A church promotion for John Paul (NOT the pope), 40 years ago

In 1977, the Catholic Church did not have a pope named John Paul yet, but La Crosse had a priest named John Joseph Paul.  Monsignor Paul was promoted to auxiliary bishop in ’77.  He was an Aquinas graduate who had been rector at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral.  In a few years, Paul would become a full bishop for the La Crosse Diocese, succeeding Frederick Freking.

President Jimmy Carter had been on the job only about 100 days, but his personal popularity was “extraordinarily high,” according to columnist Joseph Kraft.  Carter was said to be liked by members of both parties, and Kraft said the Georgia Democrat had “exploited public suspicions of Washington” to defeat President Gerald Ford.

Woody Allen’s new comedy “Annie Hall” could be seen at the Rivoli in La Crosse.  Allen’s ground-breaking movie won Best Picture at the Oscars the next year.  Opening just before Memorial Day…the first “Star Wars” movie.  The Force was with us, 40 years ago, Yesterday in La Crosse.