ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF OUR “FRATRES IN UNUM” GROUP
Following Vatican Council II perhaps the most progressive diocese in the United States was that of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. After that Ecumenical Council, the diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa called together what they called the LITTLE COUNCIL. Delegates were elected from each parish from around the entire state. There were many young priests, and most were very proud of the idea of having elected representatives implement the theology, philosophy, and insights of Vatican II into the life of the Catholic parishes in Oklahoma. The bishop of the era was Victor J. Reed who had his roots in the state and had served there as a parish priest prior to becoming our bishop. He was permissive of new ways and experiments but not a firebrand.
But many of the laity were not so enthusiastic. For instance, the diocesan newspaper was uniquely privately owned and edited by one of the more liberal priests and his articles were often at odds with the conservative leanings of a group of loudly opposed laity. So before long the Little Council took aim at that paper, and it was no longer the official diocesan paper. The paper was sold, and the owner-editor moved to California to exercise his ministry.