Religion: 24 Hats

For a year, U.S. Roman Catholics have eagerly awaited the announcement of a Papal Consistory and its list of new cardinals. At the last one, in February 1946, four red hats went to U.S. churchmen.* This time, in view of their increasing importance in church affairs, e.g., U.S. contributions account for one-third of the Vatican's foreign revenues, the U.S. clergy hoped to get three or four more. The most talked-about candidates: Archbishops Richard J. Gushing of Boston, John Francis O'Hara of Philadelphia, Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis.

Last week the long-expected news came —and it was a disappointment. The Vatican announced...

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