Religion: Words & Works

¶ In a 15,000-word encyclical, Miranda Prorsus (Wonderful Inventions), Pope Pius XII called for the immediate establishment of national committees to judge the moral qualities of radio, television and films. Comparable to the U.S.'s National Legion of Decency, which evaluates only films,* the committees will be guided by the Pontifical Commission for Movies, Radio and Television. Vatican officials say the committees will screen news broadcasts, drama and other entertainment and "compel decent programs" by expressing "forcefully" to broadcasters the public's disapproval of "ether indecency."

¶ Opening a drive against gambling, the Massachusetts Council of Churches began distributing a Massachusetts Crime Commission...

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