Religion: No Catholics in Space?

Noting that every one of the seven airmen chosen for the first U.S. effort to put a human being into space is "a believing Protestant," the Jesuit weekly, America, had some fun with the Roman Catholic faithful who take such statistics hard. "We predict," says America, that:

"1) Some bilious editorial apologete will darkly ask: 'How does it happen that from the volunteers among our 80,000 military pilots, not one Catholic filtered through the Space Curtain?' 2) Some communion breakfast orator will harangue the Knights: '. . . Columbus et al. were of our faith. Are the Niñas, Pintas and Santa Marias of the cosmic seas to be piloted solely by heretic helmsmen?' 3) A Catholic educator will demand a look-see at the 566 'Who am I?' questions used in screening the fledgling spacemen. Were those questions slanted to put a Catholic ... in a poor light? 4) Inevitably some aspiring politico will stir our bile to a boil by observing that a space team without a Catholic is like an All-American team without a Notre Dame player: serves us right if the Commies beat us to the moon!"

Concludes America: "In all seriousness, our prayers go with these brave men . . . We hope indeed that our first Magellan of the empyrean may have God for his co-pilot."