Document titled ‘Presence of priests on controversial platforms.’ On controversial questions, in which liberty of opinion is lawful for Catholics, should priests be allowed a similar liberty? Definite limits laid down by Plenary Council of Maynooth. Vatican Council has emphasized the active role the Faithful should play in public affairs. Regarding Vietnam, some Christians feel that U.S. participation is not justified on Christian principles. Fr. Michael O’Neill, St. Columban’s, took part in a protest meeting. On the platform were Sen. Garrett Fitzgerald, Sen. Eoin Ryan, Michael O’Leary and Donal Nevin. Fr. O’Neill said he would sign nothing organized by the Irish Voice on Vietnam as it was a propaganda body.

Letter from +Ryan, Lisbon to +McQuaid stating he is going on pilgrimage to Lourdes with the West Indies pilgrims. He will be in Ireland after that and then head to Rome for a meeting of C.E.L.A.M., Episcopal Conference of Latin America. He has also been invited to the student retreat in Maynooth.

Typed letter to Fr. MacMahon from ‘Grandma’. Sent him provisional programme for the Congress. No success in getting lay people to give talks on the items on the programme. At 1913 Club meeting R. Ryan TD, Brendan Corish TD, Peadar O’Donnell and David Thornley on platform. Topic: ‘Ireland from 1913bto 1961’. Three groups represented at the meeting: the IRA the Pro British element from Trinity and the Beat-nicks. Speakers heckled from all three. O’Donnell referred to some of the Labour members being controlled from Maynooth and blamed the failure of Labour to “the Holy-water hens” throughout the country stopping progress.