Religion: Worldly Rotary

Into the international organization of 7,200 businessmen's groups called Rotary,* the Vatican last week dropped a stick of ecclesiastical high explosive. No Roman Catholic priest, decreed the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, may henceforth be a member of Rotary or attend Rotary meetings. Furthermore, laymen, while not forbidden Rotary membership, were exhorted to bear in mind Article 684 of canon law. Excerpt: "The faithful . . . must guard against associations which are secret, condemned, seditious, suspect, or which try to escape legitimate church vigilance."

The 342,000 Rotarians in 83 lands, who hold luncheon meetings once a week, call each other...

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