v ic e on th e s e a l . N u n tii t e le g r a p h ic !
w ere w r i t t e n announcem ents t h a t w ere com m unicated th ro u g h
te le g r a p h . And n u n t i i s c r i p t o d a t i were w r i t t e n s t a t e
m ents com m unicated th ro u g h l e t t e r o r o th e r w r i t t e n m essag e.
P a p al O ral S tate m e n ts
Added to th o s e w r i t t e n docum ents a s s o u rc e s o f
a u th e n tic p a p a l pronouncem ents and co m m entaries on doc
t r i n e and d i s c i p l i n e i n th e Church w ere fo rm a l rem ark s
t h a t w ere made o r a l l y from p re p a re d t e x t s by th e p o p es
d u rin g th e c o u rse o f t h e i r o f f i c i a l d u tie s i n th e V a tic a n .
O ral s ta te m e n ts were made i n p u b lic a d d re s s e s to v i s i t o r s
i n Borne, to c o n g re g a tio n s o f c le r g y and r e l i g i o u s who
assem b led i n th e V a tic a n , to th e f a i t h f u l assem b led f o r
solem n cerem o n ies o f b e a t i f i c a t i o n and c a n o n iz a tio n , and
on o th e r im p o rta n t o c c a s io n s . O th e r o r a l s ta te m e n ts were
made th ro u g h r a d io o r t e l e v i s i o n to p eo p le o f v a r io u s
n a t i o n s . The o r a l s ta te m e n ts t h a t w ere r e p r in te d i n th e
A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is . th e o f f i c i a l docum ented com m entary
27
o f th e H oly S e e , in c lu d e d : h o m ilia e (h o m ilie s o r
The o r i g i n a l A cta S an o tae S e d is was p u b lis h e d
from 1878 to 1908, r e p r i n t i n g th e p ro n o u n cem en ts, s t a t e
m e n ts, and a d d re s s e s o f th e V a tic a n ; on May 23 9 190*+, i t
l*+6
d is c o u r s e s on some m o ral p o i n t) ; serm ones (serm ons on
d o c t r i n a l and a s c e t l c a l q u e s tio n s ) ; h o r t a t i o n e s . a d h o rta -
t i o n e s , and a d h o r ta tio n e s a p o s to lic a e (v a rio u s c l a s s e s o f
e x h o r ta tio n s on m oral t o p i c s ) ; a l lo o u tio n e s ( a u t h o r i t a t iv e
a d d re s s e s d e liv e r e d by th e pope to th e c a r d i n a ls in s e c r e t
c o n s is to r y and to a s s e m b lie s o f c l e r i c s and la y p eo p le
from v a r io u s p r o f e s s io n s ) ; o r a tio n e a ( v e r b a l p r a y e r s ) ;
a d h o r ta tio n e s ra d io p h o n ic a e ( e x h o r ta tio n s d e liv e r e d th ro u g h
V a tic a n R a d io ); in a tr u o t io n e s p a s t o r a l e s ( p a s t o r a l i n s t r u c
t i o n s o r co m m en taries); c o n v e n tio n e s and so llem n e s conven-
t i o n e s : s o lle m n ia ca n o n lza tio n u m (fo rm a l solem n a c t s a t
tim e o f c a n o n iz a tio n o f a h o ly d e c e a se d p e rso n p ro claim ed
a s a i n t o f th e C hurch); and s a c r a c o n s i s t o r i a ( s e s s io n s o f
th e solem n p a p a l s e n a te o r c o u n c il o f c a r d i n a l s ) . To
th e s e w ere added n u n t i i (an n o u n ce m en ts), and n u n t i i r a d io -
phonic i (a d d re s s e s and announcem ents o f encouragem ent and
g r e e tin g spoken th ro u g h th e V a tic a n R a d io ).
was d e c la r e d an o rg a n o f th e H oly See to th e e x te n t t h a t
a l l docum ents p r in te d i n i t from t h a t d a te on a re A u th e n
t i c and o f f i c i a l 91 1 1 i b i d . . p . 9* Prom 1909 to th e p r e s e n t !
th e A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is was th e o f f i c i a l commentary o f :
th e tfo ly S e e . I t was p r in te d and d i s t r i b u t e d by th e T ypis I
P o ly g l o t t i s V a tic a n is ( th e o f f i c i a l V a tic a n P o ly g lo t
L M u ltilin g u a l j P re s s ) i n Rome. E ach m o n th 's is s u e con
ta in e d f o u r p a r t s ; P a r t I , c o n s t i t u t i n g th e b u lk o f each
v olu m e, "A cta P i i P P . X I" (A cts o f Pope P iu s XI o r o f who
e v e r was c u r r e n tly r e ig n in g a s suprem e p o n t i f f ) ; P a r t I I ,
"A cta S s . C ongregationum " (A cts o f th e S a cred Congrega
t i o n s ) : P a r i I I I . "A cta“ “S s . T rib u n a liu m " (A cts o f th e
S acred T rib u n a ls ) ; E a r t IV « "A cta O ffic jo ru m ” (A c ts o f th e
O f f i c e s ) . These f o u r a d m in is tr a tiv e d iv i s i o n s c o n s titu te d
th e c e n t r a l g o v ern in g a u t h o r it y o f th e Roman C a th o lic
C hurch i n th e V a tic a n .
The r e l a t i v e fre q u e n c ie s o f th e v a r io u s c l a s s e s o f
p a p a l docum ents o f ea ch pope from 1931 to 1961 i s in
T able 1 , p . 1^8. The ta b u l a t i o n was begun w ith th e f i r s t
y e a r i n w hich th e pope u s e d th e r a d io f o r a fo rm a l p a p a l
a d d r e s s , i n o rd e r to in d i c a t e th e im p o rta n ce o f ra d io
a d d re s s e s v is - A -v is t r a d i t i o n a l fo rm s o f p u b lic pronounce
ment* The in c re a s in g im p o rta n ce o f th e V a tic a n R adio a s a
means o f com m unicating p a p a l s ta te m e n ts to C a th o lic s o f th e
w orld i s in d ic a te d by th e p r o g r e s s iv e ly l a r g e r an n u a l
28
t o t a l s i n th e column “N u n tii R a d io p h o n ic i."
As an exam ple o f th e e x t e n t o f p a p a l d o cu m en tatio n
d u rin g th e f i r s t f i f t e e n y e a r s o f Pope P iu s X I I 's r e i g n ,
from March 2 , 1939» to March 2 , 1 99+, i t may be n o te d t h a t
he p re p a re d and p re s e n te d a lm o st one th o u sa n d p u b lic
a d d r e s s e s , a l l o c u t i o n s , and r a d io m e ssa g e s, o f w hich
a p p ro x im a te ly o n e - th ir d w ere t r a n s l a t e d in to E n g lis h i n
th e A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is b ecau se o f t h e i r presum ed r e l e
vance to E n g lish -la n g u a g e c o u n t r i e s . . In an av erag e y e a r
th e pope is s u e d from e ig h ty to one h u n d red p u b lic m e ssag e s,
in c lu d in g e n c y c l i c a l s , l e t t e r s , an d a d d re s s e s to g ro u p s
v i s i t i n g Rome from th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld . I n th e th r e e -
month p e rio d from A p ril to June o f 1956 P iu s X II d e liv e r e d
more th a n s ix t y m essages f o r s p e c i f i c g ro u p s o r f o r th e
2®Souroe o f T ab le 1 : A ota A p o s to lic a e S e d is .
XXVI-LIII,- (1 9 3 ^ -1 9 6 1 ).
TAB
ACTS Of THE POPES D O CU M EN TED IN
D O C U M E N T S • 20 • a •22a •23 *2^ •25 •26 '27 •28
129 •30 •31 •32 *33 •3*f *35 *36 *37
L itterae Encyclicae k 3 1 b
-
1
3
-
3 3 3
b 2
- - -
1 2
E pistulae Encyclicae
* • - - • 1 • • - - - - - 2 - - 1* 2
L itterae ApoBtolicae 30 39 28 32 29 35 be 52 32 55
41
39 72 lb 22 a 18 10
E pistulae Apostolicae
- -
5 1 1
-
2
• -
1
-
1
- - - - -
1
Bulla Dogmatics - - - - - - - - •• - - • - - - - -
L itterae Deere ta le s
3 3
• 6 • • —
5 1 b
5 1 —
C onstitutiones Apostolicae 12 12 8 11 11 a 8 17
10 13 lb 15 9 39 32 37
E pistulae 27 28 b5 61 61 25 12 3 7 28 ltf 13 15 15 17 10
19 19 17
Motu Proprios 3
•
5 3 3 1 b 2 1 2 3 2 2 • 1 2 1 1
Chirographs
- -
2°
- -
1
3 2 2 3 5 2
-
1
- . -
2
Sollemnia Canonizationum
• — — — — • — — — — — • — • - -
Homiliae • • 1 - - b 1 1 - - 2 * * • 7 1 •
Adhortationes
• _ • _ • _ - - - - - - - - - -
Adhortationes Apostolicae
H ortationes - - • — — • • “ * • “ •
Sermones 1 X 3
1 1
- - - -
1 1
A llocutiones
- - - - - - - - — • • 2 — - ■ - - -
A D H O R T A T IO N E S B A D IO PH O N IC A E • - - - - - - - - -
* ■ • •
Orationes
Nuntii Telegraphlci
NUNTII H A D IO PH O N ICI 1 1 •
3
Nuntii Scripto Dati
• • _ • • _ _ - - - - - - - -
Nuntii
• • • •
1* 1*
—
1 ®
• — —
1« •• — • —
Sacra C onsistorla
9 7 3
b b 6 b 6 1 8 7 •
7 6 6 3 3
Sollemnes Conventiones
• _ . - .
2
_ . _
2
-
-
- -
1
- - -
Conventiones 2
- b 2
— 2 5
- - - •
In stru ctio n es Pastorales • - - - - - - - - - - — - - - - ' - -
a Of th e s e t o t a l s f o r 1922, th e fo llo w in g docum ents w ere
is s u e d by Pope B e n e d ic t XV: 1 c o n s t i t u t i o a p o s t o l i c a . 5 l i t t e r a e
a p o s t o l i c a e . and 11 e p i s t u l a e . The re m a in in g docum ents were is s u e d
by h i s s u c c e s s o r , Pope P iu s X I.
^Qne o f th e s e f o u r docum ents w ere is s u e d by B e n e d ic t XV on
J u l y 2 1 , 1921; th e AAS p u b lis h e d i t h e re f o r th e f i r s t tim e .
c L is te d i n th e AAS. V o l. XIV, a s l i t t e r a e A u to g rap h ae.
^ L is te d by AAS. V ol. X I I I , a s P raecatio n u m F orm ulae.
® L isted i n AAS a s N o t i f i c a t i o .
^ L is te d i n AAS a s D e c la r a tlo .
^ L is te d i n AAS a s I n d i c t i o .
b 0f th e s e t o t a l s , th e fo llo w in g docum ents w ere is s u e d by
Pope P iu s X I: 9 c o n s t it u ti o n e a a p o s t o li c a e . 5 l i t t e r a e a p o s t o l i c a e .
2 e p i a t o l a e . The re m a in in g docum ents were is s u e d by h i s s u c c e s s o r ,'
Pope P iu s X I I .
* In a d d it io n f i v e h o m ilia e w hich were p r e s e n te d d u rin g
th e f i v e solem n c a n o n iz a tio n s were p u b lis h e d i n AAS.
3I n 195^ i n p a r t IV o f th e AAS. th e A c ta O ffic io ru m . th e
" S e o r e t a r l a S ta tu s " (V a tic a n S e c re ta ry o f S t a t e 's O f f ic e) p u b lis h e d
on O c to b e r 1 6 , 195“ +, AAS. p p . 783~78*+, s t a t u t e s o f th e P o n t i f i c a l
Com m ission f o r C inem a, R a d io , and T e le v is io n .
* 0f th e e le v e n l i s t e d i n th e a n a l y t i c a l ta b le o f c o n te n ts
a t th e end o f th e volum e, o n ly
sim ply " n u n t i i1 1 (w ith o u t th e ai
sm a ll g ro u p s e x c e p t f o r th e an
(T h at docum ent i s d a te d a t th e
w r i t t e n s ta te m e n ts , in s te a d o f
a d d r e s s e s .) Thus f iv e a re h e r
mIn t h i s y e a r th e AAS i
w hich was an a ll o c u ti o n d e liv e ;
f a c i l i t i e s .
UQne o f th e s e l i t t e r a e
l i s t e d i n t h i s colum n in s te a d
l i s t e d i t s e p a r a te l y from motu
a p o s t o li c l e t t e r .
° 0f th e s e t o t a l s th e f
1 m otu p r o p r io . 5’ a llo c u tio n e s
and 3 s a c r a c o n s i s t o r l a . The
s o r , P iu s X l l . D js c o rs i e Bad
P iu s X II and o f c o u rse ex clude
by h i s s u c c e s s o r .
POf th e s e t o t a l s , th e
22 c o n s t i t u t i o n e s a p o s to lic a e
docum ents w ere is s u e d by h i s a
P iu s X II w hich had n o t been re
p r i n t e d , c h ro n o lo g ic a lly o u t c
ta b u l a t i o n s i n T able 1 re p re s e
r e p o r te d by th e AAS volume fox
a d d r e s s e s , e t c e t e r a , o f p re v l
p r o p e r c h r o n o lo g ic a l p la c e .
1()f th e s e t o t a l s , th e
2 l i t t e r a e a p o s t o li c a e . See t
TABIE 1
IS DOCUM ENTED IN ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS.+ 1920-1961
>3* '3 5 •36 •37
1 < &
I I ro
•39h •*+ 0 'hi n+2
• « • * + * + “♦5 •*+ 6
.1 + 7
•i+8
.1*9
•50 •51 *52 •53 •5*t3 •55 •56 •57 •58°
• 59P
•60 •61
- -
1 2
-
1
- - -
2 1 1 1 2
- -
1 2 2 2 5 3
1 3 2
— - 1 * 2 • 1 1
- — - — — 1 1 2 i * + 1
—
1 l 1 1 1 1
— —
22 21 18 10 11 20 20 a 18
9 7 3 2 11 30 28
53 * + 6 53 3>t 18 37 M +n 36 50 *+ 2 h 2 4 W 1
- - -
1
- -
1
-
1
-
1
- -
1
- - -
1 3
-
1
-
2
- - -
2 6
- » — — — • > • — — • — i m . ' —
1
« • — — — •» « • • • *
h 5 1 “
3
- 2 - - 1 - “ 1 2 6 2 7 2 * + - 6 - - - 2 1 * ■
9 39 32 37 hi 25 31 8 13 5 1* + Ih
13 30 3 * »
33
26 50 51 *+ 5 39 *+7 30 W 6 37 6* + . 37 9 *
10 19 19 17 16 12 13 16 12 9 9
26 26 21 27 28 29 27 28
39 *f3 2* + 2* * 19
20 26 28 17
1 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 “ 1 1 2 3 2 1 • 2 1 1 - 2 1 1 1 •
- •
2
_ _ _
1 1 1
- -
1
m m _ _ .. - •
1 1
• «. - -
1 2
— • — -
1
—
1
- - - — - -
5+
- . -
7 2
— •
2
— - • -
1 1 1
7 1 • 1 2 3
• - - — • — l 1 • —
1 - - — - - • ••
3 2
• _ _ _ _ _
1
_
1
2 2 1
— • 1 - • — - — - 1 2 1
_ -
1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
•
1
- _ _
- - - -
7 11 11 6 7 9 9
18
29 17 20 1» + 2* t 3 31 23 26 36 hi
*+ 3 **7 *♦5 h h
• • • * “ * * * • • • - • 1 — - — • • —
- - - - - -
1
•
1
- - • - • .
1 1
m .
1 3
_ _ • •
• — — • — — — — — — — — — • • — _ _ •
1, 2
« »
2
—
1 • * •
3
h
(5
( /6
> +
5
5
6
5
6
3
3
\
7
7
6
10
9
11
8
_9
9
11
5
7
18
20
11
13
11
9
25
22
5*
6 xh
10®
12
11 )
9)
16
f
15 12
- - - - - - - - - - “ - - - - - - -
i h 3 5 13 7
— - > — — — • » — • — • ■ . m . « • —
6
• . » — — •m
6 6 3 3 3 2 1 - - -
5 3 1 5 5 3
* + h 1 - - 6 2 7 6
1
- - -
1 2 2 1 1
- -
1
- - • - -
1
-
— — — — • — ■ »
1
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1 • — 1
- - - - • - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - • - - - -
th e volum e, o n ly th e s e s i x a re d e s ig n a te d i n th e t e x t o f AAS as
" (w ith o u t th e a d d it io n "r a d io p h o n lc i" ): th e y a re a d d re s se d to
x c e p t f o r th e a n n u a l C h ristm as M essage o f December 2*+, 195*+.
i s d a te d a t th e end o f th e a d d re s s i n t e x t , a s common f o r
e a t s , in s te a d o f by f o o tn o te a t b e g in n in g a s i s u s u a l f o r ra d io
hua f iv e a r e h e re l i s t e d p lu s s i x u n d e r "N u n tii."
I s y e a r th e AAS d id n o t p u b lis h th e r a d io m essage o f P iu s X II
l l o c u t i o n d e liv e r e d by th e Pope a t th e new V a tic a n R adio s t a t i o n
tf th e s e l i t t e r a e a p o s to lic a e was g iv e n in m otu p r o p r io , b u t i s
3 colum n in s te a d o f i n th e o th e r b ecau se th e AAS a n n u a l in d ex
i r a t e l y from motu p r o p r io s ; th e docum ent was e s s e n t i a l l y an
t e r .
ie s e t o t a l s th e f o llo w in g docum ents w ere is s u e d by Pope John XXIII*
o, 5' a l l o c u t i o n e s . 2 n u n t i i t e l e g r a p h i c ! . 2 n u n t i i r a d io p h o n lc i.
o n s l s t o r i a . The re m a in in g docum ents w ere is s u e d by h i s p red eo ea-
D js c o r s i e R ad io m essag g i l i s t s th e n in e r a d io m essages o f
s f c o u rse e x c lu d e s th e t w o r a d i o m essages d e liv e r e d t h a t y e a r
a o r .
hese t o t a l s , th e f o llo w in g docum ents w ere is s u e d by Pope P iu s X II:
ones a p o s to lic a e and 15 l i t t e r a e a p o s t o li c a e . The rem ain in g
e is s u e d by h i s - s u c c e s s o r , Jo h n X X III. T h e e a r l i e r docum ents o f
h had n o t b een r e p r i n t e d i n t h e i r p ro p e r p la c e i n th e AAS were
n o lo g ic a lly o u t o f s e q u e n c e . I t s h o u ld be n o te d t h a t th e s e
n T able 1 r e p r e s e n t th e num ber o f s ta te m e n ts , e t c e t e r a ,
he AAS volum e f o r th e y e a r s t a t e d : o f t e n th e AAS r e p o r te d
c e t e r a , o f p re v io u s yearB w hich had n o t been re c o rd e d i n t h e i r
l o g i c a l p la c e .
iheae t o t a l s , th e f o llo w in g docum ents w ere is s u e d by Pope P iu s X II:
i p s to l ic a e . See n o te "p " above f o r e x p la n a tio n .
" L is tin g s and ta b u l a t i o n s w ere d e riv e d from
th e a n n u a l " Index Documentorum C h ro n o lo g lc o O rdlne
D lg e stu a " o f th e AAS ( th e " In d e x o f (C a te g o r ie s o f ]
Documents O rganized i n C h ro n o lo g ic a l O rd e r" ) . The
in d e x e s in v e s ti g a te d i n AAS Volumes X II (1 920)
th ro u g h L I I I (1961) had v a r io u s t i t l e s th ro u g h th e
d e c a d e s, b u t each v o lu m e 's in d e x l i s t e d c o n te n ts o f
volume a l p h a b e t i c a l l y , in c lu d in g c r o s s - r e f e r e n c e s .
" Index A n a ly tic u 8 Rerum N o ta b iliu m " a p p e a re d i n
V o l. X II (1 9 2 0 ): " In d ex Rerum N o ta b lliu m " a p p e a re d
i n V ol. X I I I (1 9 2 1 J . u n t i l " In d e x Rerum A n a ly tlc u s "
a p p eared i n V ol. XVII (1925) and t h e r e a f t e r th ro u g h
V o l. L I I I (1 9 6 1 ).
" E n c y c lic a l l e t t e r a d d re s s e d t o th e h i e r
arch y o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s r e g a r d in g m o tio n p ic
t u r e s .
^R adio m essages o f P iu s X II w ere r e p r in te d
by D ls c o r s i e R adiom essaggi d u r in g th e y e a r s o f h i s
p o n t i f i c a t e , 1939 t h r o u g n 1 9 5 8 . The t o t a l s f o r
such r a d i o a d d re s s e s a r e l i s t e d n e x t to th e AAS
t o t a l s f o r each y e a r . A ll a d d r e s s e s p u b lis h e d i n
th e AAS th e re b y sh a re i n th e " o f f i o i a l " s t a t u s o f
th e AAS a s th e O f f i c i a l Commentary o f th e Holy
S ee. A d d resses and o t h e r s ta te m e n ts o f l e s s im p o rt
were n o t in c lu d e d i n th e o f f i c i a l p u b li c a ti o n ; su c h
l e s s im p o rta n t u t t e r a n c e s w ere c o m p ile d i n th e
s e m io f f ic ia l ( i n s o f a r a s p u b lis h e d by th e V a tic a n
P re ss i n Rome) p u b li c a ti o n D ls c o r s i e R ad io -
m e ssa g g i. The to ta lB w ere d e r iv e d fro m th e In d ex
to Volumes I-XV (1939 t o th e en d o f F e b ru a ry ,
195* 0 , and from th e i n d i v i d u a l volum es r e m ai n i n g
i n th e s e r i e s f o r w hich th e r e w as no g e n e r a l
in d e x , Volumes XVI-XX (195*+-1955 to 1 9 5 8 ).
1^9
e n t i r e C a th o lic w o rld ; th e y in c lu d e d an e n c y c lic a l o f
b o o k le t l e n g t h , l e t t e r s o f one p a g e , and docum ents o f
v a ry in g le n g th s betw een th o se two e x t r e m e s .
The docum ents were ran k ed a c c o rd in g to t h e i r
to p i c s and th e im p o rtan ce w hich th e pope w ished to a t t a c h
to th em . Of p rim ary im p o rtan ce were th e fo llo w in g k in d s
' 30
o f p a p a l docum ents.
The a p o s to lic c o n s ti t u t i o n s o r ig in a te d d i r e c t l y
w ith th e pope and on h i s p e rs o n a l i n i t i a t i v e in s te a d o f
i n re s p o n s e to s p e c i f i c r e q u e s ts from members o f th e h i e r
a r c h y . They were is s u e d i n th e form o f o r w ith th e solem
n i t y o f p a p a l b u l l s . They p e r ta in e d to s e rio u s p o i n t s o f
Church d o c tr in e and d i s c i p l i n e such a s d e f i n i t i o n s o f
dogma. They e s ta b li s h e d o r i n t e r p r e t e d e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
la w .
Motu p r o p rio s w ere d e c re e s w hich w ere is s u e d i n
l e s s solem n m anner th a n a p o s to lic l e t t e r s , " b u l l s , 1 ' o r
" b r i e f s . " They were co n cern ed w ith a d m in is tr a tiv e q u e s
t io n s o f m in o r im p o rta n c e .
The te rm , motu p r o p r i o , does n o t alw ays im ply t h a t
th e r e was no p re v io u s r e q u e s t. I t i n d i c a t e s , how
e v e r , t h a t n o tw ith s ta n d in g such a p e t i t i o n , th e
29see JPord and K e lly , o p . c i t . . p p . 2 0 -2 1 , n.* 3»
th e y a l s o c i t e d ta b u la t io n s made by R ev. V in cen t A.
Y zerm ans, "The Pope S p e a k s," The C a th o lic M ind, L I I I :
1108 ( A p r i l , 1 9 5 5 ), 252.
3 °P o r more co m p lete d e s c r ip tio n s see H e sto n ,
o p . c i t . . p p . 159 -1 6 1 .
i5o
S o v e re ig n P o n t i f f deemed th e m a tte r o f such moment
a s to make th e d e c is io n p r a c t i c a l l y a p e rs o n a l a c t .
One o f th e b e t t e r known motu p r o p rio s c o n ta in s
P iu s X 's l e g i s l a t i o n on Church m u sic , now co n firm ed
i n Canon 126*+ .31
The s u b je c t o f a m otu p ro p rio became c o d if ie d law i n th e
m anner j u s t m e n tio n e d . R eq u ests from members o f th e h i e r
a rc h y prom pted p a p a l a c tio n on some q u e s tio n , w hich a c tio n
>
emanated from the pope and was transmitted to the bishops
of the world through the motu proprio. Some directives
contained in such papal acts are then absorbed by the Code
of Candn Law which is the official body of ecclesiastical
law of the Roman Catholic Church.The motu proprio
"Boni Pastoris1 1 of Pope John XXIII on February 22, 1959*
established the Vatican's permanent Pontifical Commission
for Cinema, Radio, and Television, outlined its policies
and regulations, and added other statements on the broad
cast media.
A p o s to lic l e t t e r s p e r ta in e d to e x e c u tiv e and
a d m in is tr a tiv e m a tte r s i n a more solem n m anner th a n d id
31ibid., p. 159*
32u«he Code o f Canon Law was th e c o m p ila tio n o f
d i s c i p l i n a r y l e g i s l a t i o n em bodied i n e c c l e s i a s t i c a l docu
m ents is s u e d th ro u g h th e c e n t u r i e s . The Code r e g u la te d
th e L a tin R ite o f th e C a th o lic Church b u t n o t th e E a s te rn
and o th e r r i t e s , w h ic h , w h ile u n ite d w ith th e Roman
C a th o lic C hurch, had d i f f e r e n t p r e c e p ts on n o n e s s e n tia l
p o i n t s . F o r a b r i e f h i s t o r y o f th e Code, w hich was begun
by P iu s X in 1903 and became law on May 1 9 , 1918, see
i b i d . . p p . 162-169; th e com plete c i t a t i o n to th e Codex
l u r i s C o n o n ici . . . i s in n . 17 ab o v e.
151
motu p r o p r i o s . In i s s u i n g them th e pope a c te d a s r u l e r
in s te a d o f a s l e g i s l a t o r . Through them i n th e form o f
" b u l l s ” he prom oted members o f th e h ie r a r c h y to th e d ig n ity
o f b is h o p o r c a r d in a l and he e s ta b li s h e d new d io c e s e s .
P o n t i f i c a l l e t t e r s were le n g th y fo rm a l e x p la n a tio n s
o f C a th o lic d o c tr in e o r s p e c ia l i n s t r u c t i o n s on p a r t i c u l a r
q u e s tio n s w hich w ere p r im a r ily s o c i a l and e t h i c a l in s te a d
o f d o g m a tic . " E n c y c lic a ls a re l e t t e r s o f a more h o r ta to r y
33
n a tu re " th a n o th e r p a p a l docum ents w hich em bodied d e c re e s .
E n c y c lic a ls r a r e l y c o n ta in e d ex c a th e d r a pronouncem ents on
th e m a jo r d o c t r i n a l p o in ts w hich th e pope d e fin e d by v i r t u e
o f h i s u n iq u e pow er o f i n f a l l i b i l i t y i n th e s e s p e c ia l qu es
t i o n s . They were u s u a l l y is s u e d f o r th e p rim ary p u rp o se o f
g u id in g , ad m o n ish in g , o r e x h o rtin g th e h ie ra rc h y and
th ro u g h them th e C a th o lic f a i t h f u l . In t h i s c a te g o ry
were in c lu d e d e n c y c li c a l l e t t e r s a d d re s s e d to a l l o f th e
b ish o p s o f th e w o rld , su ch a s P iu s X II* s M iranda P ro rs u s
in 1957 on th e s u b je c t o f m otion p i c t u r e s , r a d io , and t e l e
v is io n ; and e n c y c li c a l e p i s t l e s a d d re s s e d to some o r m ost
o f th e h ie r a r c h y o f th e w o rld , such a s P iu s XI*s V i g i l a n t i
Cura i n 1936 to th e h ie r a r c h y o f th e U n ite d S ta te s on th e
to p ic o f d e c e n t m o tio n p i c t u r e s . D uring th e tw e n ty -fiv e
33Jo h an n es B a p t i s t S a g m u lle r, " L e t te r s , E c c le s ia s
t i c a l , " The C a th o lic E n c y c lo p e d ia (1 9 1 0 ), IX , 203.
3**Cf. H e sto n , o p . c i t . . p p . 159~160; C a rle n ,
o p . c i t . . p . 8; and P o y , o p . c i t . . p . 19*+•
152
y e a r s o f h i s p o n t i f i c a t e from 1878 to 1903 Leo X III is s u e d
t h i r t y - s i x e n c y c li c a l l e t t e r s and f i f t y e n c y c lic a l e p i s
t l e s . P iu s X was r e s p o n s ib le f o r s ix te e n e n c y c lic a l
l e t t e r s and e p i s t l e s betw een 1903 and 191*M B e n ed ic t XV
p u b lis h e d tw elv e e n c y c lic a l s from 191^ to 1922; P iu s XI
is s u e d t h i r t y e n c y c li c a l s betw een 1922 and h is d e a th i n
1939* D uring P iu s X II* s r e ig n from 1939 to 1958 he w ro te
f o r ty - o n e e n c y c l i c a l s . D uring th e f i r s t fo u r y e a rs o f h i s
p o n t i f i c a t e from 1958 to 1961, Jo h n XXIII is s u e d s i x
e n c y c lic a ls .^ * *
A u th o rity o f V a tic a n O ffic e s
In a d d i tio n to b e in g tr a n s m itte d by p ap a l docu
m e n ts, p a p a l a u t h o r i t y was com m unicated th ro u g h th e
i n s t r u c t i o n s and th e d e c re e s o f th e V atican o f f i c e s .
I n s t r u c t i o n s o f th e Roman c o n g re g a tio n s were pronouncem ents
e x p la in in g d o c t r i n a l m a t t e r s , d i r e c t i v e norm s, and recom
m e n d a tio n s. D ecrees w ere is s u e d by th e c o n g re g a tio n s f o r
s p e c ia l p u rp o se s; some w ere a p p lic a b le to th e e n t i r e Church,
b u t o th e r s to o n ly a p o r tio n o f th e C hurch. Most d e c re e s
came fro m th e H oly O ffic e on q u e s tio n s o f f a i t h and m o ra ls
and from th e S acred C o n g reg a tio n f o r th e P ro p a g a tio n o f th e
F a ith on q u e s tio n s p e r ta in in g to th e m is s io n s . The few
3 t o t a l s d e riv e d from A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is o f f i
c i a l r e p r i n t s o f e n c y c li c a l s and from th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic
A lm anac. 1961 l i s t i n g o f e n c y c li c a l s by t i t l e and d a te ;
c i . F o y . o p . c i t . . p p . 1 5 ^ -1 5 6 .
36gee H e s to n , o p . c i t . . p p . 160-161.
153
d e c re e s p e r ta in in g to b ro a d c a s tin g w hich were is s u e d by
th e s e o f f i c e s from 1920 to 1961 a r e c i t e d below i n
C h a p te r V.
The p u rp o se o f th e d i f f e r e n t c o n g re g a tio n s , t r i
b u n a ls , o f f i c e s , and com m issions o f th e Holy See was to
a s s i s t th e pope i n th e governm ent o f th e C hurch. T h e ir
a u t h o r it y was d e riv e d from t h a t o f th e p o p e, who d e le g a te d
h i s own pow er to a c t i n c e r t a i n a f f a i r s . A ll d e c is io n s
t h a t w ere made by th e c o n g re g a tio n s r e q u ir e d th e p o p e 's
a p p r o v a l, e x c e p t when f a c u l t i e s f o r r o u tin e d e t a i l s had
a lre a d y b een g r a n te d . The c o n g re g a tio n s d id n o t have
pow er to make o r to change law s e x c e p t i n v ery s p e c ia l
37
i n s t a n c e s •
The m em bership o f th e c o n g re g a tio n s was composed
o f th e c a r d i n a l s who w ere p a p a l, a p p o in te e s and who con
s t i t u t e d th e s e n a te o r " c o lle g e " o f th e Supreme P o n t i f f
and w ere h i s c o u n s e llo r s i n g o v e rn in g th e C hurch. The
pope was a b s o lu te ly f r e e to a c t o r r e f r a i n from a c tin g i n
s p i t e o f ev en unanim ous o p p o s itio n o r recom m endation from
th e c a r d i n a l s . The a c tio n s o f th e H oly f a t h e r d id n o t
OQ
need c o n f ir m a tio n o r r a t i f i c a t i o n by th e c a r d i n a ls .
The s t a f f m e e tin g s o f m ajo r o f f i c i a l s o f th e c u r ia
o r c e n t r a l a d m in is tr a tiv e governm ent were c a lle d
37I b i d . , p . 1 8 .
38 I b i d . . p p . 2 2 , 2 ^ -2 5 .
151 *
c o n s i s t o r i e s . They d e l ib e r a te d and d eterm in ed q u e s tio n s
o f f a i t h , im p o rta n t l e g i s l a t i o n f o r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d i s
c i p l i n e , and w eighty a d m in is tr a tiv e m a tte r s su ch a s th e
c r e a t i o n o f new d io c e s e s .
W ith t h e i r h i e r a r c h i c a l m em bership and w ith pow er
d e le g a te d by p a p a l a u t h o r it y th e s e o f f i c e s , to g e th e r w ith
th e Supreme P o n t i f f , c o n s titu t e d th e s t r u c t u r e o f th e Holy
S e e . The s ta te m e n ts and d e c re e s docum ented i n th e volum es
o f th e A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is were th e p ro d u c ts o f t h i s
c e n t r a l V a tic a n a u t h o r i t y in th e Homan C a th o lic C hurch.
These docum ents p ro v id e d th e so u rce from w hich w ere i d e n t i
f i e d th e p o l i c i e s o f th e u n iv e r s a l C a th o lic Church r e g a r d
in g r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . The p e r t i n e n t V a tic a n r e f e r e n c e s
a r e a n a ly z e d below i n C h ap ters IV and V, a f t e r th e fo llo w
in g d e s c r ip tio n o f th e a u th o r ity w hich r e s id e d i n th e v a r i
o us c l a s s e s o f d ocum ents.
The p a p a l s ta te m e n ts were com m unicated to th e
b is h o p s o f th e w orld whose r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i t was to t r a n s
m it to t h e i r d io c e s e s th e d o c trin e and d i s c i p l i n a r y d i r e c
t i v e s i n s o f a r a s th e y a p p lie d l o c a l l y . In th e d io c e s e s
th e b is h o p s re la y e d th e r e le v a n t V a tic a n d i r e c t i v e s by
means o f p a s t o r a l l e t t e r s w hich were re a d to th e C a th o lic
f a i t h f u l i n a l l c h u rc h e s on S undays. Or th e b is h o p s s e n t
d i r e c t i v e s to th e p r i e s t s in th e d io c e s e s f o r t h e i r g u id
a n c e ; th e p r i e s t s w ere th e n to ap p ly th e d i r e c t i v e s i n a
155
f i t t i n g m anner and a t p ro p e r tim es a c c o rd in g to th e l o c a l
c irc u m s ta n c e s . L ess im p o rta n t p o in ts were p u b lis h e d i n
th e d io c e s a n w eekly n e w sp a p e rs. As d e s c rib e d on p a g e s 135“
139 a b o v e , b ish o p s c o u ld a ls o i n i t i a t e d i r e c tiv e s t h a t
w ere to be fo llo w e d by th e C a th o lic s in t h e i r d io c e s e s by
p ro m u lg a tin g s t a t u t e s and d e c re e s w hich r e s u lte d from
d e l i b e r a t i o n i n p r o v in c ia l and d io c e sa n synods o r c o u n c ils ,
o r from r e q u e s ts o f l o c a l c le rg y o r l a i t y f o r i n t e r p r e t a
t i o n s , c l a r i f i c a t i o n s , o r d i r e c t pronouncem ents by th e
b is h o p s upon c o n tr o v e r s i a l q u e s tio n s . In a l l o f th e s e
m a tte r s th e r e a ro s e th e q u e s tio n s o f tra n s m is s io n o f th e
V a tic a n a u t h o r it y th ro u g h th e b ish o p s to th e c le r g y and
th e l a i t y o f th e C hurch, and o f th e l o c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s
and a p p l ic a tio n s o f V a tic a n d i r e c t i v e s .
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n and A p p lic a tio n o f
Church A u th o rity T ”
P ronouncem ents by Popes
When th e V a tic a n is s u e d d ir e c t i v e s on a g iv e n
q u e s tio n , to w hat e x t e n t m ight in d iv id u a l b ish o p s i n t e r p r e t
t h e i r m eaning and a p p ly them lo c a ll y i n a p r a c t i c a l
m a n n e r ? ^ I t was n o t p o s s ib le f o r b ish o p s to p la c e v a rio u s
39^y " i n t e r p r e t " was meant to e x p la in o r t e l l th e
m eaning o f th e d i r e c t i v e and to c o n s tru e th e m eaning i n
th e l i g h t o f in d iv id u a l judgm ent; t h i s was to be d i s t i n
g u is h e d from " i n t e r p o l a t e " w hich m eant to a l t e r o r c o r r u p t
by i n s e r t i n g new o r f o r e ig n m a tte r . By "ap p ly " was m eant
t o p u t to u se i n a p a r t i c u l a r in s ta n c e , to b rin g t o b e a r
156
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s on Church dogma t h a t was fo rm a lly d e fin e d
i n ex c a th e d r a pronouncem ents by th e pope in v i r t u e o f h i s
suprem e a u t h o r it y and h i s p r e r o g a tiv e o f i n f a l l i b i l i t y .
The i n s t r u c t i o n s o f th e pope on m oral m a tte rs were p r e
s e n te d i n th e docum ents d e s c rib e d above "w hich a re n o rm a lly
th e m edia o f h i s a u t h e n t i c , b u t n o t i n f a l l i b l e , te a c h -
bO
i n g ." The d o c t r i n a l v a lu e o f th e s e docum ents was d i s -
k l
c u s s e d by com petent com m entators upon e c c l e s i a s t i c a l la w .
P iu s X II i n th e e n c y c li c a l l e t t e r Humani G en eris s t a t e d
th e fo rm a l a c c e p ta n c e t h a t was re q u ir e d o f members o f th e
C hurch i n m a tte r s t h a t a re s u b je c ts o f e n c y c l i c a l s .
p r a c t i c a l l y . C f. John P . B e th e l, e d . , W e b s te r^ New
C o lle g ia te D ic tio n a r y : Based on W e b s te r's N ew ^Inter-
n a t i o n a l D ic tio n a r y . Second E d itio n ( 9 th e d .; S p r i n g f i e l d ,
M a ss.: G. and C. M erriam C o .,. 1 9 5 6 ), p p . ¥ t 0 , M -3.
^ P o r d and K e lly , o p . c i t . . p . 2 2 .
^ I b i d . , p p . 19“32; Pord and K e lly c i t e R ev.
Edmund B . B en ard , "The D o c trin a l V alue o f th e O rd in ary
T ea ch in g o f th e Holy P a th e r i n View o f [ th e e n c y c l i c a l ]
Humani G e n e ris ." P ro c e e d in g s o f th e S ix th Annual C o n v en tio n
o f th e C a th o lic T h e o lo g ic a l S o c ie ty o f A m erica Lno i n d i c i a
g iv e n ] , p p . 7 6 -1 0 ?: "The Pope em ploys h i s O rd in ary M agis-
te riu m [ o r d in a iy te a c h in g a u t h o r i t y , d is tin g u is h e d from h i s
e x tr a o r d in a r y te a c h in g a u th o r it y i n ex c a th e d r a i n f a l l i b l e
p ro n o u n cem en ts o f p rim a ry d o c t r in a l im p o rta n c e ] when he
sp e a k s to th e f a i t h f u l , in d e e d a s t h e i r supreme P a s to r and
T e a c h e r, b u t i n o rd e r to expound, e x p la in , p r e s e n t C a th o lic
te a c h i n g , o r to adm onish, p e rs u a d e , e n l ig h te n , w arn , and
e n c o u ra g e th e f a i t h f u l , w ith o u t c a l l i n g upon th e suprem e
e x e r c is e o f h i s A p o s to lic A u th o r ity , and w ith o u t, i n th e
s t r i c t s e n s e , d e f in in g a d o c t r in e . In t h i s c a se he do es
n o t sp e a k ex c a th e d r a and th e O rd in ary M aglaterium i s hence
n o t de s e [ i n and o f i t s e l f 1 i n f a l l i b l e " : B e rn a rd , p p . W—
E 57 c i t e d by P ord and K e lly , o p . c i t .T "p p . 1 9 -2 0 ; i t a l i c s
i n th e o r i g i n a l . Prom t h i s i i i s c l e a r why no p a p a l
s ta te m e n t a b o u t mass m edia was an ex c a th e d ra p ro n o u n ce
m e n t.
157
Nor m ust i t be th o u g h t t h a t w hat i s c o n ta in e d
i n e n c y c li c a l l e t t e r s does n o t o f i t s e l f demand
a s s e n t , on th e p r e t e x t t h a t th e popes do n o t e x e r
c i s e i n them th e suprem e power o f t h e i r te a c h in g
a u t h o r i t y . B a th e r , such te a c h in g s b e lo n g to th e
o r d in a r y m a g iste riu m , o f w hich i t i s tr u e to s a y :
'He who h e a r e th y o u , h e a re th m e '; v e ry o f t e n , t o o ,
w hat i s expounded and in c u lc a te d i n e n c y c lic a l
l e t t e r s a lre a d y a p p e r ta in s to C a th o lic d o c tr in e
f o r o th e r r e a s o n s . But i f th e suprem e p o n t i f f s
i n t h e i r o f f i c i a l docum ents p u rp o s e ly p a s s ju d g
m ent on a m a tte r d e b a te d u n t i l th e n , i t i s
o b v io u s to a l l t h a t th e m a tte r , a c c o rd in g to th e
m ind and w i l l o f th e same p o n t i f f s , ca n n o t be
c o n s id e re d any lo n g e r a, q u e s tio n open f o r d is c u s
s io n among th e o lo g ia n s .^ 2
E c c l e s i a s t i c a l s p e c i a l i s t s p o in te d o u t t h a t a l l p a p a l
s ta te m e n ts su ch a s a l l o c u t i o n s , r a d io m e ssag es, e t c e t e r a ,
had "a b o u t th e same d o c t r i n a l v a lu e a s e n c y c l i c a l s : th e y
a r e an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f th e o rd in a ry te a c h in g o f th e pope;
a n d , a s s u c h , th o u g h n o t i n f a l l i b l e , th e y r e q u ir e b o th
i n t e r n a l and e x te r n a l a c c e p ta n c e " w h e th e r a d d re s se d to th e
1 * 3
w hole Church o r to s m a ll p r o f e s s io n a l g ro u p s . The u n i
v e r s a l d i r e c t i v e f o rc e o f such s ta te m e n ts was d e riv e d from
^ P i u s X II, e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r "Humani G e n e ris ."
A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is (Rome: T y p is P o l y g l o t t i s V a tic a n is ,
1950), X LII ( S e r . 2; X V II), 11 ( S e p t. 2 , 1950), 568; t h i s
t r a n s l a t i o n by A. C. C o tte r , S . J . , The E n c y c lic a l "Humani
G e n e ris " (W eston, M a ss.: Weston C o lle g e P r e s s , l $ 5 l ) ,
p p . 21-23, c i t e d by P ord and K e lly , o p . c i t . . p . 23. H ere
a f t e r r e f e r e n c e s to th e A cta A p o s to lic is S e d is (A c ts o f th e
H oly S ee ) in c lu d e o n ly th e i n i t i a l s o f th e p u b lic a t io n ,
fo llo w e d by th e volume num ber in Roman n u m e ra ls , th e d e s ig
n a t i o n o f th e second s e r i e s en u m eratio n i n p a r e n th e s e s ,
th e is s u e num ber, th e d a te o f p u b lic a tio n i n p a r e n th e s e s ,
and th e page num bers; f o r ex am p le, AAS. X I I I I ( S e r . 2:
X V III) , 13 ( S e p t. 18, 1951), 596-5977“
Pord and K e lly , o p . c i t . , p . 26, p a ra p h ra s in g
th e c o n c lu s io n s o f P . X. H u rth , S . J . , P e r io d ic a . XLI
(19 52), 2»+5-2^9.
t h e i r b e in g p u b lis h e d i n th e A ota A p o s to lic a e S e d is by
command o f th e p o p e.
O th er com m entators su g g e sted t h a t when th e p o p e 's
i n t e n t i o n was n o t e x p r e s s ly d e c la r e d , th e d eg re e o f u n i
v e r s a l i t y o f th e s ta te m e n t was a f u n c tio n o f th e q u a l i t y
and num ber o f p e rso n s to whom th e s ta te m e n ts were
s p e c i f i c a l l y a d d re s se d a s w e ll a s o f th e s u b je c t o f th e
d is c o u r s e . The p o n t i f f 's p r a is e and encouragem ent o r h i s
w arn in g s
w i l l o f te n be th e d e l ic a te e x p re s s io n o f an i n v i t a
t i o n to se ek i n th e u se o f s p o r t s , o r o f any o th e r
human a c t i v i t y , p ro g re s s i n m oral v a lu e s , i n
n o b i l i t y o f s o u l, i n th e d u tie s o f o n e 's s t a t e
w e ll d o n e. But th e more th e num ber o f members o f
a c o n g re s s i n c r e a s e s , th e g r e a t e r th e im p o rtan ce
o f t h e i r p r o f e s s io n , o f t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,
and o f t h e i r in f l u e n c e , th e more we see th e H oly
B a th e r s e l e c t th e s u b je c t- m a tte r o f h i s d is c o u rs e
and in c u lc a te th e d u ty o f confo rm in g o n e s e lf to
h i s te a c h in g and d i r e c t i v e s .^ 4.
To th e o b je c tio n t h a t th e s e d i r e c t i v e s were b u rie d i n
p a p a l docum ents w hich were n o t r e a d i l y a v a ila b le to th e
a v e ra g e p e rs o n , B a th e r C reusen r e p l i e d t h a t a lth o u g h a l l
C a th o lic s were n o t o b lig e d to re a d th e a l lo c u t io n s o f th e
p o p e s , a l l w ere o b lig e d to know t h e i r d u t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y
th o s e o f t h e i r p r o f e s s io n . N e v e rth e le s s th e pope spoke a t
tim e s a b o u t d u tie s and p r o fe s s io n s f o r w hich p r a c t i c a l
a p p l i c a ti o n s were n o t u n iv e r s a l; such a p p lic a tio n s "c a n be
^■ Joseph C re u se n , S . J . , B u lle t in s o c ia l d es
i n d u s t r i a l s . XXIV (1 9 5 2 ), 153, c i t e d by Bord and i f e l l y ,
o p . c i t . . p p • 27” 28•
159
o b lig a to r y i n one c o u n try and n o t i n a n o th e r; th e y a r e
a ls o s u b je c t to change i n acco rd an ce w ith ch anging c irc u m -
1+5
s ta n c e s ." Many p ro b lem s in C a th o lic th e o lo g y do rem ain
open q u e s tio n s upon w hich th e p a p a l a u th o r ity h a s made no
d e f i n i t i v e o r a u th e n tic s ta te m e n ts ; many q u e s tio n s a re
f r e e l y d is p u te d by th e o lo g ia n s . F u r th e r ,
th e a u th e n tic d e c is io n s o f th e m a g iste riu m , when
exam ined c l o s e l y , a r e g e n e r a lly se en to le a v e th e
d o o r open f o r f u r t h e r stu d y o f th e p ro b lem . . . •
And i f a r e p u ta b le s c h o la r sh o u ld a r r iv e a t a
d i f f e r e n t s o l u t i o n , th e o lo g ia n s a d v is e him to
com m unicate h i s f in d in g s to th e r e s p e c tiv e Roman
c o n g r e g a tio n , b u t n o t to b ro a d c a s t them , i n
d e f ia n c e , a s i t w e re , o f th e m a g iste riu m .
T h ir d ly , ev en when th e d e c is io n i s d e f i n i t i v e ,
p r o g r e s s i s s t i l l p o s s ib le and d e s i r a b l e , and
t h a t m eans, p a r t l y a t l e a s t , f u r t h e r re s e a r c h
on th e same m a tte r by t h e o l o g i a n s .^
C o n tro v e rsy w ith in th e Church
On t h i s p o in t o f c o n tro v e rs y among C a th o lic s ,
B ishop Jo h n P . Cody fo rm a lly s t a t e d t h a t , a lth o u g h
C a th o lic s w ere u n ite d on u ltim a te q u e s tio n s , th e y w ere
" d iv id e d on many q u e s tio n s t h a t a r e l e s s th a n u l t i m a t e ,
b u t w hich a r e n e v e r t h e le s s o f g en u in e s ig n if ic a n c e i n human
1 + 7
a f f a i r s . " He u rg e d members o f th e C a th o lic p r e s s a n d , by
1 + 5
' Jo se p h C re u se n . S . J . , P ro b lem i d i v i t a c o n iu g a le
(Romes S .A .L .E .S ., 1955)* p . 31; c i t e d by Ford and K e lly ,
ojgjj__cit. , p • 2 3 , n . 1 2 .
^ R e v . A. C. C o t t e r , S . J . , The E n c y c lic a l "Humani
G e n e ris " (W eston, M a ss.: Weston C o lleg e P r e s s , 1 9 5 1 ),
p p . 7 6 -7 7 ; c i t e d by F o rd and K e lly , o p . c i t . . p . 2 $ .
^ M o s t R ev. Jo h n P . Cody, B ishop o f th e D iocese o f
K ansas C i t y - S t . J o s e p h , M isso u ri* "C o n tro v ersy i n th e
160
e x te n s io n , a l l C a th o lic so u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n and i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n t h a t t h i s d is c u s s io n o f c o n t r o v e r s i a l is s u e s was
n o t o n ly p ro p e r b u t ev en r e q u ir e d . He w arned h i s fe llo w
C a th o lic s t h a t th e y m ust
g e t a r e a l l y s tr o n g g ra s p on th e f a c t t h a t th e r e
a re s t r i c t l i m i t s to th e e x te n s io n and a p p lic a
b i l i t y o f *C a th o lic d o c trin e * . . • ; a s C a th o lic s
we fa c e a c e r t a i n te m p ta tio n to t r a n s f e r th e c e r
t i t u d e we p o s s e s s i n m a tte rs o f f a i t h to o th e r
a r e a s and o th e r k in d s o f know ledge, and th e re b y
to g iv e th e im p re s s io n t h a t th e s o c io lo g ic a l o r
p o l i t i c a l o p in io n s we a re p ro m u lg a tin g b elo n g
to th e body o f C a th o lic d o c t r in e . . . . M oreover,
in o u r r i g h t f u l in s i s t e n c e on th e c e n t r a l r o le o f
r e l i g i o u s t r u t h , we can be g u i l t y o f e x a g g e ra tin g
th e re le v a n c e o f r e l i g i o n to c e r t a i n k in d s o f
p ro b le m s. I t i s n o t s e c u la ris m to i n s i s t t h a t
te c h n i c a l p ro b lem s demand te c h n ic a l answ ers w hich
a r e n o t found i n m anuals o f th e o lo g y o r d e v o tio n .
I t i s n o t r e l a t i v i s m to h o ld t h a t p h ilo s o p h ic a l
and th e o lo g ic a l p r i n c i p l e s do n o t o f th em selv es
s o lv e com plex p ro b lem s o f d ip lo m acy , p o l i t i c a l
s c ie n c e o r e c o n o m ic s .^
B ishop Cody w arned t h a t th e d i s t i n c t i o n m ust rem ain c l e a r
"betw een o f f i c i a l e p is c o p a l i n s t r u c t i o n and th e f r e e ex p res
s io n o f o p in io n ."
In s p e c i f i c q u e s tio n s a s s o c ia te d w ith s i g n i f i c a n t
c o n t r o v e r s i a l m a t t e r s , th e v e r b a l fo rm u la s o f p a p a l docu
m ents p ro v id e d one o f th e main c r i t e r i a f o r i n t e r p r e t i n g
pronouncem ents i n c o n fo rm ity w ith th e mind and p r a c t i c e o f ;
C h u rch ," an a d d re s s to th e f o r t y - n i n t h a n n u a l c o n v e n tio n o f
th e C a th o lic P re s s A s s o c ia tio n , Omaha, N eb rask a, May 1 3 ,
1959; q u o te d in news colum n s y n d ic a te d by N C W C News S e r
v i c e , p u b lis h e d i n The T id in g s . Los A n g e le s, C a lif o r n i a ,
Mav 1 5 . 1 959. p . e n t i r e sp eech r e p r in te d in The C a th o lic
M ind. LV II (Novem ber-D ecem ber, 1959)* W -» f9 1 .
1+8 Ibid.
161
th e H oly S e e . Form ulae in s te a d o f th e d is p a ra te w ords
th e m se lv e s in d ic a t e d th e tr u e sen se o f p a p a l pronouncem ents;
in d iv i d u a l w ords can he o b scu re i n d e n o ta tio n and c o n n o ta
t i o n , b u t by re p e a te d a s s o c ia tio n w ith c l u s t e r s o f o th e r
w o rd s, th o s e p h ra s e s e x p re s s more c l e a r l y th e i n t e n t o f
th e H oly S e e . O th er c r i t e r i a o f th e m eaning o f p ro n o u n ce
m ents w ere th e h i s t o r i c a l and v e r b a l c o n te x t and a l s o th e
1+9
p o p e 's i n t e n t i o n i n m aking th e pronouncem ent. 7
In q u e s tio n s t h a t d id n o t d i r e c t l y a f f e c t m o ral
d e c is io n s b u t had m o ral im p lic a tio n s , th e ran g e o f i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n o f docum ents and s ta te m e n ts was even w id e r th a n
d e s c r ib e d a b o v e . I t h a s been ask ed w h eth er th e pope was
o v e r s te p p in g h i s p r e r o g a tiv e s a s a r e l ig i o u s le a d e r by
a d v o c a tin g norm s and p o l i c i e s f o r a f f a i r s o f th e b u s in e s s
50
and p o l i t i c a l w o rld . Beyond th e s t r i c t l y e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
and o r g a n iz a tio n a l q u e s tio n s c o n c e rn in g t r u t h s o f th e
f a i t h , r e g u l a t i o n o f c e re m o n ie s, and th e l i k e , th e r e a r e
^ 9 p o rd and K e lly , o p . c i t . . p p . 28-3 2 .
5 0 jo r ex am p le, se e P a u l B la n sh a rd , A m erican Freedom .
and C a th o lic Power (2nd e d .; B oston: Beacon P r e s s ,
p . 1 and p assim " B la n sh a rd d e c rie d th e C a th o lic C hurches
" a tte m p t to c o n tr o l th e judgm ent o f i t s own p eo p le (and o f
o th e r p e o p le ) on f o r e ig n a f f a i r s , s o c i a l h y g ie n e , p u b lic
e d u c a tio n , and m odem s c ie n c e " and o th e r c o n tr o v e r s ia l
p o l i c i e s . He c o n s id e re d th e C h u rc h 's re g u la to ry a c t i o n ,
ev en i f r e s t r i c t e d to th e m oral a s p e c ts o f th e s e i s s u e s and
d i r e c t e d o n ly to th e C a th o lic m em bership, as in im ic a l to
th e i n t e g r i t y o f A m erican dem ocracy. B la n s h a rd 's s p e c i f i c
c o m p la in ts a g a in s t Homan C a th o lic c e n s o rs h ip o f r a d io and
t e l e v i s i o n m edia in th e U n ite d S ta te s a r e d is c u s s e d i n
t h e i r p r o p e r p la c e i n su c c e e d in g c h a p te r s o f th e p r e s e n t
s tu d y .
162
b ro ad a r e a s o f human en d e av o r w hich demand p e rs o n a l
d e c is io n s by th o s e p a r t i c i p a t i n g in them ; th e d e c is io n s
a re c o n c e rn e d w ith th e n a t u r a l law .
The pow er o f th e Church i s n o t bound by th e l i m i t s
o f 'm a t t e r s s t r i c t l y r e li g i o u s ,* a s th e y s a y , b u t
th e w hole m a tte r o f th e n a t u r a l la w , i t s fo u n d a
t i o n , i t s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , i t s a p p l ic a tio n , so f a r
a s t h e i r m oral a s p e c ts e x te n d , a r e w ith in th e
C h u rc h 's pow er. . . .
Many and s e r io u s a re th e problem s i n th e
s o c i a l f i e l d . W hether th e y be m erely s o c ia l o r
s o c i o r p o l i t i c a l , th e y p e r t a i n to th e m o ral o r d e r ,
a r e o f c o n c e rn to c o n s c ie n c e and th e s a lv a ti o n
o f men; th u s th e y c a n n o t be d e c la re d o u ts id e th e
a u t h o r i t y and c a re o f th e C hurch, . . .
Common s e n s e , and t r u t h a s w e ll, a r e c o n tr a
d i c t e d by w hoever a s s e r t s t h a t th e s e and l i k e
p ro b lem s a r e o u ts id e th e f i e l d o f m o ra ls , and
h en ce a r e , o r a t l e a s t can b e , beyond th e i n f l u
en ce o f t h a t a u t h o r it y e s ta b lis h e d by God to see
to a j u s t o rd e r and to d i r e c t th e c o n sc ie n c e s
and a c t i o n s o f m en-along th e p a th to t h e i r tr u e
and f i n a l d e s tin y .
F o rd and K e lly commented t h a t P iu s X II d id n o t
c la im a u t h o r i t y o v er a l l a s p e c ts o f l i f e w ith o u t le a v in g
a n y th in g to th e judgm ent o f c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s , p r o f e s s io n a l
s o c i e t i e s , o r to in d iv id u a l men. B a th e r, th e C h u rc h 's
a u t h o r i t y was to sp eak on a l l a s p e c ts o f l i f e i n s o f a r a s
m o r a lity and r e l i g i o n a r e in v o lv e d . To s u b s t a n tia te t h e i r
comment t h a t " th e pope c e r t a i n l y d id n o t mean t h a t th e
Church h a s th e l a s t word in s t a t i n g th e law s o f s c ie n c e ,
^ P i u s X II, " M a g n ific a ts Poniinum" (a d d re s s to c a r
d i n a l s , a rc h b is h o p s , and b is h o p s g a th e re d i n Home. Novem
b e r 2 , 1 9 5*0, AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2: X X I), 15 (Nov. 1 8 , 1 9 5 * 0 ,
6 7 1 -6 /3 ; E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n . C a th o lic M ind. 1111:1109
(May, 1 9 5 5 ), 3 1 5 -3 1 7 , c i t e d by Ford and K e lly , o p . c i t . ,
p p . 1 3 -1 5 .
163
a r t , ec o n o m ics, and so f o r t h , " Pord and K e lly quoted
P iu s X II* s V a tic a n R adio b ro a d c a s t i n w hich th e P o n t i f f
u n e q u iv o c a lly s t a t e d t h a t such th in g s d id n o t come w ith in
th e com petence o f th e C hurch,
[Leo X I I I ] had no i n t e n t i o n o f la y in g down g u id
in g p r i n c i p l e s o f th e p u re ly p r a c t i c a l , we m ight
say te c h n ic a l s id e o f th e s o c ia l s t r u c t u r e ; f o r
he was w e ll aw are o f th e f a c t — a s Our im m ediate
p r e d e c e s s o r o f s a i n t l y memory P iu s XI p o in te d
o u t te n y e a r s ago i n h i s commemorative E n c y c li
c a l , Q uadragesim o Anno— t h a t th e Church does n o t
c la im such a m is s io n . In th e g e n e ra l fram ew ork
o f la b o u r , to s tim u la te th e sane and re s p o n s ib le
developm ent o f a l l th e e n e rg ie s p h y s ic a l and
s p i r i t u a l o f in d iv id u a ls and t h e i r f r e e o rg a n is a
t i o n , th e re opens up a wide f i e l d o f a c tio n where
th e p u b lic a u t h o r it y comes i n w ith i t s in te g r a t i n g
and c o o r d in a tin g a c t i v i t y e x e rc is e d f i r s t th ro u g h
th e l o c a l and p r o f e s s io n a l c o r p o r a tio n s , and
f i n a l l y i n th e a c t i v i t y o f th e S ta te i t s e l f ,
whose h ig h e r m o d e ra tin g s o c ia l a u t h o r it y h a s th e
im p o rta n t d u ty o f f o r e s t a l l i n g th e d is l o c a t io n s
o f econom ic b a la n c e a r i s i n g from p l u r a l i t y and
d iv e rg e n c e o f c la s h in g i n t e r e s t s in d iv id u a l and
c o l l e c t i v e .
I t i s , on th e o th e r h an d , th e in d is p u ta b le
com petence o f th e C hurch, on t h a t s id e o f th e
s o c i a l o r d e r where i t m eets and e n t e r s in to con
t a c t w ith th e m o ral o r d e r , to d e c id e w h eth er th e
b a s e s o f a g iv e n s o c i a l system a re i n acco rd
w ith th e u n ch an g eab le o rd e r w hich God o u r C re a to r
and Redeemer h a s shown u s th ro u g h th e N a tu ra l Law
and R e v e la tio n . • . . [ l] h e C hurch, g u a rd ia n o f
th e s u p e r n a tu r a l C h r is tia n o rd e r i n w hich n a tu re
and g ra c e c o n v e rg e , m ust form th e c o n s c ie n c e s
ev en o f th o s e who a r e c a lle d upon to f in d s o lu
t i o n s f o r th e .p ro b le m s and th e d u t i e s im posed by
s o c i a l l i f e . ^
52P iu s X II, "La so le n n itS , d e l l a P e n te c o s te " ( r a d io
a d d re s s th ro u g h V a tic a n R adio to th e u n i v e r s a l Church "p e r
u n iv e rsu m orbem e m is s u s " — " tr a n s m itte d th ro u g h o u t th e
w o rld "— June 1 , 1 9 ^ 1 ), AAS, XXXIII ( S e r . 2; V I I I ) , 6
(Ju n e 2 3 , 19^15» 218; c i t e d by Pord and K e lly , o p . c i t . .
p p . 1 6 -1 7 , n . lo ; e d i t i n g in te r p o l a te d by th e p r e s e n t
Pronouncem ents by V a tic a n O ffic e s
The V a tic a n c o n g re g a tio n s is s u e d few d i r e c t i v e s
r e g a r d in g b ro a d c a s tin g from 1920 to 1961, A lthough th e
c o n g re g a tio n s had no l e g i s l a t i v e p o w ers, t h e i r d e c re e s ,
i n t e r p r e t a t i v e ju d g m e n ts, and en a c tm en ts on in d iv id u a l
p ro b lem s and on g e n e r a l q u e s tio n s i n th e Church d e riv e d
t h e i r a u t h o r it y from th e suprem e p o n t i f f . T h erefo re th e
d e c is io n s o f th e c o n g re g a tio n s were to be re s p e c te d and
obeyed by th e f a i t h f u l a s i f em an atin g from th e pope him
s e l f ; th e y se rv e d a s a u t h o r i t a t i v e g u id e s to a p p lic a tio n s
o f canon la w . When th e c o n g r e g a tio n s ' d e c is io n s in j u d i
c i a l and i n e x t r a j u d i c i a l m a tte rs w ere approved and pub
l i s h e d by th e pope th e y c o n s titu t e d v a l i d and a u th e n tic
law s w hich c r e a te d tr u e o b lig a tio n on th e p a r t o f th o se
p e rso n s whom th e d e c is io n s c o n c e rn e d . C o n g re g a tio n s' r e s o
l u t i o n s w hich had n o t r e c e iv e d a s p e c ia l p a p a l m andate d id
n o t c o n s t i t u t e tr u e law b u t th e y were o f g r e a t a u t h o r it y
and s h a re d i n th e a u t h o r i t y o f th e p o n t i f f . ^
Of re le v a n c e to th e d io c e s a n a u th o r ity o f b ish o p s
was th e S acred C o n s is to r ia l C o n g reg atio n w hich, i n a d d itio n
r e s e a r c h e r . The p a p a l m essage was g iv e n by th e Pope in
I t a l i a n ; when he had f i n is h e d s p e a k in g , t r a n s l a t i o n s in
e i g h t o th e r la n g u a g e s w ere b ro a d c a s t; th e o r ig in a l and th e
t r a n s l a t i o n s were p u b lis h e d i n AAS. XXXIII (S e r. 2 : V I I I ) ,
6 (Ju n e. 2 3 , 1 9 ^ 1 ), 1 9 5 -2 9 3 .
5 3 c f. H e sto n , o d. c i t . . p p . 18 -1 9 ; Humphrey,
o p . c i t . . p p . 3 9 9 - ^ 0 3 . ---------
165
to i t s c o n c e rn w ith, th e e r e c tio n and s u p p re s s io n o f d io
c e s e s and th e a p p o in tm e n t o f b ish o p s and o th e r m ajo r
a d m in is t r a to r s , was c h a rg e d w ith th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f
o v e rs e e in g th e g e n e r a l governm ent and good o rd e r o f th e
C h u rc h 's many d io c e s e s . To t h i s end th e C o n g reg atio n
re c e iv e d d e t a i l e d r e p o r t s ev e ry f i v e y e a rs from ev e ry
b ish o p on th e s t a t e o f h i s d io c e s e .
The q u in q u e n n ia l r e p o r t , a s i t i s c a l l e d , i s
u s u a l ly s u b m itte d by th e b ish o p i n p e rso n when
he makes h i s o f f i c i a l ad lim in a [ l i t e r a l l y , " to
th e th r e s h o ld " o f th e m ajo r c h u rc h b u ild in g ]
v i s i t to Rome. Thus th e C o n s is to r ia l Congrega
t i o n h a s an o p p o r tu n ity to a s k f o r f u r t h e r c l a r i
f i c a t i o n o f some p o in ts o r to make to th e b ish o p
w h a te v e r o b s e r v a tio n s may be deemed n e c e s s a ry o r
h e l p f u l , a c c o rd in g to th e c o n te n ts o f th e r e p o r t .
When th e c o n d itio n o f th e d io c e s e i s ju d g ed
to be such a s to c a l l f o r s p e c ia l a t t e n t i o n , th e
C o n s is to r ia l C o n g re g a tio n i s empowered to a p p o in t
some e c c l e s i a s t i c to make a v i s i t a t i o n o f th e
d io c e s e in, th e name and w ith th e a u th o r ity o f th e
H oly SeeT^*1
P ronouncem ents by B ish o p s
The b is h o p s o f th e C a th o lic Church p o sse sse d
a u t h o r ity to te a c h , d i r e c t , and adm onish. Assem bled i n
ecu m en ical c o u n c il w ith th e B ishop o f Rome, th e p o p e , i n
e x c a th e d r a d o c t r i n a l d e f i n i t i o n s th e b ish o p s p o sse sse d
c o r p o r a te i n f a l l i b i l i t y and i n o th e r d e c is io n s th e y had
th e p r e r o g a tiv e o f a u th e n tic n o n i n f a l l i b l e te a c h in g .
^ H e s to n , o p . c i t . . p p . 52-53; i n 19^9 more th a n
200 m e tro p o lita n s e e s and a lm o st 1 ,0 0 0 e p is c o p a l s e e s o r
d io c e s e s w ere u n d e r t h i s C o n g re g a tio n 's j u r i s d i c t i o n , each
o f w hich r e g u la r ly su b m itte d f i v e - y e a r r e p o r t s .
I n d iv id u a lly a s O rd in a rie s i n t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e d io c e s e s
th e y d id n o t p o s s e s s i n f a l l i b i l i t y . B ut th e d e c re e s on
f a i t h and m o rals made by them a s i n d iv i d u a l b is h o p s o r by
p r o v in c ia l and p le n a ry c o u n c ils w ere v a l i d l e g i s l a t i o n and
a ls o sh a re d th e a u t h o r it y o f p a p a l te a c h in g when th e y had
b een ap p ro v ed by th e H oly S e e . As w ith th e p r o v in c ia l
c o u n c il, so w ith th e p le n a r y c o u n c il a l l a c t s had to be
s u b m itte d to th e Holy See b e fo re th e y s h a re d i n p a p a l
a u t h o r i t y . T h is a s s u re d t h a t th e n e c e s s a ry u n ifo rm ity i n
d i s c i p l i n e was p re s e rv e d th ro u g h o u t th e w orld d u rin g su c
c e s s iv e d e c a d e s . The V a tic a n a u th o r iz e d th e s e c o u n c ils f o r
th e p r e c is e re a s o n t h a t th e r e w ere s p e c i a l n ee d s and c i r
cu m stan ces among th e many n a tio n s whose h i e r a r c h i e s had
th e r e f o r e to a d a p t g e n e r a l e c c l e s i a s t i c a l r e g u la tio n s to
55
l o c a l c o n d itio n s . The te a c h in g a u t h o r i t y o f in d iv id u a l
b ish o p s was lim ite d to te a c h in g and s a fe g u a rd in g C a th o lic
d o c trin e on f a i t h o r m o ra ls a s d e fin e d by th e u n iv e r s a l
te a c h in g a u th o r ity o f th e C hurch. A b is h o p was n o t
a u th o riz e d to s e t t l e th e o lo g ic a l c o n tr o v e r s ie s w hich were
f r e e and open q u e s tio n s n o t y e t p ro n o u n ced upon by p a p a l
o r c o n c i l i a r a u t h o r i t y . The b i s h o p 's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y was
to tr a n s m i t , s a fe g u a rd , and d efe n d th o s e m a tte rs a lre a d y
e s t a b l i s h e d a s c e r t a i n i n th e C hurch. But by v i r t u e o f
5 5 c f. A. B oudinhon, " P r o v in c ia l C o u n c il," The
C a th o lic E n cy c lo p ed ia (1 9 1 1 ), X I I , 5 l6 ; H e sto n , o p . c i t . ,
p . bO.
167
h ia o f f ic e th e b ish o p p o sse sse d tr u e a u th o r ity w hich
r e q u ir e d th e o b ed ien ce o f th e f a i t h f u l i n th e d io c e s e com-
(J/
m itte d to h i s c a r e . M ost C a th o lic c le r g y and laym en
le a rn e d th e C h u rc h ^ te a c h in g on q u e s tio n s o f f a i t h and
m o rals th ro u g h t h e i r own b is h o p s in s t e a d o f d i r e c t l y from
th e H oly See; t h i s te a c h in g was e x p re s s e d th ro u g h p a s t o r a l
l e t t e r s , v a rio u s s ta te m e n ts o f p r o v in c ia l and n a t i o n a l
h i e r a r c h i e s , and th e o th e r means d e s c r ib e d above on
p ag es 15^ and 155# In. a d d itio n to r e la y in g th e g e n e ra l
pronouncem ents o f th e C hurch, th e b is h o p o f te n i n t e r p r e t e d
c/r
? P ord and K e lly , o p . c i t . , p p . 3 6 -3 7 , quote
a p p ro v in g ly G. Van N o o rt, T ra o ta tu s de e c c l e s i a C h r is t i
(Bussum , th e N e th e rla n d s : P au lu s B ran d , 1 9 3 1 ), n . # 1 9 8 ,
and f o o tn o te , E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n by John J . C a s te lo t,
S . S . , and W illiam R . M urphy, S . S . , C h r is t» s Chiurch ( r e v .
e d .; W e stm in ste r, Md.: The Newman P r e s s , 19577, p p . 321-
322:
"Por th e b ish o p i n v i r t u e o f h i s o f f i c e , t h a t i s ,
n o t because o f h i s renow n f o r l e a r n i n g , and n o t b ec au se o f
th e pow er o f th e arg u m en ts he may a d d u c e , b u t b ecau se o f
th e v e ry p u b lic a u t h o r i t y he p o s s e s s e s i n th e C hurch,
sh o u ld o u t o f r e l i g i o u s o b ed ien ce be heeded by h i s s u b je c ts ;
i n such fa s h io n t h a t th e y f e e l o b lig e d to a c c e p t h i s te a c h
in g a s th e tr u e d o c tr in e o f C h r i s t , u n le s s th e re be s p e c ia l
re a s o n s to prove th e c o n t r a r y . T h at i s w hat th e o lo g ia n s
mean by sa y in g t h a t th e b ish o p p o s s e s s e s f o r h i s own d io
c e se a m a g iste riu m w hich i s n o t in d e e d i n f a l l i b l e , b u t
w hich i s a u t h e n t i c « i . e . , a u t h o r i t a t i v e . "
Pord and K e lly c i t e o th e r s o u rc e s on th e te a c h in g
o f f ic e o f th e b is h o p s , in c lu d in g C a rd in a l P r a n z e lin ,
T r a c ta tu s de d iv in a t r a d i t i o n e e t s c r i p t u r a (2nd e d .;
Rome: n .p u b ., 1 8 7 5 ), p p . G erald A. B yan, P r i n c i
p le s o f E p isc o p a l J u r i s d i c t i o n (W ashington: The C a th o lic
U n iv e r s ity o f A m erica P r e s s , 1939)> e s p e c i a lly p p . 1 2 5 -1 3 2 .
Any a p p e a l by a p e rs o n a g a in s t d e c is io n s o f h i s b ish o p
would be su b m itte d d i r e c t l y to t h a t b is h o p o r e l s e d i r e c t l y
to th e V a tic a n w hich a lo n e e x e rc is e d a u th o r ity o v e r th e
e p is c o p a c y .
168
and a p p lie d th e C h u rch 's m oral te a c h in g to s p e c if ic l o c a l
c irc u m s ta n c e s . D iocesan r u lin g s r e s u l t e d from th e e p is c o
p a l judgm ent on a p p lic a tio n s to g iy e n s i t u a t i o n s ; f o r
ex am p le, th e p r o p r ie ty o f p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n b e a u ty c o n t e s t s ,
th e m o ral danger o f a tte n d in g a s p e c i f i c m otion p i c t u r e ,
and th e p u b lic harm o f d i s t r i b u t i n g c e r t a i n books and
p a m p h le ts . Such lo c a l r u lin g s d i f f e r e d i n th e v a r io u s
d io c e s e s and were o b v io u sly n o t e x p r e s s io n s o f u n iv e r s a l
d o c tr in e b u t o f in d iv id u a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s w hich were
in te n d e d to p ro v id e ad eq u ate r e g u l a t i o n o f th e l i v e s o f
c le r g y and l a i t y in th e r e s p e c tiv e d io c e s e s .
But th e e v e r - in q u ir in g m ind o f th e th e o lo g ia n
i s prone to ask w h eth er th e s e p a r t i c u l a r ju d g m e n ts,
d e c is io n s , and s ta te m e n ts , a r e r e a l l y d o c t r i n a l i n
th e s t r i c t s e n s e , o r r a t h e r l e g i s l a t i v e en a ctm en ts
o r o f f i c i a l e x h o r ta tio n s . The s ta n d a rd a u th o rs
a p p a re n tly have l i t t l e to say on t h i s i n t e r e s t i n g
p ro b lem . As f o r o u r s e lv e s , we w ould o f f e r th e
fo llo w in g s u g g e s tio n s . F i r s t , an in d iv id u a l p ro
nouncem ent o f a b ish o p m ig h t in v o lv e a l l th r e e
e le m e n ts—a u th e n tic te a c h in g , l e g i s l a t i o n , and
e x h o r ta tio n ; and th e m ain q u e s tio n m ight be w hich
o f th e th re e i s p r im a r ily in v o lv e d . S eco n d ly ,
when i t i s c l e a r t h a t an e p is c o p a l pronouncem ent
w hich i s made w ith a view to e x i s t i n g c o n d itio n s
i n h i s d io c e se i s co n cern ed w ith an o b l i g a t i o n ,
i t sh o u ld be presum ed t h a t th e b is h o p i s u s in g
h i s l e g i s l a t i v e , r a t h e r th a n h i s d o c t r i n a l a u th o r
i t y , u n le s s i t i s e v id e n t t h a t he in te n d s to u se
h i s power o f a u t h o r i t a t i v e te a c h i n g . T h ir d ly ,
i n th e absence o f a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n t h a t s t r i c t
o b lig a tio n s are in v o lv e d , th e pronouncem ent sh o u ld
be in te r p r e t e d a s an o f f i c i a l e x h o r t a t i o n .5'
^ F o r d and B e lly , o p . c i t . . p . 38; em phasis i n th e
o r i g i n a l •
Summary
To summarize th e m ost r e le v a n t p o in ts r e g a r d in g
tr a n s m is s io n o f h i e r a r c h i c a l a u th o r ity i n th e Soman
C a th o lic C hurch: The pope and c o n g r e g a tio n s , to g e th e r w ith
th e ecu m en ical c o u n c ils o f a l l th e b is h o p s o f th e C hurch i n
a s s e m b ly , p o sse sse d th e i n f a l l i b l e te a c h in g pow er w hich
r e s id e d i n th e C hurch. B ishops sh a re d i n th e te a c h in g
a u t h o r i t y o f th e Church and tr a n s m itte d to th e f a i t h f u l
a lr e a d y - d e f in e d d o c tr in e and d i r e c t i v e s w hich o f te n had to
be a p p lie d i n a c co rd w ith l o c a l c irc u m s ta n c e s . In c o n tro
v e r te d m a tte rs b is h o p s c o u ld n o t im pose a s o lu tio n ; i t
rem ain ed f o r th e H oly See to pronounce upon d is p u te d ques
t i o n s . I n a l l q u e s tio n s th e co n cern o f th e Church and th e
v a l i d i t y o f i t s te a c h in g a u th o r ity p e r ta in e d to th e f a i t h
and m o rals o f th e r e l i g i o u s l i f e o f men. I n s o f a r a s th e
d a i ly a f f a i r s o f th e w o rld in v o lv e d m oral and d o c t r i n a l
e le m e n ts , th e Church to t h a t e x te n t was co n cern ed w ith th e
a f f a i r s o f th e w o rld ; when m oral p o in ts were n o t co n c e rn ed
th e C hurch d id n o t have a u th o r ity to r e g u la te th e p ru d en
t i a l judgm ents o f men.
W ith th e advance o f modem s c ie n c e and te c h n o lo g y
th e r e a ro s e in c r e a s in g ly g r e a t e r num bers o f q u e s tio n s ab o u t
w hich d o c t r i n a l pronouncem ents o f th e C a th o lic C hurch had
l i t t l e o r n o th in g to s a y . As th e s tu d y o f p a p a l docum ents
r e p o r t s i n th e fo llo w in g two c h a p te r s , few and u s u a ll y
170
g e n e ra l norm s were su g g e ste d by th e V a tic a n re g a rd in g
b ro a d c a s tin g from 1920 to 1 961. V ario u s d io c e s e s , C a th o lic
o r g a n iz a tio n s o f laym en, and in d iv id u a ls among c le r g y and
l a i t y v a r io u s ly i n t e r p r e t e d . t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n
b ro a d c a s tin g m edia i n th e l i g h t o f co ntem porary l o c a l c i r
c u m sta n c e s. D uring th e same d ecad es o f developm ent i n th e
m ed ia, l o c a l b ish o p s from tim e to tim e were ask ed to p a r
t i c i p a t e i n b ro a d c a s t program s o r to comment upon p ro
gram ing c o n t e n t. In th e absence o f s p e c if ic d i r e c t i v e s
many members o f th e A m erican h ie r a r c h y , a s r e p o r te d i n
C h a p ters VI th ro u g h X I I I , were re q u e s te d to e n c o u ra g e ,
s u p p o r t, o r c r i t i c i z e v a r io u s p r a c t i c e s i n th e m e d ia. In
t h i s c o n te x t o f em erging aw areness and c o n c e rn , a t l e a s t
im p lie d p o l i c i e s r e g a rd in g b ro a d c a s tin g d ev elo p ed i n th e
d is p a r a te d io c e s e s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
The p r e s e n t c h a p te r a tte m p te d to d e s c rib e th e
a d m in is tr a tiv e r e l a t i o n betw een th e V a tic a n and th e e p is c o
p a c y , in c lu d in g th e A m erican b is h o p s , a s background to th e
u n iv e r s a l Church docum ents t h a t a re r e p o r te d and a n a ly z e d
in C h a p te rs IV and V. In th e stu d y o f th e A m erican d io ceses
and b r o a d c a s tin g i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , w hich c o n s t i t u t e s
C h a p te rs VI th ro u g h X I I I , f u r t h e r d e s c r ip tio n w i l l be p ro
v id e d o f th e d io c e s a n s tr u c t u r e o f th e C a th o lic C hurch i n
th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
CHAPTER IV
OFFICIAL VATICAN STATEMENTS
REGARDING BROADCASTING
I n tr o d u c tio n : S o u rces and D ocum entation
The p rim ary s o u rc e o f th e ta b u la tio n and a n a l y s i s
o f docum ents was th e A cta A p o s to lic a e S ed is w hich a s th e
V a tic a n ’s Commentarium O f f ic ia le ( O f f i c i a l Commentary) was
th e r e p o s it o r y o f fo rm a lly p u b lis h e d and th e re b y o f f i c i a l l y
p ro m u lg ated a c ts and tr a n s a c t i o n s o f th e Holy See* Docu
m ents t h a t ap p eared i n th e A cta A p o sto lic a e S ed is (AAS)
r e f l e c t e d th e fo rm a l, o f f i c i a l "mind" and te a c h in g o f th e
Roman C a th o lic Church* Documents t h a t were p u b lis h e d i n
so u rc e s o th e r th a n th e AAS d id n o t e n u n c ia te th e o f f i c i a l
d e c la r a t io n s o f th e C hurch b u t th e v ie w p o in t o f th e p e rso n
o r agency w hich composed and r e le a s e d each docum ent. The
p a p a l s ta te m e n ts t h a t ap p eared in th e AAS were, a u th e n tic
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f th e fo rm a l p o l i c i e s o f th e c e n t r a l
a u t h o r it y o f th e C a th o lic Church* But th e popes* o r a l and
w r i t t e n s ta te m e n ts t h a t w ere p u b lis h e d in o th e r co m p ila
tio n s su ch a s D is c o rs i e R ad io m essag g ii d i Sua S a n titA
P io X II * a lth o u g h th e y w ere p u b lis h e d by th e V a tic a n
171
172
M u ltilin g u a l P re s s and r e f l e c t e d ' o f f i c i a l o p in io n s , d id n o t
sh a re i n th e fo rm a l a u t h e n t i c i t y o f o f f i c i a l Church s t a t e
m ents •
The docum ents d e s c rib e d in th e c o u rse o f th e
p r e s e n t c h a p te r were i d e n t i f i e d i n th e fo rty -tw o volum es
o f A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is w hich c h r o n ic le d o f f i c i a l V a tic a n
s ta te m e n ts from 1920 th ro u g h 1961, The r e s e a r c h p ro ced u re
in c lu d e d th e fo llo w in g s te p s :
1 . The a n n u a l a l p h a b e t ic a l in d e x e s o f to p ic s in
th e A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is f o r Volumes X II to XXVI, 1920-
1961, w ere s tu d ie d i n o r d e r to i d e n t i f y docum ents, p o r tio n s
o f docum ents, and r e f e r e n c e s to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n b ro ad
c a s tin g . Because b r o a d c a s tin g was a n o v e l form o f communi
c a tio n s in th e 1920*s and 1930*s i t was assum ed t h a t th e
in d e x e s o f Church docum ents and a c tio n s would c o n ta in few
i f any s e p a r a te in d e x h e a d in g s ab o u t b r o a d c a s tin g . T hat
t h i s assu m p tio n was p a r t l y v a l i d was in d ic a te d by th e
absence o f m ajo r h e a d in g s p e r ta in in g to b ro a d c a s tin g in
th e in d e x e s o f th e f i r s t tw en ty volum es o f M S , a lth o u g h
some r e f e r e n c e s to b r o a d c a s tin g were in c lu d e d a s c r o s s
r e f e r e n c e s i n o th e r in d e x e n t r i e s . To i d e n t i f y such c r o s s
r e f e r e n c e s i t was n e c e s s a z y to re a d a t l e a s t c u r s o r i l y a l l
e n t r i e s i n each a n n u a l in d e x o f th e tw en ty v o lu m es. In th e
decades o f th e 1 9 ^ 0 *s and 1 9 5 0 "s th e num ber o f m ajo r
e n t r i e s t h a t were d e v o te d to b ro a d c a s tin g in c re a s e d
173
r e g u l a r l y . T h is p ro g re s s iv e in c r e a s e i n ra d io and t e l e
v i s i o n e n t r i e s in th e in d e x e s r e f l e c t e d th e V a tic a n ’ s grow
in g aw areness, o f b ro a d c a s tin g and i t s re c o g n itio n o f b ro ad
c a s tin g a s a s u b je c t o f fo rm a l c o n c e rn ; th e to p ic th u s
began to r e c e iv e s e p a r a te in d e x h e a d in g s in th e AAS.
2 . S o u rces t h a t were d e s c rib e d in C h ap ter I I ,
"Review o f L i t e r a t u r e ," were c o n s u lte d i n o rd e r to com ple
m ent th e l i s t o f o f f i c i a l docum ents o f th e V a tic a n from
1920 th ro u g h 1961 w hich was com piled from th e a n n u a l AAS
in d e x e s . These s o u rc e s p ro v id e d r e f e r e n c e s to t r a n s l a t i o n s
o f docum ents t h a t were p u b lis h e d in la n g u ag e s o th e r th a n
E n g lis h ; and th e s o u rc e s a ls o l i s t e d o th e r V a tic a n docu
m ents t h a t had n o t been p u b lis h e d i n AAS
1 Among th e s o u rc e s w hich s u p p lie d re fe re n c e d a ta
were th e fo llo w in g books and p e r i o d i c a l s f o r w hich com plete
i n d i c i a ap p e ar i n th e B ib lio g ra p h y : X zerm ans, The Ma.ior
A d d re sse s o f Pope P iu s X II (2 v o l s . ) ; V a lia n t H e ra ld s o f
T ru th : P iu s X II and th e A m erican P e o p le ; O a rle n . A (yulcfe to
th e E n c y c lic a ls o f th e feoman P o n t i f f s Trom Leo X l l l to th e
P re s e n t Bay (1 8 7 8 -1 9 3 7 ); D ic tio n a ry o f P ap al Pronouncem ents:
Leo X I I I to P iu s X II Cio7S-19j?7); P a s q u a ll, Stampa Cinema 1
R adio if e lla P a ro la de P io X II D ocum enti; (T ip o g ra fia
P o l l g l o t t a V a tic a n a J . B is c o r s i e R adiom essaggi d i su a
S a n t i t a P io X II (20 v o l s . ) . A lso v a lu a b le f o r t r a n s l a t i o n s ;
and f o r r e f e r e n c e s to o th e r V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts re g a rd in g
b ro a d c a s tin g w ere: C h in ig o , The Pope S p eak s; P o llo c k , The |
Mind o f P iu s X II; N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n feren c e,
S e le c te d hooum ent8 o f H is H o lin e s s . Pope P iu s X II; L a v is ,
e t a l . , e d s .. The C a th o lic Mind (V o ls . XXXVlI-LVl)? O’N e il,
e d . . The Pope S peaks (V o ls . I - V l l ) . Not c o n s u lte d b ecau se
u n a v a ila b le to T h i s r e s e a r c h e r a t th e tim e o f th e stu d y
w ere: R ev. V in cen t A. Y zerm ans, The U nw earied A dvocate
(3 v o l s . ; S t. C loud, M inn.: S t . Cloud Bookshop, 1
The U nw earied A dvocate ( r e v . e d .; 2 v o l s . ; S t. C loud, Minn.:
S i . Cloud bookshop, 1 9 5 6 ); C a th o lic Documents (London: The
P o n t i f i c a l C o u rt C lu b , n . d . ) , a l l v o lu m es. L ata i n th e s e
l a s t p u b lic a tio n s were re p ro d u c e d i n th e o th e r s o u r c e s .
3 . The in d e x l i s t i n g s i n AAS w ere th e n v e r i f i e d
and com plem ented by th e l i s t i n g s i n o th e r c o m p ila tio n s
c i t e d i n f o o tn o te 1 . To t h i s l i s t o f o f f i c i a l docum ents
r e g a rd in g r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n was added a second l i s t o f
V a tic a n docum ents t h a t had n o t been p u b lis h e d in th e AAS
b u t w hich r e f l e c t e d p a p a l o p in io n s ab o u t q u e s tio n s o f
b r o a d c a s tin g .
!+. W ith th e f i n a l com bined l i s t s o f V atican docu
m ents a s an in d e x th e r e s e a r c h e r c o n s u lte d th e in d iv id u a l
volum es o f AAS .in o r d e r to re a d th e docum ents t h a t p e r
ta in e d to b r o a d c a s tin g , th e n to copy e x t r a c t s o r to make
p h o to re p ro d u c tio n s o f e n t i r e d ocum ents.
5 . The e x t r a c t s and e n t i r e docum ents were th e n
ta b u la te d and a n a ly z e d i n o r d e r to d e s c r ib e tre n d s i n
V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts a b o u t b r o a d c a s tin g .
The r e p o r t o f th e f i f t h s te p c o n s t i t u t e s the
p r e s e n t c h a p te r , i n w hich th e o f f i c i a l V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts
d u rin g th e tw enty- two y e a r p e r io d a r e d e s c rib e d q u a n tita
t i v e l y and q u a l i t a t i v e l y a c c o rd in g to tr e n d s in s u b je c t
m a tte r , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n and le n g th o f docum ent, o c c a s io n ,
and in te n d e d a u d ie n c e .
In d ex L is tin g s i n AAS
As th e popes made more f r e q u e n t, lo n g e r , and more
im p o rta n t s ta te m e n ts a b o u t r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n , the
a n n u a l in d e x e s o f AAS in c lu d e d in c r e a s in g ly more e n t r i e s
175
on th e s u b je c t. The in d e x l i s t i n g s th u s p ro v id e d a g ro s s
b u t r e a d i ly d is c e r n ib le i n d i c a t o r o f V a tic a n c o n c e rn f o r
p
q u e s tio n s o f b r o a d c a s tin g . In e a r l y volum es o f AAS the
in d e x e s l i s t e d p a p a l s ta te m e n ts a b o u t e a r l y e f f o r t s o f th e
V a tic a n Radio s t a t i o n u n d e r th e t i t l e "R a d io fo n ic u s . 1 1
G en eral re f e r e n c e s to th e r o le o f m odem com m unications i n
s o c ie ty were r e le g a te d to docum ents t h a t d is c u s s e d th e vex
in g problem s o f in d e c e n t m o tio n p i c t u r e s d u rin g th e 1930*s ;
th e s e e n t r i e s were u s u a lly in c o r p o r a te d in to th e in d e x e s a s
"S p e c ta c u la cin e m a to g ra p h ic a 1 1 and c r o s s - r e f e r e n c e s ap p eared
i n th e form s “C in em a to g ra p h ic a: v id e S p e c ta c u la cinem a
to g ra p h ! c a 1 1 and "F ilm s: Vfid e 1. C in em ato g rap h ica
s p e c ta c u la . 1 1 In 1953 th e AAS in d e x to Volume XLV l i s t e d
"R adio" i n q u o ta tio n m arks a s a s e p a r a te s u b je c t e n t r y . In
195*+ Pope P iu s X II e s ta b li s h e d a V a tic a n p o n t i f i c a l com
m is s io n f o r q u e s tio n s p e r t a i n i n g to m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d io ,
and t e l e v i s i o n . The in d e x to t h a t y e a r 's Volume XLVI p ro
v id e d th e f i r s t e x te n s iv e s e r i e s o f c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s w hich
in c lu d e d ; "R ad io p h o n ica s t a t i o "; "R a d io p h o n ia . Vfi d e l .
The a l p h a b e t ic a l in d e x o f to p ic s in each volume
c o n s is te d o f from e i g h t to f i f t e e n double-colum n p ag es o f
66 l i n e s p e r colum n, o r 132 h a l f - l i n e s p e r page o f
d e t a i l e d c ro s s r e f e r e n c e s to s u b je c t h e a d in g s and c o n te n t.
In an av erag e e le v e n -p a g e in d e x th e r e w ere 1 ,^ 5 2 h a l f - l i n e s
o f in d e x l i s t i n g s .
The t i t l e s o f th e AAS a n n u a l in d e x e s v a r ie d ;
V o l. X II (1 9 2 0 ), In d ex A n a ly iic u s Rerum N o tab iliu m
( " A n a ly tic a l Index o f More N otew orthy T o p ic s " ); V o ls . X III-
XVI (1921-192ff). In d ex Rerum N o ta b iliu m (" In d e x o f More
N otew orthy Topics**); V o ls . ^V n-X X V T T T 925-196l), Index
Rerum A n a ly tic u a ( " A n a ly tic a l In d ex o f T o p ic s " ).
Com m issio"; "T e le v is io " ; 1 1 C inem atograph! a : V[i d e 1.
Com m issio"; " Commissio P o n t, p ro C inem atographia^ R ad io -
phoni a ao T e le v is io n e i n s t i t u l t u r " ; "A c tio C a th o lic a . . .
quoad te le v ia io n e m . ♦ . e t i n s t i t u t i o ra d io p h o n ic a ac
t e l e v i s i v a i n C h i l i a ." ^ In 1955 th e in d e x e s to Volume
XLVII l i a t e d ; "R a d io d if f u s io . V C id e l. T e le v is io " ; " T e le -
com m unicationes" ; and "Unio E u ropaea de R a d io d if fu s io n e .
v r id e 1. T e le v is io ." The in d e x d e v o te d f o u rte e n l i n e s o f
th e h a lf- p a g e column to th e "T eleco m m u n icatio n es" e n tr y
and te n l i n e s to th e "T e le v is io " e n t r y , w hich l i s t e d th e
to p ic s i n two a d d re s s e s by P iu s X II re g a rd in g th e E uropean
B ro a d c a stin g Union and th e s i x t i e t h a n n iv e rs a ry o f th e
r a d io te le g r a p h . The 1957 volume o f AAS indexed "S t a t i o
ra d io p h o n ic a v a tic a n a " to w hich tw e n ty -s ix l i n e s o f h a l f
colum ns were d ev o ted ; "Porm ula b e n e d ic tio n is s t [ a t i o n i s 1
ra d r io p h o n ic a e l" ; "R ad io p h o n ica A rs . V[i d e 1. Cinema
to g r a p h ie s A rs"; and "T e l e v ia i f i c a A rs . V [ide 1. Cinema-
to g ra p h ic a A rs ." The l a s t two r e f e r e n c e s were to th e
e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r M iranda P ro rs u s o f P iu s X II on m otion
p i c t u r e s , r a d io , and t e l e v i s i o n ; th e " C in em ato g rap h ica
A rs" e n tr y re c e iv e d s e v e n ty - th r e e l i n e s , o r more th a n one-
h a l f a page o f th e th ir te e n - p a g e in d e x to Volume XLIX, and
l i s t e d r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n by to p ic and page no fe w e r
th a n te n tim e s . S u b je c t h e a d in g s i n th e 1958 volume were
3 E llip s e s i n th e o r i g i n a l t e x t .
177
"R ad io p h o n ia ac t e l e v i s i o 1 1 ; "T e le v is i f io u s in v e n tu s "; and
" T e le v is io ao r a d io p h o n ia ." In 1959 "the in d e x o f Volume LI
in c lu d e d a s a s e p a r a te e n tr y "C o n siliu m P o n tific iu m r e i
cinem a to g r a p h ic a e . ra d io p h o n ic a e e t t e l e v i s i f i c a e " ; th e
in d e x in c lu d e d a s c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s "R ad io p h o n ia" ; "T e le
v i s i o " ; and "S t a t i o ra d io p h o n ic a ." The i 960 volume o f AAS
l i s t e d "S t a t i o ra d io p h o n ic a *" The 1961 volume l i s t e d
"R ad io p h o n ia ac T e le v is i o "; "R ad io p h o n icae S ta ti o n e s "; and
"T e le v is io Vfi d e 1• R ad io p h o n ia ac T e le v is i o . "
Rot a l l m inor r e f e r e n c e s to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
w hich were made in V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts w ere c r o s s - r e f e r r e d
i n th e s e AAS l i s t i n g s . S o u rces o f b r i e f e r r e f e r e n c e s to
b ro a d c a s tin g were o b ta in e d from e n t r i e s i n o th e r in d e x e s
such a s Y zerm ans* "C om plete L i s t o f th e [1 ,3 6 7 ] A d d resses
o f Pope P iu s X II" i n The Ma.ior A d d re sse s o f Pope P iu s X I I :
Volume I I and in th e in d e x e s to th e tw enty-volum e L is c o r s i
e R adiom essaggi de su a S a n titA P io X I I . In th e fo rm e r
work Yzermans l i s t e d a l l p a p a l a d d re s s e s c h ro n o lo g ic a lly
and in c lu d e d i n ea ch e n t i y th e t i t l e o r s u b je c t- m a tte r and
a u d ie n c e , th e o p en in g w ords i n th e lan g u ag e i n w hich th e
a d d re s s had been g iv e n , a symbol i n d i c a t i n g th e c o n te n t
(com m unications was one o f e ig h te e n c a t e g o r i e s ) , and pub
l i c a t i o n s o f th e co m p lete t e x t s i n th e o r i g i n a l lan g u ag e
and i n E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n . In i t s s e p a r a te index-volum e
to th e f i r s t f i f t e e n volum es o f th e s e r i e s , th e D is c o r s i e
178
R adiom essaggi • . . d ev o ted one and th r e e - q u a r t e r p ag e s
o f in d e x (p p . V75~^75) to "R ad io ” and more th a n one page
(pp* 59^-595) to "T e l e v i s i o n e a s w e ll a s s e v e r a l p ag es
to in d iv id u a l l i s t i n g s o f a l l p a p a l r a d io m essag es.
In d ex es in each o f th e su b se q u e n t f i v e volum es c o n ta in e d
e n t r i e s f o r P iu s X I I 's s ta te m e n ts a b o u t b ro a d c a s tin g i n
h i s d is c o u rs e s and r a d io m essages from 1951 * to 1958.
In th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r a l l docum ents t h a t were
p u b lis h e d in th e AAS. in c lu d in g a l l c a te g o r ie s o f docu
m ents d e s c rib e d i n th e p re c e d in g c h a p te r , a re ta b u la te d
and a n a ly z e d in o rd e r to i d e n t i f y th o s e docum ents t h a t
were d ev o ted e n t i r e l y to q u e s tio n s o f b r o a d c a s tin g , th o se
docum ents t h a t were p a r t i a l l y d e v o te d to th e s u b j e c t , and
th o s e docum ents i n w hich o c c a s io n a l r e f e r e n c e s were made
to b r o a d c a s tin g . In C h a p ter Y a re d is c u s s e d V a tic a n
a c tio n s re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s tin g a s m a n ife s te d i n docum ents
p u b lis h e d in th e AAS. Such a c tio n s in c lu d e d th e c r e a tio n
o f th e P o n t if i c a l Commission f o r C inem a, R a d io , and T e le
v is i o n ; th e V a tic a n R adio; th e V a tic a n P ilm L ib ra ry f o r
t e l e v i s i o n re c o rd in g s ; th e m ass com m unications s e c r e t a r i a t
f o r th e ecu m en ical c o u n c il t h a t convened i n 1962; and th e
d e c re e s o f V a tic a n o f f i c e s and c o n g re g a tio n s w hich
a f f e c t e d b ro a d c a s tin g p r a c t i c e s w ith in th e C a th o lic Church.
A lso an a ly z e d in C h a p te r V a r e th e p a p a l ra d io m essages
b ro a d c a s t th ro u g h V a tic a n R adio and r e p o r te d in AAS.
179
Content of Official Vatican Documents:
Quantitative Analysis
A ll docum ents t h a t were p u b lis h e d i n th e o f f i c i a l
V a tic a n commentary A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is were is s u e d by
e i t h e r th e popes o r th e o f f i c e s o f th e Roman C u ria . The
p ro c e d u re s d e s c rib e d below were a p p lie d s e p a r a te ly to th e
p a p a l docum ents and to th e o th e r n o n -p a p a l V a tic a n docu
m e n ts.
A q u a n t ita tiv e com parison o f V a tic a n docum ents was
f e a s i b l e because a l l o f f i c i a l docum ents w ere p u b lis h e d in
th e AAS w hich th ro u g h o u t th e fo u r-d e c a d e p e rio d from 1920
to 1961 r e ta in e d th e same s t y l e and s iz e o f ty p e f o r p r i n t
in g th e t e x t s . Hence a lin e - c o u n t was p o s s ib le f o r ea c h
docum ent and se rv e d a s a v a l id c r i t e r i o n o f q u a n t ita tiv e
co m p ariso n among a l l docum ents. D u rin g th e f o rty -tw o y e a rs
th e AAS p ag es w ere o f u n ifo rm s i z e ; s l i g h t l y l a r g e r ty p e
was u se d by th e V a tic a n P re s s o n ly f o r p r i n t i n g th e t e x t
o f e n c y c l i c a l s , f o r w hich co m p en satio n was made i n t h i s
if
stu d y when th e le n g th s o f t e x t s were com puted.
^ I n each l i n e o f r e g u la r ty p e i n th e AAS t e x t th e
av e ra g e num ber o f a l l c h a r a c te r s o f ty p e in c lu d in g sp a c e s
and p u n c tu a tio n m arks was s i x t y - n i n e , w hereas th e av erag e
num ber o f ty p e c h a r a c te r s i n ea ch l i n e o f l a r g e r ty p e was
s i x t y . C o n v ersio n o f th e l a r g e r ty p e fa c e l i n e t o t a l s to
th e e q u iv a le n t l i n e t o t a l s in r e g u l a r s iz e ty p e fa c e was
made by m u ltip ly in g th e fo rm e r by th e num ber o f c h a r a c te r s
p e r l i n e (6 0 ) and th e n d iv id in g t h a t t o t a l by th e num ber o f
c h a r a c te r s p e r l i n e o f s ta n d a rd s iz e t e x t ( 6 9 ); f o r exam
p l e , 253 l i n e s o f t e x t i n l a r g e r ty p e w ere e q u iv a le n t to
220 l i n e s o f t e x t in r e g u l a r ty p e : 253 x 60 = 1 5 ,1 8 0 ;
1 5 ,1 8 0 t 69 = 220.
A page o f AAS t e x t i n r e g u l a r ty p e c o n ta in e d
180
D e f in iti o n s . By "docum ent" was m eant ev e ry p a p a l
and V a tic a n l e t t e r , e x h o r ta tio n , a d d r e s s , d e c re e , ra d io
m essag e, e t c e te r a w hich p e r ta in e d i n w hole o r in p a r t to
b ro a d c a s tin g com m unications and w hich was p u b lis h e d ( a ) i n
th e o f f i c i a l A cta A p o s to lic a e S e d is * o r (b ) in th e non
o f f i c i a l c o m p ila tio n s o f a c t s o f th e p o p e s , such as
D is c o rs i e S ad io m essag g i d i Sua S a n titA P io X II . The docu
m ents is s u e d by th e p o p es and V a tic a n o f f i c e s were each
d iv id e d in to th r e e c a te g o r ie s a c c o rd in g to th e e x te n t to
w hich ea ch docum ent co n c ern e d b r o a d c a s tin g com m unications:
t h i r t y - n i n e l i n e s o f t e x t , w h ereas a page o f l a r g e r ty p e
c o n ta in e d o n ly t h i r t y - f o u r l i n e s o f t e x t ; b u t t h i s d id n o t
a f f e c t co m p u tatio n b e c au se th e a b s o lu te number o f l i n e s i n
each docum ent was c o u n te d in s te a d o f th e number o f p ag es
o f t e x t o r th e av e ra g e num ber o f l i n e s on each p a g e .
A ll f r a c t i o n s o f l i n e s w ere c o u n te d a s com plete
l i n e s o f t e x t . A sam ple o f f o u r te e n o f th e t h i r t y - s i x
p a p a l docum ents in s i x c a te g o r ie s w hich were is s u e d betw een
194-7 and 1961 in d ic a t e d t h a t 208 f r a c t i o n s o f l i n e s ( o r
10.6/6) o c c u rre d i n th e 1 ,9 5 1 l i n e s o f t e x t o f seven com
p l e t e docum ents sam pled; th r e e f r a c t i o n a l l i n e s ( o r 6 .0 6 # )
o c c u rre d in th e s i x t y - s i x l i n e s o f th r e e p o r tio n s o f t e x t s
sam pled; and no f r a c t i o n a l l i n e s ( o r 0$) o c c u rre d in th e
t h i r t y - f o u r l i n e s o f th e f o u r r e f e r e n c e s o f t e x t s sam p led . !
Because h a l f o f th e f r a c t i o n a l l i n e s were s h o r te r th a n
t h i r t y - f i v e c h a r a c te r s o f ty p e w h ile th e rem ain in g h a l f o f
l i n e s w ere lo n g e r , th e t o t a l num ber o f f r a c t i o n a l l i n e s
eq u a le d th e same num ber o f h a l f - l i n e s o f t e x t . T h e re fo re
th e a c t u a l d e c re a s e i n t e x t c o n te n t f o r each c l a s s o f docu-;
m e n ta tio n w as: 5 .3 # o f co m p lete docum ents; 3.03/6 o f p o r
t i o n s o f docum ents; and 0$ o f r e f e r e n c e s i n docum ents. The
av e ra g e i n f l a t i o n o f l i n e t o t a l s ta b u la te d i n ta b le s below
was 2,77% above th e a c t u a l l i n e c o n te n t o f t e x t s . S in ce
th e same co m p u tatio n was u se d f o r a l l t e x t s , i n t e r n a l com
p a r is o n s among th e t e x t s w ere n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d .
^The AAS and th e D is c o rs i (as i t i s c i t e d h e r e a f t e r
i n t h i s stu d y ) r e p o r te d th e o r i g i n a l lan g u ag e t e x t s o f
V a tic a n w r i tte n and o r a l s ta te m e n ts . The B u lle tin
d* I n fo rm a tio n . N. C. W. C. News S e rv ic e t e x t s o f docum ents,
(1 ) A docum ent was c l a s s i f i e d a s "com plete" i f i t s c o n te n t
was co n c ern ed e x c lu s iv e ly o r p r im a r ily w ith q u e s tio n s o f
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . (2 ) A docum ent was c a te g o riz e d a s a
" p o rtio n " i f i t s t e x t c o n ta in e d a com plete s ta te m e n t
re g a rd in g r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n whose i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y was
in d e p e n d e n t o f o th e r p a r t s o f th e docum ent. A lth o u g h th e
f u l l s ig n if ic a n c e o f th e p o r tio n m ig h t depend upon th e
g e n e ra l c o n te x t, th e e x c e r p t was i n t e r n a l l y c o h e re n t a p a r t
from th e im m ediate c o n t e x t . U su a lly a " p o rtio n " c o n s is te d
o f a p a ra g ra p h o r a m a jo r p a r t o f a p a ra g ra p h . (3 ) A
docum ent was l i s t e d a s a " re fe re n c e " i f i t c o n ta in e d a
b r i e f comment o r a l l u s i o n to b ro a d c a s tin g w hich o f i t s e l f
was n o t com plete b u t depended on th e r e s t o f a se n te n c e o r
p a ra g ra p h f o r i t s m ean in g . U su a lly a " re fe re n c e " c o n s is te d
o f a few b r i e f s e n te n c e s o r a c la u s e o r p h ra s e . Not
in c lu d e d h e re w ere r e f e r e n c e s i n r a d io m essages t h a t
b r i e f l y a llu d e d to th e medium by w hich th e p a p a l d is c o u rs e
was b r o a d c a s t.^
V a lia n t H e ra ld s o f T r u th , and o th e r c o m p ila tio n s c i t e d i n
n . 1 above p ro v id e d c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s to so u rc e s o f p a p a l
s ta te m e n ts d u rin g th e fo rty -tw o y e a r p e r io d .
^ F o r ex am p le, Pope P iu s X I*s r a d io m essage d ir e c te d
to B u d a p e st, Hungaxy, on th e o c c a s io n o f th e T h ir ty - f o u r th
E u c h a r is tic C o n g re ss, May 2 9 , 1938, began: "V en erab le
B ro th e rs and B eloved S o n s, w h ile i t i s g ra n te d to u s to
sp eak to you a s i f p r e s e n t , th a n k s to th e wondrous in v e n
t i o n o f th e a r t o f r a d io . .. " [ t r a n s l a t i o n by t h i s
a u th o r]* " V e n e ra b ile s P r a t r e s , d i l e c t i P i l i i . — Bum d a tu r
N o b is, p e r mirandum ra d io p h o n ic a e a r t i s inventum , • . .
q u a s i p r a e s e n te s v o s a l lo q u i . . . " AAS. X X X ( S e r ie s 2 :V ),
7 (Ju n e 1 0 , 1 9 3 8 ), 1 8 1 . C f. P iu s X II *s words to th e
18 21
F requency o f Documents
• Is s u e d i n AAS
I _
i
Prom 1920 th ro u g h 1961 th e re w ere p u b lis h e d i n th e >
! . I
AAS f o r ty - n in e V a tic a n docum ents w hich w holly o r i n p a r t [
7 i
jp e rta in e d d i r e c t l y to b r o a d c a s tin g . The e a r l i e s t r e f e r - - I
i . !
ence a p p e a re d i n 1927 and c o n s is te d o f b u t a b r i e f p h ra se
;which was th e f i r s t o f f i c i a l acknow ledgm ent o f b r o a d c a s t- |
8
in g in AAS d o c u m e n ta tio n . The f i r s t V a tic a n docum ent to
i
I comment upon th e e f f e c t s o f b ro a d c a s tin g was P iu s XI* s j
I I
E n c y c lic a l l e t t e r on th e e d u c a tio n o f y o u th w hich was j
B ishops and a l l C a th o lic s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s on th e
o c c a sio n o f th e v i g i l o f M issio n Sunday, O ctober 1 9 , 19^0:
" . . . Our v o ic e on th e w ings o f t h a t m arvelous c r e a tio n
;o f human g e n iu s i s w a fte d from th e V a tic a n H i l l a c ro s s th e
j A tla n tic i n an sw er to y o u r d e s ir e to h e a r from Us a word
!t h a t m ig h t s tim u la te th e a rd o u r o f y o u r m issio n a ry z e a l"
[ o r i g i n a l E n g lis h t e x t p u b lis h e d in AAS], AAS. XXXII |
( S e r. 2 : V I I ) , 11 (O c to b e r 3 0 , 19*+0), *+24. P o r th e sak e o f j
r e a d a b i l i t y , c i t a t i o n s o f f o r e ig n la n g u a g e s i n f o o tn o te s j
o f th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r a re n o t i t a l i c i z e d ( t h a t i s , u n d e r- !
li n e d i n ty p e w r itte n fo rm a t); q u o ta tio n s a re e n c lo se d in
q u o ta tio n m arks and a r e fo llo w e d by th e c i t a t i o n o f s o u r c e s .
?See T ab le 2 below f o r ta b u la te d summary o f AAS
d o cu m en tatio n p e r t a i n in g to b r o a d c a s tin g . Com plete docu
m en ts w ere num bered from 1 to 17 and coded w ith th e l e t t e r
I "A" i n th e form A l, A2, e t c e t e r a . Documents i n w hich p o r
tio n s w ere d e v o te d to b ro a d c a s tin g to p ic s were num bered
from 1 to 11 and coded w ith th e l e t t e r "B" i n th e form B l,
B2, e t c e t e r a . Documents i n w hich b r i e f re fe re n c e s to
ra d io and t e l e v i s i o n a p p e ared w ere num bered from 1 to l 1 *
and coded w ith th e l e t t e r "C" i n th e form C l, C2, e t c e t e r a .
See T ab le s 1 , **, 5> and 9 f o r com plete l i s t s o f th e s e docu
m e n ts, and se e A ppendix E f o r b ib lio g r a p h ic a l d a ta . Non-
p a p a l docum ents is s u e d by V a tic a n O ffic e s and p u b lis h e d i n
th e AAS w ere coded i n s im ila r f a s h io n b u t d is tin g u is h e d by
double l e t t e r s su c h a s AA1, BB3, and CC2. See T ab les 2
jand 9 f o r co m p lete l i s t s o f th e s e docum ents.
j ^The s p e c i f i c c o n te n t o f AAS docum ents i s d e s c rib e d
ibelow i n th e q u a l i t a t i v e a n a ly s is w hich c o n s t i t u t e s th e
|se c ond p a r t o f th e p r e s e n t chap te r . ______ ___ ________________
T A B L E 2
PAPAL AND VATICAN OPPICIAL STATEMENTS REGARDING
BROADCASTING PUBLISHED IN THE AAS, 1927-1961
Y ear
-PAPAL D O CU M EN TS -VATICAN OFFICES* D O C U M EN TS
Com plete P o rtio n s o f R e fe re n c e s i n Com plete P o rtio n s o f R e fe re n c e s i n
Documents Documents Documents Documents Documents Documents
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
193^
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
19^0
19^1
19^2
19^3
19M+
1 ^ 5
19^6
19^7
1 (B l)
1 (B2)
1 (B3)
1 (C l)
1 (C2)
1 (C3)
1 (AA1)
1 (C C l)a
T A B L E 2—Continued
X ear
PAPAL D O CU M EN TS VATICAN OPPICES* D O CU M EN TS
Complete
Documents
P o r tio n s o f
Documents
R e fe re n c e s i n
Documents
Com plete
Documents
P o rtio n s o f
Documents
R e fe re n c e s i n
Documents
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
- 1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1 (A l)
1 (A2)
3 (A 3 ,4 .5 )
2 (A 6,7)
2 (A 8,9)
1 (A10)
2 ( A l l ,1 2 )
1 (A13)
4 (A 14,15,
1 6 ,1 7 )
1 (B4)
1 (B5)
1 (B6)
2 (B 7 ,8 )
2 (B 9,10)
1 ( B ll)
1 (0 4 )
2 (C 5 ,6 )
1 (C7)
2 (0 8 ,9 )
1 (CIO)
1 ( C ll)
3 (C 1 2 .1 3 ,
1 4 )
1 (AA2)
1 (AA3)
1 (AA4) 1 (BB1)
1 (BB2)
TOTAL
17
11 14 4 2 1
a See n . 7 , p . 1 8 2 , f o r e x p la n a tio n o f code l e t t e r s i n p a r e n th e s e s . See
Appendix E f o r t i t l e s and AAS so u rce o f docum ents.
*l8T
p u b lis h e d i n 1929. P r i o r to 1951 no com plete docum ent was
w h o lly d e v o te d to b r o a d c a s tin g . In 1951 th r e e docum ents
p e r ta in e d to b r o a d c a s tin g , in c lu d in g an e n t i r e a p o s to lic
l e t t e r w hich d e s ig n a te d th e A rchangel G a b rie l a s h e a v e n ly
p a tro n o f a l l te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s. No docum ent is s u e d in
1952 was r e le v a n t to b r o a d c a s tin g . But i n 1953 b eg an a
s u s ta in e d s e r i e s o f o f f i c i a l V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts p e r t a i n i n g
to th e m ed ia. In 1953 th e V a tic a n is s u e d one docum ent and
i n 195^ f o u r docum ents w hich were co n cern ed e x c lu s iv e ly
w ith r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . Three docum ents d e v o te d w holly
o r p a r t i a l l y to b ro a d c a s tin g ap p eared in th e AAS i n 1 955,
one i n 1956, f iv e i n 1 9 5 7 , f o u r i n 1 9 5 8 , f iv e i n 1959 >
th r e e i n I9 6 0 , and e i g h t i n 1961. In th e n in e - y e a r p e rio d
from 1953 th ro u g h 1961 t h i r t y - f o u r V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts were
p u b lis h e d , c o n tr a s te d w ith a t o t a l o f f i f t e e n s ta te m e n ts
is s u e d i n th e tw e n ty -s ix y e a rs from 1927 th ro u g h 1 9 5 2 .
W hereas m ost o f th e s ta te m e n ts p u b lis h e d p r i o r to 1953
w ere b r i e f p a ra g ra p h s and s e n te n c e s a b o u t b r o a d c a s tin g ,
th e t h i r t y - f o u r s ta te m e n ts d u rin g th e f i n a l n in e y e a r s
in c lu d e d s ix te e n o f th e se v e n te e n com plete docum ents on
t h i s s u b j e c t , e i g h t o f th e e le v e n p o r tio n s o f d o cu m en ts,
f i v e o f th e f o u r te e n b r i e f r e f e r e n c e s in docum ents, and
f i v e o f th e seven s p e c i a l V atican docum entaxy a c tio n s
r e g a r d in g b ro a d c a s tin g t h a t w ere r e p o r te d i n th e AAS.
These d a ta in d ic a te d t h a t th e c e n t r a l a u t h o r it y o f th e
186
Roman C a th o lic Church began to e x p re s s s u s ta in e d fo rm a l
i n t e r e s t and co n cern a b o u t te lec o m m u n ic atio n s d u rin g th e
f o u r t h and f i n a l decade o f th e p e rio d s tu d ie d and h e re
r e p o r te d .
These same d a ta c l e a r l y d e lin e a te d th e r e l a t i v e
em phases upon t h i s s u b je c t by th e th r e e popes who re ig n e d
d u rin g th e p e rio d from 1927 th ro u g h 1 9 6 1 .^ B irin g th e
t h i r t e e n y e a r s from th e f i r s t docum ented r e f e r e n c e to r a d io
i n 1927 u n t i l h i s d e a th i n 1939 P iu s XI is s u e d f o u r docu
m ents t h a t c o n ta in e d p o r tio n s o r r e f e r e n c e s p e r t a i n i n g to
b r o a d c a s tin g . D uring th e f i r s t te n y e a r s o f P iu s X I I 's
p o n t i f i c a t e ) u n t i l December 31) 19*+8, th e AAS p u b lis h e d
f iv e docum ents r e l a t e d to t h i s s u b je c t; i n th e second te n
y e a r s th e V a tic a n is s u e d tw enty-one docum ents o f w hich te n
w ere w h o lly co n cern ed w ith te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s and in c lu d e d
th e m a jo r e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r M iranda P ro rs u s on m o tio n p ic
t u r e s , r a d i o , and t e l e v i s i o n . D uring th e th r e e y e a r s and
two m onths o f John X X III's r e ig n from O cto b er o f 1958 to
December o f 1961, th e AAS p u b lis h e d n in e te e n docum ents o f
w hich se v e n w ere co n c ern ed e n t i r e l y w ith b r o a d c a s tin g .
The above d a ta a re sum m arized i n ta b u la r form i n
T ab le 3*
9 Bene d i e t XV was pope f o r e i g h t y e a r s u n t i l h i s
d e a th on Ja n u ary 2 2 , 1922; P iu s XI was e l e c t e d pope a t
1 2 :2 7 a .m . on Monday, F eb ru ary 6 , 1 922. B it th e f i r s t
a l l u s i o n to r a d io a p p e a re d in o f f i c i a l V a tic a n docum enta
t i o n p u b lis h e d i n th e AAS i n 1927*
TABLE 3
OFFICIAL VATICAN DOCUM ENTS PERTAINING TO BROADCASTING
PUBLISHED IN AAS BY THREE POPES, 1927-1961
PAPAL D O CU M EN TS VATICAN OFFICES * D O CU M EN TS
P e rio d T o ta l
Y ears
Complete
(A)
P o rtio n R efe ren ce
(B) (C)
Complete P o r tio n R eferen ce
(AA) (BB) (CC)
P iu s XI 1927-1939 13
0 1- 2 0 0 1
P iu s X II 1939-1948 10 0 2 2 1 0 0
P iu s X II 1949-1958 10 10
3
6 2 0 0
John X X III 1958-1961 4
7 5
4 1 2 0
TOTALS
35a 17
11 14 4 2 1
SUBTOTALS 42 7
GRAND TOTAL
49
a I n 1939 and i n 1958 two popes re ig n e d s u c c e s s iv e ly ; hence th e t o t a l number
o f y e a rs r e p r e s e n te d i n ta b u la tio n s i s 3 7 9 b u t th e c a le n d a r y e a r t o t a l i s 3 5 .
187
188
P a p a l O f f i c i a l V a tic a n Documents
The le n g th o f each p a p a l docum ent was one in d ic a
t o r o f th e im p o rtan ce a s c rib e d to th e s u b je c t m a tte r o f
o f f i c i a l s ta te m e n ts p u b lis h e d in th e AAS. The le n g th o f
ea ch docum ent com puted ac c o rd in g to l i n e s o f t e x t i s l i s t e d
i n T a b le s **, 5 , and 6 below . Ely f a r th e lo n g e s t s ta te m e n t
o f V a tic a n view s ab o u t b ro a d c a s tin g was th e e n c y c li c a l
l e t t e r M iranda P ro rsu s to th e e n t i r e C a th o lic w orld i n
1957. I t s 1 ,091 l i n e s o f t e x t i n AAS in c lu d e d p a p a l com
m e n ta ry , e v a lu a tio n , and e x h o r ta tio n on ea ch o f th e s ix te e n
i s s u e s in tro d u c e d d u rin g th e p re c e d in g t h i r t y - s e v e n y e a r s ,
a s i s d e s c rib e d below by q u a l i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s on p ag e s 208-
351 The s e c o n d -lo n g e s t and n e x t m ost s ig n i f ic a n t ,
o f f i c i a l .Roman C a th o lic p o lic y s ta te m e n t re g a rd in g t e l e
com m unications was P iu s X II*s 2 3 8 - lin e e x h o r ta tio n w hich
lO ih e e n c y c lic a l was p r in te d i n l a r g e r ty p e th a n
t h a t u s e d f o r o th e r docum ents p u b lis h e d i n AAS; th e 1 ,2 5 5
l i n e s o f la rg e type w ere e q u a l to 1 ,0 9 1 l i n e s o f r e g u la r
ty p e b ec au se o f th e 6 0 -to -6 9 r a t i o b etw een th e two s i z e s
o f ty p e ; see n . 4 ab o v e. P o r p u rp o s e s o f a s ta n d a rd o f
q u a n t it a t i v e com parison among th e d o cu m en ts, th e 16*+ l i n e s
few er w hich th e e n c y c lic a l would have r e q u ir e d i n r e g u la r
ty p e fa c e b ro u g h t th e t o t a l AAS t e x t l i n e s to 2 ,6 6 3 . In
th e fo llo w in g co m p u tatio n s o f t e x t le n g th s th e e n c y c lic a l
l i n e - t o t a l s were c o n v e rte d to th e e q u iv a le n t l i n e - t o t a l s
i n s ta n d a rd s iz e ty p e . No co m p en satio n was made f o r th e
v a r i a t i o n i n le n g th s o f docum ents due to th e lan g u ag e in
w hich th e y were p r in te d ; a lth o u g h la n g u a g e s w ith "more
e f f i c i e n t " gram m ar, s y n ta x , and v o c a b u la ry r e q u ir e d few er
l i n e s o f t e x t to e x p re s s th e same s ta te m e n ts th a n d id a
more p r o l i x la n g u a g e , i t was f e l t t h a t th e docum ents were
n e v e r th e le s s ap p ro x im a tely com parable by co m p u tatio n o f
th e num ber o f l i n e s o f t e x t d ev o ted to th e docum ent i n th e
AAS t e x t o f th e o f f i c i a l s ta te m e n t.
T A B L E b
PAPAL OFFICIAL VATICAN D O CU M EN TS PERTAINING TO BROADCASTING PUBLISHED IN THE
ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS, 1920-1961; CLASS "A": COMPLETE D O CUM EN TS
Document Y ear C ategory o f Document T ex t L ength
Number i n L in es
A1
1951
L i t t e r a e A p o s to lic a e (A p o s to lic L e t t e r )
b9
A2
1953
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus (R adio M essage) 98
A3 195^
A d h o rta tio (E x h o rta tio n ) 238
A *t
195^
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus 101
A5 195^
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus
125
A6 1955
N u n tiu s R ad iophonicus 126
A7 1955
A llo c u tio (P u b lic D isc o u rse )
lb3
A8 1957
L i t t e r a e E n c y c lic a e (E n c y c lic a l L e tte r )
1 ,0 9 1
A9 1957 A llo c u tio 157
AlO 1958 L i t t e r a e A p o sto lic a e
A ll
1959
L i t t e r a e A p o sto lic a e "Motu P ro p rio ” 125
b -L
C D
v O
T A B L E ^— •Continued
Document
Number
Y ear C ategory o f Document T ext L ength
in L in es
A12
1959
N u n tiu s B adioohonicus
^9
A13
I960 N u n tiu s B adioohonicus
klb 1961 N u n tiu s B adioohonicus 20
A15
1961 A llo c u tio
99
A16 1961 N u n tiu s B adioohonicus
65
A17
1961 A llo c u tio 78
TOTALS: 1 e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r ; 3 a p o s to lic
l e t t e r s ; 1 e x h o r ta tio n ; b p u b lic
d is c o u rs e s ; 8 r a d io m essages
^ V
2,663
M
N O
o
he a d d re s s e d to th e I t a l i a n b ish o p s on th e f i r s t day o f
n etw o rk b ro a d c a s tin g s e r v ic e i n I t a l y by th e RAI (R adio
A u d iz io n i I t a l i a ) t e l e v i s i o n sy stem , on Ja n u ary 1 , 1 9 5 ^ .
S ix o th e r p a p a l s ta te m e n ts were lo n g e r th a n one h u n d red
l i n e s o f AAS te x ts th r e e ra d io m essages i n 195*+ and 1955
w ere 1 0 1 , 1 2 5 , and 126 l i n e s lo n g ; a p u b lic d is c o u rs e
( a l l o c u t i o ) i n 1955 was lU-3 l i n e s ; a n o th e r p u b lic d is c o u rs e
i n 1957 was 157 l i n e s ; and an a p o s to lic l e t t e r is s u e d motu
p ro p rio ("o n th e p e rs o n a l i n i t i a t i v e " o f th e p o p e) i n
1959 r e q u ir e d 125. l i n e s o f AAS te x t* The n in e re m a in in g
p a p a l docum ents ra n g ed i n le n g th from 20 l i n e s to 99 l i n e s
and in c lu d e d two a p o s to lic l e t t e r s , two p u b lic d is c o u r s e s ,
and f i v e r a d io m essages* The se v e n te e n com plete docum ents
to g e th e r w ere p r in te d i n 2,663 l i n e s o f AAS t e x t . E x clu d
in g th e 1 ,0 9 1 l i n e s o f th e 1957 e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r , th e
le n g th o f e a c h o f th e o th e r s ix te e n docum ents d e v o te d
c o m p le te ly to b ro a d c a s tin g av erag ed a p p ro x im a te ly 93 l i n e s
o f t e x t . The p a p a l v iew s were e x p re s se d i n one e n c y c li c a l
l e t t e r , th r e e a p o s to lic l e t t e r s , one e x h o r ta tio n , f o u r
p u b lic d is c o u r s e s , and e ig h t r a d io m essages* One docum ent
i n ea ch o f th e s e f i v e c a te g o r ie s c o n s t i tu t e d a m a jo r s t a t e
m ent whose s ig n if ic a n c e i s d e s c rib e d i n th e n e x t s e c tio n
o f th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r* These f iv e docum ents w ere i n o r d e r
o f im p o rta n c e A8, A l l , A3, A7, and A5; two were is s u e d i n
1951 * -» one i n 1955> one i n 1957, and one in 1959*
192
Documents on o th e r s u b je c ts w hich in c lu d e d ex ten d ed
p o r tio n s o r b r i e f r e f e r e n c e s p e r ta in in g to b r o a d c a s tin g a re
l i s t e d c h r o n o lo g ic a lly i n T ab les 5 and 6 . The num ber o f
l i n e s o f each t e x t w hich were d ev o ted to te lec o m m u n ic atio n s
a r e g iv e n i n th e f i n a l colum ns o f th e t a b l e s .
U n lik e co m p lete docum ents on b r o a d c a s tin g , none o f
w hich w ere is s u e d p r i o r to 1951> b r i e f a l l u s i o n s to b ro a d
c a s t i n g ap p e ared e a r l y i n p a p a l d o c u m e n ta tio n . The f i r s t
p a p a l r e f e r e n c e a p p e a re d i n P iu s X I 's fo rm a l e n c y c li c a l
l e t t e r to th e C a th o lic w orld on th e s u b je c t o f C h r is t ia n
e d u c a tio n o f y o u th . A b r i e f p o r tio n o f a ra d io a d d re s s in
1931 aad a mere two l i n e s o f a p a p a l s ta te m e n t i n a s e c r e t
c o n s is to r y o f c a r d i n a ls in 1933 were th e o n ly o th e r com
m ents made by P iu s XI on th e s u b je c t o f b r o a d c a s tin g . In
h i s f i r s t y e a r a s pope P iu s X II in 1939 r e f e r r e d to b ro ad
c a s ti n g i n h i s e n c y c lic a l e p i s t l e to th e b is h o p s o f th e
U n ite d S t a t e s . In a r a d io m essage i n 19^1 he made th e
lo n g e s t p a p a l comment ab o u t b ro a d c a s tin g to a p p e a r i n an
o f f i c i a l docum ent on a n o th e r s u b je c t; th e t h i r t y l i n e s o f
AAS t e x t were e q u a le d once by Pope John X X III i n a i 960
r a d io a d d re s s and w ere approached once by P iu s X II i n a
2 8 - lin e comment i n a 1957 p u b lic d is c o u rs e to a w o rld -w id e
c o n v e n tio n o f la y C a th o lic s i n Rome. In 1959 Pope John
d e v o te d e ig h te e n l i n e s o f an e n c y c lic a l t e x t to th e to p ic
11
o f b r o a d c a s tin g . The o th e r p o r tio n s o f docum ents and
^C o m p u ted a c c o rd in g to th e 6 0 -to -6 9 r a t i o , th e
TABLE 5
PAPAL OFFICIAL VATICAN DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO BROADCASTING PUBLISHED IN THE
ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS, 1920-1961; CLASS "B": PORTIONS OF DOCUMENTS
Document
Number
Y ear C ategory o f Document T ext L ength
in L in es
B1 1931
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus (R adio M essage) 16
B2
1939
E p is tu la E n c y e lic a ( E n c y c lic a l E p i s t l e )
8
B3 19^1
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus 30
Eb
1955
E p is tu la ( E p is tle [ L e t t e r ! )
13
B5 1956 L i t t e r a e A p o s to lic a e (A p o s to lic L e t t e r ) 16
B6
1957
A llo c u tio (P u b lic D isc o u rse ) 28
B7 1959
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus 6
B8
1959
L itt e r a e E n c y c lic a e ( E n c y c lic a l L e t t e r ) 18
B9
I960 L itt e r a e A p o sto lic a e "Motu P ro p rio " 6
BIO I960 N u n tiu s R adiophonicus 30
B ll I960 N u n tiu s R adiophonicus
9
TOTALS; 1 e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r ; 1 e n c y c lic a l e p i s t l e ;
2 a p o s to lic l e t t e r s ; 1 e p i s t l e [ l e t t e r ] ;
1 p u b lic d is c o u rs e ; 5 r a d io m essages
180
TABLE 6
PAPAL OFFICIAL VATICAN D O CUM EN TS PERTAINING TO BROADCASTING PUBLISHED IN THE
ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS, 1920-1961; CLASS "C "! REFERENCES IN D O C U M EN TS
Document Y ear C ategory o f Document T ext L ength
Number in L in es
Cl
1929
L itt e r a e E n c y c lic a e ( E n c y c lic a l L e tt e r ) 10
C2
1933
C o n sisto riu m Seeretum a ( a c t s i n S e c re t
C o n s is to ry )
2
C3 19^5
N u n tiu s R adiophonicus (R adio M essage) b
G b 19^8 E p is tu la ( E p is tle [ L e t t e r 1) 10
c5 19b9
A llo c u tio (P u b lic D isc o u rse ) 7
C6
19^9
A llo c u tio
3
C7
1950 In Solem ni C a n o n iz a tio n s ( a c t s i n a
Solemn C a n o n iz a tio n )
3
c s 1951 N u n tiu s R adiophonicus
3
C9 1951 N u n tiu s R adiophonicus 5
CIO
1957 A llo c u tio
13
H
¥
TABLE 6— Continued
Document
Number
Year Categoiy of Document Text Length
in Lines
Cll 1958 Nuntius Radiophonicus 18
C12 1961 litterae Encyclicae
13
013
1961 Epistula
9
Cl*t 1961 Epistula
5
TOTALS: 2 encyclical letters; 3 epistles
[letters]; 1 act (in) solemn canoni
zation; 1 act (in) secret consistory;
3 public discourses; b radio messages
105
a In su b seq u en t volum es o f AAS t h i s c a te g o iy was c i t e d a s C o n sisto riu m Sacrum
and was so l i s t e d i n T able 1 , C h a p ter III, and i n T able 7 below .
195
196
references ranged in length from three lines to eighteen
lines, averaging approximately seven lines of text in each
of these seventeen excerpts* In the eleven documents in
which portions totaling 180 lines of text were devoted to
broadcasting, the portions averaged approximately sixteen
lines each. In the fourteen documents in which references
to broadcasting totaled 105 lines of text, the references
averaged seven and one-half lines each.
The e le v e n p a p a l docum ents t h a t c o n ta in e d p o r tio n s
p e r ta in in g to b r o a d c a s tin g in c lu d e d one e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r
(docum ent B 8 ), one e n c y c li c a l e p i s t l e (B 2 ), two a p o s to lic
l e t t e r s (B5, B 9 ), one p u b lic d is c o u rs e (B 6 ), one e p i s t l e o r
l e t t e r (Bh-), and f iv e r a d io m essages ( B l, B3, B7 , BIO, and
B l l ) . The f o u r te e n docum ents in w hich r e f e r e n c e s w ere
made to b ro a d c a s tin g in c lu d e d two e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r s (0 1 ,
0 1 2 ), th r e e e p i s t l e s o r l e t t e r s (C1 *, C13, 01*0, one p a p a l
s ta te m e n t i n a solem n c a n o n iz a tio n ceremony ( 0 7 ) , one p a p a l
a c t among th e a c ta ( '• a c t s " ) i n a s e c r e t c o n s is to iy o f c a r
d in a ls ( 0 2 ) , th r e e p u b lic d is c o u rs e s (0 5 , 0 6 , C IO ), and
f o u r r a d io m essages (03» 0 8 , 09? and O i l ) .
The tw e n ty -se v e n c a te g o r ie s o f p a p a l docum ents j
l i s t e d i n T able 1 o f C h a p ter I I I m ig h t be red u ced to tw en ty
twenty-one lines of AAS large -type were converted for
purposes of quantitative comparison into eighteen lines
of the regular AAS type size.
1 9 7
d i s t i n c t c a t e g o r i e s . E ig h t o f th e c a te g o r ie s were
re g ro u p ed in to th r e e d is p a r a te c a te g o r ie s , and two o th e r
• 'c a te g o rie s " o f s in g le pronouncem ents were subsumed u n d e r
a lre a d y e x i s t i n g c a t e g o r i e s , a s in d ic a te d in T able 7*
Nine o f th e s e tw en ty m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e c a te g o r ie s in c lu d e d
docum ents d ev o ted in w hole o r in p a r t to th e s u b je c t o f
b r o a d c a s tin g . In a d d i t i o n , two o f th e f iv e a p o s to lic
l e t t e r s c o n c e rn in g b r o a d c a s tin g were is s u e d motu p r o p r io
and m ig h t be c l a s s i f i e d a s su ch in s te a d o f among th e
l i t t e r a e a p o s t o l i c a e . T h is would b rin g to te n th e num ber
o f c a te g o r ie s o f p a p a l docum ents in w hich were docum ents
c o n ta in in g m a te r ia l r e le v a n t to b ro a d c a s tin g . In b r i e f ,
a p p ro x im a te ly o n e - h a lf o f th e tw enty f u l l y d i s t i n c t c a t e
g o r ie s o f o f f i c i a l V a tic a n docum ents in c lu d e d docum ents
t h a t w ere d ev o ted p a r t i a l l y o r e n t i r e l y to b r o a d c a s tin g .
T h is im p lie d t h a t p a p a l c o n c e rn re g a rd in g telecom m unica
tio n s was n o t c o n fin e d to an e x c lu s iv e c l a s s o f docum ents
such a s r a d io m essages o r p u b lic d is c o u rs e s to s p e c i a l -
i n t e r e s t g ro u p s g a th e re d a t c o n v e n tio n s in Rome. P a p a l
l ^ j h r e e c l a s s e s o f e x h o r ta tio n s m ight be c o n s id e re d
a s a s in g l e c a te g o iy ( a d h o r ta tio n e s . a d h o rta tio n e s a p o s-
t o l i c a e , and h o r t a t i o n e s ); one o f th e two a d h o r ta tio n e s was
th e l£5*f p a p a l e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n b ish o p s r e g a r d in g
th e a d v e n t o f t e l e v i s i o n . Two c la s s e s o f b ro a d c a s ts m ight
be com bined ( a d h o r ta tio n e s ra d io p h o n ic a e . o f w hich o n ly one
was p u b lis h e d in th e fo rty - tw o y e a r p e r io d , and n u n t i i
r a d io p h o n ic i) • T hree c l a s s e s o f announcem ents m ig h t be
c l a s s i f i e d a s one (n u n t i i t e l e g r a p h i c i . n u n t i i s c r i p to
d a t i , and n u n t i i ) . E ach o f th e fo llo w in g two " c a te g o r ie s "
c o n ta in e d o n ly one p a p a l docum ent in th e f o r ty - tw o - y e a r
p e r io d : b u l l a d o g m atics (1 9 5 0 ; and in s tr u e tio n e s p a s to
r a l e s ( 19^ 5 ; .
TABLE 7
CLASSES OP PAPAL STATEMENTS REGARDING BROADCASTING IN CATEGORIES OP
OPPICIAL VATICAN DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED IN AAS, 1920-1961
AAS CATEGORIES OP DOCUMENTSa
CLASSES OP PAPAL STATEMENTS1 3
TOTAL
Complete
(A)
Portion
(B)
Reference
(C)
litterae Encyclicae 1 1 2 h
Epistulae Encyclicae 0 1 0 l
Litterae Apostolicae
Epistulae Apostolicae
Litterae Decretales
Bulla Dogmatics
Constitutiones Apostolicae
3*
2* 0
5*
Epistulae 0 1
3
k
Motu Proprio
Chirographa
* *
0
Sollemnia Canonizationum
Homiliae
0 0 1 l
Adhortationes
Adhortationes Apostolicae
Hortationes d
Instructiones Pastorales
Sermones
1 0 0 l
Aliocutiones b 1
3
8
Nuntii Radiophonicae
Adhortationes Radiophonicae
Orationes
8 5
b 17
L86.I.
TABLE 7— Continued
AAS CATEGORIES OP DOCUM ENTS8 ,
CLASSES OP PAPAL STATEMENTS1 5
TOTAL
Complete
(A)
P o rtio n
(B)
R e fe re n ce
(C)
N u n tii T e le g ra p h ic i
N u n tii S c r ip to D a ti
N u n tii
S ac ra C o n s is to r ia
S ollem nes C onventiones
Conven tio n e s
0 0 1 1
TOTALS: 20 d i s t i n c t c a te g o r ie s
17
11 l*f b2
a See C h ap ter I I I f o r t r a n s l a t i o n and e x p la n a tio n o f t i t l e s ; th e L a tin t i t l e s
a re n o t i t a l i c i z e d in t h i s t a b l e .
^ A s te ris k s [* ] i n (A) and (B) colum ns in d ic a t e o p tio n a l l i s t i n g i n c a te g o ry ;
see e x p la n a tio n i n t e x t , p . 197.
cH ere c o n s id e re d a s L itt e r a e D e c r e ta le s .
d-Here c o n s id e re d a s A d h o rta tio Cnes) .
200
i n t e r e s t in b ro a d c a s tin g was r e f l e c t e d in r e f e r e n c e s b o th
b r i e f and le n g th y and i n e n t i r e docum ents w hich were
d ev o ted to th e to p ic o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n . Those p a p a l
s ta te m e n ts were made i n o n e - h a lf o f th e c a te g o r ie s o f o f f i
c i a l d o cu m en tatio n w hich em anated from th e V a tic a n from
1927 th ro u g h 1961. These d a ta a re sum m arized in ta b u la te d
form i n T able 7*
C lass "A" co m p lete docum ents on b ro a d c a s tin g were
r e p r e s e n te d i n f iv e c a t e g o r i e s , c l a s s "B" p o r tio n s o f docu
m ents w ere r e p r e s e n te d i n s i x c a t e g o r i e s , and c l a s s "C"
r e f e r e n c e s in docum ents were r e p r e s e n te d in s ix c a te g o r ie s .
B ecause d i f f e r e n t c l a s s e s w ere r e p r e s e n te d i n th e same
c a t e g o r i e s , a t o t a l o f n in e c a te g o r ie s o f o f f i c i a l p a p a l
docum ents p u b lis h e d i n th e AAS from 1927 th ro u g h 1961 was
re p r e s e n te d among p a p a l docum ents p e r t a i n i n g to b ro a d c a s t
i n g . 1^
In T able 8 a r e sum m arized th e num ber o f docum ents
is s u e d by each o f th r e e popes from 1927 th ro u g h 19&1, and
th e t o t a l number o f l i n e s o f AAS t e x t d e v o te d to b ro a d c a s t
ing, i n th o se docum ents. P iu s X I*s tw e n ty -e ig h t l i n e s o f
t e x t a p p e ared i n th r e e docum ents is s u e d i n a t h ir t e e n - y e a r
■ * ■ 3 I f th e a p o s to lic l e t t e r s t h a t w ere is s u e d i n
mo 1m p ro p rio a re c o n s id e re d a s b e lo n g in g to t h a t s e p a ra te
c a te g o iy , b ro a d c a s tin g docum ents w ere re p r e s e n te d in a
t o t a l o f te n AAS c a te g o r ie s ; th e num ber o f c a te g o r ie s o f
"A" docum ents w ould th u s r i s e from 5 to 6 , and t h a t o f "B"
docum ents would r i s e from 6 to 7*
T A B L E 8
TEXT TOTALS AND ANNUAL AVERAGES OP PAPAL DOCUMENTATION
IN AAS REGARDING BROADCASTING, 1 9 2 7 -1 9 6 la
Pope P e rio d Number o f
Y ears
Radio-TV
P ap al
Documents
AAS T ex t
L in e s 0
Annual A verage
Documents L in es
P iu s XIC 1927-1939 12 1A 3
28
l A 2.3
P iu s X II 1939-19^8
9 3A
b 52 1/2 5.3
P iu s X II 19^9-1958 9 3A 19
2,26^ 2 232.2
John X X III 1958-1961 3 1A
16 60*f
5
185.8
TOTALS: 1927-1961 35
b2 2,9^8 1 l A 8fc.2
aThe f i r s t docum ent r e f e r r i n g to b ro a d c a s tin g was is s u e d i n 1927.
^ A ll l i n e - t o t a l s w ere com puted a c c o rd in g to AAS s ta n d a rd s iz e "type; th e l i n e -
t o t a l s o f e n c y c lic a l t e x t s were c o n v e rte d to t h i s s ta n d a r d , a s d e s c rib e d i n n . ab o v e .
c See fo o tn o te 9 j P« 186.
p e r io d . D uring th e f i r s t te n y e a rs o f P iu s X II* s p o n t i f i
c a te t h a t pope is s u e d fifty-tw o l i n e s o f t e x t i n f o u r docu
m e n ts. T h is was n o t much more th a n th e t o t a l is s u e d by
P iu s XX, a lth o u g h P iu s XII* s f i r s t decade a s pope c o in c id e d
w ith th e "g o ld e n age" o f ra d io b ro a d c a s tin g ; p resu m ab ly th e
s e r io u s c o n c e rn s o f th e war y e a rs 1939-19^5 p re c lu d e d s u s
ta in e d a t t e n t i o n to th e ra d io m edia e x c e p t a s in s tru m e n ts
o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l com m unication and p ro p a g an d a . D uring th e
second decade o f h i s p o n t i f i c a t e P iu s X II d is c u s s e d o r
r e f e r r e d to b r o a d c a s tin g in 2,26*f l i n e s o f n in e te e n docu
m e n ts. The grow ing co n c ern ab o u t th e in c re a s e d l e i s u r e
a v a ila b le to s o c ie ty and ab o u t th e e f f e c t s o f s u s ta in e d
t e l e v i s i o n v iew in g and r a d io l i s t e n i n g was r e f l e c t e d in
th e co m m entaries o f th e pope from 19^9 th ro u g h 1 9 5 8 .
P iu s X II* s le n g th y e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r i n 1957 c o n tr ib u te d
a lm o st h a l f o f h i s e x te n s iv e commentary on b ro a d c a s tin g
d u rin g t h i s second decade o f h is r e i g n . By th e end o f h i s
p o n t i f i c a t e he had is s u e d 2,316 l i n e s o f t e x t i n tw e n ty -
th r e e o f f i c i a l d o cu m en ts. H is s u c c e s s o r, John X X III,
r e i t e r a t e d many o f P iu s X II* s comments and expanded upon
them i n 60*+ l i n e s o f t e x t i n s ix te e n docum ents p u b lis h e d
i n th e AAS d u rin g th e f i r s t f o u r y e a r s o f h i s r e i g n . The
th r e e p o p es is s u e d betw een 1927 and 1961 fo rty - tw o docu
m ents w h ich c o n ta in e d 2 ,9 ^ 8 l i n e s o f t e x t d ev o ted to th e
s u b je c t o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s tin g .
203 '
The ta b u la tio n o f th e y e a r s and m onths d u rin g
w hich e a c h pope re ig n e d in d ic a te d more c l e a r l y th e a n n u a l
a v e ra g e number o f docum ents and o f l i n e s i n docum ents which
were d e v o ted to q u e s tio n s o f b r o a d c a s tin g . Because r e f e r
e n c e s i n docum ents were o f te n v e ry b r i e f , th e av e ra g e num
b e r o f l i n e s was a more v a l id s ta n d a rd o f com parison th a n
th e av e ra g e number o f docum ents is s u e d by th e p o p e s.
These d a ta a re p re s e n te d in T able 8 . The t o t a l s and a v e r
ag es w ere com puted n o t from th e b e g in n in g o f P iu s X I*s
r e ig n b u t from 1927, th e f i r s t y e a r i n w hich a V a tic a n
docum ent c o n ta in in g any r e f e r e n c e to b ro a d c a s tin g was pub
li s h e d i n th e AAS. On t h a t p rem ise P iu s XI may be s a id to
have p u b lis h e d th re e docum ents o f tw e n ty -e ig h t l i n e s o f
t e x t d u rin g th e tw elve y e a r s and th r e e m onths from
J a n u a ry 1 , 1927, to th e end o f h i s p o n t i f i c a t e i n M arch,
1939* A lthough th e f ig u r e s f o r an " a n n u a l av e ra g e " a re
h a rd ly m e a n in g fu l, i t was com puted t h a t i n each o f th o s e
tw elv e y e a r s he r e f e r r e d to b r o a d c a s tin g i n l e s s th a n one-
f o u r th o f a document and in s l i g h t l y more th a n two and
o n e - q u a r te r l i n e s o f t e x t p e r y e a r . D uring th e f i r s t n in e
y e a r s and n in e months o f Pope P iu s X II* s r e i g n , from March
o f 1939 to December 3 1 , 1 9^8, p a p a l r e f e r e n c e s to te lec o m
m u n ic a tio n s appeared i n an av era g e o f l e s s th a n o n e - h a lf a
docum ent and a p p ro x im a te ly f iv e and o n e - q u a r te r l i n e s o f
t e x t p e r y e a r . Prom Ja n u a ry 1 , 1 9 ^ 9 , u n t i l h i s d e a th in
I O cto b er o f 1958 P iu s X II a v e ra g e d d u rin g n in e y e a rs and
i
nine months almost two documents and more than 232 lines
I
|of text per year, John XXIII from his coronation as pope j
: I
in October of 1958 until December 3 1 , 1961 averaged during |
! i
i
those three years and three months more than four and one-
|half documents and almost 186 lines of text regarding
i
j
:broadcasting each year. The great majority of papal views
| on broadcasting were enunciated by Pius XII during his j
j
isecond decade as pontiff. But John XXIII clearly indicated
!
| in the first years of his pontificate that broadcasting was
(
I of continuing interest and concern to him as pope and to
i
i
jthe Roman Catholic Church. Pope Johnfs annual average of
i
I five documents pertaining to broadcasting far exceeded
i !
iPius XII* s annual average of two documents during the pro- |
ductive second half of his pontificate. The encyclical
M iranda P ro rsu s o f 1 ,0 9 1 l i n e s ac c o u n te d f o r alm o st oner-
half of Pius XII's total lines of text regarding radio and
|television. Excluding that significant document, Pius XII's
I
yearly average for the second decade of his reign was 120.3
jlines of text, far fewer than Pope John*s 185*8 lines per
|year. Pius wrote fewer but longer commentaries on broad
casting than did Pope John who wrote frequently but more
briefly in the years of his reign under study.
I Nonpapal Official Vatican Documents
The Vatican Offices of the Holy See issued
i
205
docum ents w hich p e r ta in e d to b r o a d c a s tin g . A lthough th e
a c tio n s o f th e s e o f f i c e s were v a l i d by v i r t u e o f th e
a u t h o r ity d e le g a te d to them by th e p o p e, t h e i r s p e c if ic
a c tio n s were c o n s id e re d a s d i s t i n c t from a c tio n s d i r e c t l y
i n i t i a t e d by th e pope h im s e lf; hence th e s e o f f i c i a l V a tic a n
docum ents w ere c la s s e d a s "n o n p a p a l."
I n T able 2 , page 183 o f t h i s c h a p te r , were in c lu d e d
th e t a b u la t io n s o f docum ents w hich r e p r e s e n te d s p e c ia l non
p a p a l V a tic a n a c tio n s t h a t were o f f i c i a l l y r e p o r te d i n th e
AAS. The f i r s t docum ent to m en tio n b ro a d c a s t m edia was a
r e f e r e n c e in an o f f i c i a l a c t o f th e S acred Homan R ota o f
A p ril 1 1 , 1927* Twelve y e a rs l a t e r th e second n o n p ap a l
o f f i c i a l V a tic a n docum ent co n c e rn in g b ro a d c a s tin g was pub
lis h e d i n th e AAS; a 1939 d e c re e o f th e S acred A p o s to lic
P e n i t e n t i a r y ’s O ffic e o f In d u lg e n c e s a ffirm e d th e v a l i d i t y
o f a p a p a l b l e s s i n g 's b e in g com m unicated th ro u g h th e medium
lb
o f r a d io to an a b s e n t a u d ie n c e . F o r f i f t e e n y e a rs no
f u r t h e r n o n p ap a l V a tic a n a c tio n p e r ta in in g to b ro a d c a s tin g
was is s u e d u n t i l th e O ffic e o f th e S e c r e t a r i a t o f S ta te i n
195^ p ro m u lg ated th e s t a t u t e s o f th e new ly c r e a te d P o n tif
i c a l Com mission o f Cinem a, R a d io , and T e le v is io n . In 1957
llfThe S acra P o e n it e h t i a r i a A p o s to lio a was a t r i
b u n a l w hich to o k i t s name from i t s a s s o c ia tio n w ith th e
S acram ent o f P en an ce. F o r d e t a i l s o f th e o r ig in and
developm ent o f t h i s t r i b u n a l and o f i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n , see
Edward L . H e sto n , C .S .C ., The Holy See a t Work (M ilw aukee;
Bruce P u b lis h in g C o ., 1 9 5 0 ), p p . I 3 l “13>*
the Sacred Congregation of Hites published in the AAS
regulations governing ecclesiastical procedure and prayers
for the ceremony of blessing a broadcasting station. In
1958 the Sacred Congregation of Hites issued a lengthy
instruction on sacred music and liturgical ceremonies in .
which six numbered sections were devoted tp directives on
the radio and television broadcasts of liturgical cere
monies, including the Mass. In the same year the Sacred
Apostolic Pententiaiy *s Office of Indulgences published in
the AAS an official response to questions concerning
indulgences attached to the recitation of the rosary by
members of the public radio listening audience in conjunc
tion with the broadcast recitation of the prayers by those
present in the radio studio. In 1959 the Secretaiy of
State promulgated the statutes of the new Filmoteca Vaticana
("Vatican Film Libraiy") established by Pope John XXIII for
cinema and television films.
These n o n p ap al o f f i c i a l V a tic a n docum ents a re
l i s t e d c h ro n o lo g ic a lly i n T able 9 . The sev en docum ents
t h a t w ere is s u e d th ro u g h t h i r t y - t h r e e y e a r s by f o u r V a tic a n .
o f f i c e s r e f e r r e d w h o lly o r i n p a r t to b ro a d c a s tin g i n 256
l i n e s o f AAS t e x t , o r an av erag e o f a p p ro x im a te ly 3 6 .6
l i n e s i n each docum ent. The c o n te n ts o f th e s e docum ents
a r e a n a ly z e d i n C h a p ter V.
TABLE 9
NONPAPAL OFFICIAL VATICAN DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO BROADCASTING
PUBLISHED IN THE ACTA APOSTOLICAE SSDIS, 1920-1961
Document
C la ssa &
Number
Y ear C ategory o f Document Source I s s u in g
Document
T ex t
L ength
(L in e s )
CC 1 1927
A cta T rib u n aliu m
(A c ts o f L V atican] T rib u n a ls )
S acred Roman R ota
3
A A 1
1939
Deereturn
(D ecree)
S acred A p o s to lic P e n i
t e n t i a r y , O ffic e o f
In d u lg en c es
21
AA 2
195^
S ta tu to (A cta O ffic io ru m )
( S t a t u t e s : A cts o f IV a tic a n ]
O f f ic e s )
S e c re ta ry o f S ta te
67
AA 3 1957
Bene d ie t i o
(LForm ula o f ] B le s s in g )
S acred C o n g reg atio n
o f R ite s
62
BB 1 1958 In s tr u e t i o
( I n s t r u c ti o n )
S acred C o n g reg a tio n
o f R ite s
36
AA b
1958 [R esponsa a d ] Dubia
(LR esponses t o ] Q u e stio n s)
S acred A p o s to lic P en i
t e n t i a r y , O ffic e o f
In d u lg en c es
13
BB 2
1959
S ta tu t o (A cta O ffic io ru m ) S e c re ta ry o f S ta te
9+
TOTALS: 7 Documents i n 6 C a te g o rie s b V a tic a n O ffic e s 256
aFor explanation and comparative list of coded classes (e.g., CC1, AA2), see
p. 182, n. 7 and accompanying text, Table 2, p. 183, and Appendix A.
207
208
C o n ten t o f O f f i c i a l V a tic a n Documents:
Q u a li ta t iv e A n a ly s is by O lasa o f
Document and by T o p ics
The c o n te n ts o f in d iv id u a l o f f i c i a l V a tic a n t e x t s
w ere a p p ra is e d a c c o rd in g to th e c r i t e r i a o f : (1 ) th e
a u t h o r it y o f th e s o u rc e w hich is s u e d th e docum ent; (2 ) th e
ty p e o f docum ents, su ch a s e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r , p u b lic d i s
c o u r s e , r a d io m essag e, e t c e te r a ; (3 ) th e i n t e n s i t y o f
d i r e c t i v e f o r c e , w h e th e r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d e c re e , fo rm a l
e x h o r ta tio n , i n s t r u c t i v e com m entary, n e u t r a l o b s e r v a tio n ,
mere o f f i c i a l g r e e t i n g , and th e l i k e ; (^-) th e " c la s s " o f
docum ent a s d e te rm in e d by th e amount, o f th e docum ent
d ev o ted to b r o a d c a s tin g : c o m p le te , p o r t i o n , o r r e f e r e n c e ;
(5 ) th e e x te n t to w hich th e docum ent was co n cern ed w ith
v a r io u s te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s i s s u e s , e s p e c i a lly q u e s tio n s o f
b ro a d c a s tin g r e g u l a t i o n by governm ent l e g i s l a t i o n and th e
r e s p e c tiv e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f p r o f e s s io n a l b ro a d c a s te rs
and th e C hurch; (6 ) th e fa v o ra b le o r u n fa v o ra b le judgm ent
e x p re s s e d o r im p lie d i n V a tic a n commentary ab o u t b ro a d c a s t
m edia; and (7 ) th e s p e c i f i c s ta te m e n ts and judgm ents
e x p re s s e d by th e p o p es in th e t e x t s o f th e o f f i c i a l docu
m e n ts. The q u a n t i ta t i v e d a ta re g a rd in g p o in ts ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) ,
and (*f) were p ro v id e d i n th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e p r e s e n t
c h a p te r , and a re in c o rp o r a te d in to th e d e s c r ip tiv e commen
ta r y o f t h i s second p a r t o f th e c h a p te r .
T rends i n th e s e V a tic a n o b s e r v a tio n s , a p p r a i s a l s ,
• 209
i
and d i r e c t i v e s were d e s c rib e d i n te rm s o f : (a ) th e p e rio d
o f tim e d u rin g w hich g iv e n is s u e s w ere th e s u b je c t o f
o f f i c i a l V a tic a n d o cu m e n ta tio n , and (b ) th e p a t t e r n s o f
d o cu m en tatio n a c c o rd in g to th e a u t h o r it y o f th e s o u rc e ,
th e ty p e o f docum ent, th e i n t e n s i t y o f d i r e c t i v e f o r c e ,
and th e fo rm a l judgm ent e x p re s s e d . Such m acrocosm ic con
t e n t a n a ly s is was th o u g h t to be a d e q u a te f o r stu d y o f
V a tic a n d o cu m en tatio n and lo g i c a l in d u c tio n from th e t e x t s
o f d e t a i l e d s ta te m e n ts and a c tio n s to a t l e a s t im p lie d
p o lic y tr e n d s re g a rd in g b ro a d c a s tin g by th e c e n t r a l a u th o r
i t y o f th e Roman C a th o lic C hurch.
A ta b u la te d summary o f th e s e c r i t e r i a a p p e a rs in
T ab le 1 0 .
The f i r s t r e f e r e n c e to b r o a d c a s tin g a p p e a re d i n
th e A cta A p o sto lic a e S e d is in 1927 in a docum ent is s u e d by
th e S a c re d Roman R ota c o n c ern in g th e m a rria g e o f G uglielm o
M arconi i n 1903* The b r i e f a l l u s i o n to ra d io a p p e a re d in
th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f M arconi a s " r e s p le n d e n t w ith th e
d ig n ity o f s e n a to r i n th e Kingdom o f I t a l y , b u t f o r a lo n g
tim e more renowned everyw here because o f h i s in v e n tio n s in
th e s c ie n c e o f w i r e l e s s , " ^ In 1929 P iu s XI a llu d e d to
■^"G uilelm us M arconi . . . s e n a to r ia d i g n i t a t e i n
I t a l i c o Regno f u lg e n s , a t lo n g e m agis u b iq u e n o tu s ob anas
i n s c i e n t i a r a d io t e l e g ra p h ic a in v e n tio n e s • . • ," i n
"A cta T rib u n aliu m / S a c ra Romana R ota [W estm o n asterien ] /
N u l l i t a t i s M atrim o n ii (M arconi-0* B r ie n ) ," A p r il 1 1 , 1927;
AAS. XIX, 6 (June 2 , 1 9 2 7 ), 2 1 7 . E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n
s u p p lie d by t h i s a u th o r .
V J \
W J
a *
* *
£
H
o
V J 1
JJ
m
“
H
V J 1
H
1950
t m
h *
¥
n
H
f
0 0
H
¥
< x \
H
¥
H
s
1931
H
< o
ro
s O
1927
Y ear
1
£
b d
ro
J O
SJ
'
k
O'
t
IU if j j
n >
to
o
K O
o
oc &
o
S 3
a
O '
o
¥
O
JJ
bd
Si
t
H
o
IO»
o
H TO O
Document*5
X ’ *■
X
X X X X
Com m unications
G eneral
T opics
X
1 »
H
* 1
X
T echnology o f
Radio-T'v
X X X
X X X Youth and Fam ily
Purpose & E f f e c ts
C O
a
< D
o
H-
H >
H *
O
O
a
H*
o
1 0
x
I 1 - "
X
1
R e c re a tio n and
E n te rta in m e n t
X
i-
1
X X X
A rt and C u ltu re
X
f—
i
X
i -
X X
'
X
In fo rm a tio n and
E d u c a tio n
X
1
P
X X
X
i
B ro a d c a s te rs
Shared R e s p o n s ib i liti e s
f .
t
X X X
A udience
; >
f .
X
P u b lic Government
i""
t
• j
X X X
P a r e n ts
i
X X
E d u c a to rs
j
i-
j
X
C hurch ( i n g e n e ra l)
1 X k
L.
X X X X X X X X X X
P o s itiv e Use o f R-TV
C hurch’s Role
J
•
X X
T ra in in g o f C atholics
i
X
L ia is o n w . Broad
c a s t e r s
I
i
i •
!
X
X X
N a tio n a l R-TV
O ff ic e s
i '
-
* 4
1
*
*c
1
C H R O N O L O G Y O F B RO A D CA STIN G TOPICS T R E A T E D I N OFFICIAL A A S D O CU M EN TS
ISSUED B Y P O P E S A N D V A T IC A N OFFICES, 1927-1953?
II
A? X X X X X X X
It
AA2 X X X
1? #
- a 6 rX -.1 -.X _x__ X L -
■ ■ - - _ C L— ' « - l ‘ ■ -
II
A ,7
X X X X X X X
H
Bk X X
195.61 35
X X
1??7
A 8 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
H
A? X X X ■ X X X
n
B5 X X X X
ii
CIO X X
ti
195B
aaJ X
A10 X
it
C ll X
n
kkk X -
ii
BB1 X X
19 f t A ll X X X X X X X X X X
I I
A12 X X
I I
37
X
I I
b8 X X X
1
I I
X X
■ 1
I 960
X X
n
1 1
B9
**d
BIO X X X
1961 Al^f X X
tl
a i 5 X - X X X
I I
Alb X
It
Al7 X X X X X
II
B ll „x X
1 1
C12 X X
1 1
C13
*
I I
01^
____ X X
aNo docum ent p u b lis h e d in AAS p r i o r to 1927 p e r ta in e d to b ro a d c a s tin g .
k]?or i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f docum ents, see p . 1 8 2 , n . 7 and
accom panying t e x t , T able 2 , p . 183» and A ppendix A.
c S e v e ra l r e f e r e n c e s i n docum ents d id n o t m en tio n s p e c if ic to p ic s
d-By im p lic a tio n Document B9 p e r ta in e d to a l l s ix te e n t o p i c s .
211
radio in h is encyclical le t t e r on the C hristian education
of youth when he spoke of the e v ils of bad books, movies,
and radio programs:
More than ever nowadays an extended and carefu l
vigilance i s necessaxy, inasmuch as the dangers
of moral and re lig io u s shipwreck are g reater
fo r inexperienced youth. E specially is th is
tru e of impious and immoral books, often
d ia b o lic a lly circ u late d a t low p rices; of the
cinema, which m u ltip lies every kind of exhibi
tio n ; and now also of the radio which f a c i li
ta te s evezy kind of reading Ps ic l . These most
powerful means of p u b lic ity , which can be of
g reat u t i l i t y fo r in stru c tio n and education
when directed by sound p rin c ip le s, are only too
often used as an incentive to e v il passion and
greed fo r gain,**-®
^ E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n : " C h r is tia n E d u c a tio n o f
Youth C h i y i n i I l l i u s M a g is tr i)" (New Y ork: The A m erica
P r e s s , 1 9 3 b ), p . 3l» a t r a n s l a t i o n w hich ap p e ared in
N.C.W .C. R eview , X II , 3 (M arch, 1 9 3 0 ), 1 3 , re n d e re d
'tj e t t u r e " o f th e o r i g i n a l t e x t a s "com m unication" in s te a d
o f " re a d in g " to s u i t th e c o n te x t o f th e t r a n s l a t i o n . The
AAS t e x t s o f th e o r i g i n a l I t a l i a n and th e o f f i c i a l L a tin
t r a n s l a t i o n f o llo w , "Se non c h e , a i n o s t r i te m p i, s i f a
n e c e s s a r ia pift. e s t e s a ed a c c u r a ta v i g i l a n z a , quanto pifli
sono c r e s c i u t e l e o c c a s io n i d i n a u f r a g io m orale e r e l i g i o s o
p e r l a g io v en td . i n e s p e r t a , segnam ente n e i l i b r i empl o
l i c e n z i o s i , m o lti d e i q u a li d ia b o lic a m e n te d i f f u s i a v i l
p r e z z o , n e g l i s p e t t a c o l i d e l 'c in e m a to g r a f o ,' ed o ra anche
n e l l e a u d iz io n i 'r a d io f o n ic h e ,* l e q u a li m o ltip lic a n o e
f a c i l i t a n o , p e r c o s l d i r e , o g n i s o r t a d i l e t t u r e , come i l
c in e m a to g ra fo ogni s o r t a d i s p e t t a c o l i . Q u e sti p o te n -
t i s s i m i m ezzi d i d iv u lg a z io n e , che possono r i u s c i r e , se
ben g o v e m a ti d a i s a n i p r i n c i p l , d i g ran d e u t i l i t A a l l '
i s t r u z i o n e ed e d u c a z io n e , vengono p u rtro p p o sp e sso s u b o r d i-
n a t i a l l 'i n c e n t i v o d e l l e m ale p a s s io n i ed a l l 'a v i d i t A d e l
g u ad ag n o ." AAS. XXI, 16 (D ec, 3 1 , 1929)» 756^57.
"N ostria, cetero q u i, temporibus eo plenius ac
d ilig e n tiu s evigilandum e s t, quo p lu res iuvenibus im p eritis
faciendi morum p ie tatisq u e n au frag ii occasiones increbres-
cunt, maxime ex im piis obscenisque l i b r i s , quorum s a tis
m ulti n e fa rie parvo veneunt ac propagantur. ex 'cinema-
to g rap h is' lu d is , nunc autem ex •radiophonicis* quoque
au d itio n ib u s, quae cuiusvis generis lectionem—sic u t
’cynematographa' [s ic ] quodlibet spectaculum—plerisque
This f i r s t formal reference in a major papal document was
the V atican's f i r s t negative comment about the uses to
which broadcasting had in fa c t been p u t. But the state-*
ment also included acknowledgment of broadcasting's valu
able p o te n tia l fo r education. This was typical of papal
commentaries through the decades which noted the p o sitiv e
p o te n tia l of the broadcasting media in fourteen of the
seventeen "A" documents devoted e n tire ly to broadcasting,
in eig h t of the eleven "B" documents in which portions
were concerned with the media, and in three of the fourteen
"C" documents which contained references to telecommunica
tio n s. In c o n tra st, papal comments included warnings
about the e v il possible through abuse of these communica
tio n s media in but four "A" documents and in none of the
M B" or "C" documents. In appraising the actual uses to
which the developing media had in fa c t been p u t, the popes
commented favorably fourteen times and unfavorably only
four times in the seventeen "A" documents devoted wholly
to broadcasting. In the eleven "B" portions pertain in g to
radio and te le v isio n they commented favorably six times
and unfavorably th ric e . In the fourteen "C" references
the popes commented favorably only twice and unfavorably
exhibent atque faoiliorem reddunt. Validissima eiusmodi
ad quidvis evulgandum subsidia, quae, s i ad eana p rin c ip le
apte reg an tu r, eru d itio n s magnopere atque education! pro-
desse queant, saepe—proh dolor—provehendia vitiorum
ille c e b ris sordidisque quaestibus serv iu n t." AAS. XXII, 2
(Peb. 22, 1930), 81-82.
213
six tim es. The follow ing tabulation summarizes the posi
tiv e and negative papal appraisals of the future p o te n tial
and past performance of the broadcasting media, as d etailed
in Table 11.
C L A SS O P FU T U R E POTENTIAL PA ST P E R F O R M A N C E
D O C U M E N T P ositive Negative [N eutral] P ositive Negative
"A" Ih b 0 lb b
••B " 8 0 1 6 3
"C" 3 0 5 2 6
T O T A L 17 25 b 6 22 13
Negative commentaries were made fa r more often about the
past and current e ffo rts of the media than about future
dangers. The g re a te st negative c ritic ism appeared in
references in Class "C" documents on other subjects. O n
the other hand, the comments about the p o ten tial future
values of the media were regularly p o sitiv e except in four
major papal documents in which the popes spoke in some
d e ta il about broadcasting. Most of the n eutral comments
about broadcasting a t large were found in Class "CM docu
ments , such as in a discourse on education, family l i f e ,
l7 M ultiple ap p raisals were included in single docu
ments; hence to ta ls here are g reater than the number of
documents (fo rty -tw o ). Por example document B 3 contained
favorable papal comments on bxpadca8ting*s p o te n tial as
w ell as favorable and unfavorable comments on broadcast- '
in g 's p ast performance; thus three categories of q u a lita
tiv e analysis appeared in a single document. See Table 11,
p. 21b, fo r d etaile d d a ta .
T A B L E 11
FAVORABLE M L. UNFAVORABLE APPRAISALS OF BROADCASTING MEDIA IN
PAPAL AND NONPAPAL OFFICIAL VATICM DOCUMENTS, 1927-1961
Y E A R D O C U M E N T
FU T U R E PO TENTIAL
Positive Negative [N eutral]
PA ST
Positive
P E R F O R M A N C E
Negative
1927 C C 1
3 5
1929
Cl +
—
1931
B1 + ■
1933
02
S
1939
B2 +
n
A A 1 + +
19^1 B 3
+ +
-
19^5 C 3
-
19**8 C ^ f +
19^9 c5
-
it
C 6 +
-
1950 C7
S
1951
A1 +
I t
08
—
n
C 9
s
1953
A2 + +
195»f
+ - +
H
Ah + +
-
n
A5 + +
-
it
A A 2
=
1955
A 6
+ +
I I
A7 + +
T A B L E 11—Continued
Y E A R document
E U T U E E PO TEN TIA L
P ositive Negative [N eutral]
PA ST P E R F O R M A N C E
P o sitiv e negative
1956 B5 +
1957
A 8 + +
-
N
A 9
+ - +
It
B6 + +
-
It
CIO
-
M
A A 3 + +
1958 AlO + +
it
Cll 8
M
A A k s
It '
B B 1
3 5
1959
All +
-
It
A12 +
It
B7 +
II
B8 +
-
It
BB2
s
i
I960
A13 + +
it
B9
s
it
BIO +
1961 Al*f +
n
A15 +
it
A16 +
it
A17 +
n
B ll + +
it
C12 +
n
C13
M
n
Olb +
VJ 1
. 216
and public m orality in which b rie f passing reference was
made to the e ffe c ts of broadcasting. The emphasis upon the
favorable aspects of broadcasting in papal discussion of
the p o te n tia l values of th is "product of human inventive
genius" was p red ic tab le , ju s t as was the frequency of
negative appraisals of the m edia's shortcomings in actu al
performance, (esp ecially when b rie fly mentioned in docu
ments on other su b je c ts). For, according to basic te n e ts
of Catholicism and from Church ap p raisals based on experi
ence, a l l creatures come ultim ately from God and are poten
t i a ll y p e rfe c t instrum ents fo r man; but in p ractice man's
le s s worthy motives and actual circumstances induce him to
misuse and even abuse these instrum ents.
Among the nonpapal o ffio ia l V atican documents
th a t pertained to broadcasting p o sitiv e ap p raisals of
broadcasting media were emphasized in the expressed and
im plied value judgments of the Holy See. Of nine judg
ments two were positive appraisals of broadcasting's past
and presen t performance, two were p o sitiv e ap p raisals of
the m edia's future p o te n tia l, and fiv e were n e u tra l com
m entaries. There were no negative a p p ra isa ls, as is
in d icated in the following summary of data in Table 11:
217
CLASS OF
FUTUBE
POTENTIAL PAST PERFORM ANCE
D O CU M EN T P o s itiv e N eg a tiv e [ N e u tr a l] P o s itiv e N eg ativ e
"AA" 2 0
3
2 0
••BB" 0 0 1 0 0
••CC" 0 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 2 0 5 2 0
Through these Vatican documents the Holy See ty p ically
estab lish ed new organizations and granted new permissions
fo r increased u tiliz a tio n of the media instead of issuing
r e s tr ic tiv e regulations which forbade p a rtic ip a tio n in the
media. The emphasis in documents of Vatican o ffic e s, as
in papal documents, was upon the p o sitiv e use of the media
by fo ste rin g Catholic e x p lo itatio n of the c u ltu ra l,
inform ative, and ap o sto lic (or propagandist) values of
the broadcasting media.
Of the fo rty -n in e papal and Vatican Office docu
ments, fiv e were p a rtic u la rly noteworthy because of the
length and significance of th e ir d e ta ile d statem ents. The
fiv e documents, numbered A3, A5, A7, A8, and A ll, c o n sti
tu ted the main substance of papal statem ents and hence of
Homan Catholic Vatican p o lic ie s regarding broadcasting.
The fiv e major commentaries are discussed below in d e ta il.
The encyclical l e t t e r Miranda Prorsus of 1957 included
papal commentary on every issue tre a te d in a l l other
V a tic a n docum ents. These s ix t e e n is s u e s p ro v id e d an in d e x
o f p a p a l view s r e g a r d in g th e m e d ia . By a n a ly z in g th e
in c id e n c e o f th e s ix t e e n i s s u e s in th e f o r ty - n in e docu
m ents a s w e ll a s th e s p e c i f i c comments made on th o se
is s u e s hy th e v a r io u s p o p es th ro u g h th e 1927*1961 p e r io d ,
t h i s r e s e a r c h e r a tte m p te d to d e s c r ib e th e tr e n d s i n o f f i
c i a l V a tic a n p o l i c i e s r e g a r d in g b r o a d c a s tin g . These
e x p re s s e d and im p lie d p o l i c i e s i n tu r n p ro v id e d c r i t e r i a
by w hich to i d e n ti f y and a p p r a is e th e b r o a d c a s tin g p o l i
c i e s o f th e C a th o lic C hurch i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
The s ix te e n is s u e s in c lu d e d one on com m unications
i n g e n e ra l and one on th e te c h n ic a l a s p e c ts o f b ro a d c a s t
in g ; f o u r on th e p u rp o se and e f f e c t s o f b ro a d c a s tin g
re g a rd in g y o u th and th e f a m ily , r e c r e a t i o n and e n t e r t a i n
m ent , a r t and c u l t u r e , and in fo rm a tio n and e d u c a tio n ; s i x '
a s p e c ts o f th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s s h a re d by b r o a d c a s te r s ,
th e a u d ie n c e , p u b lic g o v ern m e n t, p a r e n t s , e d u c a to r s , and
th e c h u rc h ; and f o u r a s p e c ts o f p o s i t i v e u t i l i z a t i o n o f
th e m edia by th e C a th o lic C hurch, in c lu d in g p r e p a r a tio n
o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g , c o o p e ra tio n w ith p r o f e s s io n a l
b r o a d c a s te r s re g a rd in g s e c u l a r p ro g ra m s, e s ta b lis h m e n t o f
n a t i o n a l C a th o lic o f f i c e s o f b r o a d c a s tin g , and t r a i n i n g
o f C a th o lic s to in f lu e n c e th e m edia by em ployment in
b ro a d c a s tin g and by s e l e c t i v e v ie w in g - lis te n in g and a c tiv e
co rresp o n d en ce w ith m edia r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
Com m unications in G e n e ra l
As was common p r a c t i c e i n m ost fo rm a l p a p a l
s ta te m e n ts , th e po p es i n th e s e o f f i c i a l docum ents spoke
fa v o ra b ly in th e a b s t r a c t a b o u t th e s u b j e c t . They p r a is e d
th e v a lu e o f e l e c t r o n i c com m unications w h ich , a s m a n ife s
t a t i o n s o f th e c r e a t i v e pow er o f God and a s g i f t s bestow ed
on th e w orld by Him th ro u g h th e in v e n tiv e g e n iu s o f H is
c r e a t u r e s , were s o u rc e s o f g o o d n ess and jo y . But in v e n
t i o n s t h a t were p u t a t th e d is p o s a l o f men w ith f r e e w i l l
were s u b je c t to b e in g u s e d f o r good en d s o r abused f o r
e v i l p u rp o s e s . In th e many co m m en taries ab o u t th e m arv el
o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n com m unications th e th re e popes
ten d ed to em phasize th e i d e a l i s t i c and a b s t r a c t a s p e c ts o f
th e s e in s tru m e n ts .
In 1931 Pius XI expressed p raise fo r the inven
tio n which carried voices l i t e r a l l y to a l l d irectio n s of
the e a rth . In a se c re t consistory of cardinals in 1933 he
b rie fly referred to a re c e n t broadcast to Dublin by which
i t was possible "not merely to send our w ritten statem ent
and o u r r e p r e s e n ta tiv e b u t ev e n to s h a re o u r l i v i n g
18
v o ic e ." E ig h te e n y e a r s l a t e r h i s s u c c e s s o r P iu s X II
d e s ig n a te d an a n g e l a s p a tr o n o f te le c o m m u n ic atio n s and
^ T ra n sla tio n by th is author. "[N]on modo
li t t e r a s Nostras Nostrumque Legatum m itte re , sed vivam
etiam vooem Nostrum transfundere datum e a t." AAS. X X V , 5
(March 16, 1933), 107. ’
220
spoke o f t h i s e x c e l l e n t g i f t o f God by w hich men had su c
c e s s f u l l y tr a n s m itte d by e l e c t r i c a l en erg y th e v i r t u a l l y
in s ta n ta n e o u s com m unication o f sounds and im ages o v e r v a s t
d i s t a n c e s .
In 195*+ Pius XII acknowledged the "worth of th is
splendid conquest of science" by which a t E aster of th a t
year he was not only heard but also seen by the C atholics
gathered in another countxy. He looked to te le v isio n as
a "marvelous instrum ent which science and technology o ffe r
humanity^ destined as i t i s to have a profound influence
fo r good or e v il oh public and p rivate l i f e . " 1^ Among h is
remarks were warnings about the importance of the media in
a ffe c tin g the liv e s o f people and of the media’s p o te n tia l
fo r both good and bad, c o rre la tiv e to which was the respon
s ib ility of a l l who were concerned with broadcasting,
including professionals and members of public government,
the audience, and the Church. In the same year Pius XII
rejo iced in being able to en ter in to the intimacy of p ri
vate homes and to address personally in voice, g e stu re ,
and fa c ia l expression the fam ilies of eig h t nations who
^ T ra n sla tio n provided in:. "T elevision: I t s Pub
l i c and P rivate E ffe c ts," The Pone Sneaks« I , 1 (1 st Quar
t e r , 195*+), 5« " [ I ] l valore d l questa luminosa conqulsta.
d e lla scienza • • " . • • la Televisione • • • su questo
m eraviglioso mezzo a ffe rto d a lla .scienza e d a lla teonioa
all'um anitA , prezioso e pericoloso ad un tempo, per i
profondi r if le a s i che esso A destinato ad e se rc ita re s u lla
v ita pubblica e p riv a ta d elle N azioni." AAS. XLVI (S eries
2: XXI), 1 (January 16, 195*+), 18. H ereafter The Pope
Speaks i s c ite d as TPS.
221
r e c e iv e d th e f i r s t E u ro v is io n t e l e v i s i o n n etw o rk t r a n s
m is s io n . T h is I t a l i a n p o r tio n o f E u r o v is io n 's I n a u g u r a l
program p re s e n te d v iew s o f S t . P e t e r 's B a s i li c a , th e Pope
g iv in g h i s b le s s in g from h i s window, and sc e n e s o f th e
V a tic a n and i t s a r t t r e a s u r e s ; a t th e end o f t h i s p a r t o f
th e program th e P o n t i f f was shown s ta n d in g b e fo re h i s
th ro n e i n th e C o n s is to r ia l H a ll a s he p re s e n te d th e f i v e
p o r tio n s o f h i s a d d re s s r e s p e c tiv e ly i n I t a l i a n , P re n c h ,
20
German, E n g lis h , and B u tch .
Comments on th e m edium 's e f f i c i e n c y and i t s p o te n
t i a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s f o r good o r bad w ere s t a t e d by P iu s X II
tw ic e i n 1955# once i n 1956, th r e e tim e s i n 1957# tw ic e i n
1958, once i n 1959# once i n I9 6 0 , and tw ice i n 1961.
T y p ic a l o f th e p a p a l s ta te m e n ts ab o u t th e f a c t
and th e p u rp o se o f com m unications i n g e n e ra l was th e
fo llo w in g :
On t h i s a s on so many o th e r p le a s a n t o c c a s io n s ,
when we c a n b r o a d c a s t to Our b e lo v e d c h i ld r e n ,
s p re a d w h erev er th e y m ight be th ro u g h o u t th e
w o rld , and c a n f e e l t h e i r p re se n c e i n su ch a w ay,
th e r e i s renew ed i n Us a p ro fo u n d sen se o f ad m ir
a t i o n and g r a t i t u d e to w ard s th e b r i l l i a n t in v e n
t o r who acco m p lish ed th e p ro d ig io u s f e a t o f
m i n i f y i n g d is ta n c e i n com m unication, and who
gave men an e a s y m eans o f u n d e rs ta n d in g e a c h o th e r
q u ic k ly a n d , c o n s e q u e n tly , o f lo v in g one a n o th e r
2®These d e ta ils of the V atican's contribution to
the program production were appended to "The European
T elevision Network: Symbol and Promise«" TPS. I , 2
(2nd Q uarter, 1950 # 162. C itations from the Papal com
ments on th is occasion are quoted below in other sectio n s
of the p resen t chapter.
222
21
the m o re ."
S im ilar thoughts were expressed elsewhere in th a t same
radio message and in another to the delegates of the
European Badio Union,22 b rie fly in an apostolic l e t t e r of
1956,23 a t some length in the Miranda Prorsus en cy clical
l e t t e r of 1957,2^ in the discourse a t the inauguration of
new broadcasting f a c i l i t i e s of Vatican Badio in 1 9 5 7 , in
the prayers composed in the same year fo r the b lessin g of
2 6
radio s ta tio n s , in the proclamation of 1958 designating
^ T ra n sla tio n : "Badio and Television . . . To the
Third In tern atio n al Communications Congress. 1 1 TBS, I I , U -
(W inter, 1955-56), 365*
"In questa, come in tante a ltr e g rad ite circostanze,
n e lle q u ali Ci b dato d i riv o lg ere, per mezzo d e lla Badio,
la N ostra parola a i d i l e t t i f i g l i sp arsi per ogni dove n e l
mondo, e d i sen tim e in t a l modo l'a ff e ttu o s a presenza, s i
rinnova ogni v o lta in Noi i l profondo senso d i ammirata
g ra titu d in e verso i l geniale in v en to rs, che compi i l pro-*
digio d i annullare le distanze n e lle comunicazioni tr a uomo
eduomo, donando loro i l fao ile mezzo di rapidamente in te n -
d e r s i, e pertanto d i maggiormente am arsi." AAS, XLVII
(S er. 2: XXII), 15 (November 21, 1955), 733*
22Ib id .i Tig, pp. 365, 366, 368 , 372; AAS, pp. 73*»-
36. AAS. n v r i (S er. 2: XXIX), 16 (Hovember 25T1955),
775-TffT’
23AAS, XLTIII (S er. 2: XXIII), 13 (October 27,
1956), 660.
^ T ra n sla tio n : Encyclical of Pius X II on Bilm s,
Badio and TV (New York: !me America P ress, 1957). p p . 1.
k, 6 , "and '9;' AAS, XLIX. (Ser. 2: XXIV). 13“ 1^ (October 23-
2o, 1957), ppTT7o5 , 769* .771-72, and 776. Excerpts are
quoted in the follow ing sections of th is ch ap ter.
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "Vatican Badio: Truth in a Trou
bled W orld." TPS. IV ,.3 (W inter, 1957-58), 313; AAS, XLIX
(S er. 2: Xxiv), i 6 . (November 25, 1957), 9»2-63.
26aas, XLIX (S er. 2: XXIV), 17 (December 28, 1957),
1 0 ¥ f.
27
S a in t C la re a s p a tr o n e s s o f t e l e v i s i o n , and by Pope John
i n h i s a p o s to lic l e t t e r c o n firm in g th e e x h o r ta tio n s and
28 ^
d i r e c t i v e s o f H u s X II re g a rd in g m ass m e d ia.
I n h i s a d d re s s on th e t h i r t i e t h a n n iv e rs a ry o f th e
V a tic a n £ a d io s t a t i o n Pope John X X III d e s c rib e d a t h r e e
f o l d c a u tio n to b r o a d c a s te r s :
A ll o f th e s e th in g s in v o lv e d i n th e v a s t f i e l d o f
a u d io - v is u a l com m unications ta k e n to g e th e r have
a m eaning o f t h e i r own t h a t g o es beyond th e h i s
t o r i c a l re c o rd o r th e p u re ly te c h n i c a l s i d e . And
t h a t i s why i t g iv e s Us g r e a t p le a s u r e to a d d re s s
men o f good w i l l and to ta k e Our cue from t h i s
a n n iv e r s a r y to p o in t up a t r i p l e ^w arning and
te a c h in g t h a t comes to Our m ind.
He e x p la in e d t h a t b r o a d c a s tin g sh o u ld s e rv e a s a medium:
(1 ) o f t r u t h "w hich i s th e o n ly th in g t h a t ca n save man
from th e d a n g e r o f g iv in g i n to th e [ e x c e s s iv e ] i n c l i n a
t i o n s o f h i s s e n s e s , and w hich can r e s t o r e him to h i s d ig
n i t y a s a c h i ld o f God"; (2 ) o f c h a r i t y w hich b re a k s
th ro u g h b a r r i e r s b etw een men and r e c a l l s them to th e i d e a l
2 ?AAS, L ( S e r . 2 : XXV), 11 (A u g u st 2 1 , 1 9 5 8 ), 512-
1 3 .
28aw.flnoio+-tr,r>. "Boni P a s t o r i s . " The C a th o lic M ind,
, 1 9 5 7 ), 3 6 7 -6 8 ; AA'27"£I ( S e r . 1 : " "
183- 8**. —
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : " V a tic a n B adio a f t e r T h ir ty Y e a rs ,"
TPS, V I I , 2 (1 9 6 1 ), 1 ^ 2 . AAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3s I I I ) , 3
( ria ro h .2 9 , 1 9 6 1 ), 1 5 2 -5 3 : ,jL*i n t r e c c i a r s i d i q u e s ti
m o l t e p l i c i m o tiv i n e l c a m p o c o s l v a s to d e l l e co m u n ica zio n i
a u d i o v is iv e , h a i n sd u n v a lo re che tr a s c e n d e i l se m p lic e
r ic o r d o s t o r i c o od i l p u ro d a to t e c n i c o . Ci b p e r ta n to
a s s a i g r a d it o r iv o lg e r C i a g l i u o m in i d i buona v o lo n tA . e
p re n d e re l o sp u n to da q u e s to a n n i v e r s a r i o , ad in d ic a z io n e
d*un t r i p l i c e m onito ed in se g n am e n to , che e sso Ci
s u g g e r is c e ."
LVII, llM* (July-August
I), *t (April 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ),
o f u n io n and harm onious , c o n s tr u c tiv e u n d e rs ta n d in g ; and
(3 ) to d em o n strate th e p e a c e fu l p u rp o s e s o f s c i e n t i f i c
in v e n tio n s w hich a r e to h e lp man and to c o n tr ib u te to h i s
c o n tin u a l p r o g r e s s . Pope John a l s o a llu d e d to th e m a rv e ls
o f e le c tro m a g n e tic com m unication i n h i s r a d io m essage to
A fr ic a i n l a t e 1 9 6 1 .^ °
; T echnology o f B ro a d c a stin g
The te c h n ic a l a s p e c ts o f r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n
i b r o a d c a s tin g were more th a n a llu d e d to i n s e v e r a l docu
m ents is s u e d by P iu s X II and Jo h n X X III. P iu s i n 195*+
commended " th e lo n g e f f o r t s , th e a rd u o u s r e s e a r c h , th e
c o u n tle s s e x p e rim e n ts by in d iv id u a l s c i e n t i s t s a s w e ll a s
by g ro u p s o f s c h o la r s and n a tio n s " and " th e p e r s e v e r in g
work o f te c h n ic ia n s who have c h a rg e o f th e good fu n c tio n in g !
o f t r a n s m i t t i n g and r e c e i v e r s t a t i o n s " who to g e th e r made
: p o s s ib le th e f i r s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n exchange among
: e i g h t W estern E uropean n a tio n s I n a d d i tio n to n o tin g
i th e s c i e n t i f i c ach iev em en ts i n d e v e lo p in g th e medium o f
3 0 a a s , L I I I ( S er# 3 . x n ) , 13 (Novembers3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ), i
7 3 3 -7 3 ^ .
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "The E u ro p ean T e le v is io n N etw ork:
! Symbol a n d .P ro m is e ," T P S ,,I , 2 (2nd Q u a r te r . 195*0« 1 6 1 .
" L I] d i u t u r a i s f o r z i ,. l e ard u e r i c e r c h e , g l i e s p e rim e n ti
I in n u m e re v o li c o m p iu ti c o s l da s i n g o l i s c i e n z i a t i , come da
: g ru p p i d i s t u d i o s i e da n a z io n i . . • e i l te n a c e la v o ro
d e i t e c n i c i i n c a r i c a t i d e l buon andam ento d e l l e s t a z i o n i
e m i t t e n t i e r i c e v e n t i • • AAS, XLYI ( S e r . 2: X X I), 9
( J u ly 1 5 , 195*0, 3 6 9 . ’
225
television, Pius described in detail the unique artistic
capabilities of the television camera and lens and their
characteristic emphasis of "close-up" views and consequent
minute analysis of persons being televised. This practice
was prompted, the Pope observed, by the reduced dimensions
of the receiving screen which also elicited more concen
trated attention from spectators who in the privacy of
their homes were not distracted by the vast screens and
crowded audiences of motion picture theaters. The Pope
noted that this characteristic power of television to
attract the sustained attention of viewers involved moral
questions regarding the content of programs. He did not
hesitate to describe television as "a privileged instru
ment of human exploration, an effective means of putting
men in contact with one another and of revealing to them
most quickly, surely and with an unsuspected power of
penetration the innumerable forms of contemporary life."-'
Pius XII*s specific comments on the responsibilities
resulting from this effective tool of mass communications !
are quoted in later portions of the present chapter. The j
I
P o n ti f f p o in te d o u t t h a t one p r a c t i c a l d i f f i c u l t y i n
^ ^ T ra n s la tio n fro m th e F re n c h : "The E uropean
T e le v is io n N etw ork: Sym bol and P ro m is e .'? TPS. 1 , 2
(2nd Q u a r te r , 1 95*0» .1 6 2 . "[U lft i n s t r i m e n T p r i v i l d g i d
d 'e x p lo r a tio n h u m ain e, u n moyen e f f io a c e d em ettre l e s
hommes en c o n ta c t l e s u n s avec l e s a u t r e s , de l e u r r d v d le r ,
p lu s v i t e , p lu s su re m e n t e t avec une p u iss a n c e insoupqonnde
de p d n d tr a tio n , l e s fo rm e s in n o m b ra b les de l a v ie contem -
p o r a in e ." AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2: XXI), 9 ( J u ly 1 5 , 195*0, 3 7 0 .
226 ;
t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s tin g was p a r t l y so lv e d by c o o p e ra tiv e
s h a rin g o f program s so a s to d iv id e th e g r e a t c o s ts o f
program s o f s u p e r io r q u a l ity a s w e ll a s to e x te n d th e
b e n e f i t s o f s u p e r io r program m a t e r i a l . He re c o g n iz e d t h a t
p ro d u c e rs , i n an e f f o r t to re a c h a d e q u a te ly la r g e m a rk e ts
to e n s u re f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s o f p ro g ra m in g , w ere tem p ted
to d i s t r i b u t e program s whose c o n te n t c a te r e d to lo w er
human i n s t i n c t s , a s r e p o r te d below in th e s e c tio n on
"Youth and F am ily ."
I n 1955 Pope P iu s X II com pared M a rc o n i's in v e n tio n
w ith th e d is c o v e r ie s o f C h ris to p h e r Columbus; th e y " a s few
o th e r s i n h i s t o r y , have u n d o u b te d ly , w ith in e v e ry te c h n ic a l!
e s tim a te , an immense human v a lu e " w hich a re a ls o r e v e l a
tio n s o f th e p la n o f C o d 's p ro v id en c e "w hich w an ts men to
seek and f in d an e v e r c l o s e r fa m ily u n ity w ith God th e
lo v in g F a th e r , i n th e r e c i p r o c a l com m unication o f th e p e r - j
f e c t io n s and th e good th in g s o f th e e a r t h . "33 When th e
P o n tif f r e f e r r e d to th e r e c e n t i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a t h i r t y -
s i x - c i r c u i t tr a n s o c e a n ic c a b le betw een G reat B r i t a i n and
1
3 3 t r a n s l a t i o n : "R adio and T e le v is io n . . . To th e j
T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C o n g re ss," TPS. I I , k -
(W in te r, 1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 365* "Le lo r o s c o p e r te , come poche
a l t r e n e l l a s t o r i a , h an n o ..in d u b b iam en te, a l d i l a d i o g n i
p re g io te c n i c o , u n immenso v a lo re umano; ma, c o n s id e r a te
con p ro fo n d o sg u a rd o c r i s t i a n o , e s s e s i r iv e la n o e s e c u t r i c i
d e l c h ia r o d ise g n o d e l l a P ro w id e n z a , l a q u ale v u o le che
g l i u o m in i c e rc h in o e tr o v in o u n a sem pre p ill s t r e t t a u n itA
d i f a m i g l i a . d i o u i Bio A Padre am oroso, n e l l a com uni -
c a z io n e r e c ip r o c a d i p e r f e z i o n i e d i b e n i." AAS. XLVII
( S e r . 2: X X II), 15 (November 2 1 , 1 9 5 5 ), 73^.
' 22 7
N o rth A m erica, he acknow ledged i t s v a lu e f o r c a rx y in g
te le p h o n e c i r c u i t s and s a id t h a t th e c o n tin u a l t e c h n ic a l
ad v a n c e s would n o t m a s te r t h e i r human m akers a s lo n g a s
th e d ig n i t y o f th e p e rs o n rem ained i n t a c t by alw ay s k ee p in g
te c h n o lo g y p r im a r ily a t th e s e rv ic e o f s p i r i t u a l g o a ls and
r e l i g i o u s v a lu e s in s t e a d o f s o le ly m a te r ia l e n d s .
I n a d is c o u rs e in th a t same y e a r he d ev o ted s i x
te e n l i n e s o f t e x t i n AAS to d e s c r ib in g th e phenomena o f
e l e c t r i c i t y , m ag n etism , and e le c tro m a g n e tic wave p ro p ag a
t i o n . He d ev o ted no few er th a n f o r ty - s e v e n l i n e s o f t e x t
to a d e t a i l e d r£sum£ o f th e te c h n ic a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
th e t e l e v i s i o n b ro a d c a s tin g p r o c e s s , in c lu d in g th e e l e c
t r o n , f ila m e n ts , e l e c t r o n i c f i e l d s , vacuum tu b e s , f l u o r e s
c e n t s c r e e n s , v a r ie d sc an n in g s y s te m s , p e r s is te n c e o f
r e t i n a l s e n s a tio n , b o o s te r s t a t i o n s , o r th ic o n tu b e s ,
p h o t o - e l e c t r i c p r o c e s s e s , m o d u la tio n o f f r e q u e n c ie s , am pli-:
f i c a t i o n o f s i g n a l s , e le c tro m a g n e tic p r o p a g a tio n , r e c e iv in g
ok
a n te n n a e , and t e l e v i s i o n tra n s m is s io n o f c o lo r im ages
I n th e e n c y c li c a l o f 1957 on m o tio n p i c t u r e s ,
r a d i o , and t e l e v i s i o n P iu s X II acknow ledged t h a t e a c h o f
th e th r e e m edia had i t s own s p e c ia l problem s to be s o lv e d j
i n th e f i e l d s o f te c h n o lo g y and econom ics a s w e ll a s o f
^ T r a n s l a t i o n s "Badio and T e le v is io n . . . To th e
D e le g a te s o f th e E uropean Badio U n io n ," TPS, I I , ( W in ter,
1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 368-370; AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2s 2 X IX ),.l6
(November 2 ^ , 1 9 5 5 ), 7 /6 -7 7 •
228
th e a r t s b u t he d id n o t d is c u s s f u l l y th e d e t a i l s o f th e s e
35
p ro b le m s . H is d is c u s s io n o f th e b r o a d c a s t e r s ' p r a c t i c a l
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n m easu rin g p u b lic p r e f e r e n c e s and o f th e
d u t i e s o f th e au d ie n ce a re d e s c rib e d below among th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e m edia. She Pope w arned t h a t ,
u n lik e th e harm to men caused by th e m isu se o f m ach in es i n
!n in e te e n th - c e n tu r y i n d u s t r i e s , m isuse o f th e te c h n ic a l
i d e v ic e s o f m ass com m unications "can be th e so u rc e o f c o u n t
l e s s e v i l s , w hich w i l l be a l l th e m ore s e r io u s b e c au se n o t
o n ly m a te r ia l f o r c e s b u t a ls o m e n 's m inds a r e a f f e c t e d . " ^
I n 1958 P iu s r e f e r r e d b r i e f l y to th e d e t a i l s o f
37
te c h n i c a l tra n s m is s io n and r e c e p tio n o f b ro a d c a s t s ig n a ls .
! The S a c re d C o n g reg a tio n o f B ite s p u b lis h e d th e fo rm n la v fo r
i b l e s s in g a r a d io s t a t i o n , w hich in c lu d e d a s h o r t p r a y e r
' m e n tio n in g some o f th e te c h n ic a l e le m e n ts o f b r o a d c a s t-
W 8
Jo h n X X III'8 a d d re s s on th e T h i r t i e t h A n n iv e rsa ry
; o f V a tic a n B adio i n 1961 echoed P iu s by en u m e ra tin g th e
3 5 ir a n s la tio n s E n c y c lic a l o f P iu s X II on F ilm s «
B ad io and TV (New Y ork: The A m erica P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ). P* 6;
AAsi."XLBTTSer. 2 : XXIV), 13-1^ (O c to b e r 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 771.!
3& ib id . . " E n c y c lic a l . • . ] p . [AAS] p . 770:
| "in n u m e ra b iliu m malorum fo n s e s s e p o s s u n t, quae eo v e l
i g r a v ia e v a d u n t, cum non modo m a te r ia e , se d anim i e tia m
v i r e s mi s e re su b ig a n tu rC s i c ] . • • •"
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "V atica n B a d io : T ru th i n a T rou-
i b le d W orld," TPS, IV , .3 (W in te r, 1 9 5 7 -5 8 ), 313; AAS, XLIX :
; ( S e r . .2: X X IY T T ^ . (November 2 5 , 1 9 5 7 ), 9 o l . ~
| 38 a a s, XLIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 17 (Decem ber 2 8 , 1 9 5 7 ),
l ( m . “
229
technical developments required of Vatican Badio, with the
result that "the original station has heen enlarged and
I improved in keeping with the progress made in means of
qg
; radio transmission," And the Pope commended the labors
of the priest-directors of the station, their lay fellow
; workers, and their technicians••
Youth and Bamily
The effects of broadcast programing upon youth
were briefly referred to in papal documents that were
issued.in 1929 ( C l) , 19*+5 (C 3 ), 19^9 (C 5 ), and 1951 (C 8 ).
Daring the decade of the 1 9 5 0 's more attention was given
I to this question in the documents devoted entirely to mass
media which were issued in 195^ (A 3 ), 1955 (A7 ) , 1957 (A8)
especially, 1959 (All, A 1 2 ), and 1961 (A 1 7 ). m 19^5 in a
iradio message to pastors, clerics, and lay people of Prance
. Pius XII warned them to "defend children and adolescents
| from evil and false propaganda, from being seduced by
| scandalous spectacles, and from the pernicious license of
I U (\
print and radio which lack control." Similar complaints
| ^Translation: "Vatican Badio after Thirty Years,"
| TPS, VII, 2 (1 9 6 1 ), lH-O. . "[I] primi impianti si sono
! arricchiti , adeguandosi ai progress! della tecnica radio-
jfonica . . AAS, LIII (Ser. 3 :1 1 1 ) , 3 (March 2 9 , 1 9 6 1 ),
j 152.
^Translation by this author: "[D]^fendez l'enfance
et 1'adolescence contre les propagandas impies et d£shon-
nStes, contre la seduction des spectacles scandaleux, con
tre les licences pexnicieuses d'une presse et d'une radio
; sans oontrble." AAS, XXXVII (Ser. 2 : XII), 7 (July 2 5 ,
1 9 ^ 5 ), 1 9 2 .
230
a b o u t th e mass m e d ia 's t h r e a t to y o u th f u l m o r a lity w ere
spoken by Pope P iu s X II i n 19^9 i n a d is c o u rs e to I t a l i a n
women o f C a th o lic A c tio n s
I t i s s u p e rflu o u s to r e c a l l how much th e r a d io
and th e m ovies have been u s e d and ab u sed in th e
s p re a d in g o f t h a t m a te r ia lis m , and how much th e y ,
th e bad b o o k , th e l i c e n t i o u s i l l u s t r a t e d p e r io d i
c a l , th e in d e c e n t show , th e im m oral d a n c e , and
im m odesty on th e b e a c h e s , have c o n tr ib u te d to
in c r e a s e s u p e r f i c i a l i t y , w o r ld lin e s s , and th e se n
s u a l i t y o f y o u th • R e p o rts com ing from th e m ost
d iv e rs e re g io n s s i g n a l th o s e a r e a s a s c e n te r s o f
y o u t h 's r e l i g i o u s and m o ral abandonm ent. B ut p r i
m a rily r e s p o n s ib le i s th e b reak u p o f m a rr ia g e , o f
w hich th e m o ral debasem ent o f y o u th i s th e h a l l
m ark and d e p lo ra b le consequence . ^ i
I n h i s 1951 r a d io m essage to C a th o lic e d u c a to rs o f th e
w e s te rn h em isphere P iu s X II q u o ted th e w ords o f P iu s XI 's
e n c y c li c a l on y o u th w hich ap p e ared above and s u p p o rte d h i s
p r e d e c e s s o r 's in d ic tm e n t o f b r o a d c a s tin g and o th e r m edia
Li
T r a n s la tio n s " Im m o ra lity ,M The Pope S p e a k s:
The T each in g s o f Pope P iu s X I I . e d . by M ichael C ninigo
(New Y ork: P an th eo n B ooks, I n c • , 1 9 5 7 ), p p . 1 0 5 -1 0 6 .
T h is s in g le book o f t r a n s l a t e d e x c e r p ts i s n o t to be co n - j
fu s e d w ith th e q u a r te r ly jo u r n a l o f t r a n s l a t i o n s o f com
p l e t e p a p $ l d o cu m en ts, The Pope S peaks (TPS) .
"E s u p e rflu o i l r i c o r a a r e q u an to l a r a d io e i l
cinem a sono s t a t i u s a t i ed a b u s a ti p e r l a d if f u s io n e d i j
q u e l m a te r ia lis m o , e q u an to e s s i , i l c a t ti v o l i b r o , l a j
l i c e n z i o s a r i v i s t a i l l u s t r a t e , lo s p e tta c o lo in v e re c o n d o ,
i l b a l lo im m o rale, 1 ’im m o d estia d e l l e s p ia g g e , hanno co n - j
t r i b u i t o ad aum entare l a s u p e r f i c i a l i t y , l a m ondanit& , l a j
s e n s u a li ty d e l l a g i oven t i l . I r a p p o r t i , che pervengono
d a l l e r e g io n i piCi d i v e r s e , se g n a la n o q u e lle o c c a s io n ! come i
c e n t r i d i r e l i g i o s o e m o rale abbandono d e i g io v a n i. Ma in i
prim o lu o g e b r e s p o n s a b ile i l d is fa c im e n to d e i m a trim o n i,
d i c u i l'a b b a s s a m e n to m o rale d e l l a gioventCi. pub e s s e r e
a d d ita t o - come in d iC e e f u n e s ta c o n se g u e n z a ." AAS. XLI
( S e r . 2 : X V I), 10 (S ep tem b er 6 , 1 9 ^ 9 ;, 5 l 8 .
1 * 2
f o r t h e i r c o r r o s iv e in f lu e n c e on young p e o p le .
Among th e docum ents t h a t were w holly co n cern ed
w ith b ro a d c a s tin g P i u s ' e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n h i e r
a rch y i n 195* + n o te d t h a t t e l e v i s i o n was d ir e c te d e s p e c i a l l y
to fa m ily g ro u p s com posed o f p e rs o n s o f ev e ry a g e . By i t s
sounds and im ages i t was
c a p a b le o f m oving th e e m o tio n s, e s p e c ia lly o f
y o u th . . . . F i n a l l y , i t sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t
t e l e v i s i o n f i n d s i t s m ost a v id and r a p t d e v o te e s
among c h ild r e n and a d o le s c e n ts who, because o f
t h e i r v e ry y o u th , a r e more a p t to f e e l i t s f a s
c i n a ti o n a n d , c o n s c io u s ly o r u n c o n s c io u s ly , to
t r a n s l a t e i n t o r e a l l i f e th e phantasm s th ey have
a b so rb e d from th e l i f e l i k e p ic t u r e s o f th e
s c re e n .*3
In th e e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r o f 1957 P iu s X II n o te d t h a t th e
members o f th e a u d ie n c e m ust be ta u g h t to u n d e rs ta n d th e
a r t fo rm s o f th e m ass m e d ia. He la u d ed e f f o r t s "w hich aim
a t s tim u la tin g b o th y o u th s and grow n-ups to exam ine ad e
q u a te ly and c o m p e te n tly th e b e n e f i t s and th e d an g e rs o f
th e s e show s, and to a r r i v e a t a b a la n c e d judgm ent on th em ."
But he added t h a t b r o a d c a s te r s m ust see to i t t h a t "show s
lf2AAS, X L III ( S e r . 2s X V III), 13 (Septem ber 1 8 ,
1 9 5 1 ), 596-597.
!
^ T r a n s l a t i o n s " T e le v is io n s I t s P u b lic and P r i - j
v a te E f f e c t s ." TPS. I , l , ( l s t Q u a r t e r ,.195*0, 7 . " [ I ] l
che l e c o n f e r is c e m aggiore c a p a c ity em o tiv a , s o p r a t t u t t o a
r ig u a rd o d e i giovani. . . . E d a r i l e v a r e in f in e ch e l a
T e le v is io n e tr o v a i l suo p u b b lic o pi&. av id o e pi& a t t e n t o !
f r a i f a n c i u l l i e g l i a d o l e s c e n t! , i q u a li p e r l 'e t &
s t e s s a sono i pid. a su b ix n e i l f a s c in o , e a tr a a f o r m a r e ,
c o a c ie n te m e n te o in c o n s o ia m e n te , i n re a lt& v iv e n ti l e
im m agini a s s o r b i t e d a l l a v is io n s an im ata d e llo sch erm o ."
AAS, XLIV ( S e r . 2s X X I), 1 (Ja n u a ry 1 6 , 195*0, 20.
232
m a st be a d o p te d a ls o to th e d eg ree o f I n t e ll i g e n c e o f th e
v a r io u s ag e l e v e l s , th e s tr e n g th o f t h e i r e m o tio n a l and
im a g in a tiv e re s p o n s e , and t h e i r m oral d ev elo p m en t• ,,lfl+ The
Pope c a u tio n e d young p e o p le ab o u t t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,
and he acknow ledged th e v a lu e o f t e l e v i s i o n :
I t i s t h e i r g rav e o b lig a tio n to ch eck and co n
t r o l t h a t n a t u r a l and u n r e s tr a in e d e a g e rn e s s to
s e e and h e a r e v e r y th in g . And th e y m ust keep t h e i r
m inds f r e e from im m odest and e a r t h l y g r a t i f i c a
t i o n s and d i r e c t them to h ig h e r th in g s ;
T h is s p e c ia l pow er w hich t e l e v i s i o n e n jo y s ,
o f g iv in g p le a s u r e w ith in th e fa m ily c i r c l e , i s
to be reck o n ed o f v e ry g r e a t im p o rta n c e , s in c e i t
c a n c o n tr ib u te a g r e a t d e a l to th e r e l i g i o u s l i f e ,
th e i n t e l l e c t u a l developm ent and th e h a b i ts o f
th o s e who make u p th e fa m ily ; o f th e c h ild r e n
e s p e c i a l l y , whom t h i s m odem in v e n tio n w i l l c e r
t a i n l y c a p tiv a te and in f lu e n c e . 5
Jo h n X X III*s a p o s to lic l e t t e r w r i tt e n in m otu
p r o p r io (" o n h i s own i n i t i a t i v e 1 1 ) i n 1959 co n firm ed
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . o i t » «
p p . 1 2 , 1 3 . "[Q ]uae eo c o n te n d u n t, u t iu v e n e s e t a d u l t i
s a t i u s a p tiu s q u e v e l i n t ho rum sp e cta cu lo ru m u t i l i t a t e m e t
p e r i c u l a p e r s p ic e r e a tte n te q u e c o n s id e r a r e ." "N ecesse
enim e s t , u t s in g u la s p e c ta c u la ad p e c u lia re m c u iu s v is
a e t a t i s r a ti o c i n a n d i gradum , s e n tie n d i v im , anim i f a s c i n a -
tio n e m , morumque co n d icio n em a p ta a tq u e accommodata s i n t . "
AAS, XLIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 13-1* (O c to b er 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ),
7 8 3 , . 7 8 1 .
^ ^ I b i d . « [The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n ] , p p . I 1 *, 27;
[AAS], p p . 8 0 0 -8 0 1 : "Grave e i s O ffic iu m e s t in n atu m
i l l u d effrenum que q u id q u id v id e n d i a u d ien d iq u e stu d iu m
co m p escere ac m o d e ra ri; ac lib e ru m animum ab im m odicis
t e r r e n i s q u e v o lu p ta tib u s s e r v a r e , e t ad su p e m a d i r i g e r e . "
" P e c u l i a r i s haec o b le c ta n d i v i s , quae i n t e r s a c r a f a m ilia e
p e n e t r a l i a t e l e v i s i o p o l l e t , perm agni quidem f a c ie n d a e s t ,
q u ip p e quae plurim um c o n f e r a t ad re lig io a a m v ita m , ad
hum an! ta te m a tq u e ad m ores eorum , ex q u ib u s f a m il ia con
s t a t , f i l i o r u m p r a e s e r tim quo a r e c e n t i o r i s h u iu s c e i n v e n t i
f a s c i n a t i o p ro c u l d u b io a f f i c i e t ac t e n e b i t . "
233
P lu s X II *8 many comments i n th e M iranda P ro ra n a by s t a t i n g :
W e a re aw are o f th e s e r io u s p ro b lem s i n th e
f i e l d o f p u b lic m o r a lity , o f th e d i f f u s i o n o f
id e a s and o f th e e d u c a tio n o f y o u th , w hich have
b een p ro p o sed by th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f th e a f o r e -
m en tio n ed te c h n iq u e s a f f e c t i n g a u d io - v is u a l
m eans o f com m unication, f o r th e y e x e r t a v e ry
g r e a t in f lu e n c e on m in d s. W e th e r e f o r e d e s ir e
to make Our own, and to c o n firm , th e e x h o rta
t i o n s and commands o f t h a t same P re d e c e s s o r o f
O u rs, and to do w hat W e can to t u r n i n t o a p o s i
t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r v i r t u e and good b e h a v io r
th o s e means w hich th e D ivine G oodness h a s p la c e d
a t m an’s d i s p o s a l .4'®
In h i s r a d io m essage o f 1959 Pope Jo h n b r i e f l y a llu d e d to
th e m is s io n a ry b r o a d c a s ts t h a t re a c h e d th e homes o f a
n a t io n and he i n d i r e c t l y m en tio n ed th e h e lp g iv e n to
47
C h r is t ia n c h ild r e n by su ch p ro g ram s. B ut i n h i s e n c y c li
c a l Ad P e t r i Cathedram he lam en ted t h a t " a l a s , th e e n t e r
ta in m e n t m edia can be th e so u rce o f e n tic e m e n t to lo o s e
m o ra ls , to d is o r d e r ly l i f e and to th e s n a re s o f e r r o r and
46
tr e a c h e r o u s v i c e s , e s p e c i a lly i n th e m inds o f th e y o u n g ,"
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "Boni P a s t o r i s . " The C a th o lic
| M ind. L V II, 1144 (J u ly -A u g u s t, 1 9 5 9 ), 368“ fiMentem i g i t u r ;
Ijostram i n g ra v e s q u a e s tio n e s , quae e p r a e d i c t i s a r t i b u s
I te c h n ic i s ad v o ce s im aginesque com m unicandas i n s t i t u t i s
j e x s i s t u n t c i r c a m ores p u b lic o s , c o g ita to ru m p ro p ag atio n em
| e t in s t itu ti o n e m i u v e n t u t i s , in te n d e n te s — q u ib u s i n v e n t i s j
i an im i s o le n t ta n to p e r e m overi— e x h o r ta tio n s a e t p r a e c e p ta ,
I eiuadem D e c e s s o ris N o s tr i resum ere e t c o n firm a re oupim us
I a tq u e in s tru m e n ts i l i a , a b e n ig n issim o Deo hom inibus
| i m p e r t i t a , p ro v i r i b u s c e r t a e f f i c e r e ad iu m en ta v i r t u t i s
I e t p r o b i t a t i s . " AAS, L I ( S e r . 3 : I ) , 4 (A p ril 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ),
1 8 4 . . “ .
47AAS, L I ( S e r . 3 : I ) , 6 (May 1 6 , 1 9 5 9 ), 3 1 3 .
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : " E n c y c lic a l L e t t e r Ad P e t r i C ath e-
I dram (On T ru th , U n ity , and P e a c e )," The C a th o lic kincTI
[ EVXT, 1146 (Novem ber-Decem ber, 1959)7""544. ’*l.A]ttam en non
23*+
R e c re a tio n and E n te rta in m e n t
Porm al r e c o g n itio n o f th e r o l e o f b ro a d c a s t m edia
i n p ro v id in g e n te rta in m e n t f i r s t came i n P iu s X I I ’s ex h o r
t a t i o n i n 195*+ to th e I t a l i a n b is h o p s . He rem inded them
t h a t " t e l e v i s i o n c o n t r ib u t e s e f f i c a c i o u s l y to r e e s t a b l i s h
th e b a la n c e [ i n d o m e stic fa m ily l i f e ] , by p ro v id in g th e
w hole fa m ily w ith an o p p o rtu n ity f o r h o n e s t d iv e r s io n
t o g e t h e r , away from th e d a n g e rs o f bad company and
ko
p l a c e s ." In 1955 i n h i s le n g th y a d d re s s to th e d e le
g a te s o f th e E uropean B adio [ s i c ] U n io n , Pope P iu s p r a is e d
t e l e v i s i o n f o r h e lp in g to r e u n ite th e e n t i r e fa m ily by
" h o ld in g a t home b o th a d u l t s and l i t t l e ones w ith o u t
; r e q u ir in g t h a t th ey g iv e u p n e c e s s a ry and u s e f u l r e la x a -
50
t i o n a f t e r day s o f w ork and s tu d y m ”
r a r o ad p rav o s quoque m o re s, p ro d o l o r , ad d eh o n estam en ta
; v i t a e , ad erro ru m f a l l a c i e s e t ad l u b r i c a v i t i a i l l e c e b r a e ,
i iu v e n ilib u s p r a e s e r tim a n im is , o r i r i q u e u n t." AAS. L I
; ( S e r . 3s I ) , 10 ( J u ly 2 2 , 1 9 5 9 ), 5 0 0 -5 0 1 .
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i -
! v a te E f f e c t s . " TPS. I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 1 9 51 * ), 6 . " [L ]a
T e le v is io n e c o n i r ib u ir e e ffic a c e m e n te a r i c o s t r u i r e q u esto
e q u i l i b r i o , o ffre n d o a l l ' i n t e r a f a m ig lia p o s s i b i l i t y d i
p re n d e re in siem e ones to ev a g o , lo n ta n o d&i p e r i c o l i d i com-'
p ag n ie e lu o g h i m a ls a n i? " AAS. XLVI ( S e r . 2 : X X I), 1 I
(J a n u a ry 1 6 , 195*0, 1 9 .
j , ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "B adio and T e le v is io n . . . T o th e
I D e le g a te s o f th e E uropean B adio U n io n ," TPS. I I , b (W in ter,
1 9 5 5 ), 3 7 1 . " [B ]ie n m J r i t s n t c e r t e s s e r a c e l u i q u i rA us-
s i r a a r e t e n i r d av an tag e A l a m aiso n g ra n d s e t p e t i t s , san s
p r J te n d r e q u 'i l s re n o n c e n t A l a d e te n te co n v en ab le e t
n A c e s s a ire apr&s d es jo u rh A es de t r a v a i l e t d 'A tu d e .
"O r l e s p e c ta c le o f f e r t p a r l a tA lA v isio n p e u r
i c o n tr ib u e r A c e t e f f e t , e n r J u n i s s a n t to u te l a f a m ille
a u to u r d 'u n a p p a r e i l . . . . " AAS. XLVII ( S e r . 2 : X X II),
! 16 (November 2fr, 1 9 5 5 ), 778. \
235
I n th e s in g le m ost com prehensive e n u n c ia tio n o f
o f f i c i a l Homan C a th o lic v iew s on b r o a d c a s tin g , th e e n c y c li
c a l o f 1937) P iu s X II n o te d i n many p la c e s th e p ro p e r r o le
o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n a s c h a n n e ls o f e n te r ta in m e n t.
T h erefo re th e th r e e c h i e f t e c h n ic a l m ethods o f
te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s— m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d io and
t e l e v i s i o n — a r e c o n c e rn e d n o t o n ly w ith m en 's
r e c r e a ti o n and l e i s u r e — th ough many v ie w e rs and
l i s t e n e r s se e k t h i s a lo n e — b u t a re e s p e c i a l l y
a d a p te d to th e p r o p a g a tio n o f th o s e s u b je c ts
w h ich , by a id in g b o th m e n ta l c u l t u r e and s p i r i t u a l
g ro w th , can p o w e rfu lly c o n tr ib u te to th e r i g h t
t r a i n i n g and sh a p in g o f th e c i v i l s o c ie ty o f o u r
tim e s .
There i s i n men a deep d e s ir e to l i s t e n to
o th e r men, to l e a r n o f d i s t a n t e v e n ts and to
s h a re i n a s p e c ts o f th e s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l l i f e
o f o th e rs ; and t h i s ev en w ith in th e w a lls o f
o n e 'a home. . . .
T h is i s b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e c o u n tle s s w ire
l e s s program s w hich c o v e r n ew s, in te r v ie w s , t a l k s ,
u s e f u l and p le a s a n t in f o r m a tio n , th e a r t s , s in g
in g and o r c h e s t r a l m u s ic . . . .
I t b e f i t s C a th o li c s , th e n , to make u se o f
t h i s p r iv ile g e o f o u r d a y , and to draw e x te n s iv e ly
from th e r i c h fu n d o f d o c t r i n e , r e c r e a t i o n , a r t
and th e d iv in e word i t s e l f w hich r a d io b ro a d c a s t
in g b r in g s to th em , s in c e th e y c a n th u s grow i n
know ledge and w iden t h e i r ran g e o f i n t e r e s t s . ? 1
5 lT r a n s la tio n : The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . c i t ..
p p . 9 , 2 2 . AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2s XXIV), 13-1^ (O c to b er 2 3 - i
2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 7757 793-791 ** !
"Quamobrem p ra e c ip u a e t r e s te c h n ic a e a r t e s . q u ib u s
a u rib u s v o c e s , o c u l is autem rerum im ag in es ex lo n g ln q u o
p ro p o n u n tu r, hoc e s t c in e m a to g ra p h ic a , ra d io p h o n ic a ac
t e l e v i s i f i c a a r s , non ad hom ines tantummodo re c re a n d o s
rela x an d o sq u e p e r t i n e n t , quam vis n o n p a u c i hoc solum
r e q u ir a n t a u d ito r e s s p e c t& to re s q u e , se d ad ea potissim um
p ro p ag an d a, quae cum ad an im i c u ltu ra m , ad v irtu te m q u e
alendam a t t i n e a n t , nonparum p o s s u n t ad c iv ile m n o s tr o rum
temporum s o c ie ta te in r e c t e in s titu e n d a m confoxmandamque
c o n fe r re •
" In tim a autem an im i human! s t u d i a eo p e r t i n e n t ,
236
In th e a d d re s s w hich he d e liv e r e d on th e in a u g u ra
t i o n o f th e new V a tic a n R adio t r a n s m i t t e r i n 1957, P iu s X II
a g a in n o te d t h a t th o s e who e x e rc is e d any in f lu e n c e r e g a r d
in g b r o a d c a s tin g sh o u ld " in c u lc a te v i r t u e , p ro p a g a te sound
d o c t r i n e , p ro v id e r e c r e a t i o n f o r th e l i s t e n e r s by means o f
wholesome e n te r ta in m e n t, and even f r e e them from th o s e
w o rrie s w h ich , e s p e c i a l l y a t th e p r e s e n t tim e , so k e e n ly
52
p reo ccu p y and tr o u b le m e n ," '
John X X III i n h i s e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r o f 1959j Ad
P e t r i C athedram , a l s o r e f e r r e d to r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n
program s a s so u ro e s o f i n s p i r a t i o n and encouragem ent , to
good and h o n o ra b le a c tio n s i n a c c o rd w ith C h r is tia n v irtu e w
B ut he added h i s w arn in g a g a in s t th e e n te rta in m e n t m e d ia 's
u t q u i s , l i c e t d o m e s tio is c o n tin e a tu r p a r i e t i b u s , a l i o s
a u d ia t h o m in es, e v e n tu s c o g n o s c a t, q u i p ro c u l f i u n t , e t
s o c i a l i s v i t a e ra tio n e m e t in g e n ii cu ltu m p a r t i c i p e t .
"... [H ]oe f i t p e r in n u m e ra b ile s ra d io p h o n ic a s
tr a n s m is s io n e s c e r t a r a tio n e p r o p o s i t a s , q u ib u s com pre-
h e n d u n tu r n o v i e v e n tu s , c o l lo q u ia , serm o n es, r e s ad co g -
noscendum u t i l e s e t iu c u n d a e , a r t i f i c i a , c a n tu s , modi
m u s ic i.
" E x p e d it e rg o c h r i s t i f i d e l e s hoc b e n e f ic io , a e t a t e
n o s t r a in d u e t o , u t i , a tq u e m u n e rib u s, ad d o c trin a m , ad
an im i re la x a tio n e m , ad arte m ipsum que verbum divinum
s p e c ta n tib u s , quae i p s i s p e r ra d io p h o n ic a s u n d as obveniunt,!
q u a s i l o c u p l e t a r i , cum i t a s c ie n tia m q u ean t in c re m e n t!e
a u g e re ac v e l u t i an im i f i n e s p ro p a g a re ,"
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "V a tic a n R ad io : T ru th i n a T rou
b le d W o rld ," TPS, I V ,.3 (W in te r, 1 9 5 7 -5 8 ), 3 1 5 . " [S ]e d
v ir tu te m p o tiu s s u a d e a n t, .sed rec tam d o c trin a m p ro p a g e n t,
se d s a n is quoque o b le c ta m e n tis a u d ito r e s r e f i c i a n t , a tq u e
e tia m h i s c u r i s r e l e v e n t , quae h o d ie p r a e s e r tim tarn
a c r i t e r e x a g ita n t e t a g u n t h o m in e s." AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2 :
XXIV), 16 (November 2 5 , 1 9 5 7 ), 9 6 2 -9 7 3 .
53
pow er to weaken m o ra ls .
237
A rt and C u ltu re
I n a d d itio n to th o se p a p a l comments c i t e d above
w hich in c lu d e d r e f e r e n c e s to th e c u l t u r a l c o n t r ib u t io n o f
b r o a d c a s tin g m e d ia, o th e r s p e c if ic s ta te m e n ts on t h i s su b
j e c t w ere made i n n in e docum ents, a s w e ll a s i n f o u r o th e r
docum ents i n w hich a e s t h e t i c and c u l t u r a l a s p e c ts w ere
o n ly im p lie d . The f i r s t comment on th e l i b e r a l and human
i s t i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f b ro a d c a s t prog ram in g was made i n
a n a p o s t o l i c l e t t e r o f 1951 when Pope P iu s X II p ro c la im e d
th e A rc h an g el G a b rie l a s h ea v en ly p a tro n o f a l l te le c o m
m u n ic a tio n s . P iu s s a id t h a t when th e a r t o f b r o a d c a s tin g
was u s e d p r o p e r ly i t c o n tr ib u te d to th e f o s t e r i n g o f
f r a t e r n a l u n i ty o f m an k in d , th e c u l t i v a t i n g o f th o s e m en’s
l i v e s , and th e w id e sp re a d p ro p a g a tio n o f th e l i b e r a l a r t s
5k
and wholesom e p u r s u i t s . In h i s I t a l i a n e x h o r ta tio n o f
195*+ P iu s m entioned th e b e n e f i c i a l co n seq u en ces o f t e l e
v is i o n i n s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l m a tte rs and i n th e i n t e r
n a t i o n a l l i f e o f p e o p l e . ^ In th e same y e a r th e Pope
53see a b o v e , n . *f8 and accom panying t e x t .
^ " E iu a m o d i in s tr u m e n ts , ad a r .t i s ra tio n e m f a c t a ,
u t ad p e rn ic ie m p o s s u n t plurim um , s i r e c t a m ente non
e x e r c e a n tu r , i t a , s i u t a d d e c e t u s u r p e n tu r , m ultum m ultum -
que v a l e n t ad fra te ; m am hominum com m unitatem fovendam
ro b o ran d am q u e, ad eorum excolendam v ita m , ad l i b e r a l e s
a r t e s e t ad in g e n u a s d i s c i p l i n e s quam l a tis s i m e p ro p a
g a n d a s .” AAS, XLIV ( S e r . 2: X IX ), (M arch 3 0 , 1 9 5 2 ), 216.
55AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2 : X X I), 1 (Ja n u a ry 1 6 , 1 9 ^ ) 9
19.
238
spoke I n th e in a u g u ra l program o f E u r o v is io n 's inter**
n a t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n n etw o rk ab o u t .th is happy p ro d u c t o f
th e s u s ta in e d t o i l and re s e a rc h o f s c i e n t i s t s , s c h o l a r s ,
and te c h n ic ia n s who e s ta b lis h e d t h i s "new m eans o f i n t e l
l e c t u a l iand a r t i s t i c exchange among E uropean p e o p le s and
p e rh a p s l a t e r w ith o th e r c o n tin e n ts ." B ut he w arned
a g a i n s t th e e v e r - p r e s e n t p o s s i b i l i t y o f a e s t h e t i c c o rru p
t i o n :
I n an e f f o r t to f in d th e n e c e s s a ry m a rk e t, p ro
d u c e rs a r e o f te n tem pted to d i s t r i b u t e e n t e r t a i n
m ent m a te r ia l c a t e r i n g to b a s e r human i n s t i n c t s .
I t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t to d e p lo re th e co n seq u en ces
o f su c h an e v i l — p a r t i c u l a r l y th e s e l f i s h , d ru n k en
c r a v in g f o r w o rld ly p le a s u r e s to g e th e r w ith h a rd
h e a r te d n e s s to w ard th e d i s t r e s s and d e s i r e s o f
fe llo w m e n . S u ita b le p re v e n tiv e m easu res a r e
n e c e s s a r y .
I f t e l e v i s i o n w ish es to k eep i t s b r i l l i a n t
p ro m is e s , i t o u g h t to tak e c a re n o t to u se th o s e
u n seem ly a r t s t h a t a re a s c o n tr a r y to good t a s t e
a s to th e m oral s e n s e . I t o u g h t to r e f r a i n from
d e a lin g w ith th e u n n a tu ra l p ro d u c ts o f a d is e a s e d
s p i r i t o f o u r tim e s . T e le v is io n sh o u ld r a t h e r
e n d e a v o r to g iv e r e c o g n itio n to g en u in e b e a u ty
and to a l l th o s e w holesom e, l o f t y and s u p e r io r
t h i n g s t h a t have b e e n , and c o n tin u e to b e , c r e a te d
by th e c u ltu r e o f mankind a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y , by
th e C h r is t ia n r e lig io n .? ®
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "The E uropean T e le v is io n N etw ork:
Symbol a n d .P ro m is e ," TPS, I j 2 (2nd Q u a r te r , 1 9 5 * 0 , 1 6 3 .
"D ie Sorge urn,den n o tig e n A bsi-tz v e r l e i t e t d ie
U nteznehm en o f t z u r V e rb re itu n g von U n te r h a ltu n g s s to f f undj
S tu c k e n , d ie a u f d ie m in d er e d le n m e n sch lich en I n s t i n k t e
a b g e stim m t s in d und ih n e n ^ sch m e io h eln . Es g e n u g t n i c h t ,
d ie P o lg e n e in e s s o lc h e n U bele be Bonders d ie d i e s s e i t -
s tru n k e n e s e l b s t i s c h e V ergnugungssucht m it dem v e r s c h -
lo s s e n e n h a r te n H erzen gegenuber d e r Not und d en Wunschen
d e r M itm enschen z u b e k la g e n . Man muss i n g e e ig n e t e r W eise
v o rb e u g e n . W ill d ie T e le v is io n ih r e g la n z e n d e n V ersprechen
h a l t e n , so moge s i e s i c h h u te n , s ic h d e r b i l l i g e n K unste
239
I n h i s O cto b er 1 1 , 1 9 5 5 , r a d io d is c o u rs e to th e T h ird
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C ongress P iu s X II d w e lt on
th e v a lu e o f te lec o m m u n ic atio n s a s a bond o f s p i r i t u a l
u n i t y among a l l men, r e g a r d le s s o f d if f e r e n c e s o f r a c e ,
c u l t u r e , and i n t e r e s t s .
T elecom m unications h a s th u s a c q u ire d an im p S tr
ta n c e o f th e f i r s t o r d e r . I t i s w ith o u t d o u b t a
v a l i d in s tru m e n t o f p ro g re s s and common w e lfa re
b u t o n ly i f p la c e d a t th e s e r v ic e o f t r u t h , and
i n th e p o l i t i c a l f i e l d , a t th e s e r v ic e o f r i g h t
and j u s t i c e , o f th e esteem and r e s p e c t w hich men
owe one a n o th e r , w ith o u t re g a rd to n a t io n a l
b o u n d a rie s , and e v e ry th in g t h a t h e lp s make men
l e s s s tra n g e to one a n o th e r and p ro m o tes m u tu al
u n d e r s ta n d in g , n o th in g c o n t r ib u t e s more e f f i c a
c io u s ly to t h i s r e s u l t th a n th e t r u t h , g ra c e and
lo v e b ro u g h t to th e e a r t h by th e D iv in e R edeem er.
T hese a re in f a c t th e prim e and i r r e p l a c e a b l e
f a c t o r s o f s p i r i t u a l u n ity among m en. To .prom ote
t h e i r d if f u s io n i n human c o n s c ie n c e s a s much a s
p o s s ib le w i l l be th e m ost n o b le o f f i c e ^ t h a t t e l e
com m unication can a t t r i b u t e to i t s e l f .
z u b e d ie n e n , d ie n ic h w en ig e r dem g u te n Geschmack a l s dem
s e t t l i c h e n Em pfinden so s e h r w id e rsp re c h e n ; s i e moge davon
A bstand nehm en, s ic h a u f d ie u n n & tu rlic h e n E rz e u g n is s e
e i n e s k ra n k e n Z e i t g e i s t e s e in z u la s s e n ; e s s e i i h r v ie lm e h r
darum zu tu n , d ie w ahre S ch o n h eit z u r A nerkennung z u
b rin g e n und a l l e s , was d ie M e n s c h h e its k u ltu r und b e s o n d e rs
d ie c h r i s t l i c h e R e lig io n an Gesundem und Hohem und Bestem
h e rv o rg e b ra c h t h a t und h e r v o r b r in g t." AAS. XLVI ( S e r . 2:
X X I), 9 ( J u ly 1 5 , 1 9 5 * 0 , 3 7 0 -7 1 . . ‘ ■
^ t r a n s l a t i o n : "R adio and T e le v is io n . . . To th e
T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C o n g re s s," TPS, I I , * f
(W in te r, 1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 3 6 7 .
"Le te le c o m u n ic a z io n i hanno c o s l a c q u is t a t o
u n 'im p o rta n z a d i p r im 'o r d in e . Sono se n z a dubbio v a lid o
s t rumen to d i p ro g re s s o e d i b e n e s s e r e , ma a c o n d iz io n e che
s ia n o p o s te a s e r v iz io d e l l a v e r itA , anche n e l campo
p o l i t i c o , a s e r v iz io d e l d i r i t t o e d e l l a g i u s t i z i a , d e l l a
s tim a e d e l r i s p e t t o ohe g l i uom ini s i debbono f r a d i l o r o ,
a l d i s o n ra d e l le f r o n t i e r s d e g li S t a t i , a s e r v iz io d i
t u t t o o io che a i u t a a r e n d e r l i meno s t r a n i e r i e a fo m en ta re
2k0
I n an a p o s to lic l e t t e r i n 1956 P iu s q u o te d an e x te n d ed
p o r tio n o f M s p ro c la m a tio n o f 1951 nam ing S t . G a b rie l a s
p a tro n o f te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s. He r e p e a te d M s fo rm e r
w ords:
H oly M other Church n o t o n ly n e v e r opposed tM s
d e v e lo p in g c u l tu r e o f th e p eo p le b u t was and i s
co n c ern ed to n o u r is h , p ro m o te, and s a fe g u a rd i t
a s much a s p o s s i b l e , b ecau se w h a te v e r new t r u t h s
o r o th e r d evelopm ents a re a t t a i n e d by r e s e a r c h
th e y a re to be re c o g M z e d a s a c e r t a i n mark o f
th e d iv in e mind and a m a n if e s ta tio n o f d iv in e
pow er.
I n th e e n c y c lic a l M iranda P ro rs u s s p e c i f i c a t t e n t i o n was
g iv e n to some a e s t h e t i c a s p e c ts o f b r o a d c a s tin g . Pope P iu s
r e p e a te d t h a t " th e Church en c o u ra g e s and s u p p o rts e v e ry
th in g w hich t r u l y c o n c e rn s a f u l l e r e n ric h m e n t o f th e m ind-
f o r she i s th e p a tro n and f o s te r - m o th e r o f human know ledge
and th e n o b le a r t s . " He s t a t e d M s e a r n e s t d e s ir e t h a t
b ro a d c a s t and f ilm m edia in c lu d e a s p a r t o f t h e i r p u rp o se
l a r e c ip r o c a co m p re n sio n e. N u lla c o n tr ib u is c e p ill
e ffic a c e m e n te ad o tte n e r e q u e sto r i s u l t a t o che l a v e r i t y ,
l a g r a z i a e l'a m o re a r r e c a t i a l i a t e r r a d a l R ed en to re j
d iv in o . Q u e sti sono i n f a t t i i p rlm i e non s o s t i t u i b i l i
f a t t o r i d e l l a u n itA s p i r i t u a l s d e g li u o m in i. Prom uovere
i i l piti. larg a m en te p o s s i b i l e l a lo r o d if f u s io n s n e l l e umane
I c o s c ie n z e sar& l 'u f f i c i o p iii n o b i l e , che l e te le c o n n m ic a z - !
io M possono a t t r i b u i r s i . " AAS. XLVII ( S e r . 2: X X II), 1 5 j
(November 2 1 , 1955) > 7 3 5 . I
^ T r a n s l a t i o n -th is a u th o r . "S an o ta M ater E c c le -
s i a p r o g r e d ie n ti h u ic populorum c u l t u i non solum numquam
o f f e c i t , sed c u ra e h a b u i t e t h a b e t eum a l e r e , p ro v e h e re ac
t u t a r i quam maxime; quandoquidem q u id q u id v e r i , q u id q u id
n o v i indagando a t t i n g i t u r , i d v e l u t i quoddam d iv in a e m e n tis
: v e s tig iu m d iv in a eq u e p o te n tia e in d ic iu m agnoscendum e s t . "
AAS, XLVIII ( S e r . 2: X X III), 13 (O c to b e r 2 7 , I 9 6 0 ) , 6 6 0 ,
! q u o tin g from AAS, XLIV ( S e r . 2: X IX ), k March 3 0 , 1 9 5 2 ),
2 1 6 -1 7 . “
th e p ro v id in g o f men w ith a b ro a d e r c u l t u r a l background by
e n ric h in g th e e x p e rie n c e o f th e a u d ie n c e th ro u g h program s
t h a t o f f e r n o t o n ly e n te r ta in m e n t and news b u t a ls o "som e-
59
th in g t h a t c o n tr ib u te s to m e n ta l c u l t u r e ." '* ' H is comments
on v a r io u s a r t i s t i c a s p e c ts o f p ro g ram in g were c i t e d i n
th e p re c e d in g s e c tio n on " R e c re a tio n and E n te rta in m e n t."
John X X III i n th e a p o s to lic l e t t e r Boni P a s t o r i s
acknow ledged t h a t " a l l a r e aw are o f th e pow er o f R adio o r
T e le v is io n o r M otion P i c t u r e s to c o n tr ib u te tow ards a
h ig h e r l e v e l o f human c u l t u r e , to prom ote a r t w orthy o f
th e nam e, a n d , e s p e c i a l l y , to s p re a d t r u t h . H e advo
c a te d t h a t th e members o f th e Church h ie ra rc h y prom ote
C a th o lic p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p r o j e c t s o f cin em a, r a d i o , and
t e l e v i s i o n
w hich a r e co n c ern ed w ith th e fo rm a tio n o f c h a r a c te r
and th e developm ent o f c u l t u r a l i n t e r e s t s , such a s
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : E n c y c lic a l o f P iu s X II on P ilm s .
R adio and TV: "M iranda P ro r s u s H (flew Y ork: th e A m erica
P r e s s , 1$S>7), p p . 11. "fam vero E e c l e s i a , quae omnia
f o v e t ac p r o y e h it, quae r e v e r a ad o m an d o s d ita n d o sq u e
anim os p e r t i n e n t — e s t enim humanarum d is c ip lin a r u m in g e n u - ;
arumque a rtiu m p a tro n a e t a l t r i x . • • ." "Nos autem
v eh em en ter cupim us . . . u t h aec te c h n ic a in s tru m e n ta • . .;
i n id p o te n tissim u m a d h ib e a n tu r , u t p le n io r e anim i c u l t u r a j
[ s i t ] . • . " Id g en u s enim s p e c ta c u la plerum que a l i q u i d |
h a b e n t, quod n o n .so lu m ad d e le c ta n d o s hom ines e t ad e i s
p rae b e n d as rerum n o t i t i a s p e r t i n e t , se d ad anim os e tia m
i n s t i t u e n d o s ." AAS, XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 13-11+ (O c to b er 2 3-
26, 1957), 77**, 775.
^ T r a n s l a t i o n s "B oni P a s t o r i s , '1 The C a th o lic M ind.I
L V II, llM t (J u ly -A u g u s t, 1959) > 368 • "Neminem enim l a t e t , |
quantum r e s o in e m a to g ra p h ic a v e l ra d io p h o n ic a v e l t e l e -
v i s i f i c a p o s s i t ad a l tio r e m h u m a n ita tis c u ltu m , ad v e r i
n o m in is a rte m e t maxime ad v e r ita te r n propagandam p e rv u lg a n -
dam que." AAS. L I ( S e r . 3 : I)> h ( A p r il 1 1 , 1959)» 181 *.
2k2
th e p r e s e n ta ti o n o f , and d is c u s s io n s c o n c e rn in g )
th o s e m o tio n p i c t u r e s w hich a re d is tin g u is h e d f o r
t h e i r a r t i s t i c q u a l i t y and t h e i r d e fe n se o f m o ra l
i t y . 61
Pope John i n a r a d io m essage in i 960 to P araguay p r a is e d
th e C a th o lic r a d io s t a t i o n i n A suncion f o r i t s tw e n ty -f iv e
y e a rs o f program ing ad v an ced c u l tu r e a s w e ll a s th e r e l i -
62
g io u s a p o s t o l a t e . I n th e same y e a r he r e f e r r e d to th e
a r t i s t i c a s p e c ts o f th e m edia i n h i s an n u a l C h ristm as
r a d io m essage to th e w o rld ; h i s comments to o k th e form o f
w arn in g s to b r o a d c a s tin g te c h n ic ia n s , a r t i s t s , and adm in
i s t r a t o r s ab o u t t h e i r r e s p o n a i b i l i t y f o r p ro v id in g p ro
grams o f i n t e g r i t y . ^ In 1961 Pope Jo h n p r a is e d e d u c a to rs '
6k
; e f f o r t s to p u t t e l e v i s i o n a t th e s e r v ic e o f c u l t u r e .
These o f f i c i a l V a tic a n docum ents m a n ife s te d th e
p o p e 's a p p r e c ia tio n o f a r t i s t i c and c u l t u r a l program s and
in d ic a te d th e C h u rc h 's fo rm a l encouragem ent o f su ch
6 lIfciA.t rihe Catholic Mind! p . 369) [AAS] p . 1 8 5 :j
. • quae ad formandos mores e t ad in g en ii cultum pro-
movendum p e rtin e n t, v e lu ti ostensio taeniolarum cinema- !
tographicarum ac de i i s in ita d isc e p ta tio , quae eximia arte
p raesten t morumque commendatione."
62"uos e s b ie n co n o c id a l a e f i c i e n c i a y l a buena
i la b o r de a p o s to la d o y de e le v a c id n c u l t u r a l , d e s a r r o lla d a j
| p o r R adio 'C a r i t a s ' e n l o s c in c o l u s t r o s p a s a d o s ." AAS.
; L II ( S e r . 3? I I ) , l k (Decem ber 2 8 , I 9 6 0 ) , 983. j
63aAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 1 (Ja n u a ry 3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ),
13-1^* P o r d e t a i l s s e e th e .e x c e r p t s quoted below i n th e
s e c tio n on " R e s p o n s i b iliti e s o f B r o a d c a s te rs ."
^A A S , 1 I I I ( S e r . 3s I I I ) , 15 (December 2 8 , 1 9 6 1 ),
I 81$-16. *
21*3
p o s i t i v e u se o f th e m edia*
In fo rm a tio n and E d u c a tio n
I n many o f th e same p o r tio n s o f docum ents w hich
w ere c i t e d in th e p re c e d in g s e c tio n w ere p a p a l comments on
th e r o l e o f b ro a d c a s t m edia i n p ro v id in g men w ith news
a b o u t one a n o th e r and a b o u t th e e v e n ts o f th e w o rld , a s
w e ll a s w ith i n t e r e s t i n g and u s e f u l in fo rm a tio n a b o u t th e
a r t s and sc ie n c e s* The popes r e p e a te d ly rem inded b ro a d
c a s t e r s t h a t th e to u c h s to n e o f in f o rm a tio n a l and e d u c a
t i o n a l program c o n te n t was to be t r u t h . Commentary and
c r i t i c i s m w ere to be b a se d on a c tu a l f a c t s ; m en 's r e p u ta
t i o n s w ere n o t to be en d an g ered by f a l s e a c c u s a tio n s and
by th e u n in fo rm ed o p in io n s o f b ro a d c a s t sp eak ers* The
p o n t i f f s n o te d t h a t one a s p e c t o f in fo rm a tio n and e d u c a tio n
was th e f a c t s o f r e l i g i o n , th e t r u t h s ab o u t m a n 's s o u l and
h i s r e l a t i o n to h i s C re a to r* They co n clu d ed t h a t b ro a d c a s t
s t a t i o n s sh o u ld in c lu d e some r e l i g i o u s prog ram in g a s p a r t
o f a b a la n c e d sc h e d u le and t h a t r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s o f th e
i Church sh o u ld c o o p e ra te a c t i v e ly w ith b r o a d c a s te r s i n p r e -
| p a r in g a u th e n tic and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s.
As e a r ly a s 1929 P iu s XI lam en ted t h a t th e p r e s s ,
!
i cin em a , and r a d io w hich were a b le to be " o f g r e a t u t i l i t y
; f o r i n s t r u c t i o n and e d u c a tio n when d ir e c te d by sound p r i n
c i p le s " were b ein g m isu sed to o o f te n f o r d is o r d e r e d
■ ' ■ 2 W +
65
p le a s u r e s and mere econom ic g a in . N ot u n t i l 195** was
e x p l i c i t comment made a g a in on th e i n s t r u c t i o n a l v a lu e o f
b r o a d c a s tin g . P iu s X II acknow ledged th e " b e n e f i c i a l con
se q u e n ce s" o f t e l e v i s i o n in " p o p u la r e d u c a tio n " and i n
" te a c h in g i n th e s c h o o ls ," He n o te d t h a t " t e l e v i s i o n ,
when w e ll r e g u la te d , can be an e f f e c t i v e means o f a so u n d ,
66
C h r is t ia n e d u c a tio n ."
I n h i s a d d re s s on th e o c c a s io n o f th e f i r s t E u ro
v i s i o n tr a n s m is s io n P iu s X II p r a is e d t h i s new means o f
i n t e l l e c t u a l and a r t i s t i c exchange among E u ro p ean n a t i o n s .
He m a rv e led how men c o u ld im m ed iately tr a n s m it i n s i g h t
and sound to one a n o th e r th e e v e n ts o f th e day a s th e y
o c c u rre d "w h eth er i t i s a m a tte r o f s c i e n t i f i c , a r t i s t i c
o r s p o r t s a c t i v i t i e s , o f th e in n u m erab le a s p e c ts o f m odem
67
te c h n o lo g y o r s o c i a l a c h ie v e m e n ts." I n th e E n g lis h
^For th e o r i g i n a l t e x t s and t r a n s l a t i o n from Pope
P iu s X I 's e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r on e d u c a tio n o f y o u th , se e
n . 16 and accom panying t e x t on p p . 211-212 ab o v e.
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : “T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i
v a te E f f e c t s , " TPS. I , l . ( l s t Q u a r te r , 195*0* 6 - 7 .
• b e n e f ic io in f lu s s o che l a T e le v is io n e h • . . i n
r e la z io n e a l i a c o l t u r a , a ll'e d u c a z io n e p o p u la re ,
a l l *in segnam ento s c o l a s t i c o . • . • [L ]a T e le v is io n e ben
r e g o l a t a pu6 c o s t i t u i r e un mezzo e f f i c a c e d i s a g g ia e
c r i s t i a n a e d u c a z io n e . • • •" AAS. XLVI ( S e r . 2 : X X I), 1
(J a n u a ry 1 6 , 195*0, 1 9 -2 0 . -
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "The E uropean T e le v is io n N etw ork:
Symbol a n d .P ro m is e ," TPS, I , 2 (2nd Q u a r te r , 195*0, 1 6 2 .
" Q u 'i l s 'a g i s s e d 'a c t i v i t e a s c i e n t i f i q u e s , a r t i s t i q u e s ou
s p o r t i v e s , d es a s p e c ts in n cm b rab les de l a te c h n iq u e m odem e
ou d e s r e a l i s a t i o n s s o c i a l e s . • • ." AAS. XLVI ( S e r . 2 :
X X I), 9 ( J u ly 1 5 , 195*0, 3 7 0 . -----
p o r tio n o f h i s fiv e -la n g u a g e d is c o u rs e th ro u g h th e e i g h t -
n a t io n E u ro v is io n n etw o rk th e Pope u rg e d t h a t th e n a tio n s
l e a r n to know e ach o th e r b e t t e r ; l e t them be
happy and proud to d is p la y th e n a t i o n a l b e a u tie s
o f t h e i r c o u n tr ie s and t h e i r c u l t u r a l r ic h e s ;
l e t them open to o th e r s th e d e e p e r f e e l i n g s o f
t h e i r s p i r i t and t h e i r s in c e r e d e s ir e f o r u n d e r
s ta n d in g and c o o p e ra tio n .
He added a p ra y e r t h a t God m ig h t u s e th e in s tru m e n t o f
t e l e v i s i o n " to ex ten d th e r e ig n o f m u tu al u n d e rs ta n d in g
and co n co rd among a l l p e o p le s ."
In h i s r a d io a d d re s s i n 1955 to an i n t e r n a t i o n a l
com m unications c o n v e n tio n P iu s X II a p p ra is e d telecom m unica
t i o n s a s h a v in g a c q u ire d "an im p o rta n ce o f th e f i r s t order";
i n p ro v id in g r a p id com m unications among a l l p eo p le o f th e
w o rld . He u rg ed t h a t t e l e v i s i o n be p la c e d a t th e s e r v ic e
o f t r u t h , j u s t i c e , esteem and r e s p e c t o f men f o r one
a n o th e r , and o f " e v e ry th in g t h a t h e lp s make men l e s s
s tr a n g e to one a n o th e r and pro m o tes m u tu al u n d e r s ta n d in g ."
He added t h a t "on th e h id d e n n e tw o rk s o f human d is c o u rs e
t h a t c r o s s space i n e v e ry s e n s e , a prim e p la c e b e lo n g s to
th e e t e r n a l and s a l v i f i c lan g u ag e o f th e G o sp el, w hich j
a lo n e , s tre n g th e n e d by g r a c e , ca n b in d to g e th e r th e u n io n
o f s o u ls u n d e r a s u p e r io r law o f lo v e and j u s t i c e and i n
th e lum in o u s a u ra o f a l i v i n g h o p e . "^9 The r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
68O rig in a l t e x t i n E n g lis h . I b i d . . [TPSl p . I6ki
[M S ] p . 3 7 1 . i
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "B adio and T e le v is io n . . . To th e
T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C o n g re ss," TPS. I I , k
24-6
t h a t he c o n s id e re d p la c e d upon b r o a d c a s te rs and Church
le a d e r s by su ch u t i l i s a t i o n o f th e b ro a d c a s t m edia a r e
d is c u s s e d below i n t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e c a te g o r ie s .
Nine days l a t e r Pope P iu s spoke by r a d io to th e
d e le g a te s o f th e E uropean B ro a d c a s tin g U nion and u rg e d them
to make o f t e l e v i s i o n "a n in s tru m e n t o f in fo rm a tio n ,
fo rm a tio n and tra n s f o r m a tio n " in s t e a d o f a means o f s p re a d
in g e r r o r and e v i l . ^ 0 The P o n t i f f d w e lt a t le n g th on t e l e
v i s i o n 's u n iq u e a id to s c h o o ls ; he c i t e d exam ples o f th e
v a r io u s c la ssro o m c o u rs e s t h a t w ould be enhanced by com
p le m e n ta ry t e l e v i s i o n i n s t r u c t i o n and d e m o n s tra tio n . He
spoke a g a in o f t e l e v i s i o n 's v a lu e f o r b rin g in g to g e th e r i n
th o u g h t and f e e l i n g th e w orld community o f p e o p le s , and
d e s c r ib e d i t a s "a n e f f ic a c i o u s in s tru m e n t o f m utual
71
know ledge and r e c i p r o c a l u n d e r s ta n d in g ." '
(W in te r, 1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 3 6 7 , 3 6 8 . " . • • [A] s e r v iz io d i t u t t o
c ib che a i u t a a r e n d e r l i meno s t r a n i e r i e a fo m en tare l a
r e c ip r o c a co m p ren sio n e." " S u lla f i t t a r e t e d e g li um ani
d i s c o r s i , che a ttr a v e r s a n o g l i s p a z i i n ogni se n so , p r i -
m eggi i l lin g u a g g io e te x n o e s a l v i f i c o d e l V angelo, i l
s o l o , che a w a l o r a t o d a l l a g r a z i a , pub s a ld a r e 1* u n i one
d e l l e anim e s o t t o una s u p e rio r e le g g e d i amore e d i
g i u s t i z i a e n e l l 'a u r a lu m in o sa d i v i t a l e s p e ra n z a ." AAS.
XLVII ( S e r . 2 : X X II), 15 (November 2 1 , 1 9 5 5 ), 735 , 73^7" ;
^ T r a n s l a ti o n s "R adio and T e le v is io n . . . To th e
D e le g a te s o f th e E uropean R adio U n io n ," TPS. I I , (W in ter,;
1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 3 7 0 . " E v ite z ab so lu m en t p a r.c o n s e q u e n t q u 'e l l e
s e rv e A rep a n d re l 'e r r e u r e t l e m a l, e t f a i t e s - e n a u co n -
t r a i r e un in s tru m e n t d 'in f o r m a tio n , de fo rm a tio n , de t r a n s
f o rm a tio n ." AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2s X X II), 16 (November 2»+,
1 9 5 5 ), 777. —
71 I b i d . . [TPS] p p . 371-72; [AASl p . 779 s " . . . l a ;
t e l e v i s i o n p u is s e en c o re u n e f o i s se p r e s e n te r auxhom m es
comme u n in s tru m e n t e f f i c a c e de c o n n a issa n c e rd c ip ro q u e e t
2b7
I n h i s e n c y c l i c a l l e t t e r o f 1957 P iu s X II commented
upon th e v a lu a b le r o l e to be p la y e d by t e l e v i s i o n and r a d io
i n e d u c a tio n , b u t he a i s o c a u tio n e d a g a in s t th e p o s s ib le
m isuse o f th e m edia e i t h e r by o m ittin g a l l acknow ledgm ent
o f God and th e t r u t h s o f r e l i g i o n o r by prom oting f a l s e
s ta n d a rd s o f p le a s u r a b le l i v i n g and by dam aging th e re p u
t a t i o n s o f o t h e r s . He e p ito m iz e d th e p rim ary p u rp o se o f
th e s e m edia a s th e s e r v ic e o f t r u t h and v i r t u e ;
To be a t th e s e r v ic e o f th e t r u t h demands n o t
o n ly t h a t a l l r e f r a i n from e r r o r , from l i e s , from
d e c e i t o f a l l k i n d s , b u t a l s o t h a t th e y shun
e v e ry th in g t h a t c a n en co u rag e a m anner o f l i v i n g
and a c tin g w hich i s f a l s e , im p e rf e c t, o r h arm fu l
o f o t h e r s •
Above a l l , l e t th e t r u t h s handed down by God’s
r e v e l a t i o n be h e ld s a c re d and i n v i o l a b l e . In d e e d ,
why sh o u ld n o t th e s e n o b le a r t s s t r i v e p a r tic u
l a r l y to t h i s en d — t h a t th e y sp re a d th e te a c h in g
o f God and o f H is S on, J e s u s C h r is t . • .7
M oreover, th e s e new a r t s sh o u ld n o t only
se rv e th e t r u t h , b u t a ls o aim a t th e p e r f e c tin g
o f human l i f e and m o ra ls . L et them a c tiv e ly p ro
mote t h i s i n th e th r e e ways W e now w ish to d i s c u s s :
by p u b lis h in g new s; by im p a rtin g i n s t r u c ti o n s ; by
p r e s e n tin g shows .7 2
i de m u tu e lle c o m p re h en sio n ." The e n t i r e document r e q u ir e d
l*+3 l i n e s o f AAS t e x t i n F re n c h , o f w hich 25 l i n e s w ere
; d ev o ted to d is c u s s io n o f d i r e c t e d u c a tio n th ro u g h t e l e -
i v i s i o n , 2 * + l i n e s t o i n d i r e c t e d u c a tio n i n th e fa m ily by
t e l e v i s i o n , and 33 l i n e s to t e l e v i s i o n a s an in s tru m e n t o f j
| m utual know ledge among p e o p le s o f th e w o rld .
^ T r a n s l a t i o n ; The A m erica P re s s e d i ti o n , o p . c i t .,i
1 p. 10.
" V e r i t a t i i n s e r v i r e non modo p o s t u l a t , u t omnes ab
e r r o r e , a m en d acio , a fra u d e omnino a b s tin e a n t, sed u t
e tia m e a om nia d e v i t e n t , qua© v e l fa ls a m , v e l mane am, v e l
; a l i c u i p a r t i obnoxiam fo v e re p o s s u n t v iv e n d i ag en d iq u e
ra tio n e m .
"Im p rim is autem v e r i t a t e s , Leo r e v e la n te t r a d i t a e , i
u t r e s s a c r a e in v io la b ile s q u e h a b e a n tu r. Quin immo, c u r
2h Q
\ The Pope u rg e d b r o a d c a s te r s n o t to n e g l e c t th e m oral
i im p lic a tio n s o f th e news t h a t th e y re p o rte d * He c a u tio n e d
news oom m entators to i n j u r e ho one by t h e i r w o rd s, and to
' t r y to u n d e rs ta n d and e x p la in th e d i s a s t e r s and c rim e s
w hich th e y r e p o r te d . "To e x p la in i s n o t n e c e s s a r ily to
e x c u s e , b u t i t i s to s u g g e s t th e b e g in n in g o f a rem edy,
and c o n s e q u e n tly to p e rfo rm a ta s k a t once p o s i t i v e and
c o n s t r u c t i v e . " ^ P iu s p r a is e d th e e f f e c t i v e u se o f docu
m en tary f ilm s and r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n program s i n s c h o o ls .
A t th e same tim e he a sk ed t h a t c a re be e x e rc is e d l e s t th e
le s s o n s p r e s e n te d th ro u g h th e m edia be i n any way c o n tr a r y
: to C a th o lic d o c trin e and th e r i g h t s o f th e C hurch o r impede
o r f r u s t r a t e th e p ro p e r e d u c a tio n o f c h ild r e n i n t h e i r
homes d u r in g th e im p re s s io n a b le y e a r s o f t h e i r fo rm a tio n .
The P o n t i f f r e p e a te d ly acknow ledged i n M iranda P ro rs u s th e
good e f f e c t s o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n in e d u c a tio n and
d e s c r ib e d a s second among th e th r e e p u rp o se s o f
; ad hoc p o tissim u m non c o n te n d a n t hae n o b ile s a r t e s , u t
I nempe P e i e iu sq u e F i l i i Ie s u C h r is t i d o c trin a m p ro p a g e n t.
i . . . ?
"Ac p r a e te r e a non modo v e r i t a t i in B e rv ia n t h ae
; n o v ae a r t e s o p o r t e t , se d m o ra li e tia m humanae v i t a e p e r -
I f e c t i o n i . Quod quidem t r i b u s h is c e m o d is, de q u ib u s j
i s c r i p t u r i sum us, c o n f e r r e e n i t a n t u r : hoc e s t d a t i s n u n -
t i i s , i m p e r t i t i s p r a e c e p t i s , p r a e b itis q u e s p e c t a c u l i s ."
! AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 13~lk (O cto b er 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 7 7 7 .|
73I b i d . , [iiie A m erica P r e s s ] ; [AAS] p . 778; "quod
tam en eadem e x c u sa re v e l p ro b a re minime s i g n i f i c a t , sed
in n u e re rem ed ia ac p r a e s ta r e le n im e n ta , a tq u e adeo ad
i anim orum re s titu e n d a m p ro b ita te m a l i q u i d c o n f e r r e ." He
■ was q u o tin g h i s w ords t o a group o f U n ite d N a tio n s p u b lic
i in f o r m a tio n o f f i c i a l s , A p ril 2*t, 1956; c f . P is c o r s i e BadicH
Lttgggaggi.fle. SaaUtft Eta J oi* x v i i i, p . 137. !
te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s th e com m unication o f "knowledge n e c e s
s a ry f o r th e f u lf i lm e n t o f t h e i r [ c h i l d r e n ’s ] d u t i e s . " ^
B ut he d id ta k e c a re to warn a g a in s t th e m isuse o f th e s e
m edia o f i n s t r u c t i o n and e n lig h te n m e n t, a s u s u a l.
In two o th e r docum ents is s u e d i n 1957 and i n 1958
P iu s commented i n d i r e c t l y on th e e d u c a tio n a l v a lu e s o f
b r o a d c a s tin g . H is s u c c e s s o r, John X X III, echoed th e s e
v iew s by n o tin g h i s own aw aren ess " o f th e s e r io u s pro b lem s
i n th e f i e l d o f p u b lic m o r a lity , o f th e d if f u s io n o f id e a s
and o f th e e d u c a tio n o f y o u th " w hich had a r i s e n w ith th e
75
in tr o d u c t io n o f th e b ro a d c a s tin g m ed ia. Pope Jo h n made
b r i e f a l l u s i o n s to e d u c a tio n i n two o th e r docum ents i n
1959* I n h i s C h ristm as m essage o f I9 6 0 he a p p e a le d to
b r o a d c a s te r s :
Do n o t a v a i l y o u rs e lv e s o f th e s e m arvelous g i f t s
o f God, su ch a s l i g h t and sound and c o l o r , and
t h e i r a p p lic a tio n s i n te c h n ic a l and a r t i s t i c fo rm s—
p r i n t i n g , jo u r n a lis m , t e l e v i s i o n — to d i s t o r t m a n 's
n a t u r a l i n c l i n a t i o n tow ards t r u t h . . . . Do n o t
a v a i l y o u rs e lv e s o f them to jfrlv e to r u in c o n s c ie n c e s
a s y e t unform ed o r w av e rin g .
ft* Ib id . . [The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n ] p . 11; [AAS]
p . 779: " c o g n itio n ib u s ad su a c u iu sq u e obeunda m unera
n e c e s s a r i i s . . . . "
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "Boni P a s t o r i s , " The C a th o lic M ind.!
L V II, llM f (J u ly -A u g u s t, 1 9 5 9 ), 3 6 8 . " • • .L G Jraves !
q u a e s tio n e s , quae e p r a e d i c t i s a r t i b u s te c h n ic is ad v o ces
im ag in esq u e eommunicandas i n s t i t u t i s e x s i s t u n t c i r c a m ores
p u b lic o s , c o g ita to ru m p ro p ag atio n em e t in s t itu tio n e m
i u v e n t u t i s . . • •" AAS. L I ( S e r . 3 : I ) , ^ (A p ril 1 1 ,
1 9 5 9 ), 1 8 ^ . ‘
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "The C h ristm as M essage o f Pope John;
X X III," The C a th o lic M essenger [D a v e n p o rt, Io w a ],
250
In a r a d io a d d re s s o f 1961 Jo h n X X III apoke o f th e
r a d io a s an e f f ic a c io u s in s tru m e n t f o r illu m in a tin g and
i n s t r u c t i n g m inds and f o r t r e a t i n g o f i n v i s i b l e and su p e r
n a t u r a l t r u t h s . In December o f th e same y e a r he d ev o ted
to t h i s to p ic o f e d u c a tio n and b r o a d c a s tin g m ost o f h i s
s e v e n ty - e ig h t - li n e d is c o u rs e to an i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n v e n tio n
o f e d u c a tio n a l r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . He
u rg e d e d u c a to rs to e x p l o i t th e f u l l e d u c a tio n a l p o t e n t i a l
o f th e m edia by u s in g them to te a c h r e l i g i o u s t r u t h s a s
w e ll a s s e c u la r le a r n in g i n s c ie n c e and th e h u m a n itie s .
In h i s e n c y c lic a l l e t t e r o f 1 9 6 1 , M ater e t M agistra.
Pope Jo h n ask ed t h a t th e s o c ia l te a c h in g s o f th e C a th o lic
Church be e x p la in e d and prom oted among C a th o lic s and n o n -
C a th o lic s th ro u g h th e m edia o f m ass co m m u n icatio n s. He
e x p re s s e d h i s g r e a t d e s ir e t h a t th e s e te a c h in g s on s o c ia l
q u e s tio n s re a c h o u t to th e common man by ev e ry means made
a v a ila b le i n r e c e n t y e a r s , nam ely by n e w sp a p e rs, b o o k s, and;
77
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n p ro g ram s.
December 2 9 , I9 6 0 ; p . 6 .
"Non s e r v i t e v i d i q u e s ti m e r a v ig lio s i d o n i d i D io, j
che sono l a l u c e , i s u o n i, i c o l o r i e l e lo r o a p p lic a z io n i i
i te c h n ic h e e a r t i s t i c h e — t i p o g r a f i c h e , g i o m a l i s t i c h e , au d io -
v i s i v e — p e r tr a v o lg e r e l a n a tu r a le in c lin a z io n e d e l l *uomo j
a l i a v e r i t y • . • ; non s e rv ite v e n e p e r s o s p in g e re a ro v in a
l e c o s c ie n z e non a n c o ra fo rm ate o v a c i l l a n t i . " AAS. L II I
( S e r . 3s I I I ) , 1 (J a n u a ry 3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ), lb ,
77"O p tarn s p r a e t e r e a , u t h aec de r e s o c i a l i doo-
t r i n a . . . m odis om nibus i n v u lg u s e m an e t, quod r e c e n t i o r I
jin d u x e r i t a e ta s s hoc e s t , turn s c r i p t i s • • • ; d ein d e
l i b r i s • . . ; denique ra d io p h o n ic is e t t e l e v i s i f i c i s
^ ra n sm issio n ^ b ^ s ja d jiib i tis ." AAS. L I I I ( S e r . 3s I I I ) , 8
251
Thus the papal injunctions for positive, active use
of broadcast media in the service of religion and the
Catholic Church appeared repeatedly in official papal com*
mentaries on educational and informational functions of
the media as well as in documents emphasizing the purpose
and effects of broadcasting for youth and the family,
recreation and entertainment, and art and culture.
Responsibilities in Radio
and Television
Because the broadcasting media affect and are
affected by many persons at the same time, these media
create responsibilities for those who finance and produce
programs, for those who listen to and view the programs ,
and for those who share authority for the welfare of men
in society, namely the public government and the church.
Pope Pius XII outlined the source whence arise these
responsibilities regarding the media when he said in
Miranda Prorsus:
Just as great advantages can arise from the
wonderful advances which have been made in our
day in the technology of motion pictures, radio
and television, so too can very great dangers.
For these new resources and devices, which are
within almost everyone*s grasp, exercise a most
powerful influence, over men*s minds; they can
flood them with light, raise them to nobility,
adorn them with beauty; or they can dim their
luster, dishonor them by a process of corruption,
and enslave them to uncontrolled passions, accord
ing as the subjects they present to the senses
252
are elevating or debasing.7®
The Pope explained that evil which is opposed to right
moral principles came not from the techniques of broadcast
ing which were the "precious gifts" of God but "only from
the fact that man, endowed as he is with free will, can
abuse these gifts, committing and spreading e v i l . "79 Three
years earlier he had told the Italian bishops that although
"television, when well regulated, can be an effective means
of a sound, Christian education, it is also true that it is
not free from dangers, because of the abuses and evils to
which it can be perverted by human weakness and malice."^
? Translation: The America Press edition,
op. oit.« p.
"E p r o g r e s s io n ib u s m ira n d is p r o r s u s , quas n o s t r i s
h is c e d ie b u s te c h n ic a e d i s c i p l i n a e , ad cin em ato g rap h icam ,
rad io p h o n icam e t t e l e v i s i f i c a m a rte m quod a t t i n e t , f e c e -
r u n t , u t maximae u t i l i t a t e s , i t a maxima quoque p e r i c u la
o r i r i p o s s u n t.
"Hae enim novae op es novaque in s tru m e n ta , quae f e r e
omnibus ad manum s u n t , vim e x s e ru n t i n anim os p o x e n t i s s i -
mam, cum id c ir c o quod e o s lu c e c o l l u s t r a r e p o s s u n t,
n o b i l i t a t e e v e h e r e , p u lc h r itu d in e d e c o ra re ; turn e x eo e tia m
quod e o s ten eb raru m o b s c u ra tio n e f o e d a r e , d e p ra v a tio n e
d e h o n e s ta re , e f f r e n a tis q u e s u b ic e re queunt m o tib u s, p r o u t i
eiu sm o d i s p e c ta c u la r e s a u t p ra v a s a u t h o n e s ta s n o s t r i s
s e n s ib u s p ro p o n u n t." AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 1 3 -1 ^
(O cto b er 2 3 -2 6 , 1957)> p* 769.
i .
I b i d . t [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 6; [AAS1 p . 772:
"non ex i p s i s t e c h n i c i s a r t i b u s , quae e iu s pD ei] p r e t i o s a
s u n t d o n a , sed e x eo ta n tu m , quod homo, cum s i t l i b e r a
v o lu n ta te p r a e d i t u s , iis d e m d o n is a b u t i p o s s i t , p ra v a nempe
f a c in o r a p e rp e tra n d o p ro p ag an d o q u e• • •
^ ^ T r a n s la tio n : " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i
v a te E f f e c t s , " TPS, I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 7 . " S e ,
i n f a t t i , l a T elev T sio n e ben r e g o la ta pub c o s t i t u i r e u n
mezzo e f f ic a c e d i s a g g ia e c r i s t i a n a e d u c a z io n e , b
253
The question was: how and by whom was regulation to be
exercised? In both documents when Pius spoke of misuse of
the mass media he devoted lengthy portions of the texts to
those who prepared the programs and to those who made up
the audience choosing to view such programs* He also
included parents, educators, and representatives of civil
government and the Church as persons whose actions consti
tuted both good and proper use of broadcasting* In the
following five sections of the present chapter are pre
sented the Vatican statements regarding the responsibili
ties of each of these groups in society*
The data tabulated above in Table 10 on page 210
indicated that as early as 1929 the popes referred to the
duties of parents and educators regarding motion pictures
and radio* Again in 19^5 brief reference was made to the
proper role of parents in governing the reception of
broadcast programs in the home. It was only in 19^9 that
direct reference was first made to the broadcasters them
selves* In 1951 short references were again made to the
responsibilities of parents and educators and of the audi
ence at large* The first extended and definitive comments
about shared responsibilities in mass communications
altrettanto vero che la medesima non & soevra di pericoli,
per gli abusi e per le profanazioni a cui potrebbe esse re
condotta dalla debolezza e dalla malizia umana. • • •"
AAS* XIVI (Ser. 2: XXI), 1 (Januaiy 16, 195*0, 19-20.
a p p e a re d i n 195** i n P iu s X I I 's e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n
b is h o p s r e g a rd in g t e l e v i s i o n . In t h a t y e a r P iu s a ls o
spoke tw ic e th ro u g h V a tic a n Radio a b o u t th e d u ti e s o f th e
C hurch c o n c e rn in g th e s e m ed ia. L a te r i n th e same y e a r he
a u th o r iz e d th e p u b lic a t io n o f th e s t a t u t e s o f a new P o n tif
i c a l Com m ission f o r Cinem a, R ad io , and T e le v is io n . I t m ust
be n o te d t h a t p a p a l docum ents is s u e d i n 1 9 3 1 , 1939 9 19^ 1 ,
19^ 8 , 19519 and from 1953 th ro u g h 1961 ( e s p e c i a ll y 1 9 5 ^ ,
1 9 5 7 y and 1959) c o n ta in e d d e t a il e d s ta te m e n ts and d i r e c
t i v e s a b o u t th e C a th o lic C hurch’s p o s i t i v e u s e o f b ro a d
c a s t m edia f o r r e l i g i o u s p u rp o s e s . These a r e d is c u s s e d
below on p ag es 298- 32^ .
The popes m entioned b r i e f l y o r d is c u s s e d a t le n g th
th e C h u rc h 's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n i n
f o u r te e n o f th e t h i r t y - t h r e e docum ents p e r t a in i n g to m ass
m edia w hich were is s u e d from 195^ th ro u g h 1961. In th o s e
same docum ents th e P o n t i f f s d is c u s s e d th e d u tie s o f b ro ad
c a s t e r s n in e tim e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n 1957 and i9 6 0. They
commented on th e r o le o f th e au d ien ce i n s i x o f th e o f f i
c i a l t e x t s p u b lis h e d i n th e A A S d u rin g th o s e y e a r s ,
e s p e c i a l l y i n th e e n c y c lic a l o f 1957. They d is c u s s e d th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e p u b lic governm ent i n th e 195^
e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n b ish o p s i n 195^ and i n th e
e n c y c li c a l i n 1957* They rem inded p a r e n ts and e d u c a to rs
o f t h e i r d u tie s i n a r a d io a d d re s s i n 1 9 5 1 , i n th e
e x h o r ta tio n i n 195^> i n th e e n c y c lic a l i n 1957, and i n a
p u b lic d is c o u rs e i n 1 9 6 1 .
To sum ups From 1927, th e y e a r o f th e f i r s t docu
m ent c o n ta in in g any r e f e r e n c e w h ate v er to b r o a d c a s tin g , to
th e l a s t day o f 1 9 5 3 , Popes P iu s XI and P iu s X II spoke
r a r e l y and b r i e f l y a b o u t th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e v a r i
o u s g ro u p s w hich e f f e c t , a f f e c t , and a r e a f f e c t e d by b ro ad
c a s t i n g . The two popes d id make r e f e r e n c e s to th e C h u rc h 's
a c tiv e u s e o f th e m edia i n docum ents on o th e r s u b je c ts from
1931 to 1 9 5 3 . On New Y e a r's Day o f 195^ P iu s X II p re s e n te d
h i s f i r s t m a jo r s ta te m e n t a b o u t b r o a d c a s tin g i n w hich he
o u tli n e d f o r th e b is h o p s o f I t a l y th e r e s p e c tiv e r e s p o n s i
b i l i t i e s o f b r o a d c a s te r s , a u d ie n c e , g o v ern m en t, p a r e n t s ,
e d u c a to r s , and C hurch. In a d d itio n to comments on one o r
s e v e r a l o f th e s e a r e a s o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in o th e r
s c a t t e r e d docum ents, P iu s X II e n u n c ia te d th e s in g le m ost
s i g n i f i c a n t Church p o lic y s ta te m e n t a b o u t e l e c t r o n i c mass
m edia i n 1957 i n h i s e n c y c l i c a l . In M iranda P ro rs u s he
f o r a second tim e ite m iz e d th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e s ix
com ponents o f s o c ie ty t h a t in flu e n c e d and were in f lu e n c e d
by b r o a d c a s tin g . In 1959 John X X III r e i t e r a t e d in summary
form th e e n c y c l i c a l 's p h ilo so p h y r e g a r d in g r a d io and t e l e
v i s i o n and he added s p e c if i c d i r e c t i v e s f o r p o s it iv e Church
a c t i o n s •
I n th e fo llo w in g f iv e s e c tio n s o f t h i s c h a p te r th e
256
p a p a l docum ents o f 195* + , 1957 ) and 1959 se rv e d a s th e keys
to o f f i c i a l Church p o lic y s ta te m e n ts r e g a r d in g th e v a r io u s
sp h e re s o f d u tie s p e r t a i n i n g to b r o a d c a s tin g . O th er
V a tic a n d o cu m en tatio n i s c i t e d to i n d i c a t e th e in c id e n c e
o f su ch p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s th ro u g h th e d ecad es and to com
p lem en t th e th r e e m a jo r s ta te m e n ts by ex p an d in g upon and
c l a r i f y i n g them .
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f b r o a d c a s te r s . In h i s e x h o rta
t i o n to th e I t a l i a n h ie r a r c h y i n 19 5 * + P iu s X II a llu d e d o n ly
b r i e f l y to th e g rav e d u t i e s b e fo re God and s o c ie ty o f " a l l
who have any p o s it io n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t e l e v i s i o n . "
Among th o s e he in c lu d e d b r o a d c a s te r s , p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s ,
p a r e n t s , e d u c a to r s , Church l e a d e r s , and th e au d ien c e i n
g e n e r a l. The com bined v ig ila n c e o f a l l g ro u p s , he s a i d ,
w ould make i t " e a s i e r , i n a s f a r a s c h o ic e o f program s i s
c o n c e rn e d , f o r th o s e r e s p o n s ib le to r e s i s t c r i t e r i a and
Ql .
e v a lu a tio n s n o t w h o lly to be recom m ended."0 The p o s it iv e
a t t i t u d e o f th e papacy to w ard s b r o a d c a s te r s was in d ic a te d
when P iu s X II ended h i s e x h o r ta tio n by im p a rtin g th e
^ T r a n s l a t i o n s " T e le v is io n s I t s P u b lic and P r i
v a te E f f e c t s ," TPS. I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*+). 9* • •
[N ]on possiam o f a r e a meno d i p ro c la m a re , a t u t t i c o lo ro
che co n d iv id o n o l e r e s p o n s a b ilitA d e l l a T e le v is io n e , che
g r a v is s im i sono i d o v e ri e l e r e s p o n s a b i l i t h che lo r o
incombono d a v a n ti a Dio e a l i a s o c i e t y ." "... [ F ] a c ile
a i r e s p o n s a b i l i , p e r q uanto r ig u a r d a l a s c e l t a d e i p ro -
gram m i, r e s i s t e r e a c r i t e r i e a v a l u t a z i o n i non d e l t u t t o
ra c c o m a n d a b ili." AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2s X X I), 1 (Ja n u a ry 1 6 ,
1 95*0, 2 0 , 2 3 .
I
257
Apostolic Blessing to the bishops, Catholics in their
d io c e s e s , "and to th e c o n s c ie n tio u s and d is c e r n in g men who
82
d e d ic a te t h e i r a c t i v i t y to t e l e v i s i o n . "
In M iranda P ro rs u s i n 1957 H u s rem inded b ro ad
c a s t e r s how he had g la d ly g iv e n a u d ie n c e s to th o se who
were p r o f e s s io n a lly engaged i n m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d i o , and
t e l e v i s i o n , and how he h ad made c l e a r h i s a d m ira tio n , " f o r
th e n o ta b le p ro g re s s th e y have a c h ie v e d i n th o se a r t s , and
p o in te d o u t th e p a r t i c u l a r o b lig a tio n s by w hich each i s
bound." He re c o g n iz e d t h e i r g r e a t m e r it and p o in te d o u t
th e d an g ers in to w hich th e y c o u ld e a s i l y f a l l a s w e ll a s
th e h ig h i d e a ls w hich sh o u ld p ro v id e them w ith m a te r ia l
and m o tiv a tio n .88 P iu s commended th e c o o p e ra tio n o f " p ro
f e s s io n a l and b u s in e s s p e o p le • . • [who] gave ev id en ce o f
sane th in k in g on t h i s im p o rta n t m a tte r" o f r e d i r e c ti n g
m otion p ic tu r e s and, r a d io so t h a t th e y rem ind men o f t h e i r
s p i r i t u a l g o a ls in s t e a d o f p o r tr a y in g im m o ra lity in a l l u r
in g p r e s e n ta tio n s ; " a t th e c o s t o f tr o u b le and even
82I b i d . , [IP S ] p . 10; [AAS] p . 2b; " . . . ed
a g l i uom ini c o s c ie n z io s i e s a g a c i che d ed ican o le lo r o
a t t i v i t A a l i a l e l e v i s i o n e . . . . "
^ T r a n s l a t i o n s The A m erica P r e s s e d i t i o n ,
o p . c i t . . p . 3 . "Ac l i b e n t e r p r a e t e r e a eo s coram a d m is i-
mus • • • ; iis d e m q u e , postquam ob mi ran d am harum a rtiu m
horumque a r tif ic u m p ro g re ssio n e m fa c ta m , N ostram p a te fe e i -
mu8 ad m iratio n em , su a c u iu s q u e , q u ib u s te n e n tu r , o f f i c i a
s ig n ific a v im u s ; ite m que magna p r o m e r ita , quae a d e p ti s u n t,
p e r i c u l a , i n quae f a c i l e in c id e r e p o s s u n t, atq u e a l t i s s i m a
i l i a p r o p o s ita , quae eorum m entes illu m in a r e eorumque
re g e re v o lu n ta te s d e b e n t." AAS. X1IX ( S e r . 2s XXIV), 13“
l M O c to b e r 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 7677"
m a te r ia l l o s s th e y s tr o v e n o t o n ly t h a t dangerous e v i l s
sh o u ld be a v o id e d , b u t t h a t th e s a o re d commandments o f God
sh o u ld be obeyed and th e d ig n ity o f th e human p e rs o n s a f e
s t
g u ard ed •" But th e Pope lam en ted t h a t many p e rso n s s t i l l
n e i t h e r re c o g n iz e d n o r u n d e rs to o d th e C h u rc h 's r o le a s a
g u id e b u t in s te a d opposed i t i n e v e ry way p o s s i b le . Such
p e rs o n s i n m otion p i c t u r e s and b r o a d c a s tin g , he c la im e d ,
were "moved by an in o r d in a t e d e s ir e f o r g a in ; o r who,
d e c e iv e d by e r r o r s , do n o t r i g h t l y v a lu e human d ig n i t y and
freedom ; o r f i n a l l y , have a f a l s e id e a o f th e n a tu r e o f
art."®** He e la b o r a te d on th e s e p o in ts by b ra n d in g a s con
t r a r y to C h r is tia n te a c h in g and th e p r i n c i p a l p u rp o se o f
th e s e com m unications m edia " th e w i l l and in te n tio n o f
th o s e who d e s ir e to u se th e s e in v e n tio n s e x c lu s iv e ly f o r
th e advancem ent and p ro p a g a tio n o f p o l i t i c a l m easu res o r
to a c h ie v e econom ic e n d s , and who t r e a t t h i s n o b le c a l l i n g
Q ^ I b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] pp* [ AAS]
p p . 768-691 ir. . . [ I ] i > q u i v e l in g e n u is a r t i b u s v e l
m e rc a n d is re b u s d a n t operam . . . p ro b ita te m suam h ac i n
c a u sa g ra v is s im a c o m p ro b a ru n t, i d non s in e la b o re n ec s in e
reru m i a c t u r a e n i t e n t e s , u t non modo m ala p e r ic u la v i t a r e n -
t u r , sed s a c r o s a n e ta e tia m Dei iu s s a f i e r e n t , atq u e humanae;
p e rso n a e d ig n it a s i n t u t o p o n e r e tu r ."
8 5 i b i d ,, [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . **; [AAS] p . 769s
• • e te n im h ac quoque i n r e non d e s u n t, qui E c c le s ia e
m a g iste riu m neque i n t e l l e g a n t neque a g n o s c a n t, immo e tia m
q u i omni ope a v e r s e n tu r : i i s u n t, u t n o s t i s , q u i v e l
in o r d in a t a l u c r i c u p id in e m o v en tu r, v e l e r r o r ib u s d e c e p t i ,
humanae n a tu ra e d ig n ita te m lib e rta te m q u e non aequo lo c o
p o n u n t, v e l d en iq u e de l i b e r a l i b u s c u iu s v i s g e n e r is a r t i b u s
s e n te n tia m a m p le c tu n tu r a v e r i t a t e a lie n a m ."
259
a s i f i t w ere a m ere tr a d e o r b u s in e s s ." The key w ord h e re
was " e x c lu s iv e ly ." The P o n tif f re c o g n iz e d th e le g itim a te
re q u ire m e n ts o f p ru d e n t b u s in e s s w hich made p o s s ib le th e
s u s ta in e d u t i l i z a t i o n o f th e s e m ed ia. But he d e c r ie d th e
e x c e s s iv e em phasis on augm enting p r o f i t s and on m e rc h an d ise
: in g p r o d u c ts and p o l i t i c a l propaganda to th e e x c lu s io n o f
th e e s s e n t i a l and p rim a ry end o f com m unications m e d ia . He
f u r t h e r e x c o r ia te d th e
f a l s e p r i n c i p l e s o f th o se who a s s e r t and c la im
freed o m to d e p ic t and p ro p a g a te a n y th in g and
e v e r y th in g , even th ough i n th e s e p a s t y e a r s b o th
th e k in d and th e e x te n t o f th e damage to b o d ie s
and s o u ls w hich i s ro o te d i n th e s e p r i n c i p l e s
have become v e ry e v id e n t.
He made i t c l e a r t h a t he was n o t sp e a k in g o f " tr u e l i b e r t y "
by w hich th e s t a t e and in d iv id u a ls p re s e n te d new s, te a c h
i n g s , and o th e r c o n te n t w hich " a re n e c e s s a ry o r u s e f u l f o r
th e common good o f human s o c ie ty " and w hich c o n tr ib u te to
" th e e n r ic h in g and developm ent o f t h e i r own and o th e rs *
i n t e l l e c t u a l and s p i r i t u a l c u l t u r e ." H is c o m p la in t was
a g a i n s t " u n c o n tro lle d l i c e n s e , d is r e g a r d in g a l l p r e c a u tio n ,
o f com m unicating w ith o th e r s a n y th in g a t a l l , even th o u g h
i t be c o n tr a r y to sound m o r a l s P i u s X II was c a l l i n g
86I b i d . . [The A m erica P re s s ] p . 7; C AASl p p . 773“
7 ^ : " . • • eorum p la e itu rn a tq u e p ro p o situ rn , q u i h is c e
: i n v e n t ! s u t i v e l i n t tantummodo ad r e s p o l i t i c a s fo v e n d a s
p ro p a g a n d a sq u e , v e l ad r e s oeoonom icas p ro v eh en d as; a tq u e
adeo n o b ile m hanc causam q u a s i neg o tiu m commerciumque
c o n s i d e r e n t.
"P a riq u e modo i l l u d eorum commentum p r o b a r i n e q u i t,;
q u i l i b e r t a t e m q u id q u id e f f in g e n d i p ro p ag an d iq u e a s s e v e r a n t
260
f o r th e p r o t e c t io n o f genuine a r t i s t i c a s w e ll a s r e l i g i o u s
c o n te n t a g a in s t th e in ro a d s o f p u re ly econom ic m o tiv e s i n
p r i v a t e com m ercial b ro a d c a s tin g o r o f p u r e ly p o l i t i c a l
m o tiv e s i n g o v ern m e n t-o p e ra ted b r o a d c a s tin g s y s te m s . T h at
p r o t e c t i o n was n o t to be c o n s id e re d n e c e s s a r il y a d e q u a te
w hich was p ro v id e d from w ith in th e i n d u s t r i e s o f communica
t i o n s by means o f s e lf - r e g u la to x y d i r e c t i v e s t h a t w ere
s e lf-im p o s e d and s e lf - s a n c tio n e d . C om petent p u b lic a u th o r
i t y was to e x e r c is e re a s o n a b le s u r v e illa n c e on b e h a lf o f
th e p u b l i c 's common g o o d . He p r a is e d p r o f e s s io n a ls i n th e
m edia who w ere a c tiv e i n doing away w ith a b u se s d an g e ro u s
to m o r a lity by p u b lis h in g " s u i ta b le s a fe g u a rd s and r u l e s " ;
b u t a t th e same tim e he rem inded them t h a t th e y sh o u ld n o t
ig n o re th e d u ty incum bent upon c i v i l a u t h o r it ie s .® ^ He
a c v i n d i c a n t , quam vis p le n a i n lu c e s i t po s i turn, quae quan-
ta q u e a n im is c o rp o rib u sq u e d e trim e n ts e l a p s i s a n n is h is c e
e x p r i n c i p i i 8 s i n t o r t a ; non enim de r e c t a l i b e r t a t e a g i -
t u r , de qua s u p ra d ix im u s, sed de e f f r e n a p o tiu s l i c e n t i a
q u id q u id , n u l l a c a u tio n e h a b i ta , cum c e t e r i s com m unicandi,
e tia m s i c o n tr a r e c t o s s i t m ores e t i n g ra v e p e ric u lu m
c e d e re p o s s i t anim orum ."
8 ? I b i d . . [The Am erica P r e s s ] p p . 8 -9 ; [AAS]
PP* 775~76. P iu s was h ere sp e ak in g e x p l i c i t l y o f th e r e l a
t i o n s among m o tio n p ic t u r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , s t a t e and
’ n a t i o n a l c e n s o rs h ip b o a rd s , and Church le a d e r s who i n th e
1 9 3 0 ' s to g e th e r c r e a te d th e p ro d u c tio n code o f th e M otion
P i c t u r e A s s o c ia tio n o f Am erica (MPAA). The U n ite d S t a t e s '
N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f B ro a d c a s te rs ' (NAB) b r o a d c a s tin g
c o d e s w ere a t b e s t i n d i r e c t l y a llu d e d to i n th e s e rem a rk s
a b o u t th e m o ra lly c o n tr o v e r s ia l t h e a t r i c a l f ilm s p ro d u ced
i n th e 1 9 2 0 's and 1 9 3 0 ' s .
"Hac de c a u s a , u t proxim us B e c e sso r N o s te r, i t a
Nosmet i p s i l i b e n t e r e o s d ila u d a v im u s, q u i, p ro c r e d i t o
h a c i n c a u sa m unere, o p p o rtu n as e d id e r u n t c a u tio n e s e t
261
c o n c lu d e d by p le a d in g f o r m u tu al u n d e rs ta n d in g and co o p e ra
t i o n among th e m ajo r f o r c e s I n s o c ie ty and com m unications
m e d ia. The im p lic a tio n was t h a t s u c c e s s f u l l i a i s o n among
th o s e f o r c e s would o b v ia te h arm fu l and ev en s e lf- d e s tru c tiv e
p r a c t i c e s by ea c h o f th e g ro u p s in v o lv e d . Such p r a c t i c e s
m ig h t in c lu d e th e m e d ia 's u n a c c e p ta b le p ro g ra m in g , g o v ern
m e n t's f o r c e f u l in te r v e n tio n i n th e a r t s and s c ie n c e s , and
th e C h u rc h 's r e s o r t i n g to p re s s u re -g ro u p t a c t i c s to d efen d
p o p u la r m o r a lity .
The P o n t i f f 's s p e c if ic s ta te m e n ts r e g a r d in g n ew s,
i n s t r u c t i o n , e n te r ta in m e n t, and e d u c a tio n a l p ro g ram in g
w ere q u o te d i n th e e a r l i e r s e c tio n s o f t h i s c h a p te r . He
a p p e a le d f o r acknow ledgm ent o f G od's p la c e i n human
a f f a i r s :
I t i s to be hoped t h a t th e s e new com m unications
a r t s , w h eth er e x e rc is e d by p r i v a t e c i t i z e n s o r
c o n t r o ll e d by r u l e r s o f s t a t e s , w i l l n o t sp re a d
d o c t r in e s t h a t c o n ta in no m en tio n o f Gff&’ s name
and ta k e no ac co u n t o f H is d iv in e law .3 °
n o rm as, n i h i l tam en p ra e iu d io a tu m h a b e n te s ad p u b lic a s
a u o t o r i t a t e s quod a t t i n e t . Putam us enim turn solummodo h a s
n o v as a r t e s ad rec tam eorum anim i co n fo rm atio n em , q u i
iis d e m u t u n t u r , f a c i l i u s e t a p tiu s c o n f e r r e p o s s e , s i
E c c l e s i a , s i C i v i t a s , s i i i e tia m , q u i i d gen u s m unera
o b e u n t, c o l l a t i s i n t e r se r e c to o rd in e v i r i b u s , ad optatum i
assequendum dinem a d iu tric e m s i b i in v io e m ope ram p ra e b e a n t,
q u o d si c o n tr a e v e n ie t , hoc e s t s i hae a r t e s , n u l l i s p r o -
p o s i t i s le g ib u s n u llis q u e de r e m o ra li c a u tio n ib u s h a b i t i s ,
p e r pronum liberum que i t e r p r o d ib u n t, verum p o p u li cu ltu m
p r o c u l d u b io m inuent e iu sq u e m ores p essu m d ab u n t."
Q^I b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 11; [ AAS] p . 778:
" P a riq u e modo f o r e sperandum e s t , u t novae hae p ro p a g a
t i o n s s a r t e s , s iv e a p r i v a t i s e x e r c e n tu r c i v i b u s , s iv e e
/ ' - 262
P ro d u c e rs o f e n te r ta in m e n t program s w ere s p e c i f i c a l l y
rem inded t h a t "shows m ust he a d a p te d a l s o to th e d eg ree o f
i n t e l l i g e n c e o f th e v a r io u s age l e v e l s , th e s tr e n g t h o f
t h e i r e m o tio n a l and im a g in a tiv e r e s p o n s e , and t h e i r m o ral
developm ent •
Of th e 210 l i n e s o f AAS e n c y c li c a l t e x t d ev o ted to
r a d io b r o a d c a s tin g , 59 were d ev o ted to g e n e ra l comments
a b o u t th e v a lu e s o f r a d i o , 73 to th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f
th e l i s t e n e r s , 55 l i n e s to th e d u tie s o f th e Church re g a rd
in g r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g and C a th o lic r a d io s t a t i o n s , and
o n ly 23 l i n e s to program r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f p r o f e s s io n a l
b r o a d c a s te r s . In th o s e 23 l i n e s P iu s X II e x p re s s e d h i s
g r a t i t u d e " to a l l w orthy and h ig h - p r in c ip le d d i r e c t o r s and
p ro d u c e rs o f r a d io program s f o r t h e i r f a i r a s se ss m e n t o f
th e n e e d s o f th e Church • . • e i t h e r by f r e e l y a s s ig n in g a
s u i t a b l e tim e f o r th e p ro p a g a tio n o f God’s w ord, o r by
s u p p ly in g th e n e c e s s a ry eq u ip m en t." He s tr o n g ly en co u rag ed
program s c r i p t w r i t e r s , p ro d u c e rs , and d i r e c t o r s to draw
f r e e l y from th e m a te r ia l a v a ila b le i n C h r is tia n c i v i l i z a -
; t i o n . Because " te c h n ic a l e x c e lle n c e i n r a d io program s
; n u tu p e n d e n t p u b lic a e r e i m oderatorum , v a r i a s ne im p e rtia n t!
d o c t r in a s r e t i c i t o D ei nomine e iu sq u e d iv in a le g e ig n o x a ta ."
® 9 lb id ., [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 13; [ AAS1 p . 781:
"N ecesse enim e s t , u t s in g u la s p e c ta c u la ad p e c u lia re m
c u iu s v i s a e t a t i s r a t i o c i n a n d i gradum , s e n tie n d i v im , anim i :
f a s c in a tio n e m , morumque condicionem a p ta a tq u e accommodata :
a i n t . "
263
r e q u ir e s t h a t th ey conform to th e tr u e p r i n c i p l e s o f a r t "
b r o a d c a s te r s "m ust be eq u ip p ed w ith sound d o c trin e and
w e ll- s to r e d m inds" c o n c e rn in g th e g r e a t h e r ita g e o f Western!
90
c i v i l i z a t i o n and C h r i s t i a n i t y .
T urning h is a t t e n t i o n to t e l e v i s i o n , th e Pope s a id
t h a t h i s p re v io u s rem ark s a b o u t com m unication m edia i n
g e n e ra l and about r a d io i n p a r t i c u l a r a p p lie d e q u a lly to
t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s tin g . He added a comment a b o u t th e need
f o r t e l e v i s i o n p r e s e n ta tio n s t h a t d is p la y e d to th e v iew in g
f a m il ie s th e v i r t u e s o f l o y a l t y and c h a s te lo v e . He
a d v e rte d to th e o b je c tio n s p u t by some b r o a d c a s te rs t h a t i n
p r a c t ic e many o f th e l o f t y i d e a l s e x p re s s e d by th e popes
were n o t f e a s i b l e . One o b je c tio n was t h a t c o n tin u o u s
s c h e d u le s o f prog ram in g n e c e s s i t a t e d th e b ro a d c a s t o f
m a te r ia ls o r i g in a l l y in te n d e d n o t f o r th e home b u t f o r th e
! t h e a t e r . B ro a d c a s te rs f u r t h e r o b je c te d t h a t th e y c o u ld not;
; be co n cern ed e x c lu s iv e ly w ith th e im p r e s s io n a b ility o f
I b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] p p . 25-26; [AAS] \
i pp* 798*99: i
" P ra e te re a g r a t a p ro s e q u i v o lu n ta te percupim us
u n iv e rs o s p ro b o s ra d io p h o n ic a ru m tra n sm issio n u m a u c to r e s j
ac m o d e ra to rsa ob re c ta m E c c le s ia e n e c e s s ita tu m a e s tim a - !
| tio n e m , quam ex iis d e m p lu r e s t e s t a t i s u n t, s iv e Dei
) propagando verbo l i b e n t e r o p p o rtu n a tem pora a s s ig n a n te s ,
s iv e n e c e s s a r ia a r t i s ad iu m en ta s u p p e d ita n te s . . . .
"H isce te m p o rib u s ra d io p h o n ic a e a c r o a s e s , a r t i f i c i o !
p r a e c e l l e n t e s , p o s t u l a n t , u t ad g e n u in a a r t i s p r in o ip ia
co n fo rm en tu r; earum i g i t u r a u c to r e s om nesque, q u i iisd e m
j p a r a n d is v e l e f f i c i e n d i s d a n t ope ram , u b e r i s d o c trin a e
p r a e s id io i n s t r u c t ! s i n t o p o r t e t . Quamobrem eo s e tia m , u t j
iam c in e m a to g ra p h ic a e a r t i s c u l t o r e s , e n ix e com pellam us,
u t m a te ria e oopiam , quae ex am p lissim o c h r is t ia n a e hum an!-
j t a t i a penu e u f f i c i t u r , i n rem aoam c o n v e r ta n t."
y o u th s who c o n s ti t u t e d o n ly a p a r t o f th e t o t a l au d ie n ce
t h a t in c lu d e d a d u l t s . The Pope g r a n te d t h a t " in t h i s
m a tte r d i f f i c u l t i e s r e a d i l y o c c u r." B ut he u rg e d t h a t
s o lu tio n s co u ld n o t he p o stp o n ed b e c au se "th e p r a c t i c e o f
t h i s a r t , h i t h e r t o n o t c o n t r o ll e d by p ru d e n t c o u n s e l, h a s
a lre a d y i n f l i c t e d s e r i o u s harm on in d iv i d u a ls and on human
s o c ie ty ; harm whose e x t e n t u p to th e p r e s e n t tim e can be
91
gauged o n ly w ith d i f f i c u l t y . " P iu s u rg e d t h a t g r e a t
e f f o r t s be made in th e p r e p a r a tio n o f program s so t h a t th e y
c o rre sp o n d to e t h i c a l and p s y c h o lo g ic a l a s w e ll a s te c h n i
c a l demands o f th e s ig h t-a n d -s o u n d medium , w ith p a r t i c u l a r
co n c ern f o r th e d a n g e rs to y o u th who view program s in te n d e d
f o r a d u l t s . W hile a s k in g b r o a d c a s te r s to p erfo rm t h e i r
ta s k s w ith a l e r t v i g i l a n c e f o r p o t e n t i a l harm to f a m ilie s
v ie w in g t h e i r p ro g ra m s, th e Pope y e t re c o g n iz e d t h a t th e
au d ien ce sh a re d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w ith b r o a d c a s te rs f o r u s in g
t e l e v i s i o n and f o r th e c o n se q u e n t e f f e c t s upon young
p eo p le s
No one sh o u ld suppose t h a t e x c e l l e n t p r i n c i p l e s
and an u p r ig h t c o n s c ie n c e , on th e p a r t o f th o s e
engaged i n th e s e a r t s , a r e o f th e m se lv e s s u f f i c i e n t j
e i t h e r to e n s u re t h a t n o th in g b u t good flo w s from
^ I b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 28; [AAS] p p . 801-
8 0 2 : "Haud in f i t i a m u r h ac i n r e d i f f i c u l t a t e s p r o fe c to
o c c u rr e r e ; earundem tam en s o l u t i o minime in po steru m
re m itte n d a e s t , cum h u iu s a r t i s u s u s , non a n te a p r u d e n t!s
c o n s i l i i f r e n i s te m p e r a tu s , g ra v is s im a d e trim e n ta s i n g u l i s j
c iv ib u s atq u e hominum co m m o n !tati iam a t t u l e r i t ; quae
quidem ex aequo a e s tim a r i usque adhuc d i f f i c u l t e r p o s s u n t."
265
th e s m a ll w h ite s c r e e n , o r to remove a l l t h a t i s
e v i l . S in ce t h i s i s s o , p ru d en ce and w a tc h fu l
c a re a re e s p e c i a l ly demanded o f th o s e who make
u p th e t e l e v i s i o n a u d ien ce .92
Thus P iu s X II presum ed th e good m o tiv e s o f b r o a d c a s te r s ,
even o f th o s e whose program s m ight prove h arm fu l to some
members o f th e m ass a u d ie n c e .
In 1959 Pope Jo h n X X III co n firm ed th e w arn in g s and
e x h o r ta tio n s o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r to C a th o lic s and " a l l w e ll-
in te n tio n e d men" o f t h e i r " s e rio u s d u ty . . . to make u se
o f th e s e rem a rk a b le in v e n tio n s " i n a c co rd an c e w ith G od's
p la n and th e d ig n ity o f m a n .^ John r e c a l l e d h ie s a t i s f a c
t i o n w ith th o se who d i r e c t e d b ro a d c a s tin g and m o tio n p ic
t u r e s a t th e tim e o f h i s c o ro n a tio n i n O cto b er o f 1958 and
to ld how s in c e th e n he h ad ta k e n a d v a n tag e o f e v e ry o cca
s io n " to rem ind them to be lo y a l to th e C h r is tia n i d e a l o f
t h e i r p r o f e s s io n ." B ut i n t h i s a p o s to lic l e t t e r he p o in te d
9 2 i b i d .. [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 29; [AAS] p p . 802-
803:
"P erperam tam en a l i q u i s p u t a v e r i t e g r e g ia p r o p o s ita
rectam q u e o f f i c i i c o n s c ie n tia m eorum , q u i i d genus a rte m
e x e r c e n t, s a t i s v a le r e ad bona omnia e ru e n d a , quae ex m ira
i l i a p a r v i t e l e v i s i f i c i a l b i a r t e p r o f l u a n t , a u t ad quae v i s
p e r i c u l a rem ovenda.
"Hac enim i n r e p r u d e n tia ac v i g i l eorum c u r a , q u i
t e l e v i s i f i c i s s c r i n i i s u t u n t u r , p r o rs u s e x p o s tu la n tu r ."
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "B oni P a s t o r i s , " The C a th o lic M ind.
L V II, 11M+ (J u ly -A u g u s t, 1 9 5 1 ), 3 6 8 . "[Ojm nesque r e c t a
m ente p r a e d ito s hom ines de haud l e v i m ohuit o f f i c i o , quo,
o b l i g a r e n t u r , u t m ira n d is h is c e te c h n ic a e a r t i s i n v e n t i s
u t e r e n t u r secundum p r o v id e n tis Dei c o n s iliu m a tq u e modo
d i g n i t a t i h o m in is c o n g ru e n te , c u i p e r f ic ie n d o o p o r te r e i l i a
d e s e r v i r e ." AAS. L I ( S e r . 3 : I ) , * + ( A p r il 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ), l8»f.
266
o u t th e m o ral damage to m o rals and man’ s d ig n ity w hich had
" f r e q u e n tly been provoked by M otion P ic tu r e shows and by
R adio and T e le v is io n p ro g ra m s." And he s p e c i f i c a l l y
a d d re s s e d h im s e lf to "each o f th o se r e s p o n s ib le f o r su ch
p ro d u c tio n s and b r o a d c a s ts ) and p a t e r n a l l y and r e p e a te d ly
u rg e them to a b id e by th e law s o f a sound and u p r i g h t con
s c ie n c e a s b e f i t s th o s e on whom l i e s th e v e ry s e r io u s d u ty
Ok
o f t r a i n i n g o t h e r s . " 7^
Among o th e r p a p a l s ta te m e n ts o f l e s s s ig n if ic a n c e
and le n g th th a n th o s e quoted above w ere th e f o llo w in g . In
19*+9 a b r i e f a l l u s i o n was made to b r o a d c a s tin g 's g ra v e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to th e f a m i l y I n 195^ P iu s X II s t a t e d
i n th e f i r s t E u ro v is io n program t h a t d e l i c a t e m o ral p ro b
lem s w ere r a is e d by th e a t t r a c t i v e and com prehensive medium
o f t e l e v i s i o n . He a ffirm e d t h a t " i t sh o u ld be th e p rim a iy
I b i d . . [ The C a th o lic Mindl . p p . 36 8 -6 9 ; [AAS 1
p p . 18H— 851 ~ . • . u t munere suo ad c h r i s t i a n a e n o b i l i t a -
t i s ra tio n e m eidem p r a e s titu ta m f u n g e r e n tu r .
"A ttam en non s in e anim i m aerore p e r ic u la morumque
d e trim e n ta s i g a i f i c a r e debemus, quae haud r a r o e p r o p o s i t i s
t a e n i o l i s c in e m a to g ra p h ic is e t r a d io p h o n ic is s o n is im a g in i-
busque t e l e v i s i f i o i s p ro p a g a tis o r i u n t u r , q u ib u s m ores
c h r i s t i a n i ip sa q u e d i g n i t a s humana p e ssu m d e n tu r. j
" Ita q u e om nes, i n quos huiusm odi sp e c ta c u lo ru m e t |
a u d itio n u m r a t i o r e c i d i t , p a t r i s animo e tia m a tq u e e tia m
hortam uT ) u t le g ib u s c o n s c ie n tia e r e c t a e e t in te g r a e
o b s e q u a n tu r, quemadmodum eo s a d d e c e t) q u i g ra v is s im o
te n e n tu r o f f i c i o a l i o s e d u c a n d i."
95M§.» XLI ( S e r . 2: X V I), 13 (November 2 1 , 19^9)>
553s "he q u e l co n co u rs p o u r ra ie n t e t r e l a p r e s s e , l a
r a d i o , l e cin em a, e t com bien grave e s t l e u r r e s p o n s a b i l i t y
A 1 '^ g a r d de l a f a m ille i"
and s e l f - e v i d e n t duty o f th e t e l e v i s i o n com panies and th e
s p e c ta to r s to p ro v id e f o r p ru d e n t and f i t t i n g s e le c tio n " o f
p ro g ra m s. He c i te d b r o a d c a s te r s ' p ru d e n t program ing and
s e l f - r e g u l a t i o n co u p led w ith au d ie n ce d i s c r e t i o n i n view
in g a s th e tw in p rim ary d u tie s in p r o p e r u t i l i z a t i o n o f
th e m edium. Thus th e Pope a p p a re n tly r e le g a te d th e a c tio n s
o f th e s t a t e governm ent and th e C hurch to seco n d ary r o l e s
i n m o d e ra tin g and c o n t r o ll in g th e p r o d u c ts o f t e l e v i s i o n
b r o a d c a s tin g . P iu s u rg e d b r o a d c a s te rs to a v o id th e " c o r
r u p tiv e a c t i v i t i e s o f a c e r t a i n ty p e o f p r e s s , f ilm and
r a d io " so t h a t in s te a d o f w orsen in g e v i l by t h i s new and
more e f f e c t i v e medium, b r o a d c a s te rs w ould d em o n strate "a
r e a d in e s s to c r e a te som ething r e a l l y c o n s tr u c tiv e and
96
g e n u in e ly whole some. " ^
I n 1955 P iu s tw ic e commented on b r o a d c a s te r s '
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . On th e f i r s t o c c a s io n he spoke a b o u t
o p en in g c h a n n e ls o f r e c i p r o c a l com m unication among men o f
a l l r a c e s and la n d s .97 .^ e seco n d he rem inded th e
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "The E uropean T e le v is io n N etw ork: |
Symbol a n d .P ro m ise ," TPS. I . 2 (2nd Q u a r te r , 195*0, 1 6 3 .
" 1s t e s d e s h a lb n ic h t doch wohl d ie e r s t e und s e l b s t v e r - !
s ta n d lic h e P f l i c h t d e r F ernseh-U nternehm en w ie d e r
Z u sc h a u e r, e in e u m sic h tig e und p assen d e Auswahl z u t r e f f e n ?
Der G e s e lls o h a fts k o rp e r von h e u te w e is t b e r e i t s zu v i e l e
o ffe n e Wunden a u f , - d ie ihm d ie z e rs e tz e n .d e T a ti g k e it e i n e r
b estim m ten A rt von P r e s s e , F ilm , und R undfunk g e s c h la g e n
h a b e n . Wird v i e l l e i c h t d as neue n o ch w irksam ere M it te l d as
U bel n u r v e rsc h lim m e m . o d e r w ird man von B eginn an s ic h
b e r e i t f in d e n , etw as w ir k lic h A ufbauendes und e c h t Gesundes:
z u s o h a ffe n ? " AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2: XXX), 9 (J u ly 1 5 , 195*+), j
3 7 0 . "
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "R adio and T e le v is io n : . . . To
268
members o f th e E uropean B ro a d c a s tin g U nion t h a t "th e good
and e v i l w hich can r e s u l t a t th e moment o f b ro a d c a s t o r
a f t e r i t a re in c a lc u la b le and u n fo re s e e n " and th e r e f o r e th e
! b r o a d c a s te r s had a g rav e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to e n su re t h a t th e
medium se rv e d to sp re a d good in s t e a d o f e v i l . The p ro
d u c e rs and d i r e c t o r s w ere p r a is e d f o r p ro v id in g e n t e r t a i n
ment i n th e home " f o r a l l to e n jo y i n p eace and r e c o l l e c
t i o n • . . w ith o u t r e q u ir in g t h a t th e y g iv e up n e c e s s a ry
and u s e f u l r e la x a tio n a f t e r days a t work and s t u d y ."9®
i
Because t h e i r program s re a c h e d i n to th e h e a r t o f th e fa m ily
i n th e hom e, program d i r e c t o r s w ere to be co n cern ed w ith
th e s ta n d a rd s o f human and C h r is tia n m o r a lity a s w e ll a s
w ith a r t i s t i c s ta n d a r d s . In h i s c lo s in g w ords to p r o f e s
s io n a l p e o p le P iu s re c o g n iz e d t h a t p r a c t i c a l problem s o f
th e T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C o n g ress," TPS. I I ,
k (W in te r, 1 9 5 5 -5 6 ), 366-67; AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2 : XXlT),
15 (November 2 1 , 1955) > 73*+-35•
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "R adio and T e le v is io n : . . . To the;
I D e le g a te s o f th e E uropean R adio U n io n ," IP S , I I , k (W in te r,:
1955- 56) , 3 7 0 -7 1 . "Le b ie n e t l e m a l, q u i p eu v en t r d s u l t e r :
I a c tu e lle m e n t ou p lu s t a r d d es tr a n s m is s io n de t e l e v i s i o n ,
1 s o n t done in c a lc u la b le s e t im p r e v i s ib le s . E v ite z a b s o lu - !
im ent p a r co n seq u en t q u 'e l l e se rv e A r£ p a n d re l 'e r r e u r e t le i
m a l, e t f a i t e s - e n au c o n t r a i r e u n in s tru m e n t d 'in f o r m a tio n ,
id e fo rm a tio n , de tr a n s f o r m a tio n ." " . • • [ l ] l e s t p o s s ib le ;
|A to u s d 'e n j o u i r avec t r a n q u i l l i t e e t r e c u e ille m e n t. ;
; [B ]ie n i r r i t a n t c e r t e s s e r a c e l u i q u i r e u s s i r a A r e t e n i r
! d av a n tag e A l a m aison g ra n d s e t p e t i t s , s a n s p re te n d re qu'Hs
i re n o n c e n t A l a d e te n te co n v en ab le e t n e c e s s a ir e aprA s d es
jo u z n e e s de t r a v a i l e t d 'A tu d e ." AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2 : XXII),
116 (November 2 k , 1 9 5 5 ), 777-78 .
269
providing sustained broadcast service for all people accom
panied the good effects that could result from this exten
sion of communications:
We must not forget to think of the possibilities
of television. It ought to be helped continually
to reach an increasing number of viewers. So make
yourselves surmount economic and legal obstacles
which encroach upon the extension of such a benefi
cent means. Study attentively all the administra
tive, legal and technical provisions which increase
your insight into it and consider above all the qq
moral ends of the true welfare of men and families. '
In those few words Fope Pius XII indicated his awareness
and appreciation of the multiple aspects of successful
broadcasting. He realized that broadcasters lived in a
real and competitive world which often presented complex
obstacles to implementing the norms of the ideal world.
Two years later in 1957 Pius urged the importance
of broadcasters' being animated by Christian or at least
by naturally honorable principles to ensure that radio
spread truth, virtue, harmony, and fraternal charity
instead of error, vice, discord, and deadly hatred. He
repeated in almost the same words his comment at another |
^^Ibid., fTPS 1 p. 371; [AAS] p. 779: "On ne doit j
pas omettre de considerer les possibilites de cette dif
fusion, qui devrait dtre sans cease facilitds afin
d'atteindre un nombre croissant de spectateurs. Efforcez-:
vous de supprimer les obstacles de nature dconomique et
juridique, qui empechent *1'extension d'un moyen aussi
bienfaisant. Etudiez attentivement toutes les dispositions
administratives, ldgales et techniques, qui en accroissent
la penetration: considdrez cependant avant tout les buts
moraux du vrai bien des hommes et des families."
270
tim e t h a t th e y sh o u ld be z e a lo u s to g u ard a g a in s t program s
t h a t
th ro u g h e r r o r i n some d is g u is e d fo rm , le a d th e
mind from t r u t h , o r i n c i t e s o u ls to e v i l p r a c
t i c e s tr ic k e d o u t i n th e g u is e o f a r t . They
sh o u ld r a t h e r in c u l c a t e v i r t u e , p ro p a g a te sound
d o c t r in e , p ro v id e r e c r e a t i o n f o r th e l i s t e n e r s
by means o f wholesom e e n te r ta in m e n t, and ev en
f r e e them from th o s e w o rrie s w h ich , e s p e c ia lly
a t th e p r e s e n t tim e , so k e e n ly p reoccupy and
tr o u b le m en.100
To a c o n v e n tio n i n Rome co n cern ed w ith th e a p o s to la te o f
la y p e rs o n s i n th e C h u rch , P iu s X II d e s c rib e d th e d u a l
ta s k o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n ; to a v o id a l l form s o f c o r
r u p tio n and to prom ote C h r is tia n v a l u e s . The Pope expressed
h i s th a n k s to th o s e who i n t h e i r p r o f e s s io n s o f b ro a d c a s t
in g and m otion p i c t u r e s " c a r ry on a c o u ra g e o u s, i n t e l l i
g e n t , and s y s te m a tic w ork" i n p re v e n tin g m o rta l d a n g e rs to
th e f a i t h and th e C h r i s t i a n way o f l i f e . He u rg e d t h a t
" in so f a r a s t e l e v i s i o n i s c o n c e rn e d , i t i s in d is p e n s a b le
f o r th e Church to be r e p r e s e n te d on th e com m ittees
^ ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : " V a tic a n R a d io : T ru th i n a Trou
b le d W orld," TPS, IV , 3 (W in te r, 1 9 5 7 -5 8 ), 3 1 5 . "Quantum j
i g i t u r i n t e r e s t • . .. u t q u i c h r i s t i a n o ac v e l solummodo
probo s i n t anim o, e iu sm o d i causam suinma d i l i g e n t i a c u r e n t;
id q u e im p rim is e f f i c e r e p ro v i r i b u s c o r d i h a b e a n t u t
u n d iso n a s c r i n i a , quae h o d ie i n m u lt is domibus s u n t, non a!
v e r i t a t e , p e r fu catam e r r o r i s sp e c ie m , a v e r t a n t men t e a ,
non ad v i t i a , f a l l a c i s a r t i s i l l e c e b r i s o r n a ta , anim os
a l l i c i a n t , sed v ir tu te m p o tiu s s u a d e a n t, sed re cta m d o c-
trin a m p ro p a g e n t, se d s a n is quoque o b le c ta m e n tia a u d ito r e s
r e f i c i a n t , atq u e e tia m h i s c u r i s r e l e v a n t , quae h o d ie
p r a e s e r tim tarn a c r i t e r e x a g ita n t e t a g u n t h o m in es." AAS.
XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 16 (November 2 5 , 1 9 5 7 ), 962 -6 3 .
271
e n t r u s t e d w ith o r g a n iz in g program s and f o r C a th o lic e x p e r ts
to he among th e p ro d u c e rs A gain P iu s ask ed f o r com
p e t e n t) s k i l l e d , e x p e rie n c e d p e rso n s ( s p ^ o i a l i s t e s o r
" e x p e r ts " ) to p erfo rm th e s e d e l i c a t e m is sio n s i n th e s e n s i
t i v e m edia o f m ass com m unications; presum ably th e
u n in fo rm e d , even th o u g h a c tin g w ith good w i l l , w ould ru n
r i s k s o f n o t c o n t r ib u t in g w is e ly and th u s e f f e c t i v e l y to
th e m ed ia.
Pope Jo h n X X III i n h i s C h ristm as Message b r o a d c a s t
i n I960 to th e e n t i r e w o rld d is c u s s e d a l l m en 's r e s p o n s i
b i l i t i e s re g a rd in g t r u t h i n m odem s o c i e t y . The P o n t i f f
s in g le d o u t among h e a d s o f s t a t e , e d u c a to r s , and p a r e n ts
th o s e , and W e em phasize t h i s , who a re r e s p o n s ib le j
f o r p u b lic o p in io n , w hich i s b e in g form ed o r
deform ed by means o f th e p r e s s , r a d io and t e l e
v i s i o n , by th e cin em a , by m e e tin g s and e x h ib itio n s
o f e v e ry k in d , l i t e r a r y and a r t i s t i c —w r i t e r s ,
a r t i s t s , p r o d u c e r s , d i r e c t o r s , sc e n e ry d e s ig n e rs
. . . to g iv e te s tim o n y to th e t r u t h . . . .
Do n o t a v a i l y o u rs e lv e s o f th e s e m arvelous
g i f t s o f God, su ch a s l i g h t and sound and c o l o r ,
•^^■ T ran slatio n s "G uiding P r in c ip le s o f th e Lay
A p o sto la te * A ddress o f H is H o lin e s s Pope P iu s X II to th e |
Second W orld C ongress o f th e Lay A p o s to la te , O cto b er 5 , j
1 9 5 7 ," ( i n ) S e le c te d Documents o f H is _ H o lin e s s . Pope
P iu s X II (W ash in g to n , P . O . : N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare
C o n fe re n c e , n . d . [ c a . 1 9 5 9 -6 0 ]), p p . 1 3 -1 ^ . "A u ssi aommes-
Noua r e c o n n a i s s a n t T to u s ceux q u i e h tre p re n n e n t dan s l e
dom ains de l a r a d i o , du f ilm e t de l a t e l e v i s i o n u n t r a v a i l
c o u ra g e u x , i n t e l l i g e n t e t s y s te m a tiq u e . . . . En ce q u i
co n eern e l a t e l e v i s i o n , i l e a t in d is p e n s a b le que l 'E g l i s e
s o i t r e p r e s e n te e d an s l e s c o m ite s c h a rg e s d 'e i a b o r e r l e s
program m es e t que d es s p e c i a l i s t e s c a th o liq u e s p re n n e n t
ra n g p arm i l e s p r o d u c te u r s ." AAS. XLIX (S e r. 2 : XXIV),
15 (November 2 2 , 1 9 5 7 ), 93W
272
and t h e i r a p p l ic a tio n s i n te c h n ic a l and a r t i s t i c
fo rm s— p r i n t i n g , jo u rn a lis m , t e l e v i s i o n — to d i s
t o r t m a n 's n a t u r a l i n c l i n a t i o n to w a rd s t r u t h , on
w hich i s e r e c te d th e e d if ic e o f H is [ s i c ! n o b i l
i t y and g re a tn e s s * Do n o t a v a i l y o u r s e lv e s o f
them to d r iv e to r u i n c o n s c ie n c e s a s y e t unform ed
o r w av e rin g .
Hold in h o ly t e r r o r th e s p re a d in g o f th e
germ s t h a t d e s e c r a te lo v e , b re a k up th e f a m ily ,
mock r e l i g i o n and shake th e fo u n d a tio n s o f th e
s o c i a l o r d e r , w hich i s based on b o th in d iv id u a l
i n t e r e s t s and a b ro th e rh o o d t h a t i s harm onious
and r e s p e c t f u l o f th e r i g h t s o f each p e rs o n .
W e have p le a s u r e once a g a in i n lo o k in g w ith g r e a t
r e s p e c t and a f f e c t i o n . • • to w ard s th o s e re s p o n
s i b l e f o r th e e d u c a tio n o f th e grow ing g e n e r a tio n
and f o r p u b lic o p in io n , e n c o u ra g in g each one to
ta k e e v e r more tim e ly th o u g h t o f h i s own d u tie s
and h i s own r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and to occupy h i s
p o s i t i o n w ith s i n c e r i t y and c o u ra g e .
W e have c o n fid e n c e i n God and in H is l i g h t .
W e have c o n fid e n c e i n men o f good w i l l , s a t i s f i e d
t h a t Our w ords may ro u se in th e h e a r t s o f a l l
u p r i g h t men a n o te o f manly g e n e r o s i t y .102
102T r a n a la tio n : "The C h ristm as M essage o f Pope
Jo h n X X III," The C a th o lic M essenger [ D av e n p o rt, Iowa ] ,
; Decem ber 2 9 , I9 6 0 , P* " . . . LA]i r e s p o n s a b i li — e a
q u e s t i s p e c ia lm e n te — d e l l a p u b b lic a o p in io n e , che s i v ie n e
foxm ando o deform ando p e r mezzo d e l l a stam p a, d e l l a r a d io e
; t e l e v i s i o n s , d e l c in em a , d e i c o n c o rs i e m o stre d i o g n i
jg e n e r e , l e t t e r a r i o o a r t i s t i c o : s c r i t t o r i , a r t i s t i , p ro -
d u t t o r i , r e g i s t i e s c e n e g g ia to r i • . . . a re n d e re t e s t i -
! m onianza a l i a v e r i t y . . . .
"Hon s e r v i t e v i d i q u e s ti m e r a v ig lio s i d o n i d i D io ,
I ch e sono l a l u c e , i s u o n i. i c o l o r i e l e lo r o a p p l ic a z io n i j
te c h n ic he e a r t i s t i c h e — t ip o g r a f i c h e , g i o m a l i s t i c h e ,
ia u d io v is iv e — p e r tr a v o lg e r e l a n a t u r a l e in c lin a z io n e
i d e ll'u o m o a l i a v e r i t y , da c u i s i in n a lz a l 'e d i f i c i o d e l l a
i su a n o b iltA e g ra n d e z z a ; non s e rv ite v e n e p e r s o s p in g e re a
r o v in a l e c o s c ie n z e non an c o ra fo rm a te o v a c i l l a n t i .
"A b b iate i l s a c ro t e r r o r e d i d if fo n d e re q u e i g e rm i,
ch e d is s a c r a n o l'a m o r e , d isso lv o n o l a f a m ig l ia , d e rin d o n o
l a r e l i g i o n e , scu o to n o l e fondam enta d e ll'o rd in a m e n to
s o c i a l e , che s i reg g e s u l l a d i s c i p l i n a d e g li im p u ls i t
l e g o i s t i c i , e s u l l a f r a te x n itA conco rd e e r i s p e t t o s a d e l
d i r i t t o d i c ia s o u n o •
"[A]miamo a n c o ra r ig u a r d a r e con g r a n d e r i s p e t t o ed
273
Thus spoke th e popes on th e com m itm ents w hich
b r o a d c a s te r s had to th e m se lv e s, to th e s o c i e t y t h a t th e y
s e r v e d , and u lti m a t e ly to God. The p o n t i f f s em phasized
th e p o s i t i v e d u tie s o f ra d io and t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s te r s ;
b u t , i n a s e n s e , th ey seemed to s u b o r d in a te th e r e s p o n s i
b i l i t y o f th e program p ro d u c e rs to t h a t o f th e au d ien ce
w h ich su p p o rte d th e p ro g ram s, a s i s d e s c r ib e d i n th e
fo llo w in g s e c t i o n . B ro a d c a s te rs w ere u rg e d by th e popes
to u t i l i z e telec o m m u n icatio n s i n a way t h a t would s e rv e
p e o p le and c o n trib u te to t h e i r m o ral a s w e ll a s c u l t u r a l
f o r m a tio n . A t th e l e a s t b r o a d c a s te rs w ere n o t to u n d e r
mine o r i n t e r f e r e w ith th e C h r is tia n t r a i n i n g and l i v i n g
o f members o f th e au d ien ce by p ro g ram in g m a te r ia ls t h a t
s u p p o rte d th e many m odem form s o f p e r e n n ia l e v i l . W hile
s e l f - r e g u l a t i o n was to serv e a s a h e l p f u l , sp o n ta n eo u s
p r e c a u tio n i t was n o t n e c e s s a r ily th e b e s t s a fe g u a rd a t
a l l tim e s a g a in s t m o ra lly and c u l t u r a l l y h arm fu l p ro g ra m s.
T h e re fo re b r o a d c a s te rs were c a u tio n e d to re c o g n iz e th e
I a f f e z io n e sp e c ia lm e n te a i pi& a l t i r a p p r e s e n ta n ti d e i
; p u b b lic i p o t e r i , v ariam en te d i s t r i b u i t i s u i d i v e r s i e piCi
I im p o r ta n ti p u n ti d e l g lo b o , e a i r e s p o n s a b i l i d e l l a e d u c a- ;
i z io n e d e l l e g io v a n i g e n e ra z io n i, d e l l a p u b b lic a o p in io n e ,
; in c o ra g g ia n d o c ia sc u n o a p re n d e re c o s c ie n z a sempre piCi
m a tu ra d e i s u o i p r o p r i co m p iti e d e l l e sue r e s p o n s a b i l i t a ,
a t e n e r s i a l p o s to suo con s i n c e r i t y e c o r a g g io . i
"Noi co n fid iam o in Bio e n e l l a lu c e d i L u i. Con- !
fid ia m o n e g l i uom ini d i buona v o lo n tA , c o n t e n ti che le
N o s tre p a ro le s u s c ita n o in t u t t i i c u o r i r e t t i un p a l p it o
d i v i r i l e g e n e r o s i t l •" AAS. L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 1
(J a n u a ry 3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ), 13” l 5 •
d u tie s o f th e c i v i l a u t h o r it y and o f th e Church i n m a tte r s
t h a t a f f e c t e d th e p u b lic w e lfa re and m o rals* But th e pon
t i f f s u rg e d th a t th e p rim a ry r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r t e l e
v is i o n and i t s e f f e c t s upon th e l i v e s o f p eo p le r e s t e d
w ith th e b ro a d c a s te rs th e m se lv e s and w ith th e a u d ie n c e .
The s t a t e and ch u rch w ere to c o o p e ra te w ith b r o a d c a s te rs
\
and c o n tr ib u te w here th e y c o u ld to th e r ic h n e s s o f p ro
g ram in g , b u t th ey were o n ly se co n d ary in s tru m e n ts f o r th e
p ro p e r u t i l i z a t i o n o f th e s e "w ondrous g i f t s o f God" w hich
were te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s.
B e s p o n s ib i liti e s o f th e a u d ie n c e . In a d d itio n to
th e c i t a t i o n s t h a t a p p e a r i n th e above s e c tio n on d u tie s
o f b r o a d c a s te r s , th e p a p a l comments on th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
sh a re d by th e au d ien ce o f b r o a d c a s tin g ap p eared in docu
m ents is s u e d in 1951, 1 9 9 + , 1957, and 1959* P iu s X II and
John X X III is s u e d a t o t a l o f sev en s ta te m e n ts o r g ro u p s o f
s ta te m e n ts . P r io r to 1951 th e p o p es had n o t commented on
th e q u e s tio n o f a u d ie n c e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
In 1951 Pope P iu s X II rem ark ed i n h i s an n u a l
C h ristm as m essage t h a t many p e o p le lo o k e d to o seldom to
th e m s e lv e s , th a t i s to t h e i r p e r s o n a l c o n v ic tio n s and
k n o w led g e, f o r t h e i r d a i l y s p i r i t u a l g ro w th and had come
to depend more and more upon " th e d i e t p re p a re d i n advance
275
by th e p r e s s , r a d i o , m ovies and t e l e v i s i o n . He s a id
t h a t t h i s was an a b d ic a tio n o f t h e i r tr u e l ib e r t y * I n
195^ in h i s e x h o r ta tio n ab o u t t e l e v i s i o n he expanded h is
comments on a u d ien c e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . He demanded t h a t
v ie w e rs ta k e i n i t i a t i v e i n m aking known n o t to b r o a d c a s t
e r s b u t to governm ent t h e i r r e a c tio n s to program ing p re
s e n te d th ro u g h th e m ed ia:
And in th e e v e n t o f a b u se s and e v i l s , i t i s n o t
enough f o r C a th o lic s to rem ain c o n te n t w ith d e p lo r
in g them; th e s e a b u se s m ust be b ro u g h t to th e a t t e n
t i o n o f th e p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s i n q u ite p r e c is e and
docum ented p a r t i c u l a r s . In d e e d , i t m ust be a d m itte d
t h a t one o f th e r e a s o n s , l e s s n o tic e d p erh ap s b u t
r e a l n o n e th e le s s , f o r th e sp re a d o f so much im m oral
i t y , i s n o t th e la c k o f r e g u l a t i o n s , b u t th e la c k
o f r e a c tio n o r th e w eakness o f r e a c t i o n o f good
p e o p le , who have n o t known how to make tim e ly denun
c i a t i o n o f v i o l a t i o n s a g a in s t th e p u b lic law s o f
m o r a lity
• ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n fe r- :
ence p a m p h le t, r e p r i n t e d in "The Church and th e P eace
: [December 2^-, 1 9 5 1 1 ." The Ma.ior A d d resses o f Pope P iu s X II:I
V o l. I I . C h ristm as M essag es, e d . by V in c e n t A. Yzermans
( S t . P a u l: The N o rth C e n tra l P u b lis h in g Company, 1 9 6 1 ) ,
p . 156; AAS, XLIV ( S e r . 2: X IX ), 1 (J a n u a ry 25, 1 9 5 2 ), 1 3 : j
"0 che a ite n d o n o o g g i i l lo r o u n ic o n u trim e n to s p i r i t u a l s
q u o tid ia n © , sempre meno da lo r o s t e s s i , —v a le a d ir e d a l le
! lo r o p r o p r ie c o n v in z io n i e c o n o s c e n z e ,— e sempre piiL, giA 1
i p r e p a r a t o , d a l l a sta m p a , d a l l a r a d i o , d a l cin em a, d a l l a
t e l e v i s i o n e ; come p o tre b b e ro c o n c e p ire l a v e ra l i b e r t A .
! 1 1
; - ^ ^ T r a n s la ti o n : "The P o p e’s Words to th e M edia
[ e x c e rp t num ber 119 3»M V a lia n t H e ra ld s o f T ru th : J P iu s X I I j
; and -toe A rts o f C om m unication, e d . by V in cen t A. Yzermans I
(W e stm in ste r, Md.: "The Newman P r e s s , 1 9 5 8 ), p . 1 1 8 . "NA,i
a l v e r i f i c a r S i d i e v e n tu a l! a b u s i e d e g e n e ra z io n i, a i
c a t t o l i c i b a ste rA d i s ta r s e n e sem plicem ente a d e p l o r a r l i ,
; quando in v e c e sarA n e c e s s a r io a d d i t a r l i con s e g n a la z io n i
ben p r e c is e e docum entate a l l e p u b b lic h e a u to r itA . Come
non r ic o n o s c e r e , i n f a t t i , che u n a d e l l e c a u s e , f o rs e meno
276
I t sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t P iu s was o u tli n in g to th e I t a l i a n
h ie r a r c h y s p e c i f i c d i r e c t i v e s f o r in f lu e n c in g b r o a d c a s tin g
i n t h e i r c o u n tiy . In t h i s c o n te x t th e " p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s "
r e f e r r e d to th e governm ent o r g a n iz a tio n w hich c o n t r o l l e d
B adio A u d iz io n i I t a l i a (B A I). B at th e , p h ra se m ig h t
l e g i t i m a t e l y be i n t e r p r e t e d to mean " b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i
c i a l s " when a p p lie d to th o se c o u n tr ie s in w hich p r i v a t e
com panies c o n t r o ll e d p ro g ra m in g . The t e x t o f o th e r s t a t e
m ents by th e Pope c l a r i f i e d t h i s and confirm ed th e d u a l
m eaning p o s s ib le f o r " a u t h o r i t i e s , " w h eth e r g o v ern m e n tal
o r p r i v a t e and co m m ercial. What i s n o t c e r t a i n i s w h e th e r
P iu s X II in te n d e d by h i s d ir e c t i v e t h a t members o f th e
I t a l i a n a u d ien ce w r ite to g o v ern m en tal o f f i c i a l s n o t con
c e rn e d p r o f e s s io n a lly w ith b r o a d c a s tin g , b u t to th e p u b lic
r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f th e n a t i o n 's peo p le.. P iu s spoke o f th e
n ee d f o r C a th o lic s to form "a r i g h t c o n sc ie n c e " r e g a r d in g
t h e i r C h r is tia n d u ty c o n c e rn in g th e u s e o f t e l e v i s i o n , "a
c o n s c ie n c e , n am ely , t h a t knows how to fo rew arn a g a in s t
e v e n tu a l d an g e rs and conform s i t s e l f to th e judgm ents o f
e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u t h o r i t y on th e m o ra lity o f t e l e v i s e d
a w e r t i t a ma non meno v e r a , d e l d ila g a r e d i t a n t a im m oral
i t y , non y d a ta d a l l a m ancanza d i p r o w e d im e n ti, ma d a l l a
m ancata o r f i a c c a re a z io n e d e g li o n e s t i , i q u a li non hanno
sa p u to d e n u n c ia re tem p estiv arn en te le in f r a z i o n i c o n t r o - l a
leg g e d e l buon costum e?" AAS, XLVI ( S e r . 2 : X X I), 1
(Ja n u a ry 1 6 , 19522. O f. b elo w , p p . 2 8^-287.
277
105
p r e s e n t a t i o n s ." 3y t h i s th e Pope im p lie d t h a t th e
Church a u t h o r i t i e s w ere i n some way to a p p ra is e p u b lic ly
t e l e v i s i o n program s a c c o rd in g to m o ral c r i t e r i a . The p a p a l
s u g g e s tio n s f o r su ch d i r e c t i v e s a re c i t e d below i n th e s e c
t i o n on r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e C hurch.
The Pope r e f e r r e d i n M iranda P ro rs u s to th e d u ty o f
th e C hurch and o f e d u c a to rs to p re p a re members o f th e
a u d ie n c e f o r t h e i r p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s by t r a i n i n g
them to be s e l e c t i v e i n program v ie w in g and to be d is c r i m i
n a t in g i n t h e i r c r i t i c a l a p p r a is a l o f p ro g ra m s. The a u d i
ence o u g h t n o t be a t t r a c t e d to program s and become ab so rb e d
i n them sim p ly b ecau se o f t h e i r a t t r a c t i v e , p o w e rfu l a p p e a l
to th e s e n s e s " a s f r e q u e n tly h a p p e n s." Members o f th e
a u d ie n c e sh o u ld be e d u c a te d to some u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e
a r t i s t i c form p ro p e r to ea ch o f th e mass m edia and o f th e
m o ral a s p e c ts o f program c o n te n t and form o f p r e s e n t a t i o n . ;
'•Thus th e y w i l l be a b le to w eigh and p a s s m atu re judgm ent i
on th e v a r io u s ite m s w hich th e f ilm o r t e l e v i s i o n o r r a d io I
1 n i
p u ts b e fo re th em ." W ithout such fo rm a tio n o f th e
■ ^ ^ T ra n s la tio n s " T e le v is io n s I t s P u b lic and P r i - |
v a te E f f e c t s ," TPS. I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 10; AAS.
XLVI ( S e r . 2 : XXlT, 1 (Ja n u a ry 1 6 , 195*0, 23* "• ... • u n a i
c o s c ie n z a oiofc che s a p p ia a w e r t i r e g l i e v e n tu a li p e r ic o li,!
e s i a t te n g a a i g i u d iz i d e l l 'a u t o r i t a e c c l e s i a s t i c s s u l l a
m o r a lity d e l l e r a p p r e s e n ta z io n i te le tr a s m e s a e ."
■ ^ ^ T ra n s la tio n s The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n ,
o p . P i t . , p . 12s AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2s XXIV), 13-1^ (O c to b e r
2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 780s " i t a u t v a r i a e le m e n ts , quae cin em a-
to g ra p h ic u m v e l t e l e v i s i f ic u m album c o n s p ic ie n d a p r o p o n it,
278
a e s t h e t i c and c r i t i c a l f a c u l t i e s , s u p p o rte d by C h r is t ia n
te a c h in g , " th e n n e i t h e r re a s o n a b le p l e a s u r e s , w hich 'e v e r y
one r e a d i l y a d m its a re n e c e s s a ry f o r a l l who a re in v o lv e d
in th e b u s in e s s and tr o u b le s o f l i f e , ' n o r th e p ro g re s s o f
107
m e n ta l developm ent can be k e p t s a f e ."
I n th e p o r tio n o f t h i s e n c y c lic a l t h a t was d e v o te d
s p e c i f i c a l l y to r a d io F iu s X II e n u n c ia te d th e d u tie s o f
th e l i s t e n e r s , w hich he a ls o r e c a l l e d i n th e n e x t p o r tio n
on t e l e v i s i o n a s incum bent upon v ie w e rs o f t h a t medium as
w e l l . The d u tie s were tw o: (1 ) The members o f r a d io and
t e l e v i s i o n a u d ie n c e s m ust choose c a r e f u l l y and d e l i b e r a t e l y
from th e many program s a v a ila b le to them i n th e d a i ly
b r o a d c a s tin g s c h e d u le s . D is c rim in a tin g s e l e c t i o n m ust be
made o f program s p e rm itte d to e n t e r o n e 's home. The
C h u rc h 's d u ty ( a s d e s c rib e d below ) was to a s s i s t i n in fo rm
in g C a th o lic a u d ie n c e s i n advance o f b r o a d c a s ts , i n so f a r
a s p o s s ib le , o f th e c o n te n t and v a lu e o f program s to be
b r o a d c a s t. (2 ) L is te n e r s and v ie w e rs m ust in fo rm th o s e
v e l quae ex m egaphonio e d u n tu r, m atu re c o n s id e ra re e t
iu d ic a r e q u e a n t, non autem , u t saepenum ero c o n t i n g i t ,
eorum v i f a s c in a tio n e q u e a l l i c i a n t u r e t in c o m p o site
r a p i a n t u r ."
10? I b id . " . . . [T]um n ec h o n e s ta o b le c ta m e n ta ,
quae ' i i s om nibus, q u o tq u o t n e g o t i i s v ita e q u e s o l l i c i t u d i -
n ib u s d e t in e a n t u r , n e c e s s a r ia p ro rs u s e s s e nemo e s t q u i
non v id e a t , ' ne que m e n tis c u ltu r a e p r o f a c tu s i n t u to p o s i t a
e s s e p o s s u n t." F iu s X II was q u o tin g h i s p re d e c e s s o r
F iu s X I 's w ords in th e e n c y c lic a l e p i s t l e V ig ila n t! C u ra ,
a d d re s s e d to th e B ish o p s o f th e U n ite d S ta g e s r e g a r d in g ”
m o tio n p i c t u r e s , June 2 9 , 1936; AAS. XXVIII ( S e r . 2 : I I I ) , ;
8 ( J u ly 1 5 , 1 9 3 6 ), 2 fr.
279
r e s p o n s ib le f o r program s o f t h e i r w ish e s and " j u s t i f i a b l e
: c r i t i c i s m . " P iu s n o te d t h a t t h i s o b lig a tio n r e s u l t e d from
I th e m ass-m ed ia n a tu r e o f ra d io and t e l e v i s i o n w h ich , u n le s s
th e a u d ie n c e p o s i t i v e l y makes known i t s r e a c ti o n to p ro
g ra m s, depend upon th e u n i l a t e r a l p o l i c i e s c r e a te d by th e
ib r o a d c a s te r s s o le ly a c c o rd in g to t h e i r p e rs o n a l and p ro
f e s s i o n a l ju d g m e n ts. The Pope g ra n te d t h a t sa m p lin g s o f
p u b lic r e a c t i o n by means o f p o l l s and "sy stem s o f s u rv e y in g
I p u b lic o p in io n " by s t a t i s t i c a l r a t i n g s b ased on r e l a t i v e
! p e rc e n ta g e s o f a u d ie n c e s f o r g iv e n program s
a r e d o u b tle s s u s e f u l to th o se who d i r e c t th e p ro
gram s . Y et i t can happen t h a t p o p u la r a p p r e c ia tio n
more o r l e s s v ig o ro u s ly e x p re s se d may be a t t r i b u t a b l e
to t r i v i a l o r t r a n s i e n t c a u s e s , o r to e n th u sia s m s
w ith no r a t i o n a l b a s i s , so t h a t a judgm ent o f t h i s
k in d c a n n o t be ta k e n a s a su re g u id e f o r a c t i o n .
Such b e in g th e c a s e , r a d io [an d t e l e v i s i o n ]
l i s t e n e r s o ught to b e s t i r th e m se lv e s and s t r i v e to
c r e a t e a w e ll-b a la n c e d p u b lic o p in io n by w hich th e s e
pro g ram s w i l l , i n an o rd e rly way and a c c o rd in g to
t h e i r ^ g r i t s , be a p p ro v e d , su p p o rte d o r re b u k e d .
• • •
The P o n t i f f su g g e ste d t h a t g ro u p s be o rg a n iz e d among
\
C a th o lic s o c i e t i e s and o rg a n iz a tio n s f o r th e p u rp o se o f
I b i d . . [The A m erica P re s s ] p p . 22-23; [ AAS]
PP* 7 9 5 -9 6 : HT • . [S ] in e dubio u t i l e s s i n t i i s , q u i
a c r o a s e s m o d eran tu r ra d io p h o n ic a s , tam en c o n tin g e r e p o t e s t , |
iu t p o p u li p la u s u s p lu s m inus vehemens le v ib u s ac. f l u x i s
c a u s is s i t trib u e n d u s v e l im p u lsio n ib u s r e c t a e r a t i o n i
m inus c o n s e n ta n e is , i t a u t iu d ic iu m huiusm odi h a b e r i
n e q u e a t p ro c e r t a a g e n d i norm a.
"Quae cum i t a s i n t , a u d ito r e s r a d io p h o n ii p ro
iv ir ib u s operam d are d e b e n t, u t i n v u lg o o p in io o b tin e a t
p ru d e n s , q u a , d e b i t i s s e r v a t i s m o d is, hae tr a n s m is s io n e s ,
ip ro u t r e s p o s t u l a t , p ro b e n tu r , c o n firm e n tu r, re p re h e n d a n -
tu r # •>• •
c o rre s p o n d in g w ith b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c i a l s " in th o s e coun
t r i e s w here l o c a l c irc u m sta n c e s s u g g e s t i t " u n d e r th e
s u p e r v is io n o f th e n a t io n a l C a th o lic f i l m , r a d i o , and t e l e -
109
v i s i o n o f f i c e s . ' As custom ary i n V a tic a n d o cu m en ts, th e
p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s were s ta te d i n g e n e ra l la n g u a g e ; and even
r e l a t i v e l y s p e c if ic d ir e c tiv e s were g iv e n l a t i t u d e o f
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n by th e in d iv id u a l b ish o p s who w ere to p ro
m u lg a te and im plem ent them "where l o c a l c irc u m s ta n c e s sug
g e s t i t . " The l o c a l c irc u m sta n c e s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s and
t h e i r e f f e c t upon a p p lic a tio n s o f th e p a p a l s ta te m e n ts i n
t
t h i s c o u n try a re d e s c rib e d i n C h a p t e r s IX , th ro u g h . X I11
i n w hich a re r e p o r te d th e d io ceses* e f f o r t s i n b ro a d c a s tin g )
and th e d e l i b e r a ti o n s o f th e A m erican h ie r a r c h y a b o u t a
n a t i o n a l C a th o lic o f f ic e o f r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n .
P iu s X II em phasized a second tim e th e p o s i t i v e
a s p e c ts o f th e au d ien ce *s d u tie s by d e v o tin g a s p e c ia l
p a ra g ra p h o f f o u r te e n l i n e s o f AAS t e x t to th e n ee d f o r
w id e s p re a d su p p o rt o f good program s and e s p e c i a l l y o f
r e l i g i o u s program s w hich were a lre a d y b e in g b r o a d c a s t. He
s t a t e d th e d u ty i n s tro n g term s j
P i n a l l y , l e t l i s t e n e r s r e a l i z e t h a t th e y a re
o b lig e d to encourage re p u ta b le p ro g ra m s, and
p a r t i c u l a r l y th o se by w hich th e mind i s d i r e c t e d
to w ard s God•
. . . [S ]h o u ld n o t th e f a i t h f u l [ C a t h o l i c s ] ,
• ^ ^ x b i d ., [The Am erica P re s s ] p . 2k; [AAS I p . 796:
" l i e autem i n r e g io n ib u s , u b i rerum locorum que a d iu n c ta id
s u a d e a n t. . .."
281
e s p e c i a l l y th o se who d a ily e n jo y th e a d v an tag es
o f r a d i o , show th e m se lv e s e a g e r to encourage
program s o f t h i s k in d ? 1-*^
In h i s e n c y c li c a l th e Pope d e s c r ib e d th e d i f f i c u l
t i e s o f b ro a d c a s te rs who m ust p ro v id e program s to th e
h e te ro g e n e o u s mass a u d ie n c e and who c o n s e q u e n tly , even w ith
u p r ig h t p r i n c i p l e s and c o n s c ie n c e s , c a n n o t e n su re t h a t p ro
gram s u n s u ita b le f o r c e r t a i n c l a s s e s o f th e au d ien ce a re
n o t b r o a d c a s t. "S in ce t h i s i s s o , p ru d en ce and w a tc h fu l
c a re a r e e s p e c ia lly demanded o f th o s e who make up th e t e l e
v i s i o n au d ien ce The d e t a i l s o f w hat c o n s t i t u t e s t h i s
p ru d en ce and w a tc h fu l c a re a re d e s c rib e d below i n th e s e c
t i o n s on r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f p a r e n ts and e d u c a to rs and o f
Church l e a d e r s .
In h i s motu p ro p rio a p o s to lic l e t t e r o f 1959 >
Jobn X X III s p e c if ie d th e p u rp o se s o f th e P o n t i f i c a l Com
m is s io n f o r Cinema, R a d io , and T e le v is io n and th e new ly
announced V a tic a n M otion P ic tu r e L ib ra ry f o r f ilm s
I b i d . "N o v e rin t denique ra d io p h o n ii a u d ito r e s
o b lig a tio n e .s e t e n e r i a c ro a s e s prom ovendi h o n e s ta s , ac
maxime e a s , quibus anim i ad Deurn e r i g a n t u r . Nonne
: c h r i s t i f i d e l e s , p r a e s e r tim i i , q u i r a d io p h o n ii commoda
: c o tid ia n o u su e x p e r iu n tu r , a l a c r e s se p ra e b e a n t ad
I h u iu sm o d i tra n s m is s io n e s p ro v e h e n d a s. • •?"
1^1I b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 29; [AAS] p . 803:
"Hac enim i n re p r u d e h tia ac v i g i l eorum c u r a , q u i t e l e -
v i s i f i c i s s c r i n i i s u t u n t u r , p ro rs u s e x p o s tu l a n t u r ."
[p p . 802-803] "Perperam tam en a l i q u i s p u t a v e r i t e g r e g ia
p r o p o s ita re c t am que o f f i c i i c o n s c ie n tia m eorum . q u i i d
gen u s a rte m e x e r c e n t, s a t i s v a le r e ad bona omnia e ru e n d a ,
quae ex m ira i l i a p a r v i t e l e v i s i f i c i a l b i a r t e p r o f l u a n t ,
a u t ad q u a e v is p e r ic u la rem ovenda." C f. n . 92 and accom
p a n y in g t e x t on p . 265 ab o v e.
282
and t e l e v i s i o n r e c o r d in g s . Among th e fu n c tio n s a s s ig n e d
to th e P o n t i f i c a l Com mission i n i t s r e l a t i o n s w ith th e
v a r io u s n a t io n a l C a th o lic o f f i c e s o f f ilm s , r a d i o , and
t e l e v i s i o n was " th e i n s t r u c t i o n o f th e f a i t h f u l [C a th o lic s ],
e s p e c i a l l y th e y o u n g , c o n c e rn in g t h e i r duly a s C h r is t ia n s ,
b in d in g i n c o n s c ie n c e , w ith r e f e r e n c e to th e s e e n t e r t a i n
m e n ts ." '1 ’12
The d i r e c t i v e s e n u n c ia te d i n th e th r e e c e n t r a l
docum ents were r e p e a te d and a m p lifie d in o th e r r e f e r e n c e s
among V a tic a n s ta te m e n ts p e r ta in in g to b ro a d c a s t m ed ia.
P iu s X I I 's a d d re s s th ro u g h E u ro v is io n in 195*+ in c lu d e d th e
comment t h a t th e p rim a ry and s e l f - e v i d e n t d u ly to p ro v id e
i
f o r p ru d e n t and f i t t i n g s e l e c t io n o f program s was s h a re d
by th e t e l e v i s i o n com panies and th e s p e c ta to r s who c o n s ti-
tu te d th e a u d ie n c e .11^ In h i s a d d re s s to a c o n v e n tio n o f
la y p e rs o n s i n 1957 P iu s u rg e d members o f p a r is h e s and
o th e r d io c e s a n g ro u p s to t r a i n t h e i r members and a s s o c ia te s
and th e p u b lic a t la r g e to f u l f i l l t h e i r d u ty re g a rd in g
r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n and to a s s i s t them i n c a rr y in g o u t
l l i f
t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . In t h a t same y e a r i n an a d d re s s
• ^ ^ T r a n s la tio n ; "B oni P a s t o r i s The C a th o lic
M ind. L V II, llM f (J u ly -A u g u s t, 1 9 5 9 ), 370; aA s , I I (S e r 3 : I
I 7 T V (A p ril 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ), 186 s " . . . ad conform andos
c h r i s t i f i d e l e s , maxime ju v e n tu te m , ad c h r is tia r u m co n -
s c i e n ti a e o ffic iu m , quo c i r c a s p e c ta c u la d e v in c ia n tu r .
It
• • •
U 3 See n . 96 and accom panying t e x t on p . 267 above.
ll^ S e e n . 101 and accom panying t e x t on p . 271 above.
•to th e p a s to r s and L e n te n p re a c h e rs o f Rome, th e P o n t i f f
u rg e d them to com bat in d e cen c y i n p u b lic m edia p r e s e n ta
tio n s and to d efen d th e r i g h t s o f r e l i g i o n and good m o ra ls
by jo in i n g i n t o g ro u p s w ith a l l men o f good w i l l . T o g e th e r
th e y c o u ld make s tr o n g p r o t e s t o f p u b lic o p in io n to th e
com petent a u t h o r i t i e s (w h e th e r c i v i l o r p r o f e s s io n a l he d id
n o t c l a r i f y ) . A u th o r itie s m ig h t th e re b y be m o tiv a te d to
a c t on t h i s e x p r e s s io n o f p u b lic se n tim e n t a g a in s t a llu r i n g ;
p o r tr a y a ls o f e v i l i n p r i n t , a d v e r t i s in g , f ilm s , r a d i o , and
t e l e v i s i o n . T h is ta s k o f le a d in g and v o ic in g p u b lic
o p in io n i n th e C ity o f Rome th e Pope e n tr u s te d p a r t i c u l a r l y
115
to th e p r e a c h e r s and m in i s te r s o f s o u ls .
I n 1 9 5 8 , I9 6 0 , and 1961 th e re was no p a p a l r e f e r
ence to th e d u t i e s o f th e au d ien ce a t l a r g e . I n th o s e
y e a rs comments w ere made ab o u t th e d u t i e s o f th e e d u c a to r s
and Church members who c o n s titu t e d p a r t o f th e b ro a d c a s tin g :
a u d ie n c e . These comments a r e d e s c rib e d in th e r e s p e c tiv e
s e c tio n s b elo w .
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e p u b lic governm ent. I t was i
n e c e s s a ry to d i s t i n g u i s h two a s p e c ts o f p a p a l s ta te m e n ts j
l l 5 AAS, LXIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 5 (A p ril 1 7 , 1 9 5 7 ),
2 1 1 . T r a n s la tio n from th e o r i g i n a l I t a l i a n in to F re n c h :
"A dm onition du S a in t-P & re s u r l e d an g er d*une p u b l i c i t y
C in em ato g rap h !au e e t d ’une t e l e v i s i o n d n d e c e n te , 1 1 B u l l e t i n
d ’In fo rm a tio n (Com m ission P o n ti f i c a ls p o u r l e Cinem a, l a
R adio e t l a t e l e v i s i o n ) [Rome], V I, **7-^8 (M arch-A pril-M ay-
J u n e , 1957)» 2 .
28^
r e g a r d in g th e c i v i l g o v e rn m e n t's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n
, b r o a d c a s tin g . F i r s t , sy stem s o f g o v e rn m e n t-c o n tro lle d
i b r o a d c a s tin g in many c o u n tr ie s d i f f e r e d from sy stem s o f
f r e e - e n t e r p r i s e , c o m p e titiv e , p riv a te ly -o w n e d and o p e ra te d
! b r o a d c a s tin g com panies i n th o se same c o u n tr ie s and i n
o th e r o n e s . Where b ro a d c a s tin g was a d e p a rtm e n t o f th e
c e n t r a l governm ent o f a n a t io n , th e d i r e c t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
i o f p ro g ram in g g e n e r a lly la y w ith governm ent o f f i c i a l s ,
i Thus th e P o p e 's e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n b ish o p s i n 195^
I u rg e d t h a t th e c le r g y and au d ien ce make known t h e i r c r i t i
cism to “com petent [ c i v i l ] a u t h o r i t i e s . " P resum ably th e .
: P o n t i f f was r e f e r r i n g n o t to th e c e n t r a l governm ent o f th e
i n a t io n b u t to th e p ro p e r a u t h o r i t i e s i n governm ent whose
i o f f i c e i t was to d eterm in e, program c o n te n t and s c h e d u lin g
f o r RAI (R adio A u d iz io n i I t a l i a ) . The p a p a l s ta te m e n t
i c o u ld th e r e f o r e be u n d e rs to o d to mean t h a t i n c o u n tr ie s
i w here th e "com petent a u t h o r i t i e s " w ere n o t c i v i l b u t p r i -
| v a t e , th e c r i t i c i s m s and p r o t e s t s o f th e C hurch and a u d i-
i ence members were to be d ir e c te d p r im a r ily to th o se p r o f e s -
; s io n a l a u t h o r i t i e s whose o f f ic e i t was to d e te rm in e program
i c o n te n t and s c h e d u le s . N e v e rth e le s s , a seco n d d i s t i n c t i o n !
| was n e c e s s a r y . I t was a ls o p o s s ib le to f in d re le v a n c e to
th e U n ite d S ta te s sy stem o f b ro a d c a s tin g i n th e l i t e r a l
; s ta te m e n t o f th e popes because o f th e i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l
i e x e r c is e d o v e r A m erican com m ercial b r o a d c a s tin g by th e
f e d e r a l governm ent th ro u g h i t s r e g u la to r y ag e n cy , th e
285
F e d e ra l Com m unications Commission (FCC). P ap al d i r e c t i v e s
m ight th u s e x p l i c i t l y and l i t e r a l l y a p p ly to th e U n ite d
S ta te s by d i r e c t i n g th e au d ien ce to com municate w ith th e
FCC i n o r d e r to e x p re s s i t s c o l l e c t i v e and in d iv id u a l
o p in io n s ab o u t com m ercial p ro g ram in g . These "co m p eten t
[ c i v i l ] a u t h o r i t i e s " w ere th e re b y to be k e p t v i g i l a n t l e s t
th e p u b lic m o rals and c o n s c ie n c e be o ffe n d e d by i n d i s c r e
t i o n s i n program ing d e c is io n s by p r i v a te b ro a d c a s tin g com
p a n ie s .
The two p a p a l s ta te m e n ts c o n c e rn in g c i v i l a u t h o r i
t i e s o c c u rre d in th e m a jo r b ro a d c a s tin g docum ents o f 195^
and 1957. In. h i s e x h o r ta tio n to th e I t a l i a n h ie r a r c h y in
195*+ P iu s X II a p p e a le d to a l l who had p o s itio n s o f re s p o n
s i b i l i t y i n t e l e v i s i o n and whose r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s b e fo re
God and s o c ie ty w ere p r o p o r tio n a te ly g ra v e . Among th e s e
he s in g le d o u t " p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s e s p e c i a lly [who] have
th e d u ty o f ta k in g e v e ry p re c a u tio n t h a t t h a t a i r o f
p u r ity and r e s e rv e w hich sh o u ld p erv ad e th e home be i n no
116
way o ffe n d e d o r d i s t u r b e d ." The re a s o n he gave f o r
p u b lic v ig ila n c e was th e f a t a l d an g e r to th e s p i r i t u a l
h e a lth o f a c o u n try when in n o c e n t s o u ls a re c o n fro n te d
■ ^■ ^T ranslation: " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i
v a te E f f e c t s , " TPS, I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 7; AAS, XLVI
( S e r . 2: X X I;, 1 (J a n u a ry 1 6 , 195*+), 20: "A lle a u to r itA
p u b b lic h e s o p r a tu tto s p e t t a p re n d e re ogni c a u t e l a , perchfe
i n n e ssu n a m an iera s i a r e c a t a o f f e s a o turbam ento a
q u e l l 'a u r a d i p u re z z a e d i r i s e r v a t e z z a che deve c i r c o n -
d a re i l f o c o la r e d o m e s tic o . • • ."
286
even i n th e fa m ily home by l u r i d sc e n e s t h a t te n d to u n d e r
mine th e fo rm a tio n o f h e a lth y p e rs o n a l and s o o ia l m oral
g ro w th . B ecause o f th e s e rio u s n e s s o f th e se d a n g e rs th e
Pope c la im e d t h a t th e n o rm al v ig ila n c e e x e rc is e d "by th e
a u t h o r i t y r e s p o n s ib le f o r p u b lic e n te rta in m e n t" was n o t
s u f f i c i e n t to e n s u re t h a t t e l e v i s i o n program s w ere m o ra lly ,
u n o b je c tio n a b le . B ecause t e l e v i s i o n so in tim a te ly e n te r e d
th e fa m ily c o n te x t more s e n s it i v e normq o f a p p r a i s a l w ere
n e c e s s a r y .
So one s e e s th e g r o u n d le s s n e s s , e s p e c ia lly i n t h i s
f i e l d , o f th e p re te n d e d r i g h t s o f a b s o lu te freedom
of> a r t , o r o f h a v in g re c o u rs e to th e p r e te x t o f
freed o m o f in f o rm a tio n and o f th o u g h t, s in c e h e re
h ig h e r v a lu e s a r e a t s ta k e w hich m ust be s a f e
g u a rd e d . • •
The " h ig h e r v a lu e s " p e r t a i n to th e m o ral i n t e g r i t y o f
in d iv id u a l p e r s o n s . These s ta te m e n ts p ro v id ed two c l a r i
f i c a t i o n s o f o f f i c i a l p a p a l v ie w s . They co n firm ed th e
v a l i d i t y o f i n t e r p r e t i n g th e P o p e 's comments re g a rd in g
" p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s " a s r e f e r r i n g to th e com petent a u th o ri- i
t i e s w h e th e r c i v i l o r p r i v a te who i n f a c t a re r e s p o n s ib le
f o r p u b lic e n te r ta in m e n t • In some c o u n tr ie s c i v i l a u t h o r i
t i e s w ie ld e d f u l l c o n t r o l o v e r p u b lic m edia o f e n t e r t a i n -
I m ent and new s; i n o th e r c o u n t r i e s , in c lu d in g th e U n ite d
S t a t e s , c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s e x e rc is e d o n ly i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l
1^ - I b i d . . C TPSl p . 8 ; [ AAS] p . 21: "A ppare, quinU,!
s o p r a t u t t o i n q u e s to caiapo. l 'in f o n d a t e z z a d e i p r e t e s i
d i r i t t i d e l l a in d is c r im in a te lib e r tA d e l l 'a r t e , o d e l ricarso
a l p r e t e s t o d e l l a li b e r t A d 'in fo x m a z io n e e d i p e n s ie r o ,
essen d o i n g io c o s u p e r io r ! v a l o r i da p r o te g g e re . . . . "
287
o v e r th e m edia w h ile p r iv a te c o r p o r a tio n s d i r e c t l y co n
t r o l l e d th e c o n te n t o f th e m ed ia. The second p o in t r a i s e d
hy th e s e p a p a l s ta te m e n ts was t h a t o f freedom o f th o u g h t
and i t s r e l a t i o n to o th e r fre ed o m s.a n d d u t i e s . The d i f f i - ;
c u lty o b v io u s ly l i e s i n who i s to d ete rm in e w hat d u ti e s
a r e more s i g n i f i c a n t and w hich d u tie s a re s u b o rd in a te to
th e h ig h e r o n e s . N a tu r a lly th e Pope h e re presum ed th e
C a th o lic C h u rc h 's " te a c h in g a u th o r ity " (m a g iste riu m )
r e g a r d in g f a i t h and m o r a ls . I n so f a r as o th e r a r e a s o f
human e n d e a v o r w ere to th r e a te n p u b lic m o r a lity , th e Pope
presum ed t h a t th e C h u rc h 's r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s among th e c le r g y
and l a i t y may c a l l to th e a t t e n t i o n o f r e s p o n s ib le a u t h o r i
t i e s th e d a n g e r to p u b lic m o ra lity cau sed by s p e c i f i c p r a c
t i c e s i n th e com m unications m ed ia. The te c h n iq u e s o f
" c a l l i n g th e a t t e n t i o n " o f a u t h o r i t i e s to ' h a t th e C hurch
d e fin e d a s a b u s e s o f th e m edia w ere su g g e ste d by th e popes
i n t h e i r s ta te m e n ts a b o u t th e d u tie s o f th e au d ie n ce and
o f th e C h u rch . The d u t i e s o f th e au d ien o e a s e n u n c ia te d
by th e p o p e s w ere d e s c rib e d i n th e p re c e d in g s e c tio n ; th e
d u tie s o f th e Church a r e d e s c rib e d b elo w . j
i
i
P iu s X II acknow ledged h is s tr o n g p e rs o n a l hope
t h a t " th e n o b le se n se o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th o se who have
a u t h o r i t y i n p u b lic l i f e w i ll a v a i l to f o r e s t a l l th e
d e p lo ra b le o c c u rre n c e s w hich W e have d e p re c a te d above ." U S
He e x p re s s e d h i s w ish t h a t " ju d ic io u s norm s" w ould be
fo rth c o m in g re g a rd in g t e l e v i s i o n program s o f f ilm s and
drama so t h a t th e medium would p ro v id e p eo p le w ith h e a lth y
r e c r e a t i o n and a t th e same tim e c o n t r ib u t e to t h e i r ed u ca
t i o n a l and m o ral im provem ent. B ut he w arned t h a t ev en
sh o u ld su ch m easu res be i n s t i t u t e d , th e y c o u ld n o t be
f u l l y e f f e c t i v e u n le s s th e r e was a l e r t and a c tiv e v ig ila n c e
on th e p a r t o f a l l th o s e a f f e c te d by and in f lu e n c in g t e l e
v i s i o n . Thus th e P o n t i f f once more a p p e a le d to b ro a d
c a s t e r s , th e a u d ie n c e , and th e Church a s w e ll a s to c i v i l
a u t h o r i t i e s f o r p ro p e r and b a la n c e d c o n t r o l o f th e new
medium.
In h i s le n g th y e n c y c lic a l o f 1957 P iu s e la b o r a te d
on and r e p e a te d f o r th e w orld th o s e p o in ts t h a t he h ad
p ro p o sed th r e e y e a r s b e fo re to th e I t a l i a n b is h o p s . He
d e c la r e d t h a t th e common good o f a l l th e p eo p le was th e
c o n c e rn o f p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s whose w a tc h fu l c a re f o r th e
e n t i r e community was n o t an u n re a s o n a b le l i m i t a t i o n o f th e >
l i b e r t y o f in d iv id u a l c i t i z e n s . He re c o g n iz e d t h a t
l i b e r a l p ro p o n e n ts o f l e s s s t r i n g e n t d i s c i p l i n e s and
s a n c tio n s upon f r e e men jo in e d p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s
^ ^ I b i d . "Hoi n u triam o p ro fo n d a f id u o ia che
l ' a l t o se n so d i r e s p o n s a b ilit& d i c o lo ro che p re s ie d o n o
a l i a v i t a p u b b lic a varrfc. ad im p e d ire l e t r i s t i e v e n tu a l ity
che s o p ra abbiam o d e p r e c a to ."
289
i n o p p o sin g in te r v e n tio n o f p u b lic a u t h o r i t y and p r e f e r r e d
s a fe g u a rd s se lf" im p o se d by th e b r o a d c a s te r s .
But w h ile i t i s p ra ise w o rth y f o r th e p e rs o n s p ro
f e s s i o n a l l y engaged i n th e s e a r t s to s u p p o rt th e
a c t i o n o f p u b lic o f f i c i a l s and ta k e s te p s to
o b v ia te e v i l s w hich can e a s i l y damage tr u e m o ral
i t y , y e t th o se r u l e s and s a fe g u a rd s w hich th e y
is s u e sh o u ld n o t ig n o re th e s e r io u s d u ty incum bent
u p o n th e c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s .
H ence, b o th Our im m ediate p r e d e c e s s o r and W e
O u rse lv e s r e a d i ly p r a is e d th o s e w ho, i n k e e p in g
w ith th e work com m itted to them i n t h i s s p h e r e ,
p u b lis h e d s u it a b le s a fe g u a rd s and r u l e s w ith o u t
i n any way p r e ju d ic in g w hat b e lo n g s to th e compe
te n c e o f p u b lic a u th o r ity
The se n se o f t h i s s ta te m e n t m ight be s t a t e d : p re v e n tiv e
s a fe g u a rd s e s ta b lis h e d by b r o a d c a s te r s th e m selv es a re
v a lu a b le f o r o b v ia tin g many e v i l s and f o r s u p p o rtin g th e
s te p s ta k e n by p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s ; b u t a t th e same tim e
■'-■^Ihe A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . c i t . . p . 9* T h is
t r a n s l a t i o n s l i g h t l y o b sc u re s th e se n se o f th e f i r s t p a ra
g ra p h w hich m ight be re n d e re d : "B ut • • • th e s e norm s and ;
p r e v e n tiv e s a fe g u a rd s t h a t a re is s u e d by th o s e p r o f e s
s i o n a l l y engaged i n th e s e a r t s o u g h t i n no way to i n t e r
f e r e w ith o r r e p la c e th e v e iy s e r io u s d u ty o f th o se who
h o ld p u b lic a u th o r ity v a lth o u g h th e s te p s ta k e n by b ro a d
c a s t e r s a r e to be p r a is e d f o r b e in g a b le to s u p p o rt th e
a c ti o n o f c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s and ev en to p re v e n t e v i l s w hich
can e a s i l y harm m o r a lity ." "[A ]ttam e n hae normae c a u tio n -
e s q u e , quae ab e i s p r o f is q a n tu r , q u i p ro s u s c e p to munere
h a s a r t e s e x e r c e n t, minime d eb e h t g r a v i s a imum eorum
o f fic iu m a v e r s a r i . q u i p u b lic a a [ u j c t o r i t a t e p r a e s u n t,
quamquam l a u d a b i l i t e r p o s s u n t eorum a c t i o n i o c c u r r e r e ,
a tq u e e tia m m ala p r a e v e r t e r e , quae r e c t i a m oribus f a c i l e
n o o e re que a n t ." "Hac de c a u s a , u t pro x im u s D ec esso r
N o s te r , i t a Nosmet i p s i l i b e n t e r e o s d ila u d a v im u s , q u i,
p ro c r e d i t o h ac i n c a u sa m unere, o p p o rtu n a s e d id e r u n t
c a u tio n e s e t norm as, n i h i l tamen p ra e iu d ic a tu m h a b e n te s
a d p u b lic a s a u c t o r i t a t e s quod a t t i n e t . ' 1 AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2:
iX IV ), 13-1^ (O cto b er 2 3 -2 7 , 1 9 5 7 ), 7 7 5 . —
290
th e g rav e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e s e p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s i s
n o t le s s e n e d o r rem oved by th e b ro a d c a s te rs * own v ig ila n c e *
C o o p e ra tio n betw een th e two i s th e b e s t means to p r o t e c t
p u b lic m o ra lity ; th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s sh a re d w ith o u t th e
120
o n e 's u s u rp in g th e o b lig a tio n s o f th e o t h e r .
S peaking s p e c i f i c a l l y o f r a d io P iu s X II ask ed th e
b ish o p s o f th e w orld to rem ind s t a t e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e i r
d u ty to e n su re t h a t program s r e l a t i n g to th e C a th o lic
Church were a b le to be b r o a d c a s t) p a r t i c u l a r l y w ith r e s p e c t
to Church "h o ly days and th e d a i l y s p i r i t u a l n ee d s o f
C h r i s t i a n s ." The P o n t i f f r e f e r r e d b o th to s t a t e -
c o n t r o ll e d system s o f b r o a d c a s tin g w hich m ight be tem p ted
t o fo re g o r e l i g i o u s pro g ram s " e x c lu s iv e ly f o r th e advance
m ent and p ro p a g a tio n o f p o l i t i c a l m easu res" and to commer
c i a l sy stem s w hich m ig h t s i m i l a r l y r e s t r i c t r e l i g i o u s p ro
gram ing b u t " to a c h ie v e econom ic en d s . . . a s i f [ t h i s
122
n o b le p r o f e s s io n ] w ere a m ere tr a d e o r b u s in e s s ."
120i£his p o in t i s p e r t i n e n t to th e d is c u s s io n o f j
th e s e l f - r e g u l a t o i y " c o d e s1 ' o f s ta n d a r d s prom oted by th e
N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n - o f B ro a d c a s te rs i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , |
i n th e fo llo w in g c h a p te r s Of t h i s r e p o r t . O f. n . 87 and
accom panying t e x t on p p . 2 6 0 -2 6 1 .
^•^Translation: The America Press edition)
op. oit.. p . 26; AAS. XLIX (Ser. 2 : XXIV), 13-11 *
(O c to b er 23-27) 1^5 7 3 , 799: " d i l i g e n t i a i n tu to p o n ere
p ro p ag an d as de r e c a th o llO a a u d itio n e d ) p e c u lia r ! dierum
fe s to ru m h a b i t a r a tio n e ac s p ir i t u a l i u m n e o e s s ita tu m ,
q u ib u s c h r i s t i f i d e l e s c o t i d i e p re m u n tu r."
122I b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 7; [AAS] p . 773: j
" q u i h i se e in v e n t i s u t i v e l i n t tantummodo ad r e s p o l i t i c a s •
291
P lu s X II had r e c a l l e d e a r l i e r i n th e e n c y c lic a l t h a t in
n a tio n s governed by a t h e i s t i c communism th e telecom m unica
t i o n m edia were u se d " to r o o t o u t a l l r e l i g i o u s id e a s from
th e m in d ." He u rg e d s t a t e o f f i c i a l s and p r iv a te c i t i z e n s ,
w h io h ev er g ro u p s c o n t r o l l e d th e v a r io u s b ro a d c a s tin g s y s
tem s o f th e w o rld , to a v o id sp re a d in g d o c tr in e s t h a t c o n -
12^
ta in e d n o th in g o f God and ig n o re d d iv in e la w s . J He s a id
t h a t b ro a d c a s t m e d ia, on th e c o n t r a r y , sh o u ld be made
a v a ila b le to th e C hurch and h e r work o f te a c h in g men
re g a r d in g f a i t h and m o ra ls . P iu s X II s t a t e d p o s i t i v e l y
t h a t th e C h u rc h 's d u ty to sp re a d t r u t h and v i r t u e c a r r i e d
w ith i t th e r i g h t to u t i l i z e m edia o f com m unications
th ro u g h w hich she m ig h t re a c h th e m asses o f men. The
l i t e r a l a p p l ic a tio n o f t h i s t e n e t to th e c o n te x t o f b ro ad
c a s tin g i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s m ig h t be d e b a te d . T h e .p a p a l
s ta te m e n t ap p eared to be p r im a r ily d ir e c t e d a g a in s t any
g o v ern m en t' s d i r e c t e x c lu s io n o f th e Church from a c c e s s to
b r o a d c a s tin g m edia c o n t r o ll e d by t h a t g overnm ent. The Pope
in c lu d e d th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n " to th e e x te n t o f t h e i r pow er"
and r e f e r r e d to " a l l tr u e and a c tiv e so n s o f th e Church"
in s t e a d o f to " a l l p u b lic o f f i c i a l s " m entioned i n th e
fo v e n d a s p ro p ag an d as q u e , v e l ad r e s oeconom icas provehendas;!
a tq u e adeo n o b ilem h an c eausam q u a s i neg o tiu m commerciumquej
c o n s id e r e n t."
123 i b i d .« [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 11; [ AAS] p . 778s
" • • • u t re lig io n e m sanetarn ex a n im is r a d i c i t u s e v e l l a n t ." ;
The Pope was h e re sp e a k in g e x p l i c i t l y o f r a d io and t e l e
v i s i o n program s o f i n s t r u c t i o n w hich were b ro a d c a s t to
292
p re v io u s s e n te n c e . She d i s t i n c t i o n m ust be made b etw een
a l l governm ent and p r o f e s s io n a l p e rs o n s on th e one b a n d ,
and C a th o lic s who h o ld su ch p o s itio n s on th e o th e r h a n d .
I t was to th e l a t t e r t h a t th e Pope a d d re s se d h im s e lf i n
w hat seem s to A m ericans to be a s tr o n g and g r a tu it o u s
demand upon th e m e d ia . The com plete s ta te m e n t o f P iu s X II
f o llo w s :
S in ce th e C hurch i s th e te a c h e r o f th e d o c tr in e
w hich le a d s to s a l v a t i o n and h a s a l l t h a t i s n e c e s
s a r y f o r th e a tta in m e n t o f h o l i n e s s , she i s e x e r c is
in g an in v i o l a b l e r i g h t when she te a c h e s w hat h a s
b een com m itted to h e r by d iv in e command. I t o u g h t
th e r e f o r e to be th e d u ty o f a l l p u b lic o f f i c i a l s
to re c o g n iz e t h i s s a c re d r i g h t , so t h a t th e Church
sh o u ld have re a d y a c c e s s to th o s e a r t s by w hich
sh e may sp re a d t r u t h and v i r t u e . In d e e d , a l l tr u e
and a c tiv e so n s o f th e C hurch, s in c e th e y re c o g n iz e
th e p r i c e l e s s g i f t o f th e R edem ption, a re b id d e n
to e n s u r e , to th e e x t e n t o f t h e i r pow er, t h a t th e
Church may be f r e e to u s e th e s e te c h n ic a l d is c o v e r ie s
i n so f a r a s th e y may a s s i s t th e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f
s o u l s .
I n a s s e r t i n g and c la im in g th e s e r i g h t s f o r th e
C h u rch , i t i s n o t , o f c o u r s e , Our d e s ir e to deny to
th e s t a t e th e r i g h t o f s p re a d in g by th e same m eans
th e news and te a c h in g s t h a t a r e n e c e s s a ry o r u s e f u l
f o r th e common good o f human s o c ie ty .
And f u r t h e r , l e t i t be p e rm itte d ev en to
in d iv i d u a l c i t i z e n s — due re g a rd b ein g p a id to a c t u a l
c irc u m s ta n c e s and th e s a fe g u a rd in g o f p r i n c ip l e s
w h ich prom ote th e common good— to c o n tr ib u te a c c o rd
in g to t h e i r c a p a c ity to th e e n r ic h in g and d e v e lo p
m ent o f t h e i r own and o th e rs * i n t e l l e c t u a l and
s p i r i t u a l c u l t u r e . 1 2 5
s c h o o ls ; b u t he in c lu d e d m en tio n o f program s tr a n s m itte d
i n t o th e fa m ily home so t h a t th e a p p l ic a tio n to a l l b ro ad
c a s t p ro g ram in g seemed l e g it i m a t e ly im p lie d i n h i s s t a t e
m e n t.
A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . c i t . . p . 7; AAS.
X1IX ( S e r . 2; XXIV), 1 3 -1 ^ (O c to b e r 2 3 -2 7 , 1 9 5 7 ), 773:
" E c c le s ia a u te m , cum s a l u t i f e r a e d o o trin a e m a g ia tra
293
i Pope P iu e X II r e a l i z e d t h a t i n th e v a r io u s n a tio n s o f th e
w orld th e r e w ere d i f f e r e n t norm s g o v e rn in g a c c e p t a b i l i t y
o f program c o n t e n t, and t h a t th e s e d if f e r e n c e s were n o t
only a f a c t b u t w ere a l s o v a l id b ecau se o f n a t io n a l m ores
and " c h a r a c t e r ." He th e r e f o r e a p p e a le d to th e o th e r mem
b e rs i n s o c ie ty who s h a re d th e com plex r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
p e r t a i n i n g to t e l e v i s i o n . In M iranda P ro rsu s he s a i d :
Some c o u n t r i e s , in d e e d , la u d a b ly ex c lu d e from
th e t e l e v i s i o n program s ite m s fo rb id d e n to th e
young; b u t i f i t h ap p en s t h a t c e r t a i n p la c e s
a d m it s u c h , t h e r e , a t l e a s t , d e f i n i t e p r e c a u tio n s
a r e a b s o lu te ly e s s e n t i a l . i2 e
s i t , eaq u e om nia h a b e a t, quae ad s a n c tita te m a d isp isc e n d a m
n e c e s s a r ia s u n t , i n v i o l a b i l i iu r e f r u i t u r e a im p e r tie n d i,
quae s i b i ex d iv in o m andato c o n c r e d ita s u n t. Cui s a c r o
s a n c t o i u r i o ffic iu m eorum re s p o n d e a t o p o r t e t , q u i p u b lic a m
irem m o d e ra n tu r; i t a quidem , u t e tia m ad h a s a r t e s , q u ib u s
v e r ita te m v irtu te m q u e p r o p a g e t, e i a d itu s p a te r e d e b e a t.
"Qui v e ro E c c le s ia e s i n c e r i a c tu o s iq u e f i l i i s u n t ,
cum in a e s tim a b i le H ed em p tio n is donum a g n o s c a n t, id e f f i c e r e
p ro v i r i b u s iu b e n tu r , u t eadem te c h n ic i s h is c e i n v e n t i s u t i
p o s s i t , q u a te n u s ad animorum s a n c tita te m c o n f e r a n t.
"Quae tam en E c c le s ia e i u r a a s s e v e ra n tib u s ac
iv in d ic a n tib u s N obis y o lu m tas e s t c i v i l i s o c i e t a t i i u s
m egare earundem a rtiu m ope eo s n u n tio s easque d o c tr in a s
jp ro p a g a n d i, quae re a p s e ad commune humanae c o n s o r tio n is ;
bonum v e l n e c e s s a r ia v e l u t i l i a s i n t .
"Ac p r a e t e r e a s i n g u l i s e tia m c iv ib u s f a s e s t o ,
p e r s p e c t is tam en o p p o rtu n is rerum a d iu n c tis ac s a r t i s sem
p e r te c tis q u e communis b o n i p r i n c i p i i s , p ro f a c u l t a t e c o n -
if e r r e ad suum ip so ru m cetero ru m q u e m e n tis anim ique c u ltu m !
ih is c e a r t i b u s d itan d u m am p lifican d u m q u e."
12^ I b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 29; f AASl p . 8 0 2 ; ;
"S i v e ro c o n t i n g a t , quod p en es quasdam N a tio n ss l a u d a b i l i t e r
iexclusum e s t , u t a l i c u b i t e l e v i s i f i c a e tra n s m is s io n e s s p e c - :
ta c u la a d m it t a n t a d u le s c e n tib u s p r o h i b i t s , tu n c s a lte rn c e r -
ta e c a u tio n e s s u n t omnino n e o e s s a r ia e ."
29V
I t was s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t th e d i r e c t i v e s w hich th e Fope th e n
e n u n c ia te d p e r ta in e d n o t to b r o a d c a s te r s n o r to c i v i l
a u t h o r i t i e s n o r to C hurch a s su ch b u t to th o s e who c o n s t i
tu te d th e t e l e v i s i o n a u d ie n c e . F iu s a p p e a le d f o r p ru d en ce
and v ig il a n c e a s he o u tlin e d th e d u tie s o f p a r e n ts and
e d u c a to rs a s w e ll a s o f th e g e n e ra l members o f th e a u d i
e n c e . He made i t c l e a r t h a t th e s e p e rs o n a l d u tie s w ere
r e q u ir e d by th e n a tu r e o f m ass e n te r ta in m e n t and in fo rm a
t i o n m edia ev en when program s were p re p a re d w ith " e x c e lle n t
p r i n c i p l e s and an u p r ig h t c o n s c ie n c e , on th e p a r t o f th o s e
127
engaged i n th e s e a r t s . " '
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f p a re n ts and e d u c a to r s . As
e a r ly a s 1929 P iu s XI b r i e f l y rem inded p a r e n ts and ed u c a
t o r s o f t h e i r d u tie s to w ard s c h ild r e n and s tu d e n ts i n th e
1 oA
m a tte r o f m o tio n p i c t u r e s , b o o k s, and r a d i o . A gain i n :
19^-5 Fope F iu s X II a sk e d f a t h e r s o f f a m il ie s to p r o t e c t
t h e i r c h i ld r e n from th e m o ral d an g ers o f d is h o n e s ty and
l i c e n t io u s n e s s w hich were d is p la y e d by p r i n t and b ro a d
c a s tin g m edia t h a t la c k e d p ro p e r c o n t r o l s .12^ In 195*+ ;
F iu s X II e x h o rte d th e I t a l i a n b ish o p s a b o u t th e f a m i l y 's j
..................................................... i
l 2?See n . 92 and accom panying t e x t on p . 265 above;
12^ F o r th e o r i g i n a l t e x t s and t r a n s l a t i o n from
Fope F iu s X I 's e n c y c li c a l l e t t e r on e d u c a tio n o f y o u th ,
s e e n . 16 and accom panying t e x t on p p . 209» 2 1 1 -2 1 2 .
1^9se e n . V) and accom panying t e x t on p p . 229 and
230 a b o v e .
295
r o l e i n p r o te c tin g y o u th from in d is c r im in a te ex p o su re to
m ass m e d ia . He u rg e d t h a t C a th o lic s form a r i g h t con*
s c ie n c e a b o u t th e m o r a lity o f u s in g t e l e v i s i o n p r o p e r ly .
" In th e f i r s t p la c e p a r e n ts and te a c h e r s sh o u ld be
e n lig h te n e d , so t h a t th e y may n o t have to w eep, when i t i s
to o l a t e , o v e r th e s p i r i t u a l r u in s o f l o s t in n o cen ce i n
th e s o u ls o f t h e i r c h a r g e s ." 1^0
I n h i s e n c y c lic a l i n 1957 Pope P iu s e la b o r a te d on
th e d u t i e s o f p a r e n ts and e d u c a to r s . He p r a is e d th o s e who
; w ere e d u c a tin g b o th young and a d u l t s p e c ta to r s a b o u t th e
; a e s t h e t i c and m o ral a s p e c ts o f film s and b r o a d c a s ts . He
i en c o u ra g e d t h e i r e f f o r t s to a s s i s t members o f th e a u d ie n c e
to "exam ine a d e q u a te ly and co m p ete n tly th e b e n e f i t s and
th e d a n g e rs o f th e s e show s, and to a r r i v e a t a b a la n c e d
131
, judgm ent on th em ." J He n o t o n ly gave h i s a p p ro v a l to
i su ch s tu d y g ro u p s b u t h e a r t i l y commended them and e x p re s s e d
I h i s d e s ir e t h a t th e y be in tro d u c e d i n to a l l s c h o o ls ,
^ T ra n s la tio n s " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i -
i v a te E f f e c t s , " TPS. I , .1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 10; AAS,
! XLVI ( S e r . 2: X & I), 1 (Ja n u a ry 1 6 , 195*0, 23: "S ian o
; I l l u m i n a t i i n prim e lu o g o i g e n i t o r i e g l i e d u c a to r i,
: a f f in c h d non ab b ian o a p ia n g e r e , quando non sa ra n n o pi&
! i n tem p o , s u l l e ro v in e s p i r i t u a l ! d i in n o cen ze p e r d u te ."
I C f• n . *+ 3 and accom panying t e x t on p p . 231-32 a b o v e , and
I p assim i n s e c tio n above on "Y outh and F am ily ."
^ I j H e A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . c i t . . p . 12;
AAS, XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 13-11 * (O c to b er 2 3 -S 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 780:
! 1 T u f iu v e n e s e t a d u l t i . s a t i u s a p tiu a q u e v e lin g horum s p e c -
1 ta c u lo ru m u t i l i t a t e m e t p e r ic u la p e r s p ic e r e a tte n te q u e co n -
s i d e r a r e . " C f. n n . 7^ and 75 and accom panying t e x t on
i p . 2^-9 a b o v e .
296
Catholic Action groups, and organized societies in local
parishes, l'he Fope summarized the multiple duties of
those charged with the care of young people:
Due moderation in the use of television, pru
dence in admitting the children to viewing accord
ing to their different ages, a balanced judgment
based on what has been seen before, and finally
exclusion of children from what are in any sense
improper spectacles: all these are the duties
which weigh heavily on parents and on all engaged
in education.1-^
Significant by its absence was any reference to organized
pressure groups of parents and educators. The Fope empha
sized personal appraisals and judgments by adults whose
decisions affecting children's viewing were to be based
on: (a) actual experience from having viewed programs
instead of a priori categories of "unacceptable programs";
(b) personal discretion in limiting children and students
in their private use of the media; and (c) individual
application of these decisions in different circumstances
: for children of various ages. Final action was to be
initiated by parents and educators themselves on behalf of
their charges. They were not to demand that broadcasters
assume universal responsibility for offending no age group
Ibid., [The America Frees] p. 29; [AASl p. 803:
"Bectus in televisions adhibenda modus, prudens ad spec-
tandum filiorum admissio ex aetate decernenda, aequa de
visis iam spectaculis aestimatio, ecdenique ab eis. quae
minus addeceant, filiorum exclusio: haec omnia totidem
sunt officia, quibus parentes atque omnes, in quos e due andi
manus incumbit, graviter onerantur."
by any p ro g ram in g w h a ts o e v e r.
In 1961 John X X III commended e d u c a to rs g a th e re d a t
a c o n v e n tio n i n Borne f o r t h e i r co n cern t h a t th e m edia con
t r i b u t e to m e n 's c u l t u r a l p u r s u i t s and to t h e i r f r a t e r n a l
u n d e rs ta n d in g and c h a r i t y . Fope Jo h n acknow ledged th e
m edia a s in s tru m e n ts o f le g itim a te r e c r e a t io n and p l e a s u r e .
But he ask ed t h a t th e human in g e n u ity w hich had in v e n te d
th e s e t o o l s m ig h t a l s o p u t them to s i g n i f i c a n t u se i n
i n s t r u c t i n g m e n 's m inds and i n s p i r i n g th e human s p i r i t .
He reminded them in a few words that together with instruct
ing men in the knowledge and skills of worldly wisdom the
m edia sh o u ld be u se d to advance m a n 's s p i r i t u a l d e v e lo p -
133
ment through programs with some religious content. The
Pontiff did not offer any specific details about the types
: or extent of such programing.
Responsibilities of the church. Papal statements
about the Roman Catholic Church's role in radio and tele
vision communications are here analyzed first according to
general responsibilities and then in four subsections per
taining to the Church's positive use of the media. The
| latter includes: (a) broadcasts of religious programs;
(b) training Catholics to use media both actively and
passively; (c) cooperation with professional broadcasters;
133AAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 15 (Becember 2 8 , 1961),!
815- 16. ----
298
and (d) directives for establishing national Catholic
offices of radio and television.
Papal statements about general responsibilities of
the Catholic Church included negative as well as positive
directives, She popes had commented on the Vatican Radio
station and using radio for religious programing in 1931,
1939 > 19**-1> 1 9 ^8 , 1 9 5 1» and 1953* But the first statement
of the Church's broad responsibilities was made in
Pius XII's written exhortation to the Italian bishops on
January 1 , 195*+-. The Pontiff told them that the profound
influence of television for good or evil put before the
public a new series of delicate and urgent questions of
conscience which demanded active and organized vigilance.
Because the Italian bishops shared the pope's "preoccupa
tions" with these questions and because he was personally
"convinced, therefore, of the gravity of the matter," Pius
exhorted them to continue their efforts, especially by
I -
combined action according to the norms that he outlined in
I 'a k
the discourse. In describing the beneficial and the
dangerous effects of television upon the family especially.
Pope Pius noted the responsibility for "alert and active
■ ^ ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and
P r iv a te E f f e c t s ," TPS, I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 5» AAS.
XLVI ( S e r . 2: X X I)7 T (J a n u a iy 1 6 , 1 95*0, 1 8 : " p a te m e
s o l l e c i t u d i n i . " " G o m p r e s i , p e r ta n to , d e l l a g r a v ity d e l l a ;
m a t e r i a •"
299
v ig il a n c e on th e p a r t o f a l l " in o rd e r t h a t th e a n t i c i p a t e d
s e lf-re g u l& to x y norm s o f conduct among b r o a d o a s te r s and the;
e x t e r n a l l y im posed g u id e lin e s by p u b lic a u t h o r i t i e s m ig h t
135
a c h ie v e t h e i r f u l l e f f e c t . J P iu s s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p e a le d
to th e b is h o p s , c l e r g y , and l a i t y to j o i n i n t h i s " h o ly
c r u s a d e ." (Through th e work o f C a th o lic A c tio n g ro u p s he
u rg e d " th e n eed f o r tim e ly a c tio n , b e fo re i t i s to o l a t e ,
to make t h e i r p re s e n c e f e l t in t h i s f i e l d . " He sounded
th e k e y n o te o f h i s a p p e a l when he s tr o n g ly em phasized th e
d u ty o f e v e iy p e rs o n to h e lp sa fe g u a rd th e p eo p le fro m
p o s s ib le a b u ses o f th e m ass m edia:
No one h a s th e r i g h t to w atch p a s s iv e ly th e r a p i d
d ev elo p m en ts i n t e l e v i s i o n , when he r e a l i z e s th e
e x tre m e ly p o w e rfu l in flu e n c e i t u n d o u b te d ly c a n
e x e r c is e on th e n a t i o n a l l i f e , e i t h e r i n p ro m o tin g
good o r s p re a d in g e v i l . 1*^
He made i t c l e a r t h a t C a th o lic s were n o t to r e s t r i c t them
s e lv e s sim p ly to e s t a b l i s h i n g p a s s iv e p r o te c tio n s a g a i n s t j
, e v i l b u t w ere to work v ig o ro u s ly to p ro d u ce good e f f e c t s ,
so t h a t t e l e v i s i o n be n o t m erely m o ra lly a c c e p ta b le b u t
a ls o an in s tru m e n t o f C h r is tia n e d u c a tio n . In t h i s way
|
th e m edia would c o n tr ib u te to th e advance o f th e kingdom
J-35i b i d . . [TPS] p . 8; [ AASl p . 21: "fe n e c e s s a r i a
d a p a r t e d i t u i t i u n a a t t e n t a ed o p ero sa v i g i l a n z a ." .
I 3 6 l b i d . . [TPS] p . 8; [ AASl p . 2 2 : " in q u e s ta
s a n c ta c r o c i a t a . " " A n e ss u n o e l e o i t o co n tem p lare i n e r t e i
r a p i d ! s v ilu p p i d e l l a T e le v is io n s , quando s i sa i l p o te n -
tis s im o in f l u s s o che e s s a indubbiam ente h in g rad o d i
e s e r c i t a r e s u l l a v i t a n a z io n a le , s i a n e l prom uovere i l
b e n e , come n e l d if f o n e r e i l m a le ."
300
o f God a s w e ll a s o f a r t , s c ie n c e , te c h n o lo g y , and econom
i c s . The d e t a i l s o f t h i s a c tiv e p a r t i c i p a t i o n by C a th o lic
l e a d e r s a r e d e s c rib e d i n th e fo llo w in g s e c t i o n s . The fo p e
d e s c r ib e d a s " v a s t and ard u o u s" th e p r e s e r v a tio n o f
C h r i s t i a n m o r a lity and th e p o s it iv e a c t i v i t y ex p e c te d o f
th e b is h o p s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n e s t a b l i s h i n g th e n a t i o n a l
C a th o lic b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s w hich a re d is c u s s e d belo w .
I n h i s e n c y c li c a l i n 1957 P iu s X II s t a t e d two
re a s o n s f o r th e C h u rc h 's co n cern ab o u t b ro a d c a s tin g :
( a ) h e r d u ty to p r o t e c t th e s o u ls o f men from m o ral e v i l
b e c a u se " th e s e new fo rm s o f a r t have a v e ry g r e a t in f lu e n c e
on th e m anner o f th in k in g and a c tin g o f in d iv id u a ls an d o f
s o c i e t y " ; and (b ) h e r d u ty to b rin g to men th e m essage o f
e t e r n a l s a l v a t i o n , w hich work th e m odem m edia re n d e re d
137
more f e a s i b l e . The i n i t i a t i v e t h a t prom pted th e com
p o s i t i o n o f t h i s e n c y c li c a l had come from th e c le r g y and
l a i t y who had re q u e s te d th e fope to p u b lis h g e n e ra l n o rm s.
The P o n t i f f resp o n d ed t h a t " y ie ld in g • . . to th e p e t i t i o n s
o f th e b is h o p s and th o s e laym en who have made a stu d y o f
th e s e a r t s , W e w ish by t h i s l e t t e r to g iv e d i r e c t i v e s and
i n s t r u c t i o n s w ith re g a rd to b o th r a d io b ro a d c a s tin g and
13 7 u ie A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . c i t .« p . 2j
A AS, X ilX ( S e r . 2s XXIV), 1 3 -1 ^ (O c to b er 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ),
766: Mhae n o v i g e n e r is a r t e s multum multumque c o n f e r u h t
ad p e c u lia re m sin g u lo ru m u n iv e rsa e q u e hominum c o m m u n ita tis
c o g i t a n d i agendique modum."
301
138
t e l e v i s i o n . " P iu s em phasized t h a t he w ished by th e
e n c y c l i c a l n o t o n ly to s e t f o r t h th e C h r is tia n norm s
r e g a r d in g b ro a d c a s t m edia b u t a ls o to s tim u la te i n i t i a t i v e
f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g p la n s o f a c t i o n H e a ffirm e d t h a t he
h ad fo llo w e d th e developm ent o f th e m edia " w ith l i v e l y
i n t e r e s t and h ig h h o p e s , b u t a ls o w ith s e r io u s a n x i e t y ." 1^ 0
And he r e p e a te d a t th e c o n c lu s io n o f h i s le n g th y l e t t e r
t h a t th e h ie ra rc h y was n o t o n ly to e x e r c is e p a s s iv e
v ig il a n c e a g a in s t th e e x c e s s e s o f th o s e who ab u sed th e
m edia b u t was a ls o to u s e i t s a u t h o r it y i n p o s it i v e
nil.]
a c t i o n . Many o f P iu s* d i r e c t i v e s to C hurch l e a d e r s i n
t h i s docum ent c o n c e rn e d s p e c if ic d e t a i l s o f su ch p o s i t i v e
a c t i o n to be ta k e n by them . She d e t a i l s o f th e
C®he A m erica P r e s s ] p . 5; [AASl p . 770:
"Nos p r e c ib u s sacro ru m P astorum la ico ru m q u e hominum harum
a r tiu m stu d io so ru m c o n c e d e n te s , cupim us p e r E n c y c lic a s h a s
L i t t e r a s norm as e t p r a e c e p ta im p e r t i r e , quae ad r a d i o -
p h o n ic a s e tia m a u d itio n e s a tq u e ad te le v is io n e m a t t i n e a n t . "
^ 3 9 it> id . The A m erica P re s s t r a n s l a t i o n : " . . .
w ith a view n o t o n ly to s e t t i n g f o r t h c l e a r l y th e C h r is tia n
d o c tr in e i n t h i s m a t t e r , b u t to s tim u la te s u i t a b l e p la n s
and i n i t i a t i v e s . " The AAS o f f i c i a l t e x t : " . • • u t non
modo C h r is tia n a h ac de r e d o c t r i n e i n p le n a .lu c e p o n a tu r ,
se d u t e tia m o p p o rtu n a s u s c ip ia n tu r p r o p o s ita e t i n c e p t a .
. . ."
Il+^ l b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 26; [ AASl p . 799:
" s tu d io s o anim o, a l a c r i spe g ra v ib u sq u e a f f e c t i s o l l i c i t u d -
in ib u s p r o s e c u ti su m as."
^ ■ ^ I b id ., [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 30; [AASl p p . 80*f-
8 0 5 : "vos p a ie m a a d h o r t a t i sum us, non solum ad v ig ile m
agendam c u r am, sed ad actuosam e tia m v e s tra m ope ram
a u c to rita te m q u e in te rp o n d en d am ."
302
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h a t th e fope o u tlin e d a re g iv e n i n th e
f o llo w in g s e c t i o n s .
O th e r comments on th e g e n e ra l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f
th e C hurch i n th e s e new m edia were made by P iu s X II i n h i s
a d d r e s s a t th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f new equipm ent a t th e V a tic a n
R adio s t a t i o n i n 1957* He n o te d h i s own d u ti e s a s pope
and th e d u tie s o f b is h o p s and a l l C a th o lic s to u t i l i z e
r a d io i n o r d e r to f u l f i l l more e f f e c t i v e l y and more e a s i l y
C h r i s t 's command to p re a c h th e G ospel to e v e ry c r e a t u r e .
P iu s was e x p l i c i t i n u rg in g t h a t
th e G ospel o f o u r D ivine Redeemer m ust be p re a c h e d
n o t o n ly by tim e-h o n o re d m ethods, b u t a l s o by
m eans r e c e n tly b ro u g h t in to u s e , i f we d e s ir e a s
we a l l s in c e r e ly o u g h t to do t h a t C h r i s t 's kingdom
may d a i ly p ro s p e r more an d more and a t le n g th
a c h ie v e co m p lete v i c t o r y . 14" 2
The C h u rc h 's a c tiv e co n c e rn f o r s p re a d in g th e word o f
C h r is t h ad prom pted h i s p re d e c e s s o rs to e s t a b l i s h th e
• ^ ^ T r a n s la tio n : "V atica n R ad io : T ru th i n a Trou
b le d W o rld ," TPS. IV , 3 (W in te r, 1957),.315-16; AAS, XLIX
( S e r . 2: XXIV1 ) , 16 (November 25. 1957)» 963~6*f: liNon
ta n tu m s u e t i s ac t r a l a t i c i i s m o a is, n e c e s s a r i i s quidem ,
D iv in i R ed em p to ris E vangelium propagandum e s t , s e d o p io u s
! e tia m re c e n s i n usum i n d u e t i s . s i volum us, quod re a p s e
omnes v e l l e debem us, u t c o tid ie im p e n siu s e iu s. Regnum
i • . • tamdem [ s i c ] a liq u a n d o ubiq u e v i g e a t a tq u e triu m p h et."
By "kingdom " was m e a n t, a s th e Pope q u o ted from th e litu rg y :
" th e kingdom o f t r u t h and l i f e ; th e kingdom o f h o lin e s s
an d g r a c e ; th e kingdom o f j u s t i c e , lo v e , and p e a c e ." He
added t h a t "We a r e in f lu e n c e d , t h e r e f o r e , by no d e s i r e f o r ,
a n e a r t h l y kingdom . The ta s k com m itted to Us p r im a r il y
c o n c e rn s im m ortal s o u ls and th e s e c u rin g o f e v e r l a s t i n g
h a p p in e s s f o r m ankind. . . . W e d e s ir e n o th in g more th a n
t o em brace th e men and n a tio n s o f e v e ry r a c e i n c h a r i t y . "
I b i d . , [TPS] p . 316; [ AASl p p . 96^-65.
303
V a tic a n R adio s t a t i o n and prom pted him to expand i t s te c h
n i c a l i n s t a l l a t i o n s . F u rth e r d e t a i l s a b o u t V a tic a n R adio
a r e p ro v id e d i n C h a p te r V,
In h i s a d d re s s i n 1957 to th e p a s to r s and L en te n
p r e a c h e r s o f Rome P iu s X II n o te d t h a t C a th o lic s m ust
d efe n d th e m se lv e s a g a in s t in d e c e n t f ilm s and t e l e v i s i o n
p ro g ram s a s w e ll a s books and m agazines by jo in in g o th e r
g ro u p s co n cern ed w ith p ro p e r m o ra lity and th e r i g h t s of,
r e l i g i o n , a s d e s c rib e d above i n th e s e c tio n on governm en
t a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . ’ 1 ’ ^
Pope John r e f l e c t e d h i s p r e d e c e s s o r 's aw a re n ess o f
and c o n c e rn f o r b ro a d c a s t m edia when he began h i s a p o s to lic
l e t t e r o f 1959 by e x p la in in g th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e
o f f i c e o f Supreme P o n t i f f . As pope he had to be c o n s ta n tly
^See n . 115 and accom panying t e x t on p p . 283“ 8^
above • The AAS o r i g i n a l I t a l i a n t e x t : " . . . i c a t t o l i c i ;
d i Roma d ifen d a n o da s& i . d i r i t t i d e l l a r e l i g i o n e e d e l
buon co stu m e, e , i n u n io n e con l e a l t r e one a te p e rso n e d i
o g n i te n d e n z a , ma p en so se d e l l a m o ra litA d e l p o p o lo — ,
s o ll e v in o u n a e n e rg ic a p r o t e s t a d e l l a p u b b lic a o p in io n e ,
l a c u i r e a z io n e , m ostrando q u ale A veram en te ' i l comune
s e n tim e n to ,' imponga a l l e A u to ritA c o m p e te n ti d i a d d iv e n ire
a i n e c e s s a r i p r o w e d i m e n t i A A S , LXIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 5 !
( A p r il 1 7 , 1 9 5 7 ), 2 1 1 . The F ren ch t r a n s l a t i o n i n th e j
B u lle t i n d ' In fo rm a tio n s " . . . i l f a u t q u e, dan s de t e l s |
c a s , l e s c a th o liq u e s d e fe n d a n t eux-m%mes l e s d r o i t s de l a I
r e l i g i o n e t d e s bonnes m oeurs e t , en u n io n avec l e s a u t r e s i
p e ra o n n e s honn& tes de to u te s te n d a n c e s , m ais a o u o ie u s e s de j
l a m o r a lity du p e u p le , i l s s u s c i t e n t une ^ n e rg iq u e p r o t e s -
t a t i o n de 1 ' o p in io n p u b liq u e , d o n t l a r e a c t i o n , d ^ m o n tran t
q u e l e s t v ra im e n t l e 's e n tim e n t common,' im pose aux
a u t o r it r f s c o m p ^ te n te s -le s me s u re a n ^ c e a s a ir e s ." ( p . 2 )
a t t e n t i v e to th e n e e d s o f th e Church and c o n s id e r w ith
p a r t i c u l a r c a re a l l a s p e c ts o f m odem c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a t
in f lu e n c e m a n 's s p i r i t u a l l i f e , among w hich m ust he co u n ted
r a d i o , t e l e v i s i o n , and m o tio n p i c t u r e s .
W e th e r e f o r e d e s ir e to make Our own, and to con
f ir m , th e e x h o r ta tio n s and commands o f t h a t same
P re d e c e s s o r o f O u rs, and to do w hat W e can to
tu r n in to a p o s i t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r v i r t u e and
good b e h a v io r th o s e means w hich th & jjiv in e Good
n e s s h a s p la c e d a t m an 's d is p o s a l
He e x p l i c i t l y o rd e re d a l l b ish o p s to e x e r c is e v ig il a n c e
a n d , c a r e f u l l y g u id e d by e x p e rie n c e , to ta k e s te p s to p u t
i n t o a c t i o n th e v a r io u s form s o f a p o s to lic work recommended
by P iu s X II i n M iranda P r o r s u s . Pope John s in g le d o u t th e ;
n e e d to e s t a b l i s h n a t i o n a l C a th o lic b ro a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s
i n e a c h c o u n tiy . He enum erated th e d e t a i l e d f u n c tio n s o f
th e P o n t i f i c a l Commission f o r Cinem a, R a d io , and T ele v isio n ,
w hich he h e re co n firm ed and r a is e d to a perm anent s t a t u s
a s an O ffic e o f th e H oly See i n th e V a tic a n b ecau se "w hat
to u c h e s th e r i g h t and a u th o r ity o f th e A p o s to lic See and
th e v e ry n a tu r e o f th e above-m entioned means o f a u d io
v i s u a l com m unication demand u n ity o f d i r e c t i o n and e x e c u - |
t i o n . " llf5
lM f T r a n s la tio n : "Boni P a s t o r i s . " The C a th o lic
M ind. L V II, llM f (J u ly -A u g u s t. 1 9 5 7 ). 368; AAS. L I ( S e r . 3si
T T P * ( A p r il 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ), .I8*f: " e x h o rta tio n e s e t p r a e c e p ta !
eiu sd em D e c e e s o ris No s t r i resum e re e t c o n firm a re cupim us
a tq u e in s tru m e n ta i l i a , a b en ig n issim o Deo hom inibus
i m p e r t i t a , p ro v i r i b u s c e r t a e f f i o e r e adium enta v i r t u t i s
e t p r o b i t a t i s . "
llf 5 l b i d . . [ The C a th o lic M ind! p . 369; [AAS] p . l8 5 s !
"Cum autem n a tu r a i p s a eiu sm o d i in stru m en to ru m ad v o c e s
305
In h i s a d d re s s on th e t h i r t i e t h a n n iv e rs a ry o f th e
V a tic a n R adio s t a t i o n i n 1961 and a g a in on th e o c c a s io n o f
h i s p e r s o n a l v i s i t to th e r e c e n tly e n la rg e d s t a t i o n ,
Jo h n X X III commented how th e s t a t i o n p e rm itte d th e p o p es
t o toe h e a rd th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld , th e re b y f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r
d e s ir e and o b lig a tio n to b r in g th e m essage o f C h r is t to
1**6
a l l m en.
The s p e c i f i c a c t i v e u s e s o f b ro a d c a s tin g by th e
I C a th o lic C hurch w ere o u tlin e d by th e popes i n docum ents
t h a t w ere is s u e d from 1931 th ro u g h 1 961, a s ta b u la te d i n
T ab le 1 0 , page 2 1 0 . The f o u r p o s itiv e a r e a s o f C hurch
a c t i o n w ere th e b r o a d c a s t o f r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram s, t r a i n i n g ’
C a th o lic s to c o n t r ib u t e e f f e c t i v e l y to th e m ed ia, c o o p e ra
t i o n w ith p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s , and th e e s ta b lis h m e n t :
o f n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s to c o o rd in a te th e C h u rc h 's b r o a d c a s t
in g a c t i v i t i e s . The s in g le a r e a m ost c o n s is te n tly d i s
c u s se d by . th e po p es was th e b ro a d c a s t o f C a th o lic pro g ram s
th ro u g h s e c u la r and C a th o lic s t a t i o n s , in c lu d in g th e p a p a l j
b r o a d c a s ts th ro u g h th e V a tic a n R adio s t a t i o n , from 1 9 3 1 , !
I im ag in e sque p ro p ag an d a s aptorum p o s t u l e t — e tia m ad S e d is
■ A p o s to lio a e iu s e t a u c to r ita te r n quod a t t i n e t — , u t i n
re b u s d i r i g e n d i s a g e n d isq u e u n i t a s s e r v e t u r . • • •" See
th e f o llo w in g c h a p te r f o r d e t a i l s o f t h i s P o n t i f i c a l Com
m is s io n .
^ ^ T r a n s l a t i o n o f f i r s t a d d r e s s : "V a tic a n R adio
a f t e r T h ir ty Y e a rs ," TPS, V II , 2 (1 9 6 1 ), l ^ O - ^ i AAS, L I I I i
( S e r . 3 s I I I ) , 3 (M arch 29 , 1 9 6 1 ), l 5 l - ? 3 . S eco n cE ad d ress i
o r i g i n a l t e x t : AAS, L I I I ( S e r. 3s I I I ) , 12 (O c to b e r 3 0 ,
1 9 6 1 ), 6 8 2 -8 3 . -----
306
i n t h i r t e e n o f th e e ig h te e n y e a r s i n w hich docum ents r e l e
v a n t to b r o a d c a s tin g w ere i s s u e d , and i n th ir ty - o n e o f
th o s e f o r ty - s e v e n d o cu m en ts, th e po p es commented a b o u t th e
b r o a d c a s t o f C a th o lic r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s, l e s s p ro m in en t
w ere th e p a p a l e x h o r ta tio n s to t r a i n C a th o lic s f o r t h i s
w ork. S ta te m e n ts a b o u t t h i s n eed i n th e Church w ere made
i n th e m a jo r docum ents is s u e d i n 195^» 1957 j and 1959*
The q u e s tio n o f c o o p e ra tio n w ith p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s
was im p lie d i n a docum ent i n 195^ > was re p e a te d e x p l i c i t l y
i n two docum ents i n 1 9 5 7 , and was a g a in im p lie d i n two
docum ents i n 1 9 6 1 . In 195^ P iu s X II f i r s t en co u rag ed th e
e s ta b lis h m e n t o f n a t i o n a l C a th o lic o f f i c e s o f r a d io and
t e l e v i s i o n , s i m i l a r to th e o f f i c e s e s ta b li s h e d i n th e
1930*8 f o r m o tio n p i c t u r e s . In two o th e r docum ents o f
1 9 th e same fo p e r e p e a te d h i s recom m endations and i n
1957 s tr o n g ly u rg e d t h a t th e s e o f f i c e s be e s t a b l i s h e d . In
1959 Jo h n X X III so lem n ly r e i t e r a t e d P i u s 's a p p e a l and
r a i s e d th e s t a t u s o f th e V a tic a n * s P o n t i f i c a l Commission
f o r m ass m edia w hich P iu s had e s ta b li s h e d i n 195*+•
1 . P o s itiv e u s e o f b r o a d c a s tin g : C a th o lic p ro
g ra m in g . In th e f i r s t r a d io a d d re s s tr a n s m itte d by
V a tic a n B adio i n 1931 Pope P iu s XI p r a is e d th e medium f o r
m aking i t p o s s ib le f o r th e p o n t i f f 's v o ic e to be h e a rd ljy
C h r i s t i a n s th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld . He u s e d th e u n iq u e
o p p o r tu n ity to a d d re s s h im s e lf p e r s o n a lly and o f f i c i a l l y
307
to God th e C re a to r and to evexy c r e a tu r e ; to C a th o lic s a t
la r g e and to g ro u p s w ith in th e C hurch: th e h ie r a r c h y ,
r e l i g i o u s , m is s io n a r ie s , and th e l a i t y and c le r g y in
g e n e r a l; to th o s e n o t i n u n io n w ith Rome; to th o s e who
g o v ern ed and who w ere g o v ern ed ; to th e r i c h , th e p o o r,
w o rk e rs , and th e in f ir m and a f f l i c t e d . A fte r h i s p a t e r n a l
m essages w hich he a d d re s s e d to e a c h group in th e second
p e r s o n , th e Pope c lo s e d by p r e s e n tin g f o r th e f i r s t tim e
th ro u g h any mass medium o f com m unication th e p a p a l ap o s
t o l i c b l e s s i n g . Thus was in a u g u ra te d th e f i r s t V a tic a n
u se o f r a d io b r o a d c a s tin g to a d d re s s and to b le s s a s i f
p r e s e n t th e C a th o lic s and a l l p e o p le th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld .
T h is a c t i v e u t i l i z a t i o n o f r a d io f o r fo rm a l p a p a l communi
c a tio n and f o r b e sto w in g th e p a p a l b le s s in g e s ta b li s h e d
th e p r o p r ie ty o f b r o a d c a s tin g a s an in s tru m e n t i n th e
d i r e c t s e r v ic e o f r e l i g i o n .
I n 1939 th e r e c e n tly crow ned P iu s X II a d d re s s e d an;
e n c y c li c a l e p i s t l e to th e h ie ra rc h y o f th e U n ited S t a t e s . j
I n i t he p r a is e d th e w ork o f th e N a tio n a l C a th o lic W e lfa re ;
C on feren ce and i t s la y o r g a n iz a tio n s , in c lu d in g th e
N a tio n a l C o u n cil o f C a th o lic Men (NCCM) whose C a th o lic
Hour r a d io program s h ad been b ro a d c a s t w eekly s in c e 1931
th ro u g h th e N a tio n a l B ro a d c a s tin g Company. P iu s e x p lic itly ;
commended t h i s r a d io a p o s to la te o f th e NCCM :
W e have le a r n e d w ith n o t l i t t l e jo y t h a t y o u r !
[ C a th o lic d io c e s a n ] P re s s i s a s tu rd y cham pion o f
C a th o lic p r i n c i p l e s , t h a t th e M arconi R adio—whose '
308
v o ic e i s h e a rd i n an i n s t a n t round th e w o rld —
m a rv e lo u s in v e n tio n , and e lo q u e n t image o f th e
a p o s t o l ic faith t h a t em braces a l l m a h k in d --is
f r e q u e n tly and a d v a n ta g e o u sly p u t to u se in
o r d e r to e n s u re th e w id e s t p o s s ib le prom ulga
t i o n o f a l l t h a t c o n c e rn s th e C hurch. W e com
mend th e good a c c o m p lish e d .
Some com m entators have su g g e ste d t h a t th e P o n t i f f 's n e x t
s e n te n c e r e f e r r e d to th e contem p o rary a c t i v i t i e s o f
R everend C h a rle s E . C o u g h lin in R oyal Oak, M ich ig an , whose
r a d io l e c t u r e s on s o c i a l and econom ic p r i n c i p l e s d u rin g
th e 1 9 3 0 's had a ro u se d v ig o ro u s r e a c tio n th ro u g h o u t th e
n a t i o n :
B ut l e t th o se who f u l f i l t h i s m in is tr y be c a r e f u l
to ad h ere to th e d i r e c t i v e s o f th e te a c h in g
C hurch even when th e y e x p la in and prom ote w hat
p e r t a i n s to th e s o c i a l p ro b lem s; f o r g e t f u l o f
p e r s o n a l g a i n , d e s p is in g p o p u la r it y , i m p a r t i a l ,
l e t them sp eak 'a s from God, b e fo re God, in
C h r i s t . ' ( I I C o r ., 2 , 17)1* '
In th e b e g in n in g o f h i s r a d io m essage c e l e b r a t i n g
th e f i f t i e t h a n n iv e r s a r y o f th e s o c i a l e n c y c lic a l Rerum
1 ?The E n g lis h t e x t was p u b lis h e d i n AAS, XXXI '
( S e r . 2 : V I) , 15 (November 2 5 , 1 9 3 9 ), 6 5 2 . The o r i g i n a l
E n g lis h v e r s io n was p rec e d ed i n th e AAS by th e V a tic a n
t r a n s l a t i o n in to L a t i n , w hich on p . 6^1 re n d e re d th e l a s t
s e n te n c e q u o ted ab o v e: "A t c a v e a t q u i huiusm odi o f f i c i a
p r a e s t a n t , u t e tia m i n r e s o c i a l i e x p lic a n d a v e l promovenda
e c c l e s i a s t i c ! m a g i s t e r i i i n s t i t u t i o n i b u s h a e re a n t; p ro p ria e
u t i l i t a t i s o b l i v i o s i , g lo r io la e non c u p i d i, non facio n u m
p a r t e s s e c t a n t e s , lo q u a n tu r 's i c u t ex L eo, coram L eo , i n
C h r i s t i ' ( I I C o r ., I I , 1 7 ) ." E n g lis h t e x t : see " S ertum
L a e t i t i a e : to th e C hurch i n th e U n ite d S ta te s : E n c y c lic a l;
L e t t e r o f.P o p e P iu s X II on th e O ccasion o f th e , 1 5 0 th A nni
v e r s a r y o f th e E s ta b lis h m e n t o f th e A m erican H ie ra rc h y "
[November 1 , 1939] (W ash in g to n , D . C .: N a tio n a l C a th o lic
W elfare C o n fe re n c e . 1 9 3 9 )• P* l5 » P o r d e t a i l s o f th e
b r o a d c a s tin g a c t i v i t i e s o r R a th e r C oughlin see C h a p te r V II, j
and o f th e N C C M se e C h a p te r V I I I .
Novarum. P iu s X II d e v o te d t h i r t y l i n e s o f th e t e x t to men
ti o n i n g th e f u n c tio n o f V a tic a n Radio w hich tr a n s m itte d to
a w o rld a t w ar th e w ords o f peace and lo v e . The P o n t i f f
d e s c r ib e d h i s own jo y and s a t i s f a c t i o n in h a v in g a l l
C a th o lic s h e a r th e v o ic e o f t h e i r "Common F a th e r" i n t h i s
"w o rld -w id e C a th o lic m eetin g " made p o s s ib le by r a d i o . He
was g r a t e f u l f o r t h i s e l e c t r o n ic b rid g e w hich u n ite d
p e o p le o f a l l la n d s . "And th u s w hat f o r many i s a weapon
o f w ar becom es f o r Us a h e a v e n -se n t means o f p a t i e n t )
p e a c e f u l a p o s t o l a t e . • . . With g en u in e d e l i g h t W e to d a y
l*+8
make u s e o f so w o n d erfu l an in s tru m e n t. . . . " The
C a th o lic C h u rc h 's a c tiv e u se o f th e medium was made e v id e n t
i n th e c o n te n t a s w e ll a s i n th e f a c t o f t h i s le n g th y p ap al
r a d io m essage b ro a d c a s t to th e w orld i n e i g h t la n g u a g e s .
The o f f i c i a l E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n was b ro a d c a s t th ro u g h
V a tic a n R adio im m ed ia tely a f t e r th e o r i g i n a l I t a l i a n and
F re n ch v e r s io n s ) and was fo llo w ed by t r a n s l a t i o n s spoken
i n S p a n is h ) German) P o rtu g u e se ) P o lis h ) and D u tch .
l ^ T h e o f f i c i a l E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n was p u b lis h e d
i n AAS, XXXIII ( S e r . 2 : V I I I ) , 6 (June 2 3 , 19*H ), 2 1 7 .
E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n a l s o a v a ila b le . i n Y zerm ans. Ma.i o r j
A d d re sse s o f Pope P iu s X II: V o l. I ( S t . P a u l: The N o rth j
C e n tr a l P u b lis h in g C o ., ,1 9 b l;, p p . 26-27 f f • O r ig in a l
I t a l i a n t e x t , [AAS] i b i d . , p p . 19 5 -9 6 : " . • . P a d r e comunej
. . . ad u n a b rev e u n iv e r s a le a d u n a ta c a t t o l i c a . • • •" !
"[C ]o n ta n to m aggior g r a tit u d in e sa lu tia m o i l ra p id !s s im o
p o n te d i u n io n s , che i l g en io in v e n tiv o d e l l 'et& n o s t r a
l a n c i a . . . . E c ib che p e r m o lti b arma d i l o t t a , s i
tra n s fo rm a p e r Hoi i n stru m en to p r o w id e n z ia le d i a p o s - ;
t o l a t o o p e ro so e p a c i f i c o . . • • Con s in c e ro com piacim ento
Ci se rv ia m o o g g i d i u n t a l mezzo m e ra v ig lio s o , p e r a t t i r a i e 1
l 'a t t e n z i o n e d e l mondo c a t t o l i c o so p ra una r ic o r r e n z a , . * •'
310
Not u n t i l lo n g a f t e r th e Second World War d id P iu s
a g a in comment upon u s e o f r a d io by th e C hurch, a lth o u g h
d u rin g th e war th e V a tic a n Radio s e rv e d a s a com m unications
c e n t e r f o r lo c a tin g r e fu g e e s th ro u g h o u t th e w a r.ll+^ In
19^8 P iu s X II w rote to th e S u p e rio r G e n e ra l o f th e S o c ie ty
o f J e s u s c o n c e rn in g th e " A p o stle sh ip o f P ra y e r" p r o j e c t o f
t h a t r e l i g i o u s o r d e r . At th e o u t s e t o f h i s e p i s t l e th e
Pope commended th e o r g a n i z a t i o n 's e f f e c t i v e u t i l i z a t i o n
o f r a d io and f ilm s i n a s s i s t i n g C a th o lic s to g r e a t e r ap o s
t o l i c e n d e a v o rs . T h at r a d io work: in c lu d e d th e S acred H e a rt
P rogram s e r i e s b ro a d c a s t i n th e U n ite d S ta te s and i n S o u th
A m erican c o u n t r ie s . P iu s n o te d th e f i t t i n g u se o f su ch a
medium i n th e s e rv ic e o f th e Church w h ich C h r is t had t o l d
to te a c h a l l n a tio n s
In 1951 when P iu s solem nly d e s ig n a te d th e A rch an g el
G a b rie l h e a v e n ly p a tr o n o f a l l te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s, th e
t h i s and o th e r f u n c tio n s o f th e V a tic a n Badioj
se e th e fo llo w in g c h a p te r .
15°AAS, XL ( S e r . 2: XV), 12 (November 2 1 , 1 9 ^ 8 ),
500: " s e d e tia m r e c e n tis s im is a e t a t i s n o s tr a e i n v e n t i s ,
c in e m a to g ra p h ic a v i d e l i c e t a r t e a tq u e u n d is r a d io p h o n ic is ,
s t u d e a t i s c h r i s t i f i d e l e s im buere s p i r i t u a p o s to lic o , u t i
d e c e t membra i l l i u s E c c le s ia e , c u i a Domino ip s o d ic tu m |
e s t : 'E u n te s d o c e te omnes g e n t e s . [ M a t t . 2 8 , 19] The '
s y n ta x o f th e t e x t m ig h t be c o n s tru e d to a s s o c ia te u t d e c e t
( " a s i s f i t t i n g " ) n o t w ith th e r e f e r e n c e to u s in g th e medial
w ith an a p o s to lic s p i r i t b u t w ith s t u d e a t i s . . . im buere
( " e f f o r t s to i n s t i l l " ) i n C a th o lic s su ch an a p o s to lic
s p i r i t . N e v e rth e le s s th e f i r s t p o r tio n o f th e e x p l i c i t
com m endation would rem a in u n ch an g ed .
3X1
P o n t i f f enum erated th e p o s it i v e b e n e f i t s o f b ro a d c a s t
m edia among w hich he in c lu d e d t h e i r pow er to im p a rt r e l i
g io u s norm s o f co n d u ct and to c a r r y to a l l p e o p le th e
v o ic e o f th e pope by w hich s o u ld o f men c o u ld be d ir e c te d
to God, Thus he c laim ed t h a t th e C a th o lic Church w ish ed
to n o u r is h , to p ro m o te, and to g u ard th e s e m edia a s much
a s i t c o u ld by invoicing th e a s s is ta n c e o f th e a n g e lic
s p i r i t . I t i s n o te w o rth y t h a t P iu s X II to o k t h i s s te p
b e c a u s e , a s was cu sto m ary i n many p a p a l a c t i o n s , many o u t
s ta n d in g men o f v a r io u s n a tio n s who w ere e x p e rie n c e d in
th e s e m edia had a p p e a le d f o r su ch an ap p o in tm en t o f a
p a tr o n . B ecause th e s e r e q u e s ts r e f l e c t e d th e P o n t i f f 's
own p r i o r co n cern and c o n v ic tio n o f th e g r e a t s ig n if ic a n c e
151
o f m ass m ed ia, he m ost g la d ly c o n s e n te d .
I n h is r a d io a d d re s s to Colom bia i n 1953 on th e
o c c a s io n o f th e in a u g u ra tio n o f a C a th o lic r a d io s t a t i o n ,
P iu s r e f e r r e d to h i s p re v io u s s ta te m e n ts ab o u t th e
l5lti;E iUsmodi in s tru m e n t a . . . m ultum multumque
v a l e n t • • • ad r e l i g i o n i s p r a e c e p ta im p e rtie n d a , ad
Suprem i P a s t o r i s vocem e P e tr ia n o S o lio e d i t am u sq u e q u aq u e!
g en tiu m p ro feren d am , e t ad p u b lic a s s u p p li c a t io n e s , u b iq u e
te rra ru m hac ope r e s o n a n te s , m i r a b i l i quadam animorum
u n i t a t e ad divinam e r ig e n d a s M a ie sta te m , Quamobrem S a n ta
M ater E c c le s ia • . • c u ra e h a b u it e t h a b e t eum a l e r e ,
p ro v e h e re ac t u t a r i quam maxime, . • • Cum autem com-
p lu r e s v i r i e x im ii, q u i m u ltis i n N a tio n ib u s easdem e x e r -
c e n t a r t e s , s u p p lic e s ad Nos p re c e s ad m o v erin t • • • , Nos
h a s p r e c e s u tp o te ex an im i quoque N o s tr i s e n te n ti a d a ta s
N o s tris q u e re s p o n d e n te s v o t i s , p ro r e i m ag n itu d in e ac
momento sta tu im u s lib e n tis s im e a u d i r e ," AAS. XLIV ( S e r , 2i
X IX ), b (M arch 3 0 , 1 9 5 2 ), 2 1 6 -1 7 .
312
c o n tr ib u t io n o f r a d io to th e C h r is t ia n fo rm a tio n o f men.
He pronounced h i s b le s s in g on th e s p e c i a l g ro u p o f p r i e s t s
who p la n n e d and e x e c u te d th e c o n s tr u c tio n and who d ir e c te d
th e s t a t i o n . He b le s s e d t h e i r te c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n t s , th e
c o n t r ib u t in g b e n e f a c to r s , and th e p h y s ic a l i n s t a l l a t i o n s .
He p ray ed t h a t th e a n te n n a s and f r e q u e n c ie s o f th e s t a t i o n
m ig h t th ro u g h many y e a r s c o n tr ib u te to th e g lo r y o f God by
s e rv in g th e Church w e ll , by f a i t h f u l l y i n t e r p r e t i n g th e
p o p e s ' e x p re s se d th o u g h ts , and by b e in g p u t a t th e s e rv ic e
152
o f good and a l l th e h ig h e s t i d e a l s .
In 195*+ p a p a l s ta te m e n ts r e g a r d in g b r o a d c a s tin g
w ere m u ltip lie d many tim e s by th e e x h o r ta tio n to th e
I t a l i a n h ie r a r c h y , a r a d io m essage to C h ile on th e in a u g u
r a t i o n o f Badio C h ile n a . and th e a d d re s s i n E u r o v is io n 's
in a u g u ra l program. In th e same y e a r th e V a tic a n S e c re
t a r i a t o f S ta te p ro m u lg ated th e o f f i c i a l s t a t u t e s o f th e
new P o n t i f i c a l Commission f o r C inem a, R a d io , and
p a r a a e le c to grupo s a c e r d o ta l que
ide<5, p la n e d , i n i c i d y a c tu a lm e n te d i r i g e l a e m iso ra con
ta n to a c i e r t o y buen c e lo ; B e n d ic id n p a ra su s benem & ritos
e i n t e l i g e n t e s c o la b o ra d o re s td c h n ic o s ; • • • y B e n d ic id n ,
p o r f i n , p a ra l a s n u ev a s i n s t a l a c i o n e s .
"Sean e l l a s , e n to d o s l o s momentos y p a ra mucho
tie m p o , p re g o n e ra s de l a g l o r i a de D io s , bu en as s e r v id o r a s
de l a S a n ta Madre I g l e s i a , f i e l e s i n t d r p r e t e s de N u e stro s
s e n tim ie n to s y de N u estro p en sam ie n to ; que de su s a n te n a s
nunc a s a ig a n ad a que pueda p e r o c a s i dn de m al p a r a n a d ie ;
que su s ondas e s te n siem p re a l s e r v i c i o d e l b ie n y de
to d o s l o s m rfs^altos i d e a l e s . • • •" AAS. XLV ( S e r . 2 : XX),
6 (May 2 5 , 1 9 5 3 ), 295.
T e le v is io n ; i t c o d if ie d e a r l i e r p a p a l d i r e c t i v e s o f t h a t
y e a r and a u th o riz e d th e Commission to b e g in r e s e a r c h and
a n a ly s is o f th e m ass m ed ia. The Pope to ld th e I t a l i a n j
b is h o p s t h a t ) a lth o u g h he was com m enting on th e n a tu r e o f
th e m edia and t h e i r r o l e i n s o o ie ty a s p u rv e y o rs o f n ew s,
e n te r ta in m e n t, and e d u c a tio n a s w e ll a s o f t h r e a t s to
m o r a lity ) " i t i s on th e p a r t w hich t e l e v i s i o n w i l l n o t f a i l ;
to p la y i n sp re a d in g th e G ospel m essage t h a t W e w ish to
d w e ll e s p e c ia lly " b ec au se o f " th e n a tu r e and m agnitude o f
th e new f i e l d s opened to th e C a th o lic a p o s to la te . " ^ 3 He
t o ld o f h i s g r e a t d e s ir e t h a t th e l i f e o f th e ChurOh be
m a n ife s te d th ro u g h th e medium o f t e l e v i s i o n and t h a t th e
j
m essage o f th e G ospel be tr a n s m itte d to p eo p le th ro u g h o u t
th e w o rld . He u rg e d t h a t s in c e t e l e v i s i o n "m ust c o n tr ib u te
i n a p r a c t i c a l way to th e s p re a d in g o f th e kingdom o f God
on e a r t h , " th e p r e p a r a tio n o f r e l i g i o u s program s f o r t e l e
c a s t was o f g r e a t im p o rta n c e . He s u g g e s te d a g e n e ra l quan-i
t i t a t i v e norm f o r d e te rm in in g th e p ro g ram in g c o n te n t i n
I t a l y . T hat s ta n d a rd by e x te n s io n m ig h t se rv e a s a g e n e r a l
i
i n d i c a t i o n o f w hat th e V a tic a n e x p e c te d o r d e s ir e d i n oth er,
c o u n t r ie s : C a th o lic program ing sh o u ld be p ro p o rtio n e d to j
th e p o p u la tio n and s o c i a l im p a ct o f C a th o lic s i n th e countiy.,
1 - ^ T r a n s la tio n : " T e le v is io n : I t s P u b lic and P r i - !
v a te E f f e c t s ," TPS, I , 1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 6; AAS, XLVI !
( S e r . 2: X X I;, X T J a n u a iy 1 6 , 195*0, 19 s " q u a li e t q u a n tl ;
o r i z z o n ti n u o v i s i .a p r i r a n n o a l l 'a p o s t o l a t o c r i s t i a n o .
31^
C e r t a in l y , i n a c o u n try o f su ch a g e -o ld and p ro
fo u n d C a th o lic t r a d i t i o n s a s i s th e I t a l i a n
n a t i o n , W e have e v e ry r i g h t to hope t h a t t e l e
v i s i o n w i l l r e s e r v e a p la c e p r o p o r tio n a te to
th e im p o rtan ce w hich C a th o lic is m e n jo y s in th e
n a t i o n a l l i f e . 1 - "
Ten day s a f t e r h i s e x h o r ta tio n P iu s X II spoke to
th e C a th o lic s o f C h ile th ro u g h V a tic a n B a d io . He e x p re s se d
h i s c o n v ic tio n o f th e v i t a l im p o rta n ce o f r a d io a s a v e ry
e f f e c t i v e com m unication in s tru m e n t i n th e C h u rc h 's e f f o r t s
evexyw here to w ard s t r u t h , m o r a lity , j u s t i c e , and lo v e
betw een men and n a tio n s * He p r a is e d th e N a tio n a l D ep a rt
m ent o f B adio w hich C a th o lic A c tio n g ro u p s had e s ta b li s h e d
i n C h ile i n 195^? th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a th o lic O rg a n iz a tio n :
o f B adio and T e le v is io n w hich had been begun i n S a n tia g o
i n th e s p r in g o f 1 9 5 3 , and th e new t r a n s m i t t e r w hich had
been a c q u ire d and p u t i n t o o p e r a tio n " a s th e r e s u l t o f a
w ise i n i t i a t i v e , p ra is e w o rth y e f f o r t s and c o s tly s a c r i -
f i o e s . " He ch a rg e d th e s t a t i o n d i r e c t o r s to u se th e
l ^ I b l d *. [ TPSl p* 9» [AASl p . 22s "O rbene, i n u n
P aese d i c o s i a n tic h e e p ro fo n d e t r a d i z i o n i c a t t o l i c h e ,
q u a le 4 l a N azione i t a l i a n a , Noi abbiam o t u t t o i l d i r i t t o s
I d i s p e r a r e che l a T e le v is io n e r i s e r v i u n p o sto p ro p o r-
z io n a to a l l'im p o r ta n z a che i l C a tto lic e s im o occupa n e l l a |
v i t a n a z io n a le ." T h is p r a c t i c e had b een in tro d u c e d i n t o 1
th e U n ite d S t a t e s lo n g b e fo re th e V a tic a n s u g g e s tio n s w ere !
m ade. Commercial b r o a d c a s tin g com panies g e n e r a lly p ro p o r-
tio n e d t h e i r t o t a l r e l i g i o u s p ro g ram in g tim e to th e r e l a - !
t i v e s i z e s o f v a r io u s f a ith - g r o u p p o p u la tio n s . But b ro ad
c a s t e r s d id n o t n e c e s s a r i l y p r o p o rtio n t h e i r r e l i g i o u s
p ro g ram in g and t o t a l p ro g ram in g a c c o rd in g to th e r e l a t i v e
v a lu e s and s i z e s o f a u d ie n c e s f o r e i t h e r broad c a te g o r y .
F o r f u r t h e r d e t a i l s se e su b se q u e n t c h a p te r s o f th e p r e s e n t I
s tu d y .
1 ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "B ad io : Weapon o f T ru th ," TPS. I ,
1 ( 1 s t Q u a r te r . 1 9 5*0. 17: AAS. XLVI ( S e r . 2 : X X I). T ~ j
medium to d efen d and c o n s o lid a te th e f a i t h and to f o s t e r
and p e r f e c t C h ile a n u n d e rs ta n d in g and u n ity * "As a g e n e ra l
means to a c h ie v e a l l t h i s , l e t i t s i n t e n t i o n s he th e i n t e l
l i g e n t and g en e ro u s s p re a d in g o f th e d o c tr in e o f th e
C hurch, e s p e c ia lly o f t h a t s o c i a l d o c tr in e " w hich con
t r i b u t e d to th e l i f e o f th e c o u n try by o rg a n iz a tio n s and
s o c ia l e v e n ts . He rem in d ed t h a t th e program s were to be
p re s e n te d w ith th e a t t r a c t i v e n e s s and d ig n ity to be
e x p e c te d o f com m unications p e r ta in in g to th e h ig h e s t m o ral
and s p i r i t u a l v a lu e s o f men. He e x p re s s e d "Our b e s t
w ish es and Our f u l l e s t b e n e d ic tio n • • • [ t o ] a l l th o s e
who by t h e i r work and g e n e r o s ity have made so w o n d erfu l a
r e a l i t y p o s s i b le , [ in c lu d in g ] t e c h n ic a l d i r e c t o r s ,
em p lo y ees," and a l l th o s e who w ere to c o n s t it u t e th e a u d i
ence i n C h i l e T h e P o p e 's e n th u sia s m and h i s s tr o n g
i
s u p p o rt o f th e s e e n d e a v o rs w ere a p p a re n t i n h i s u n u s u a lly
v ig o ro u s g r a n tin g o f th e " f u l l e s t " p a p a l b le s s in g to "so
; ^ j
i w o n d erfu l" ( ta n h erm o sa) a c r e a tu r e a s r a d io a t th e s e r v ic e
o f d e fe n d in g and s p re a d in g th e f a i t h i n an a c tiv e and
(F e b ru a ry 1 6 , 195*0* 57: "con ta n p ru d e n te i n i c i a t i v a ,
I ta n l o a b le s e s fu e rz o s y ta n c o s to s o s s a c r i f i o i o s . "
I5 6 i b i d . , [TPS] p . 18; [ AASl p . 58: "como m edio
g e n e ra l p a ra a lc a n z a r to d o e a t o , l a d if u s id n i n t e l i g e n t e y j
g e n e ro sa de l a d o c t r in a de l a I g l e s i a , e sp e o ia lm e n te de
e se d o c t r in a s o c i a l . . . . N u e stro s me jo r e s d eseo s y
N u e stra ada am p lia B e n d ic id n . . • • [A ] c u a n to s con su
tr a b a jo y su g e n e ro s id a d han hecho p o s ib le una r e a lid a d
ta n herm osa; a l o s d i r e c t i v o s td c n ic o s y em pleados to d o s .
316
p ru d e n t o r "in fo rm ed " ( i n t e l i g e n t e ) m anner. The P o n t i f f ’ s
warm com m endation o f s p e c i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s e s ta b li s h e d i n
C h ile in d ic a te d h i s d e s i r e t h a t su ch c o o rd in a tin g c e n te r s
be en co u rag ed i n th e C h u rch .
To th e E u ro v is io n au d ien ce on June 6 , 195*+
Pope P iu s X II s in g le d o u t th e u n iq u e ad v an tag e o f t e l e
v is i o n f o r th o se s e a r c h in g f o r program s w ith d e e p e r s i g
n if ic a n c e and e s p e c i a l l y f o r in v a l i d s and th e s ic k . To
them t e l e v i s i o n p ro v id e d th e c o n s o la tio n o f r e l i g i o u s c e r e
m onies a t w hich th o s e a b s e n t m ight be p r e s e n t i n s p i r i t a s
th e y jo in e d t h e i r p r a y e r s w ith th o s e o f o th e r p eo p le in
th e w o rld ab o u t them . The Pope in c lu d e d h e re f o r th e f i r s t
tim e i n an o f f i c i a l l y p u b lis h e d docum ent th e s ta te m e n t
t h a t r e l i g i o u s s e r v ic e s w hich were b ro a d c a s t th ro u g h t e l e
v is i o n were b u t i n d i r e c t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n th e a c tu a l s e r
v ic e :
Prom now on t e l e v i s i o n , b e t t e r th a n r a d i o , w i l l
b r in g them i n to th e s a n c tu a ry . T h is w i l l n o t o f j
c o u rse ta k e th e p la c e o f b e in g p r e s e n t , a c tu a l ly
and i n p e rso n a t r e l i g i o u s r i t e s ; b u t a t l e a s t
i t w i l l h e lp to c r e a t e th e atm osphere o f r e v e r
ence and r e c o l l e c t i o n t h a t s u rro u n d s l i t u r g i c a l
f u n c tio n s , and b r in g th e au d ien c e to s h a re th e
f e r v e n t p r a y e r o f f a i t h and a d o r a tio n t h a t r i s e s i
heavenw ard from a g a th e r in g o f th e f a it h f u l.1 ??
In h i s e n c y c lic a l i n 1957 P iu s a llu d e d to h i s e a r l i e r
1 ^ o r i g i n a l E n g lis h te x ts AAS, XLVI (S e r. 2 ; XXI),
9 ( J u ly 1 $ , 195*0 > 371; a ls o i n "TheHEforopean T e le v is io n
N etw ork: Sym bol.and P ro m is e ,1 1 TPS. I , 2 (2nd (Q uarter,
195*0, 163. ~
317
r e f e r e n c e to t h i s p o in t in a p re v io u s a d d re s s to an i n t e r
n a t i o n a l r a d io w o rk e rs ' m eetin g on May 5 , 1950, w hich was
n o t p u b lis h e d in th e V a tic a n 's o f f i c i a l AAS c o m p ila tio n .1 ^
I n 1955 P iu s X II c o n tin u e d h i s in s i s te n c e on th e
p o s i t i v e , a c tiv e u t i l i z a t i o n o f th e m edia f o r r e l i g i o u s
p ro g ra m in g . In n e i t h e r 1956 n o r 1957 d id he comment f u r
t h e r on e s t a b l i s h i n g n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s , c o o p e ra tin g w ith
p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s , o r t r a i n i n g C a th o lic s to p a r
t i c i p a t e i n b r o a d c a s tin g and to e x e r c is e s e l e c t i v i t y in
r e c e iv in g p ro g ra m s. In h i s a d d re s s o f O ctober 1 1 , 1 955,
to th e T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C ongress i n
Home th e Holy F a th e r e x p la in e d th e p r e r o g a tiv e o f r a d io
com m unications above a l l o th e r s " to a c t a s d i r e c t and
e f f i c a c i o u s v e h i c le s o f th e v e ry m essage o f C h r i s t ." 1 ^ He
ask ed t h a t a p rim a ry p la c e be g iv e n to r e l i g i o u s c o n te n t
in th e v a s t m u ltitu d e o f program s th ro u g h c o u n tle s s r a d io
1 58i n M iranda P ro rs u s n . 52 c i t e d D i s c o r s i e R ad io -
m e ssa g g i_ d i S u a S a n t i t & P l o X I I [ o p . c i t .1 . V o l. X II .
p . t>6. The th re e -p a g e F r e n c h .te x t7was r e p r in te d in
.D isc o rsi . . . u n d e r th e t i t l e "Ai D e le g a ti d e l l a CohferezzA
I n te m a z io n a le d i H a d io d iffu s io n e ad A lte F re q u en ce";
E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n ap p eared i n "M issio n o f R a d io ." The
C a th o lic M ind. X L V III, 1053 (S e p te m b e r, 1 9 5 0 ), 5 7 5 -7 6 .
1 ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "R adio and T e le v is io n . . . To the!
T h ird I n t e r n a t i o n a l Com m unications C o n g re ss," TPS. I I ,
(W in te r, 1 9 5 5 ), 368; AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2s X X II)T T 5
(November 2 1 , 1 9 5 5 ), 73bs " l e . com m unicazioni, e i n p a r -
t i c o l a r e l a r a d i o d i f f u s i o n e , hanno come l a p r e r o g a tiv a d i
p o te r e s s e r e d i r e t t i ed e f f i c a c i v e i c o l i d e l m essaggio
s te s s o d i C r i s t o ." TPS in c o r r e c t l y d a te d th e a d d re s s
O cto b er 12; AAS and o th e r s o u rc e s gave O ctober 11 a s th e
d a te •
318
f r e q u e n c ie s ; b u t he d id n o t make any s p e c if i c demands o r
s u g g e s tio n s .
Ten day s l a t e r he concluded h i s a d d re s s to th e
E uropean B ro a d c a s tin g U nion w ith w ords o f encouragem ent
and hope f o r th e C h u rc h 's u se o f t e l e v i s i o n f o r r e l i g i o u s
p u rp o s e s :
T e le v is io n a ls o c a n become a p r o v id e n ti a l i n s t r u
m ent f o r a l a r g e r p a r t i c i p a t i o n in th e m a n ife s ta
t i o n s o f r e l i g i o u s l i f e f o r a l l th o s e who w ould
be p re v e n te d from b e in g a c tu a l ly p r e s e n t a t th em .
The t e l e v i s i n g o f l i t u r g i c a l ce re m o n ie s, th e
i l l u s t r a t i o n o f m a s te rp ie c e s o f s a c re d a r t and
many o th e r th in g s w i l l c a rr y th e word o f God to
hom es, h o s p i t a l s , p r i s o n s , th e m ost rem ote cen
t e r s o f p o p u la tio n .
God g r a n t t h a t th e day soon come when th e
p ag an m asses w i l l th e m selv es r e c e iv e th e G ospel
more e a s i l y , th a n k s to t h i s rem a rk a b le i n s t r u
m en t.!® 0
L ate i n June th e P o n tif f w ro te to C a rd in a l P ia z z a ,
ch airm an o f th e m e etin g o f L a tin A m erican b is h o p s ; he
u rg e d th e p r e l a t e s to stu d y th o se m ethods o f th e a p o s to la te
and c a re o f s o u ls w hich from d a ily e x p e rie n c e and a c t u a l
^ ■ ^ T ra n s la tio n s "B adio and T e le v is io n . . . To
th e D e le g a te s o f th e E uropean B adio U n i o n , TPS. I I ,
(W in te r, 1 9 5 5 ), 372; AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2: XXITJ7 16
; (November 2fr, 1 9 5 5 ), 780: " L a .te l^ v is ip n p e u t d e v e n ir
I a u s s i u n in s tru m e n t p r o v id e n ti e l d 'u n e p lu s la r g e p a r t i c i - i
p a tio n au x m a n if e s ta tio n s de l a v ie r e l i g i e u s e p o u r to u s
i ceu x q u i s e r a i e n t em pech^s d 'y e t r e p r e s e n ts . La t r a n s -
! m is s io n d e s c£r£m onie l i t u r g i q u e s , 1 ' i l l u s t r a t i o n d e s
I v ^ r ittf s de l a f o i , l a p r e s e n ta tio n d e s c h e fs -d 'o e u v r e de
| l ' a r t s a c r e , e t b ie n d 'a u t r e s e n t r e p r i s e s , p o r te r o n t l a
p a r o le de L ie u dan s l e s m a iso n s, dans l e s h b p ita u x , d an s
l e s p r i s o n s , d an s l e s e n d r o its l e s p lu s e io ig n ^ s d e s g ran d s
c e n tr e s h a b i t u s . L ieu v e u i l l e que v ie n n e b i e n to t l e j o u r !
oil l e s m asses p a ie n n e s elles-m & m es r e c e v ro n t p lu s f a c i l e -
; m ent l 'E v a n g i le gr&ce A c e t ad m irab le in s tru m e n t."
319
i u s e seem ed to be p a r t i c u l a r l y s u it e d to t h e i r c irc u m s ta n c e s
• o f a d e f ic ie n c y o f t r a i n e d C a th o lic c le r g y and l a i t y i n
L a tin A m erican c o u n t r i e s . He en co u rag ed th e p r e l a t e s to
u t i l i z e co n tem p o rary in s tru m e n ts su ch a s r a d io and th e
i p r e s s to in f lu e n c e more p eo p le more e f f i c i e n t l y by b r in g in g
i
them th e w ords and w r itin g s o f th e C h u rch , th e te a c h e r o f
t r u t h . 161
I n M iranda P ro rs u a i n 19 57 th e Pope fo rm a lly
: r e c a l l e d h i s s ta te m e n t i n 1990 and rem inded t h a t " to be
I p r e s e n t a t Mass p o r tra y e d by t e l e v i s i o n i s n o t th e same a s
i b e in g a c t u a l l y p r e s e n t a t th e D ivine S a c r i f i c e , a s i s o f
o b l i g a t i o n on h o ly d a y s .1 ' But he " w h o le h e a rte d ly com-
, m end[ed] program s o f t h i s k in d " b ecau se o f t h e i r g r e a t
v a lu e f o r s tr e n g th e n in g th e f a i t h and f e r v o r o f th o s e
u n a b le to be p r e s e n t p e r s o n a lly a t r e l i g i o u s c e re m o n ie s .1^ 2
! The P o n t i f f 's p o s it iv e d i r e c t i v e s h e re and i n h i s
l 6 l AAS, XLVII ( S e r . 2s X X II), 11 (A ugust 2 3 , 1 9 5 5 ),
! 5^3: " h o d ie m a e a e t a t i e c o n te n tiu s a d h ib e a n tu r n o v a j
: p r a e s i d i a —u t radio p h o n icu m inventum e t g u tte m b e rg ia a r e —
I ad p e rv u lg a n d a e t e f f i c i e n t i u s m en tib u s in s e re n d a c a e l i t u s
i t r a d i t a e lo q u ia e t ab E c c le s i a , v e r i t a t i s m a g is tr a , e d i t a
I docum enta •"
- ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n , i
i o p . c i t . . p . 27; M S , XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 1 3 * 1 (O c to b e r ;
i 2 3 -2 b , 1957) , 800: " E u c h a ristic u m S a c r if ic iu m t e l e v i s i o n i s j
I ope p a r t i c i p a r e • • • non idem e s s e ac D ivino S a c r i f i c i o
coram a d e s s e , u t d ie b u s f e s t i s p r a e c i p i t u r . U b errim i tam en
: f r u c t u s e x l i t u r g i c i s p ro d e u n te s r i t i b u s p e r te le v is io n e m
ob o c u lo s p r o p o s i t i s , quod quidem ad roborandam Pidem sane-*!
i titu d in e m q u e fovendam i i omnes p e r c ip e r e p o s s u n t, q u ib u s
i a l i o modo p a r tic ip a n d i c o p ia d e e s t, N obis p la n e s u a d e n t, u t
s p e c ta tio n e s huiusm odi e tia m atq u e e tia m commendemus."
320
c o n c lu d in g p a ra g ra p h s o f th e e n c y c lic a l in d ic a te d h i s con
c e rn f o r th e p ro p e r and a c tiv e u t i l i z a t i o n o f b r o a d c a s tin g
m edia a s in s tru m e n ts f o r th e s p i r i t u a l work o f th e
C a th o lic C h u rch .1^
The o f f i c i a l d e te rm in a tio n to p u t th e s e m edia a t
th e s e r v ic e o f th e Church was v o ic e d a t th e in a u g u r a tio n
o f th e new V a tic a n B adio eq u ip m en t: " s in c e W e d e s ir e t h a t
th e s e new and p e a c e fu l weapons o f t r u t h sh o u ld be u s e d by
C a t h o l i c s , W e made up Our mind to e r e c t t h i s more p e r f e c t
and more p o w erfu l r a d io s t a t i o n from w hich W e c o u ld send
Our v o ic e o v e r th e w hole w o rld , and im p a rt Our i n s t r u c t i o n ^
161+
en c o u ra g em e n t, and d e s i r e s to C h r is tia n s e v e ry w h e re • "J‘vrr
I n 1958 Pope John p r a is e d h i s p re d e c e s s o r f o r h i s n in e te e n
C h ristm a s m essages to th e w orld th ro u g h V a tic a n B a d io , by j
w hich medium he had i n s t r u c t e d and e x h o rte d and i n s p i r e d
C h r is tia n s ev e ry w h e re . John added t h a t
m odem in v e n tio n s f o r th e com m unication o f th o u g h t
and sp e ech b ro u g h t th e te a c h in g and th e a p p e a l o f
th e Pope d i r e c t l y to ev e ry p a r t o f th e e a r t h . By
3 S e e th e e x te n d e d q u o ta tio n from th e e n c y c l i c a l ’s!
c lo s in g p a ra g ra p h s , n . 18Q and accom panying t e x t on
p p . 328 -3 0 below .
^ ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : "V a tic a n B a d io : T ru th i n a T r o u - !
b le d W orld,'.' TPS, IY , 3 (W in te r, 1957-59)* 316; AAS. XLIX j
( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 16 (November 2 5 , 1 9 5 7 ), 9©^: "QuemadLmodum |
autem Nos cupim us u t haec nova ac p a c i f i c a v e r i t a t i s arma ;
a c a t h o l i c i s u s u r p e n tu r , i t a N obis mens f u i t p o te n tio re m
p e rfe c tio re m q u e e x c i t a r e B adiophonicum S ta tio n e m , qua Nobis
f a s e s s e t cum u n iv e rs o te rra ru m o rbe vocem N ostram communi-j
c a r e , N o straq u e p r a e o e p ta , h o rta m e n ta e t v o ta c h ris tia n o ru m
co m m u n itati i m p e r t i r e •"
321
th o s e means he I n v ite d th e su b m issio n o f many
th o u g h tf u l men o f u p r ig h t c o n sc ie n c e
I n 1959 Pope John a l s o b r i e f l y e x p re s se d h i s g r e a t s a t i s
f a c t i o n t h a t V a tic a n R adio f o r th e f i r s t tim e c o u ld t r a n s -
m it d i r e c t l y to J a p a n . And i n h i s e n c y c lic a l Ad P e t r i
C a th e dram th e P o n tif f u rg e d t h a t a g a in s t com m unication
in s tru m e n ts t h a t were u se d a s e n tic e m e n t to lo o s e m o ra ls ,
d is o r d e r l y l i f e , and e r r o r s o f th e young e s p e c i a l l y , sh o u ld
be b ro u g h t to b e a r th e weapons o f t r u t h and g o o d n ess ± n
o r d e r to h o ld i n ch eck th o s e ab u ses o f th e e n te r ta in m e n t
and in fo rm a tio n m e d ia. He u rg ed th e p o s it i v e a s p e c ts o f
1
t h i s d e fe n s e :
I t i s th e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r y to c o n f r o n t e v i l and
e rro n e o u s w r itin g s w ith w hat i s r i g h t and sound;
a g a i n s t b r o a d c a s ts , m o tion p i c t u r e s and t e l e v i s i o n
shows w hich i n c i t e to e r r o r o r a t t r a c t to v ic e
m ust be p r o je c te d th o s e w hich u p h o ld t r u t h and
s t r i v e to p re s e rv e wholesome m o r a li ty . I n t h i s
w ay, th e s e new a r t s w hich have so much pow er f o r
harm may be tu rn e d to th e s a lv a ti o n and b e n e f i t
o f m ankind a n d , lin k e d w ith h o n e s t p le a s u r e , p ro
v id e a remedy from th e v e ry so u rce.w h en ce th e
e v i l p o is o n so o f te n i s s u p p lie d .1 0 /
■ ^ T r a n s la tio n : "C h ristm as M essage: John X X III
! [Decem ber 2 3 , 1 9 5 8 1 ," The C a th o lic M ind. L V I I ,. ll*+2 (March-;
A p r i l , 1 9 5 9 ), 165; AAS, L i.T S e r.' J f T T T 1 (Ja n u a ry 2*+, j
1 9 5 9 ), 7: " I m odern! r i t r o v a t i d e l l a tr a s m is s io n e d e l
j p e n s ie r o e d e l l a p a r o l a , faoendo g iu n g e re im m ediatam ente j
i 1 *insegnam ento ed i l ric h ia m o p o n t i f i c i o a t u t t i i p u n ti
d e l l a t e r r a , in v ita v a n o l a t e s t a d i m o lti p e n s a to r i de
r e t t a c o s c ie n z a . . . . "
166AAS, LI ( S e r . 3s I ) , * + ( A p r il 1 1 , 1 9 5 9 ), 20*+.
l6 7 ^p £ Q i3 latio n : "On T ru th , U n ity and P e a c e ." The \
C a th o lic M ind, L V II, ll*+6 (Novem ber-Decem ber, 1959)* 5 * + * + ; I
IAST i i l T S erT 3 : I ) , 1 0 - ( J u ly 2 2 . 1 9 5 9 ), 501: "Quamobrem j
d e tre m e n to s is h is c e a rm is v e r i t a t i s p r o b ita t is q u e arm a
322
She p o s i t i v e a c tio n s ta k e n by th e V a tic a n f o r th e p r e s e r
v a t io n o f n o ta b le m o tio n p ic tu r e film s and t e l e v i s i o n p ro
gram r e c o r d in g s a r e d e s c rib e d i n th e fo llo w in g c h a p t e r .
John XXIII* S r a d io m essage o f I960 to Paraguay-
a llu d e d to th e s c r i p t u r a l e x h o r ta tio n "What you have h e a rd
i n s e c r e t , p re a c h from th e ro o fto p s " a s th e i n s p i r a t i o n
and j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r th e a p o s to lic u t i l i z a t i o n o f b ro a d -
168
c a s t m ed ia i n th e s e r v ic e o f th e C hurch. He ap p ro v ed
o f and p r a is e d t h e i r e f f e c t i v e la b o rs to t h i s e n d . In
1 9 6 1 , th e f i n a l y e a r t r e a t e d i n th e p r e s e n t s tu d y , Pope
Jo h n i n f iv e docum ents spoke o f th e p o s itiv e u s e o f th e
m edia w h ich was demanded o f th e Church i n h e r w ork. He
p ra y e d t h a t th e new r a d io tr a n s m itte r o f th e C a th o lic
s t a t i o n i n N icara g u a m ig h t s u c c e s s fu lly f u l f i l l th e i d e a l
o f S t . P a u l 's d e s ir e to p ro p ag a te th e G ospel everyw here by
p ro v in g i t s e l f an e f f e c t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r e n lig h te n in g
opponenda s u n t, eo nempe c o n s ilio u t h u iu s t a n t i m a li,
quod s e r p i t c o t i d l e l a t i u s , v i s se d u lo d ilig e n te r q u e p ro -
h i b e a t u r . P ra v is i g i t u r f a lla c ib u s q u e s C r i p t i s r e c t a
s in c e ra q u e s c r i p t a o b s i s t e r e n e c e ss e e s t ; ra d io p h o n ic is
autem a u d i ti o n i b u s , c in e m a to g ra p h ic is ac t e l e v i s i f i c i s
s p e c t a c u l i s , quae ad e r r o r e s v e l ad b lan d im en ta v itio r u m
a l l i c i a n t , e a o b ic ia n t u r o p o r te t, quae v e r ita te m t u e a n t u r ,
morumque in te g rit& te m incolum en s e rv a re c o n te n d a n t; i t a
quidem u t novae hae a r t e s , quae plurim um p o s s u n t ad p e r -
n ic ie m , eaedem ad hominum sa lu tem e t b e n e fic iu m , u n a cum
h o n e s ta d e l e c t a t i o n s , t r a n s f e r a n t u r , atq u e in d e rem ed ia
s u p p e ta n t, unde m ala v en en a saepe s u p p e d ita n tu r ."
l 68AAS, I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I ) , 1k (Peoem ber 2 8 , i 9 6 0 ) ,
983; th e re f e r e n c e was to S t* M atthew , X :27: "Quod i n
a u re a u d i t i s , p r a e d ic a te su p e r t e c t a . "
m inds o f men and f o r e l e v a t in g them to i n v i s i b l e and s u p e r
n a t u r a l r e a l i t i e s . 1^ On th e t h i r t i e t h a n n iv e rs a ry o f
V a tic a n R adio he p r a is e d th e " f o r e s ig h t and wisdom" o f h i s
p r e d e c e s s o rs w hich had made p o s s ib le th e a p o s to lic i n s t r u
m ent t h a t "opened up new ways o f p ro c la im in g t r u t h and
c h a r i t y and m aking them p e n e tr a te ev e ry w h e re•"170 E ig h t
m onths l a t e r he a g a in commended th e V a tic a n R adio a s a
p o w e rfu l and p e r t i n e n t in s tru m e n t i n th e s e rv ic e o f th e
C hurch w hich was th e r e s u l t o f th e e f f o r t s o f P iu s XI and
P iu s X I I . He th an k ed th o se who h ad c o n tr ib u te d to th e
; n ew e st tr a n s m is s io n equipm ent a t th e new V a tic a n R adio s i t e
i n a su b u rb o f Rome: Jo se p h C a rd in a l F r in g s , A rch b ish o p
o f C ologne; F ra n c is C a rd in a l S p ellm an , A rchbishop o f
New York; A rch b ish o p Norman Thomas G ilro y o f S ydney,
i
A u s t r a l i a , and New Z ealan d ; and th e E h ig h ts o f Columbus o f I
th e U n ite d S t a t e s . 1 ^ In h i s r a d io a d d re s s to A f r ic a i n
; November o f 1961 Pope John e x p re s se d h i s s a t i s f a c t i o n a t
f u l f i l l i n g h i s lo n g d e s ir e to com m unicate d i r e c t l y w ith
l6 9 AAS, L I I I C Ser. 3 : I I I ) , 2 (F eb ru ary 2 8 , 1 9 6 1 ), j
| 1 0 6 . — j
^ T r a n s l a t i o n : “V a tic a n R adio a f t e r T h ir ty
Y e a rs ," TPS, V II , 2 (1 9 6 1 ), 1^0; AAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , |
; 3 (M arch 2 $ , 1 9 6 1 ), 151: "La R adio V a tic a n a , i s t i t u i t a
i con lu n g im ira n te s a g g e z z a . . . ." "[U ]a v a lid o s tru m e n to , |
e a p e rs e nuove v ie a ll'a n n u n c io ed a l i a p e n e tra z io n e
u n iv e r s a le d e l l a v e r i t y e d e l l a c a r i t h . "
!7lA A S, L I I I ( S e r . 3s I I I ) , 12 (O cto b er 3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ), !
6 8 2 -8 3 . —
32N -
172
th o s e n a t io n s th ro u g h r a d i o .
I n h i s e n c y c li c a l M ater e t M a g istra o f May 1 5 ,
1 9 6 1 , Pope John q u o ted e i g h t tim e s a t o t a l o f t h i r t y - t h r e e
l i n e s o f AAS t e x t from th e r a d io m essage o f P iu s X II i n
19^1 r e g a r d in g th e a n n iv e r s a r y o f th e e n c y c lic a l Rerum
No varum . Thus th e p a p a l r a d io m essages had a c h ie v e d th e
s t a t u s o f a fo rm a l s o u rc e o f p a p a l commentary w hich was
w orthy o f ex ten d ed q u o ta tio n i n l a t e r d e c a d e s . The r a d io
was n o t m erely a p p ra is e d by th e V a tic a n a s a u s e f u l means
o f se n d in g g r e e tin g s and f e l i c i t a t i o n s on n o te w o rth y o cca
s io n s ; i t was a ls o a s e r io u s in s tru m e n t f o r tr a n s m itti n g
and r e c o r d in g m a jo r p a p a l s ta te m e n ts on im p o rta n t
173
i s s u e s . J
2 . T ra in in g C a th o lic s re g a rd in g b r o a d c a s tin g .
Pope P iu s X II i n th e e a r l y p a ra g ra p h s o f h i s e n c y c lic a l
l e t t e r i n 1957 d e s c r ib e d h i s e s t a b l i s h i n g o f a s p e c ia l
com m ission i n th e Roman C u ria , th e c e n t r a l a d m in is tr a tiv e
o f f i c e s o f th e V a tic a n . The com m ission was to stu d y q u es
t i o n s p e r ta in in g to b ro a d c a s tin g and to p ro v id e "o p p o rtu n e
d i r e c t i o n " f o r th e b is h o p s and a l l " o th e r i n t e r e s t e d p a r
t i e s . " He p r a is e d th e e f f o r t s o f th e b ish o p s who had
172a a s, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 13 (November 3 0 , 1 9 6 1 ),
7 3 3 - 3 ^ • —
1 7 3 m s , L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 8 ( J u ly 1 5 , 1 9 6 1 ), blOf
th e q u o ta tio n s fro m .P iu s X II* s. r a d io m essage w ere in c o r
p o r a te d i n t o th e t e x t on p p .- ^ 1 0 -1 2 .
325
p rom oted th e p re v io u s d i r e c t i v e s o f th e pope by e n c o u ra g
in g th e a p o s to la te o f f ilm s and b ro a d c a s tin g i n th e
i n d iv i d u a l d io c e s e s , i n n a t i o n s , and even among e n t i r e
p e o p le s . The P o n t i f f p re s e n te d t h i s lo n g , fo rm al l e t t e r
b ecau se
w ith a l l th e f o r c e a t Our command W e d e s ir e to
im p re s s upon you how th e f lo c k com m itted to th e
c a re o f e a c h one sh o u ld be p r o te c te d a g a in s t th e
e r r o r s and harm w hich th e u se o f th e a r t s u n d e r
d is c u s s io n can in tr o d u c e , w ith g ra v e d an g er to
th e p r a c t i c e s o f C h r is tia n l i f e . 1 ' 4.
The Pope p a r t i c u l a r l y p r a is e d p re a c h e rs who w ise ly u s e d
m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d i o , and t e l e v i s i o n a s in s tru m e n ts i n
c a r r y in g o u t t h e i r d u ty o f g u a rd in g th e m oral i n t e g r i t y o f j
th o s e i n t h e i r c a re and o f le a d in g them tow ard t r u t h .
B ecause th e c le r g y th u s sh a re d w ith th e f a i t h f u l " th e
g e n u in e ly s a l u t a r y b e n e f i t s o f th e in v e n tio n s w hich o u r
tim e s have in tr o d u c e d ," th e P o n t i f f s t a t e d h i s d e s ir e " t h a t
th o s e who w ie ld a u t h o r i t y e i t h e r i n Church o r S ta te sh o u ld
i n a s p e c i a l way s u p p o rt th e a c t i v i t y and e n t e r p r is e o f
th e s e p r e a c h e r s .
1 ^ T r a n s l a t i o n : The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n ,
o p * c i t ., p. 5; AAS, XLIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 13-1^ (O c to b e r
2 3 -2 5 , 1 9 5 7 ) , 770: "id eo q u e omni o p e , qua possum us, v o s i
commonere cu p im u s, u t g r e x , u n ic u iq u e v estru m c r e d i t u s ,
a d v e rs u s q u o d lib e t e r r o r s s q u a e lib e tq u e d e trim e n t a m uniatur,
quae m em oratarum a rtiu m u s u s i n c h r i s t i a n a e v i t a e m o res,
n o n s in e g r a v i d is c r im in e , in d u c e re p o s s i t . " C f. n . 13c
and accom panying t e x t on p p . 300-301 ab o v e . i
1 7 5 l b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 13; [AAS] p . 781: ;
" P e c u lia r ! auiem modo exoptam us e o s d i v i n i v e r b ip r a e c o n e s
h ac e tia m de c a u sa d i l a u d a r e , q u i . • • cin e m a to g ra p h ic i s
3261
In M iranda P ro rs u s th e Pope p o in te d o u t th e n eed
o f n o n -C a th o lic s and o f s ic k and h an d icap p ed C a th o lic s f o r
t e c h n i c a l l y e x c e l l e n t and a t t r a c t i v e r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s,
in c lu d in g b ro a d c a s ts , o f l i t u r g i c a l s e r v i c e s . He p r a is e d
th e e f f o r t s o f c le r g y and l a i t y who la b o re d to in c r e a s e
th e num ber and to prom ote th e tim e ly sc h e d u lin g o f C a th o lic
r a d io p ro g ra m s. He spoke o f th e r a d io a s an in s tru m e n t o f
th e s a c re d m in is tr y and e x h o rte d th e b is h o p s th e m s e lv e s ,
w h ile a llo w in g f o r n a t i o n a l and l o c a l c o n d itio n s , " to
s t r i v e , a c c o rd in g to th e n e e d s and r e s o u r c e s o f y o u r
r e s p e c tiv e l o c a l i t i e s , to in c re a s e i n number and e f f e c -
1 76
t iv e n e s s th e program s d e a lin g w ith th in g s C a th o lic ."
He s a id t h a t f o r t h i s w ork p r i e s t s and laym en a l ik e were
to p o s s e s s no sm a ll d e g re e o f t a l e n t and s k i l l and sh o u ld
be t r a i n e d by a d e q u a te stu d y and te c h n ic a l e x p e rie n c e a t
a lre a d y e x i s t i n g C a th o lic c e n te r s o f b r o a d c a s tin g . He
p a r t i c u l a r l y en co u rag ed th e d i r e c t o r s and m anagers o f
C a th o lic r a d io s t a t i o n s f o r p u rs u in g d i l i g e n t l y d e s p ite
e tia m , ra d io p h o n ic is e t t e l e v i s i f i c i s a r t i b u s r e c to modo
i n hanc causam u tu n t u r ; a tq u e adeo quas u t i l i t a t e s , quae
i n v e n ta , re a p s e s a l u t i f e r a , n o s tr a in d u x e r i t a e t a s , cum
iis d e m com m unicant. Cupimus i g i t u r , u t eorum o p erae
eorumque c o n a tib u s i i p r a e s e r tim o b se c u n d e n t, qui v e l i n
E c c le s ia v e l i n c i v i l i s o c i e t a t e a u c t o r i t a t e p o l l e n t . "
176i b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 2^-; [AAS] p . 797:
" fa c e re non possum us q u in v o s , V e n e ra b ile s F r a t r a s , p a te rn e
a d h o rte m u r, u t i d g en u s de r e c a th o li c a a u d i tio n e s . p ro
v a r i a u n iu s c u iu s q u e l o c i n e c e s s i t a t e a tq u e f a c u l t a t e , m agi a
m agisque prom overe ac p e r f ic e r e s t u d e a t i s . "
327
c o u n tle s s d i f f i c u l t i e s " t h i s a p o s to la te w hich W e v a lu e so
h i g h l y ." 177
Among th e ihQ l i n e s o f AAS t e x t i n w hich he spoke
e x c lu s iv e ly o f t e l e v i s i o n , P iu s X II b r i e f l y re p e a te d h is
c a u tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e o b lig a tio n s o f s p e c ta to r s and
l i s t e n e r s i n th e a u d ie n c e , o f p r o d u c e r s , and o f s t a t e
o f f i c i a l s , a s w e ll a s a b o u t th e C h u rc h 's " c a re and d i l i
g ence w hich m ast be o b se rv e d i n th e c o r r e c t p r e p a r a tio n
and encouragem ent o f th e d i f f e r e n t ty p e s o f r e l i g i o u s p ro
g ra m s ." 17® He l e f t to th e b ish o p s o f each c o u n try th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r ju d g in g th e s u i t a b i l i t y o f t e l e v i s e d
r e l i g i o u s program s and t o d e le g a te to t h e i r n a t io n a l
o f f i c e s o f b r o a d c a s tin g th e d u tie s o f p u b lis h in g in fo rm a
t i o n , o f i n s t r u c t i n g v ie w e rs , and o f o rg a n iz in g a l l th in g s
a c c o rd in g to th e norm s o f p ro p e r C h r is tia n m o r a lity .
P iu s s tr o n g ly en co u rag ed th e fo rm a tio n o f c lu b s o r
i n s t i t u t e s to e d u c a te th e au d ien c e to p ro p e r u se o f mass
m edia:
W e n o t o n ly g iv e them Oar a p p r o v a l, b u t a ls o
h e a r t i l y commend them ; and henoe W e d e s ir e them
to be in tro d u c e d i n t o s c h o o ls o f ev e ry ty p e ,
C a th o lic A c tio n g ro u p s and p a r is h s o c i e t i e s .
177I b i d . , [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 25; [AAS] p* 798:
"hoc a p o s to la tu s o p u s , (guod Nos ta n to p e r e pendim as.
. . ."
17® I b id ., [The A m erica P r e s s ] p . 26; [AAS1 p . 799:
"curam a tq u e d ilig e n tia m n e c e s s a r io adhibendam , u t v a r i a
r e lig io s a r u m sp e c ta tiu n u m g e n e ra r i t e p a r e n tu r a tq u e
promove an t a r •"
328
R ig h t tr a i n i n g and e d u c a tio n o f th e s p e c ta to r s
i n t h i s fa s h io n w i l l e n s u r e , on th e one h a n d , a
le s s e n in g o f th e d a n g e rs w hich c a n th r e a te n harm
to m o rals; an d , on th e o th e r h a n d , e n a b le
C h r is t ia n s , th ro u g h th e new know ledge th e y
a c q u ir e , to r a i s e t h e i r m inds to a c o n te m p la tio n
o f h ea v e n ly t r u t h s . 1 ^
He sum m arized h i s d i r e c t i v e s f o r th e s y s te m a tic t r a i n i n g
o f C a th o lic s by d e v o tin g s e v e r a l s c a t t e r e d p a ra g ra p h s a t
th e end o f h is e n c y c lic a l to th e c l e r g y 's n eed f o r com
p e te n c e i n u s in g mass m ed ia:
[T ]h e moat u rg e n t e f f o r t s sh o u ld be d ev o ted to
th e p r e p a r a tio n o f th e d i f f e r e n t show s, e n s u rin g
t h a t th ey c o rre sp o n d to e t h i c a l and p s y c h o lo g i
c a l re q u ire m e n ts a s w e ll a s m e e tin g th e te c h n ic a l
s ta n d a rd s o f t e l e v i s i o n .
F o r t h i s re a s o n W e p a t e r n a l l y e x h o rt C a th o lic s
w e ll - q u a lif ie d by t h e i r l e a r n i n g , sound d o c trin e
and knowledge o f th e a r t s — and i n p a r t i c u l a r
c l e r i c s and members o f r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s and con
g r e g a tio n s — to tu r n t h e i r a t t e n t i o n to t h i s new
a r t and g iv e t h e i r a c t iv e c o o p e r a tio n , so t h a t
w h ate v er p a s t e x p e rie n c e and tr u e p ro g re s s have
c o n tr ib u te d to th e m in d 's developm ent may be
em ployed i n f u l l m easure to th e ad v a n tag e o f
t e l e v i s i o n .
W e can n o t co n c lu d e t h i s l e t t e r , V en erab le
B re th re n , w ith o u t r e c a l l i n g to y o u r mind th e
im p o rtan ce o f th e f u n c tio n com m itted to th e p r i e s t
i n t h i s w ork, so e s s e n t i a l to th e C hurch, o f
en c o u ra g in g and m a s te rin g th e in v e n tio n s w hich
• ^ i b i d . . [The A m erica P r e s s ] p p . 1 2 -1 3 ; [ AAS]
p . 781: "Haec in c e p ta • • • Nos n o n modo probam us, sed
commendamus etiam ; a tq u e adeo cu p im u s, u t in d u e a n tu r i n
c u iu s v is o r d in is s o h o la s , i n A c tio n is C a th o lic a e s o d a l i-
t a t e s e t i n p a r o e c ia le s c o e tu s .
"R ecta eiu sm o d i sp e c ta to ru m i n s t i t u t i o a tq u e
e d u c a tio ex una p a r te i d e f f i c i e t , u t p e r ic u la m in u a n tu r,
q u ib u s m ores p essu m d ari q u e a n t; ex a l t e r a v ero u t
C h r is t ia n ! p o s s i n t, p e r n o v a s , quas a d i p is c e n tu r c o g n i-
t i o n e s , a w 1 mum ad s u p e m a s v e r i t a t e s m e d ita n d as e r i g e r e ."
C f• n . 131 and accom panying t e x t on p . 295 ab o v e . ;
329
a f f e c t com m unications, a s i n o th e r s p h e re s o f th e
a p o s t o l a t e . He o u g h t to have a sound know ledge
o f a l l q u e s tio n s w hich c o n fro n t th e s o u ls o f
C h r is tia n s w ith re g a rd to m o tio n p i c t u r e s , r a d io
and t e l e v i s i o n .
As W e s a id i n a d is c o u rs e to th o se ta k in g
p a r t i n a stu d y week f o r th e b r in g in g u p to d a te
o f p a s t o r a l p r a c tic e i n I t a l y a t th e p r e s e n t
tim e : *The p r i e s t w ith th e c a re o f s o u ls can and
m ust know w hat m odem s c ie n c e , a r t and te c h n o lo g y
a s s e r t w henever th e y to u c h on th e end o f man and
h i s m o ral and r e l i g i o u s l i f e . * L e t him le a r n to
u s e th e s e a id s c o r r e c t l y a s o f te n a s , i n th e p ru
d e n t judgm ent o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u t h o r i t y , th e
n a tu r e o f th e m in is tr y e n tr u s te d to him and th e
n ee d o f a s s i s t i n g an in c r e a s in g num ber o f s o u ls ,
demand i t . F i n a l l y , i f th e s e a r t s a re em ployed
by th e p r i e s t to a d v a n ta g e , h i s p ru d e n c e , s e l f -
c o n t r o l and sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w i l l s h in e
o u t a s an example to a l l C h r i s t i a n s .1® 0
1^ Q I b i d . « [The A m erica P r e s s ] p p . 28-30; [AAS]
p p . 802— 80*+“ T iu s q u o ted h i s own serm on o f Septem ber 1*+,
1956 p u b lis h e d i n AAS, XLVIII ( S e r . 2 : X X III), 1 3 -1 1 +-15
(O c to b er 2 7 -2 9 -3 0 ,1 .9 p6) , 707.
"[P ]rim o lo c o a p p a ra n d is v a r i i s s p e c ta tio n ib u s
im p e n sissim a o p era danda e s t , quae quidem e t h i c i s , p sy ch o - *
l o g i c i s n ecn o n te c h n ic i s t e l e v i s i o n i s r a t i o n i b u s resp o n d e at.
"Quamobrem o a th o lic o s v i r o s e r u d i t i o n e , d o c t r i n a ,
i optim arum a rtiu m s c i e n t i a p r a e s t a n t e s — a tq u e im p rim is
: cleru m a tq u e Ordinum v e l C ongregationum r e l i g i o s o s s o d a le s -
p a te m o animo ad h o rta m u r, u t ad hanc novam a rte m men tern
: c o n v e rt a n t sociam que c o n f e r a n t n a v i t a tern suam; i t a quidem ,
u t quae p r a e t e r i t a e a e t a t e s ac v e r i n o m in is p ro g re s s u s ad j
I excolendum animum bona p r o t u l e r i n t , eadem i n t e l e v i s i o n i s
i commodum u tilita te m q u e re d u n d e n t.
"H isce L i t t e r i s fin em f a c e r e non possum us,
■ V e n e ra b ile s F r a t r e s , q u in i n memoriam v e s t ram re d ig a m u s,
■ q u a n ti momenti s i n t p a r t e s s a c e r d o ti c o n c r e d ita e , u t i n
i c e t e r i s a p o s to la tu s c a m p is, e tia m i n hoc E c c le s ia e n e c e s - i
s a r i o o p e r e , quod evulgandarum rerum in v e n ta r e s p i c i t , cum i
prom ovenda, turn i n usum a d h ib e n d a . !
" I s nempe q u a e s tio n e s u n iv e r s a s p e m o s c a t o p o r t e t , |
: quae i n re c in e m a to g ra p h ic a , ra d io p h o n ic a atq u e t e l e v i s i -
f i c a c h r i s t i f i d e l i u m a n im is p ro p o n u n tu r. ’S a c e rd o s , c u i
animorum c u ra dem andata e s t — i t a Noa i n o r a tio n e h a b i t a ad
p a r t i c i p a n t e s Conventum p e r hebdomadam actum de m in i s te r io !
s a c ro i n I t a l i a ad h u iu s a e t a t i s ra tio n e m in s t itu e n d o —
330
The Pope th u s ask ed t h a t s e rio u s a t t e n t i o n be g iv e n m ass
m edia by th o se who w ere h ig h ly co m p eten t i n t r a d i t i o n a l
s e c u la r and th e o lo g ic a l know ledge and who w ere a ls o
t r a i n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r th e media* He e n tr u s te d th e
i n i t i a t i v e demanded by th e s e la b o r s to th e g u id e o f "p ru
d e n t judgm ent o f [ l o c a l ] e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u t h o r i t y ." The
b is h o p s were to en co u rag e and s u p p o rt su ch u n d e rta k in g s
and w ere a t th e same tim e to a p p ra is e and c o n t r o l them .
3 • C a th o lic c o o p e ra tio n w ith p r o f e s s io n a l b ro a d
c a s t e r s . In a d d itio n to p a p a l r e f e r e n c e s to l i a i s o n
betw een Church r e p r e s e n ta ti v e s and p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s t- |
e r s w hich were c i t e d i n p re c e d in g s e c tio n s o f t h i s c h a p te r,:
s p e c i f i c s ta te m e n ts w ere made i n docum ents is s u e d by th e
po p es i n 195^» 1957» 1 9 5 8 , 1959» and 1 9 6 1 .
Pope P iu s X II* s e x h o r ta tio n i n 195^ o u tlin e d p a r -
| t i c u l a r d i r e c t i v e s f o r c o o r d in a tin g C hurch a c t i v i t i e s and
; c o n c e rn s in a way t h a t would b e s t in f lu e n c e th e m ass m ed ia,
| a s i s d e s c rib e d i n th e fo llo w in g s e c t io n on " N a tio n a l ;
s c i r e p o t e s t ac d e b e t, q u id q u id n o s tr a e a e t a t i s s t u d i i s .
l i b e r a l i b u s a r t i b u s a tq u e te e h n ic a e p r o g r e s s ib u s p r o f e r t u r ,
| quod quidem ad supremum h o m in is fin em e iu sq u e r e lig io s a m
: v ita rn ac m ores a t t i n e a t . * H isce a d iu m e n tis r e c t e u t i
a d d i s c a t , q u o tiescu m q u e, p ro p r u d e n ti e c c l e s i a s t i c a e \
a u c t o r i t a t i s iu d i o i o , i d p o s tu la n t c o n c r e d iti s i b i m in is - ;
: t e r i i in d o le s a u t n e c e s s i t a s f r e q u e n t i o r i animorum m u lti-
tu d i n i o p i tu l a n d i. P e n iq u e , s i a s a c e rd o te eaedem a r t e s
i n i p s i u s u t i l i t a t e m a d h ib e a n tu r, e i u s p r u d e n tia , tem -
p e r a n t i a , necnon r e c t a o ffic io ru m c o n s c ie n tia i n exemplum
c h r i s t i f i d e l i b u s om nibus r e f u l g e a n t ."
331
C a th o lic O ffic e s o f B ro a d c a s tin g ." In 1957 h e u rg e d th e
l a i t y assem b led i n c o n v e n tio n to p a r t i c i p a t e w ith t h e i r
p r i e s t s i n th e work o f c o o p e ra tin g w ith p r o f e s s io n a l
b r o a d c a s te r s :
In so f a r a s t e l e v i s i o n i s c o n c e rn e d , i t i s
in d is p e n s a b le f o r th e Church to be r e p r e s e n te d
on th e co m m ittees e n tr u s te d w ith o rg a n iz in g
program s and f o r C a th o lic e x p e rts to be among
th e p ro d u c e rs . B oth p r i e s t s and l a i t y a re
en co u rag ed to ta k e p a r t i n t h i s t a s k . But
w h a te v e r th e c a se may b e , th e p a r t i c i p a t i o n
o f th e l a i t y i s re q u ire d .I® 1
T h is was th e l a s t p a p a l d ir e c tiv e re g a rd in g c o o p e ra tio n
w ith p r o f e s s io n a l b r o a d c a s te r s . But o th e r s ta te m e n ts i n
th e docum ents is s u e d i n th e n e x t f o u r y e a r s d e s c rib e d
c o o p e ra tiv e e f f o r t s betw een s e c u la r and C a th o lic b ro ad
c a s t e r s and th e re b y im p lie d p a p a l encouragem ent o f su ch
r e l a t i o n s . The above s ta te m e n t was P iu s X I I 's l a s t b e fo re
h i s d e a th w hich co n cern ed th e C h u rc h 's r o le i n a c t i v e l y
en g ag in g i n r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n a f f a i r s .
T r a n s la tio n : "G uiding P r i n c i p le s o f th e Lay
A p o s to la te : A ddress o f H is H o lin e ss Pope P iu s X II to th e i
Second W orld C ongress o f th e Lay A p o s to la te , O cto b e r 5 , •
1 9 5 7 ," ( i u ) S e le c te d Documents o f H is H o lin e s s Pope P iu s
X II ( W a s h in g to n ,D . C. : N a tio n a l C a th o lic W elfare C o n fer
e n c e , n . d . [ c a . 1 9 5 9 -6 0 ]), p . 1**. "En ce q u i c o n c e m e l a
t £ l £ v i s i o n , TT e s t in d is p e n s a b le que l 'E g l i s e s o i t r ^ p r e - j
sen te'e d an s l e s oom itrfs c h a rg e s d 'd l a b o r e r l e s program m es |
e t que d e s s p e c i a l i s t s s c a th o liq u e s p re n n e n t ra n g parm i
l e s p r o d u c te u rs . Les p r& tre s a i n s i que l e s l a i c s s o n t
i n v i t e s A c e t t e t& che— l e p r e tr e p e u t p o s B e d e re n c e la
une com petence £ g a le A c e l l e du l a i c — , m ais d an s to u s l e s
1*in t e r v e n ti o n d es l a i c s e s t r e q u is e ." AAS. XLIX ( S e r . 2 :
XXIV), 15 (November 2 2 , 1 9 5 7 ), 9 3 ^ .
C f• n , 101 and accom panying t e x t on p . 271 a b o v e , j
332
Pope John X X III i n 1959 i n a r a d io a d d re s s to
B elgium commended th e fo u n d e rs , te c h n ic ia n s , and a r t i s t s
o f t h a t c o u n tiy who f o r te n y e a rs had c o o p e ra te d w ith th e
n a t i o n a l r a d io sy stem o f B elgium , w ith f u l l e p is c o p a l
a p p r o v a l, i n p ro d u c in g th e b i-w eek ly C a th o lic program
s e r i e s l'H e u r e M is s io n a ire ("The M issio n ary H o u r" ). T h at
s e r i e s r e p o r te d news and in fo rm a tio n and e s p e c i a lly
m essag es fa m ilia u x ("m essag es f o r th e fa m ily " ) t h a t
b ro u g h t to th o se f a r o f f p e rs o n a l c o m fo rt, a s s is ta n c e i n
iQp
l a b o r s , and lo y a lty to th e C hurch. I n h i s a d d re s s on
th e t h i r t i e t h a n n iv e rs a ry o f V a tic a n Radio i n 1961 Pope
Jo h n e x p re s s e d h i s s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t from t e l e v i s i o n 's
b e g in n in g th e new medium had been made a v a ila b le to th e
V a tic a n by p r o f e s s io n a l t e l e v i s i o n com panies:
V a tic a n Radio m a in ta in s a v e ry f r i e n d l y a t t i t u d e
to w ard t h i s m ost r e c e n t p ro d u c t o f m odem te c h n i
c a l s k i l l , th e u se o f w hich h as m ost c o u rte o u s ly
and g e n e ro u s ly been made a v a ila b le to i t , f o r th e
p r e s e n t , by th e c l o s e s t s t a t i o n o f th e R ad io -
T ele v is io n -N e tw o rk . I t s a n te n n a s and s tu d io s
m a in ta in f r a t e r n a l r e l a t io n s h i p s w ith V a tic a n
R a d io .183
182a a s, L I ( S e r . 3 : I ) , 6 (May 1 6 , 1 9 5 9 ), 313:
"Avec 1 'a p p r o b a tio n de l 'A u t o r i t d e c c l^ s ia s t iq u e e t l e
g d n ereu x cone o u rs de l a R a d io - d iff u s io n n a t io n a l s b e ig e ,
l'H e u r e M is s io n a ire d if f u s e [ c e t t e E m is s io n ]."
183T r a n s l a t io n : "V a tic a n R adio a f t e r T h irty
r e a r s , " TPS, V II, 2 (1 9 6 1 ), 1^2; AAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) ,
3 (M arch 2 $ , 1 9 6 1 ), 152: "La R adio V a tic a n a g u ard a oon
s im p a tia q u e sto p iu r e c e n te mezzo d e l l a te c n ic a m o d ern s,
d e i c u i s e r v i z i , c o r t e s i e g e n e r o s i, l e I d a to d i
a v v a l e r s i , p e r o r a , d a l l 'E n t e p iil v ic in o d i R a d io te le -
d i f f u s i o n e . Le sue a n te n n e e i s u o i s t u d i co n serv an o
f r a t e m i r a p p o r t i con l a R adio V a tic a n a ."
333
The Pope co n clu d ed by th a n k in g " th e v a r io u s a u t h o r i t i e s
and o r g a n iz a tio n s th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld f o r t h e i r h e lp and
good w i l l d u rin g th e t h i r t y y e a r s th e V a tic a n R adio h a s
been i n e x i s te n c e ." The V a tic a n had c o o p e ra te d w ith p ro
f e s s i o n a l com panies i n tr a n s m itti n g to th e c o u n tr ie s o f
th e w o rld t r a n s l a t i o n s and r e b r o a d c a s ts o f o r i g i n a l V a tic a n
R adio tr a n s m is s io n s And on November 2 6 , 1961, Pope
John fo rm a lly e x p re s s e d h i s g r a tit u d e to th e b r o a d c a s tin g
sy stem s th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld whose c o o p e ra tio n l e t p eo p le
everyw here sh a re i n th e so le m n ity o f th e P o p e 's e i g h t i e t h
185
b ir th d a y and t h i r d a n n iv e r s a r y a s Supreme P o n t i f f .
N a tio n a l C a th o lic o f f i c e s o f b r o a d c a s tin g .
Pope P iu s X II i n h i s I t a l i a n e x h o r ta tio n i n 195^ s tr o n g ly
p r a is e d in d iv id u a l b is h o p s who had a lre a d y d e s ig n a te d la y
men o r p r i e s t s to h e lp p re p a re r e l i g i o u s program s f o r mass
m e d ia. B ut b ecau se d io c e s a n e f f o r t s c o u ld be more e f f e c
t i v e by b e in g c o o rd in a te d th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try , th e Holy
1® i+I b i d . . [TPS] p . 1^3; [AAS] p . 153: "ringraziam oj
l e A u to rit& e g l i O rganism ! i n t e r n a z i o n a l i , p e r . i l fa v o re
co n c u i hanno accom pagnato i l tr e n te n n a le cammino d e l l a
R adio V a tic a n a . . . . "
i
i Q5aAS, L I I I ( S e r . 3 : I I I ) , 1 * + (December 2 2 , 1961),!
78^: "Le e m i i t e n t i .ra d io fo n io h e e t e l e v i s i v e da t u t t o i l '
mondo, e l a stam pa d i d iv e r s a e v a r i a in to n a z io n e Ci hanno
r e c a te l e v o c i non s o lo d e i c a t t o l i c i , ma anche q u e l l e ,
n u m ero sissim e e c a r e , d i t a n t i a l t r i c r i s t i a n i e non
c r i s t i a n i . c u i vorremmo p a r tic o la r m e n te e sp rim e re t u t t a l a
s e n s i b i l i t y d e l N o stro anim o."
33^
f a t h e r e x p re s s e d h i s hope t h a t d io c e s a n a c t i v i t i e s m ight
he
d i r e c t e d by a co m p eten t c e n t r a l o f f i c e , w hich w i l l
have th e f u n c tio n o f g iv in g u n ifo rm ity to th e
a c t i v i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l s , o f draw ing p r o f i t from
th e f r u i t f u l e x p e rie n c e s i n t h i s f i e l d i n v a r io u s
p a r t s o f th e w o rld , o f g a th e r in g to g e th e r th e
o b s e rv a tio n s and a d v ic e e s p e c i a l ly o f p a s to r s o f
3 0 u ls , and w hich a t th e same tim e may r e p r e s e n t
i n th e p ro p e r p la c e s th e v o ic e and even th e mind
o f th e I t a l i a n e p i s c o p a te ,18®
This was the first expression of papal wishes concerning
formal organization of national Catholic efforts in
b r o a d c a s tin g ; th e w ish was e x p re s s e d a s a "hope"
( a u s p ic h ia m o ) in s t e a d o f a s an " u rg in g " o r " e x h o r ta tio n ,"
much less as a "command," The Pontiff believed that by
com bining and c o o r d in a tin g th e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e i r d io c e s e s
th e b is h o p s would make i t e a s i e r f o r b ro a d c a s te rs and c i v i l
a u t h o r i t i e s to f u l f i l l t h e i r d u t i e s . By i n t e r p r e t i n g th e i
d e s i r e s o f th e m a jo rity , i n th e n a t io n whose m oral
i n s t i n c t s were p r o p e r , th e h ie r a r c h y would c o n tr ib u te to
^ ^ T r a n s l a t i o n s " T e le v is io n s I t s P u b lic and P r i - :
v a te E f f e c t s ," TPS, I , . l ( 1 s t Q u a r te r , 195*0, 9» AAS« XLVI!
( S e r . 2s X X I), 1 (J a n u a ry 1 6 , 195*+), 23s "Noi au sp ich iam o !
p ero che e s s a , p e r i l suo m aggiore re n d im e n to , p o ssa I
s v o lg e r s i i n m an iera c o o r d in a te s u l p ian o n a z io n a le , e ■
f a c c i a capo a u n U f f ic io C e n tra le co m p ete n te, che a b b ia
l a fu n z io n e d i im p rim ere s u i p u n ti e s s e n z i a l i u n c a r a t t e r e 1
u n ifo rm e a ll* a z io n e d e i s i n g o l i , d i m e tte re a p r o f i t t o d i 1
t u t t i l e f r u tt u o s e e s p e r ie n z e f a t t e i n q u esto campo n e l l e !
v a r i e p a r t i d e l mondo, d i r a c o o g lie r e l e s e g n a la z io n i e i
c o n s i g l i , s p e c ia lm e n te d e i P a s to r i d e l l e anim e, e n e l l o
s te s s o tempo r a p p r e s e n t i p re s s o c h i d i dovere l a voce e
i l p e n s ie ro s te s s o d e ll• E p is e o p a to i t a l i a n o . "
335
th e f e a s i b i l i t y o f b ro a d c a s te rs * r e s i s t i n g program s t h a t
were n o t f u l l y to be recom m ended. B ecause o f th e c o u n te r*
p r e s s u r e s t h a t to g e th e r c o n s t i t u t e th e f o r c e s i n m odem
s o c i e t y , com bined c o l la b o r a ti o n on th e p a r t o f a l l
C a th o lic s u n d e r th e le a d e r s h ip o f t h e i r Church le a d e r s
would p ro v id e a f o r c e f o r good w hich co u ld s u c c e s s f u lly
c o u n te r th e f o r c e s f o r " l e s s good" and e v i l . The f o r c e s
th a t w ere h arm fu l to th e s p i r i t u a l h e a l t h o f th e c o u n tiy
were enum erated by th e Pope a s m a te r ia lis m , f r i v o l i t y ,
p re o c c u p a tio n w ith s e n se p le a s u r e s , and o th e r e x c e s s e s
t y p i c a l l y d e p ic te d i n e n t ic i n g sc e n e s o f fo rb id d e n p a s s io n .
He s a id t h a t such h a rm fu l sc e n e s w hich had i n th e p a s t
been p ro p a g a te d by cinem a f ilm s were now a ls o p o s s ib le
th ro u g h t e l e v i s i o n w hich re a c h e d in to th e home i t s e l f .
T h e re fo re , a c c o rd in g to P iu s 2 1 1 , t h i s su g g e ste d c o o rd i
n a tin g o f f ic e o f th e C hurch sh o u ld form i n C a th o lic s a j
p ro p e r c o n sc ie n c e r e g a r d in g t h e i r C h r is tia n d u ty in u s in g |
I
t e l e v i s i o n . The in d i v i d u a l c o n s c ie n c e sh o u ld be on g u ard j
a g a in s t p o s s ib le a b u s e s o f th e medium and i t "conform s j
!
i t s e l f to th e ju d g m en ts o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l a u th o r ity on th e
m o ra lity o f t e l e v i s e d p re se n ta tio n s." '* '® ^ P iu s re q u e s te d
t h a t Church le a d e r s c o o p e ra te w ith one a n o th e r i n p ro d u c - j
I
i
in g r e l i g i o u s p ro g ra m s, r e p r e s e n tin g th e p e o p le s ' m o ral j
. - ...........................- ■ ■ j
........................................ • j
l 8 7 l b i d . , [TPS] p . 10; [AAS] p . 23s " . . . s i
a tte n g a a i g iu d iz e d e l l 'a u t o r i t a e c c l e s i a s t i c s s u l l a j
m o ralitA d e lle r a p p r e s e n ta z io n i te le tr a s m e s s e ."
336
i n t e r e s t s to b r o a d c a s te r s , and a p p r a is in g program s and
m aking known t h e i r a p p r a i s a ls f o r th e g u id a n ce o f C a th o lic s.
She a c tiv e u t i l i z a t i o n o f b ro a d c a s t m edia by th e
Church i n h e r a p o s to la te o f d e fe n d in g and s p re a d in g th e
f a i t h and i n l i t u r g i c a l cerem o n ies was c l e a r l y f o s te r e d by
th e s t a t u t e s drawn up i n 195^ f o r th e new P o n t i f i c a l Com
m is s io n f o r Cinema, fia d io , and T e le v is io n . Among o th e r
s p e c i f i c a t i o n s th e Com m ission was made th e c o o rd in a tin g
agency o f th e H oly See f o r a l l m a tte rs i n film s and b ro a d - ;
c a s tin g r e l a t e d to f a i t h and m o ra ls . The work o f th e
V a tic a n Commission m ig h t presum ably s e rv e a s a paradigm
f o r th e su g g e ste d n a t i o n a l Church o f f i c e s . A r t ic le 3 o f
th e S t a t u t e s d e s c rib e d th e f u n c tio n s o f th e Com mission; i t
was to fo llo w d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l tr e n d s i n f ilm p ro
d u c tio n and r a d io and t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s tin g , d i r e c t th e
f
a c t i v i t i e s o f C a th o lic s engaged i n th e m edia on b e h a lf o f
th e C hurch, and f u r t h e r th e e x e c u tio n o f d i r e c t i v e s is s u e d i
* t
by th e p o p e s . The tw o fo ld co n cern o f P iu s was r e f l e c t e d i
i n th e tw in g o a ls o f en c o u ra g in g m o tio n p ic tu r e s and
b r o a d c a s t program s t h a t were c o m p a tib le w ith C h r i s t i a n i t y
j
and o f p r o te c tin g C a th o lic s from th o s e t h a t were m o ra lly
i
d a n g e ro u s. These en d s w ere to be f o s t e r e d by m a in ta in in g j
i
c lo s e c o n ta c t w ith th e n a t i o n a l C a th o lic c e n te r s o f f ilm s
and b ro a d c a s tin g and w ith i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n iz a tio n s su ch j
a s 1*O ffic e C a th o lia u e I n t e r n a t i o n a l du Cinema ( O .C .I.C .)
and PNDA--Asaooiation Catholicme International de
Radiodiffusion et Television. by exchanging information,
collaborating with them, and foatering their activities.
Significantly, Article 6 of the Statutes explicitly
excluded any .international listing of film or broadcast
program appraisals; this was later confirmed by Pope Pius
XII in his encyclical Miranda Prorsus.
ART[ICIE] 6. The Pontifical Commission for
Motion Pictures, Radio and Television shall
normally abstain from publishing favourable or
unfavourable judgments on films, or on radio
and television programs, referring them, in the
spirit of the norms issued in this regard by the
Holy See, to the respective National Centres
established in each country by the Hierarchy.10"
Because racial cultures and national mores differed from
one another the Commission was "normally1 1 (normalmente)
to refrain from forming value judgments of mass media
products prepared for different countries. The national
centers were presumed to be already established or about
T r a n s la tio n ; " P o n t if i c a l Commission f o r M otion j
P i c t u r e s , R adio and T e le v is io n : S ta tu te s ,'* B u lle tin
d * In fo rm a tio n (Com m ission P o n ti f i c a le p o u r l e Cinem a, l a
ftad lo e t l a T e le v is io n ) [Rom e], IV , 28-29 (J a n u a ry -
P e b ru a ry , 1 9 5 5 ), 2 2 .
" A rtic o lo 6 / La P o n t i f i c i a Commissi one p e r l a f
C in e m a to g ra fia , l a R adio e l a T e le v is io n e s i a s tie n e
norm alm ente de p u b b lic a r e g iu d i z i f a v o r e v o li o n e g a t iv i
s u i f i l m s , o su tr a s m is s io n i ra d io f o n ic h e o t e l e v i s i v e
r im e tte n d o s i, n e l l o s p i r i t o d e l l e norme em anate i n
p r o p o s ito d a l l a S . S e d e , a i r i s p e t t i v i C e n tr i n a z i o n a l i ,
p ro m o ssi d a l l a s a c r a G e ra rc h ia n e i s i h g o l i p a e s i ." AAS.
XLVI ( S e r . 2 ; X X I), 17 (Decem ber 2 9 , 195*0, 78^.
F or com plete t e x t o f th e S t a t u t e s , se e A ppendix P .j
338
to be created; it was to be their task to pass judgment on
programs broadcast to the public through radio and tele
vision,
Pius XII concluded the first of four parts of his
encyclical in 1957 by commenting on the establishment of
national media offices in the Church. He referred to
Pius XI*s formal declaration that
it is absolutely essential for bishops to set up a
permanent national office of supervision whose
business it would be to encourage decent films,
to give others a recognized classification, and
then to publish their judgment and make it known
to priests and faithful
Pius applied his predecessor's directive for motion pic
tures to the more recent media of radio and television:
In several countries the bishops, taking the
lead from these directives [of Pius XI], decided
to set up offices of this kind, not only for
motion pictures, but also for radio and tele
vision.
As We consider, then, the spiritual advan
tages which can spring from these technical
arts, together with the need to protect the
l8 9 ih e s e w ords o f P iu s X I*s e n c y c li c a l o f Ju n e 2 9 ,
1 9 3 6 , V ig ila n t! C u ra, w ere q u o ted by P iu s X II i n M iranda ;
P r o r s u s . flhe Am erica P re s s e d i t i o n , o p . o i t . . p . !*»; aA£.
XLIX ( S e r . 2: XXIV), 1 3-1^ (O c to b e r 2 3 -2 6 , 1 9 5 7 ), 783: i
" 'p r o r s u s n e c e ssa riu m e s s e E p isc o p o s s t a b i l e p ro t o t a
N atio n e in s p e c ti o n is O fficiu m c o n s t i t u e r e , c u iu s [ e s s e t ]
h o n e s ta s imaginum s e r i e s p ro m o v ere, c e t e r a s autem in d ic a t o
more g e n e ra tim d i s t r i b u e r e , ac d e n i que ed itu m ab se
iu d ic iu m s a c e rd o tib u s e t c h r i s t i f i d e l i b u s s i g n i f i c a r e .
(B ra c k e ts ap p eared i n th e M iranda P ro r s u s c i t a t i o n o f th e
o r i g i n a l t e x t . ) P iu s XI a d d re s s e d h i s e n c y c li c a l e p i s t l e
s p e c i f i c a l l y to th e b is h o p s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s ; hen ce h i s
r e f e r e n c e was to a s in g le n a t i o n a l o f f i c e in s te a d o f to
many n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s i n g e n e ra l f o r a l l p a r t s o f th e
w o rld •
339
i n t e g r i t y o f C h r is tia n m o ra ls , w hich su ch e n t e r -
ta in m e n ts can e a s i l y e n d a n g e r, W e d e s ir e t h a t i n
e v e ry c o u n try , i f such o f f i c e s do n o t a lre a d y
e x i s t , th e y be e s ta b li s h e d w ith o u t d elay * These
a re to be e n tr u s te d to men c o n v e rs a n t w ith th e s e
a r t s , w ith a p r i e s t chosen by th e b is h o p s a s
a d v i s e r in ea ch c a s e .
M oreover, V en erab le B re th re n , W e u rg e t h a t
i n e a c h c o u n try , th e o f f i c e s d e a lin g w ith m o tio n
p i c t u r e s , r a d io o r t e l e v i s i o n sh o u ld e i t h e r
depend on one and th e same h ig h e r co m m ittee, o r
a t l e a s t a c t i n c lo s e c o o p e ra tio n . W e a ls o u rg e
t h a t th e f a i t h f u l , p a r t i c u l a r l y th o s e who a re
v ig o ro u s members o f C a th o lic A c tio n , be s u it a b ly
i n s t r u c t e d so t h a t th e y may p e rc e iv e th e n eed to
le n d w illi n g ly to th e s e o f f i c e s t h e i r u n ite d and
e f f e c t i v e s u p p o r t.
And s in c e th e r e a re a num ber o f q u e s tio n s
on t h i s s u b je c t n o t ca p ab le o f e a sy s o lu t io n i n
in d iv id u a l c o u n t r i e s , i t w i l l c e r t a i n l y be v e ry
u s e f u l i f th e n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s o f e a ch c o u n try
a s s o c ia te th e m se lv e s w ith th e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
o r g a n iz a tio n to w hich t h i s H oly S e e , a f t e r due-,g0
c o n s id e r a tio n , h a s a lre a d y g iv e n i t s a p p ro v a l. *
1 9 0 jran S 2 a tio n : The A m erica P re s s e d i t i o n ,
o p . o i t *. p p . 1 ^ -1 5 ; AAS, XLIX ( S e r . 2 : XXIV), 13-1^
(O c to b e r 2 3 -2 6 , 1957)7^783-8**:
'•In n o n n u ll i s autem N a tio n ib u s E p is c o p i, h a s norm as
p ra e o c u l is h a b e n te s , h u iu s g e n e r is O f f ic ia c o n s t i t u e r u n t
non modo ad rem cin em ato g rap h icam quod a t t i n e t , se d ad
rad io p h o n icam e tia m ac t e l e v i s i f i c a m .
"Iam vero Nos m atu re c o n s id e r a n te s s p i r i t u a l e s
u t i l i t a t e s , quae ex h is c e t e c h n ic is a r t i b u s o r i r i p o s s u n t,
item que n e c e s s ita te m c h ris tia n o ru m morum i n t e g r i t a t e m
t u t a n d i , quam i d genus s p e c ta tio n e s f a c i l e i n d is c rim e n
a d d u c e re . p o s s u n t, cu p im u s, u t i n s i n g u l i s N a tio n ib u s , s i
e iu sm o d i O f f ic ia nondum h a b e a n tu r, n u l l a i n t e r p o s i t a mora
c o n s t ! t u a n t u r quam primum; eademque v i r i s , harum a rtiu m u sii
p e r i t i s , cone r e d a n tu r , quos a l i q u i s s a c e rd o s m o d e re tu r ab
E p is c o p is d e l e c t u s .
"Vos h o rtam u r p r a e t e r e a , V e n e ra b ile s F r a t r e s , u t
i n s i n g u l i s N a tio n ib u s haec v iro ru m O f f i c i a , s iv e ad rem
cin em a to g rap h icam , s iv e ad ra d io p h o n ic a m , s iv e d e n i que ad
t e l e v i s i f i c a m p e r t i n e n t , v e l ab uno eodemque C o n s ilio
p e n d e a n t, v e l sa lte rn a d iu tric e m in v ic e m ope ram p r a e s t e n t ;
item que h o rta m u r, u t c h r i s t i f i d e l e s , i i p r a e s e r tim , q u i i n
A c tio n is C a th o lio a e ag m in ib u s m i l i t a n t , d e b ito modo
e d o c e a n tu r, i t a u t n e c e s s ita te m p e r c i p i a n t communem
3^0
I n th e s e s h o r t p a ra g ra p h s P iu s X II o u tlin e d th e e s s e n t i a l
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e C h u rc h 's c o o rd in a te d e f f o r t s
r e g a r d in g th e mass m ed ia: ( a ) th e b ish o p s i n e a c h c o u n try
were to e s t a b l i s h a n a t io n a l o f f i c e ; (b ) each o f f i c e was
to be s t a f f e d by laym en tr a in e d i n th e m edia and was to be I
m o d erated by an a p p o in te d p r i e s t ; (o ) th e f ilm and th e
b r o a d c a s tin g o f f i c e s w ere to c o o p e ra te w ith e a c h o t h e r i f
th e y be s e p a r a te ; (d ) a l l C a th o lic s w ere to p a r t i c i p a t e
a c t i v e l y i n s u p p o rtin g th e work o f th e o f f i c e s ; and ( e ) a l l
n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s were to c o o p e ra te w ith one a n o th e r th ro u g h
a s s o c i a t io n i n a V a tic a n -a p p ro v e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l o rg a n iz a
t i o n .
The P o p e 's w ords were b o th l e s s i n s i s t e n t and more
i n s i s t e n t th a n th o se o f P iu s X I. I n s te a d o f " i t i s a b s o - j
l u t e l y n e c e s s a ry " ( p r o rs u s n e c e s s a riu m e s e e ) P iu s X II
chose to say "we d e s ir e " (cupim us) to w hich he added
d e c is iv e s tr e n g t h w ith th e w ords " t h a t su ch o f f i c e s be
e s t a b l i s h e d a s soon a s p o s s ib le w ith o u t any d e la y " ( u t
. . . eiu sm o d i O f f ic ia . . . n u l l a i n t e r p o s i t a m ora c o n - j
s t i t u a n t u r quam prim um ) . The P o n t i f f recommended t h a t
i
, i
| laym en who w ere co m p eten t in th e s e m edia sh o u ld p e rfo rm i
i i
I
e ffic a c e m q u e operam h is e e O f f i c i i s p r a e s ta n d i l i b e n t e r .
"E t quandoquidem q u a e s tio n e s h ac de r e non paucae
haud f a c i l e q ueunt i n s in g u l i s N a tio n ib u s e n o d a ri ac s o l v i ,
p e r u t i l e p r o fe c to e r i t , s i haec s in g u la O f f ic ia ad m agnas j
i l l a s e x omnibus N a tio n ib u s C o n s o c ia tio n e s p e r tin e b u n t,
quas A p o s to lio a haec S e d e s , r e m atu re c o n s id e r a te , iam !
p r o b a v it ." !
many o f th e t a s k s o f p ro d u c in g program s and o f l i a i s o n
w ith th e b r o a d c a s te r s re g a rd in g g e n e ra l program c o n te n t;
th e laym en w ere to have a s t h e i r a d v is o r a p r i e s t
a p p o in te d by th e b is h o p . P iu s "u rg ed i n a d d itio n "
(h o rta m u r p r a e t e r e a ) th e o th e r th r e e p o in ts : (1 ) a s in g le
o f f ic e o r s e p a r a te o f f i c e m ig h t d e a l w ith film s and w ith
b r o a d c a s tin g , b u t i f d i s t i n c t th e o f f i c e s were to a c t i n
harmony u n d e r th e d io c e s a n a u th o r it y ; (2 ) th e ta s k o f
in f lu e n c in g th e m edia in c lu d e d t