Ritter is noted for ending racial discrimination in church schools in both of his archdioceses long before it became mandatory in the United States.

"[3]Ritter said his father had a great reverence of education, saying, "Dad gave us all a chance to go to college, but only if we applied ourselves.

[1] Ritter was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Indianapolis at St. Meinrad Seminary in the Abbey Church on May 30, 1917, by Bishop Joseph Chartrand.

[4] In 1920, they transferred him to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis to serve as an assistant to Chartrand.

[5] Following Chartrand's death, Pius XI appointed Ritter as the seventh bishop of Indianapolis on March 24, 1934.

[13] Ritter was appointed the fourth archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Pius XII on July 20, 1946, succeeding the late Cardinal John J.

[16] Ritter also developed what is now known as the Annual Catholic Appeal, which remains a primary source of financial support for many archdiocesan educational and charitable activities.

Ritter served as president of the National Catholic Educational Association from 1955 to 1956, and was named an assistant at the pontifical throne on October 5, 1956.

[18] On August 9, 1947, Ritter announced an end to racial segregation in all five St. Louis diocesan high schools before the fall term.

[19][10] He declared, "The cross on top of our schools must mean something," and expressed his belief in "the equality of every soul before Almighty God".

Ritter refused to meet with the association's leaders; his spokesman said, "He is the father of the whole flock and must care for all, regardless of race.

[25] After ruling out a lawsuit, the association did send a letter of protest to the apostolic delegate to the United States, Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani.

[27][28] He also protested against the Roman Curia's oppressive actions[28] and Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani's draft on the sources of revelation at the Council.

[30] On August 24, 1964, in line with reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Ritter celebrated the world's first authorized mass in English at Kiel Auditorium in St.

[15] Ritter died on June 10, 1967, at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis after suffering two heart attacks that week.

In his sermon, Bishop Charles Helmsing spoke of Ritter's liturgical leadership, particularly "his concern for a liturgy of the Word that would truly inform and enlighten the people of God."

[32][8] In 1960, Ritter declared that Catholic students must obtain written permission from the archdiocese to attend secular or non-Catholic colleges.

The film featured actor Jane Russell dancing in a scanty outfit in what was then considered a sexually-suggestive scene.