Focus: A Film Review (1952-1953)

139 Pontifical Film Commission The first General Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Pontifical Film Commission took place in Rome on April 26th and 27th under the Presidency of His Excellency, Bishop Martin O’Connor, Rector of the North American College, Rome. This Commission (its Italian title is : Pontificia Commissione Per La Cinematografia) was set up last year at the request of the Holy Father as the organ of the Holy See for the study of film problems which are related to faith and morals. It has the function of following the ideological and practical trends of him production, and of furthering the execution of the directives issued by the Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority. It is at the disposition of the Holy See and of the bishops of the world to furnish information and to study questions proposed by these Authorities. The Pontifical Film Commission is to work in close contact with the National Catholic Film Centres and with the International Catholic Film Office (O.C.I.C.) exchanging informa[ tion, collaborating with them and fostering their activity. The P.F.C. is appointed by the I Holy See and is composed of the following members : The President, whose term of office is six vears; The Council (which assists the President) | comprising (a) Ex Officio Members, namely, the Assessor of the Sacred I Congregation of The Holy Office; the Assessor of the Sacred Consistorial I Congregation; the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Council; the Secretary of the Sacred Congrega| tion of Seminaries and Universities of I Studies; the Pro-Secretary of State; (b) Four Members freely chosen by the Holy See for a term of three years. Of these, two may be laymen. The Executive Committee which is presided over by the President and is composed of an Executive Secretary, three or more Consultors and an Advisor}' Council. The members of the Executive Committee remain in office for three years. The meetings of the Commission were held at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in Vatican City, which is the headquarters of the Pontifical Film Commission. Mgr. J. B. Montini, Pro-Secretary of State, was the host of the members of the Executive Committee and dined with them in the Grand Hall of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. It was clear that he had a very full idea of the extent of the work of the various National Catholic Film Centres and spoke with each of the members on the work of their own country. Those present at this first General Meeting, in addition to the President and the Executive Secretary (Mgr. A. Galletto) were Rev. Dr. J. Bernard, President of O.C.I.C.; Mgr. P. J. Masterson (U.S.A.); Rev. Dr. Louis de Pauw (Belgium); Fr. J. Dwavrin (France); Rev. Dr. A. Kochs (Germany); Fr. J. A. V. Burke (Great Britain) who was co-opted on to the Executive Committee in addition to Mgr. T. Croft-Fraser, who is Cardinal Griffin’s nominee to the Commission; Rev. Dr. Charles Reinert (Switzerland). Though the work of the Commission remains confidential, it is permitted to us to reproduce part of the discourse of Bishop O’Connor in welcoming the members of the Executive Committee to Rome. His Excellency said: “At the opening of the work of this first Congress of ‘Experts’ I wish, with the unanimous consent of all present, to devote the first thought, in affectionate and filial love, towards the Vicar of Christ, His Holiness Pope Pius XII. To Him our many thanks for