It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light.

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the
church's reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

********************************************

A Parish That Destroys Myths



St. Paul of the Cross plays an important role in destroying myths about
the Negro

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the
church's reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

Father Banks is also proud of the parish school which serves many
non-Catholics. "We think our children get a good education and the
school plays a vital role in the community even if it is de-facto
segregated." He said the parish has one white member.

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally viewed
in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the church's
reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the
church's reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

********************************************

A Parish That Destroys Myths



St. Paul of the Cross plays an important role in destroying myths about
the Negro and it delights Father Edward J. Banks, C.P., its pastor.

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the
church's reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

********************************************

A Parish That Destroys Myths



St. Paul of the Cross plays an important role in destroying myths about
the Negro and it delights Father Edward J. Banks, C.P., its pastor.

It has been my experience in these ng's that the RCC is generally
viewed in a negative light. The following article may help rectify the
church's reputation in the eyes of some of it's liberal critics.

********************************************

A Parish That Destroys Myths



St. Paul of the Cross plays an important role in destroying myths about
the Negro and it delights Father Edward J. Banks, C.P., its pastor.

If you ask him about open housing, civil rights legislation and the
much-publicized Negro revolution, the Passionist priest may take you on
a tour of the neighborhood. He thinks the lives of his parishioners
tell you more about the Negro than he can.

"The parish theme song is that this place evidence of what the Negro
can do if he is given the same opportunity as whites. Every man has got
to have the chance to earn a living."

Father Banks said the lives of his parishioners help educate whites to
the idea that "change has come and you must accept it."

"When people talk about riots, I ask them, 'What was your attitude
10 years ago?'"

However, in destroying myths about the Negro, a few myths have been
created about the parish. Father Banks said St. Paul of the Cross has
been pictured as a parish of wealthy Negroes.

He said this is not totally true. "Many of our parishioners lived in
projects when I came here 13 years ago, and were able to move out and
up because they worked hard. They still work hard. Many of the women
are school teachers and quite a few of the men hold down two jobs so
they can educate their children and live decently." He said, however,
there are well-to-do parishioners.

And he quickly points out that St. Paul of the Cross also serves
residents of two housing projects, Bowen Homes and Perry Homes.

"Father Richard Leary, C.P., has worked hard in serving the
underprivileged. Father Richard has worked with retarded children in
Bowen Homes and is in the process of establishing a medical clinic in
Perry Homes. Two nuns from Holy Family Hospital will work there."

Father Banks is also proud of the parish school which serves many
non-Catholics. "We think our children get a good education and the
school plays a vital role in the community even if it is de-facto
segregated." He said the parish has one white member.

In his 13 years at St. Paul of the Cross and his almost 30 years as a
priest, Father Banks said he has seen numerous changes.

He said the changes were slow at times, but added that past actions
should not be judged by present conditions. "One of my great
experiences was a CYO meeting in 1957 when Negro and white boys and
girls met together. Today it's different and the action comes
faster."

Father Banks discussed the closing of Drexel High School. "Drexel was
probably a good thing at the time it was built, but its closing and the
integration of our other high schools has worked well." He also cited
Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan for desegregating Catholic schools and
hospitals.

Asked about his parishioners' attitude on open housing, Father Banks
replied, "I don't know if it will affect them personally. Negroes
came to this area so they would be free to develop. They developed this
neighborhood and would like for it to be integrated, but if a white
family moves out ... well ... they have pride in their neighborhood."
One of Father Banks' favorite expressions is "the bond of faith."
Asked what he meant by it, he explained it this way:

"When Charlayne Hunter, a member of this parish, began her efforts to
attend the University of Georgia, I heard some Catholics wonder why she
was going to all that trouble. I told them, 'She's one of my
parishioners' and I saw a change of attitude. Later they asked me how
she was doing." Father Banks said he felt this bond of faith in the
early days of meetings with the CYO, the Scouts, the Council of
Catholic Men and the Council of Catholic Women. "We didn't need any
laws to bring them together, their faith did it. I can see a change in
attitude and I think our faith has helped to bridge the gap between
white and Negro. I hope the bond of faith will become much stronger."


The pastor also answered another question about open housing on a tour
of many attractive neighborhoods. "Tell me," he said, "Is this a
white or Negro neighborhood?"

He said many persons who have visited St. Paul of the Cross tell him
when they leave, "Father, it's been an education." This is the
particular witness of St. Paul of the Cross, the pastor said.