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APPENDIX I RESOLUTION TO BE PRESENTED TO THE DADS’ CLUB OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 24, 1955 WHEREAS, the Committee appointed by His Excellence, the Archbishop, to study the question of integration, has concluded that the White and Negro children attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans should be integrated: WHEREAS, notwithstanding the Dads’ Club of Holy Name of Jesus School is convinced that it would be seriously harmful to the welfare of both the White and Negro children to integrate them because of the great disparity that exists between the races in the areas of moralty [sic], culture, education and health; WHEREAS, since it is self-evident that fraternization cannot be separated from education, the integration of White and Negro students in the Catholic schools would bring about the fraternization of the White and Negro students, not only of the same sex, but of opposite sexes; a condition, particularly during adolescence , which this organization deems extremely imprudent and undesirable, and to be avoided at almost any cost; WHEREAS, the Dads’ Club is certain that the integration of the children would completely disrupt the organization of our Dads’ Club and other Dads’ Clubs, as well as that of the various Cooperative Clubs throughout the Archdiocese by making it possible for Negro parents to become members of such organizations in which until now membership has been totally non-Negro; WHEREAS, because the majority of White parents do not wish to intermingle with Negroes on a social basis, this organization is convinced that the introduction of Negro members into the various Dads’ and Cooperative Clubs would bring to an end all social functions, as well as all fund raising projects, such as fairs, drives for money and the like, which projects have so substantially aided the parishes of the Archdiocese in carrying the heavy financial burden of Catholic education; WHEREAS, in view of the fact that almost all of the White Catholic schools in the Archdiocese are already overcrowded to the point where approval by the State of Louisiana could be withdrawn, it is unnecessary and therefore unjustifiable, by Appendixes  211 Archives of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus. Anderson final pages 8/10/05 9:15 AM Page 211 compelling integration, to impose a burden in conscience on those devout Catholic parents, who, through intellectual conviction or emotional reaction, will remove their children from the Catholic schools; WHEREAS, as parents of children attending a Catholic school, we believe that we have not only the right, but the serious obligation, to inform His Excellency, the Archbishop, of our convictions, attitudes and opinions, so that he might duly weigh them before making any decision in this most vital matter; NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Dads’ Club of the Holy Name of Jesus School go on record as most strongly disapproving and opposing the integration of White and Negro children in the Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans at any time in the foreseeable future; 2. That this organization respectfully petitions His Excellency, Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel to defer the integration of White and Negro children in Catholic schools for an indefinite period; 3. That His Excellency be presented with a copy, duly certified, of this resolution. 212  Black, White, and Catholic: New Orleans Interracialism 1947–1956 Anderson final pages 8/10/05 9:15 AM Page 212 ...

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