History Of The Beginnings Of CREDO Of Buffalo As recorded in the official diocesan newspaper

THE FOLLOWING IS A REPRINT OF AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON APRIL 17, 1969 IN THE "MAGNIFICAT", THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF BUFFALO.

"CREDO Opposes Unauthorized Changes"
       LOCAL GROUP FORMED TO SUPPORT POPE, BISHOPS IN CHURCH CRISIS

"An Association" of "Concerned Catholics" - lay and religious - has been formed in the Diocese of Buffalo to support Pope Paul and the bishops in what the group's founders call 'the current doctrinal crisis facing the Catholic Church.' The new association organized at an invitation-only meeting Sunday at Rosary Hill College, has been named CREDO. In a release to the press, Robert J. Jacobi, a Buffalo businessman and association president, said he hoped that CREDO would become a focal and vocal point for the faithful, silent majority of Catholics concerned over some recent developments in the Church.

HE LISTED THESE AS: Unauthorized liturgical experiments; the unorthodox catechetical texts and religious instruction in some Catholic schools and CCD classes; various scandals involving disobedience to legitimate Church teaching and authority; the concern of many parents over sex education programs due to the very clinical approach without stressing moral principles and the infringement on their parental rights in this extremely personal area; and finally the current campaign to either drastically liberalize or completely abolish present abortion laws.

THE PRESS RELEASE said 'CREDO' has these general objectives: To develop a richer spiritual life in its members; to support the truths of the Church and refute error; to unite itself with legitimate Church authority and the Pope; and 'to profess our religious assent of will and mind to the 'Credo of the People of God' proclaimed by Pope Paul VI.'

THE RELEASE SAID the objectives were presented by Jacobi, who was chairman of the meeting. Jacobi said an enthusiastic audience of 60 people attended the meeting which was the final organizational one for CREDO. A general meeting is scheduled for May, with the time, the place and the speaker to be announced.

THE MEETING ALSO approved the sending of a telegram to Cardinal-designate Dearden, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops; the telegram read: "Respectfully request bishops to investigate liturgical excesses, examine orthodoxy of many catechetical texts being used for religious instruction being used in Catholic schools and CCD classes; also aberrant sex education programs developing in some dioceses. We wish to affirm our adherence to the teaching magisterium of the Church and especially to the 'Credo' of Pope Paul. On behalf of the faithful Catholics throughout the nation, we commend our bishops who have defended the doctrinal teaching of Humanae Vitae without ambiguity in the face of scandalous publicly expressed dissent."

CREDO's PRESS RELEASE listed these as officers: Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Jacobi, president-couple; Mr. and Mrs. James Likoudis, vice-president and secretary-couple' Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Weinert, treasurer-couple. Dr. Rupert Ederer, a professor at Buffalo State College, is chairman of the Board of Directors. Other Board members are Prof. and Mrs. Dennis Bonnette, Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Gallagher, Prof. and Mrs. Wilbert Eger, Mr. and Mrs. James Speicher, Mrs. James Bleeze, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hellerer, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Waring Jr. and Rt.Rev. Msgr. Maurice Woulfe.

FIVE OF CREDO's LEADERS teach in area colleges. They are Likoudis and Eger at Rosary Hill, and Bonnette and Gallagher at Niagara University, and Dr. Ederer, Weinert and Speicher are businessmen. Mrs. Bleeze is a housewife; Hellerer a lawyer; and Waring an insurance executive. Msgr. Woulfe is pastor of Infant of Prague Church, Cheektowaga."