The Catholic times. [volume], November 28, 1952, Image 4

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4
THE
CATHOLIC TIM)
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A Proven Need
Some of the reaction seen to dat* goes a long
way toward proving the wisdom, of. and need for,
the statement issued by the Cardinals. Archbishops
and Bishops of the United States following their an
nual meeting here.
The American Bishops entitled their statement:
"Religion, Our Most Vital National Asset.” Briefly,
they said Religion is necessary to man. communities
and nations History shows that spiritual losses, rath,
er than materia) losses, bring nations to their rum.
The real danger to our country is irreligion The
trend toward irreligion is encouraged by the divorce
ment of education from religion. The United States
is a religious country. A religious people upholds
that standard of morality which flows necessarily
from belief in God The State should uphold this
morality and encourage its people in it. The State
has the duty to help parents fulfill their task of
religious instruction and training.
One of the very few newspapers to take editorial
exception to the statement was The Washingon
Post This was not totally unexpected, in view of the
stand on religion in education taken by Agnes
Meyer, an occasional writer in the paper and the
wife of the chairman of its board of directors.
The Post editorial said it opposed “the introduc
tion of any religious training into public educa
tion.” because it would endanger the American prin
ciple that one group should not force its religious
beliefs on any others The paper said the American
public school should be a safe place for children of
any and all religious and of no religious belief.
The paper did not deal with the contention of
many thoughtful people that, in rendering a public
school perfectly safe for pupils of no religious he
hefa. one may well be rendering the school extreme
ly dangerous to pupils of any and all religious be
liefs In championing the rights of “secular educa
tion”, one can harmfully throw its weight on the
side of Secularism One can take that course with
equanimity and still care very much about religion.
The Post said “the proper place for religion*
education, we believe, is in churches and homes and
Sunday schools." Those who want to combine re
ligions and secular education should maintain sep
arate schools of than own This is, in effect to say:
If they want religious instruction in school, let them
get out of the school supported hy the public by
thefr parents as well as other parents Does this not
preempt the nation’s schools for Secularism and
atheism* It definitely makes the schools “safe'* for
irreligion It throws its weight against religion,
The Bishops made a very good case in estab
lishing that, by origin and tradition, the United
States Is a religious nation Many of those whn take
issue with the Bishops’ statement seem to start from
the premise that we are naturally an irreligious coun
try They seem to feel that religious instruction in
a school would be an infringement of the rights of
children nf atheists. There is no proof that this
is so But if it were, might it not be argued that
to have things the way they want them would be an
infringement nf the rights of religious parents.
And hnw ean one argue that religious instruction
is a matter for the some, and at the same lime say,
tn effect, that atheism and agnosticism are mailers
for the school?
On the other hand. The Evening Star nf this
city thinks the Bishops’ statement will have “a very
wide acceptance
The Star said that, if religious instruction in the
schools “entails any risk tn our system,” it is cer
tainly “a far slighter risk than that which grows
out of the evils that have taken root and flourished
in the Secularism of recent decades
The Evening Star editorial said the Bishops’
Matement “is similar in tone and purpose” to one
issued four years ago.
“Certainly, if one may judge from fhe advance
in tuvenile delinquency." fhe editorial continued “it
can hardly be said that there is less need for relig
ious instruction at all levels, and especially among
our young people Nor is there any evidence that
such instruction as has been sanctioned has tended
in any way to destroy a proper aeparation of the
functions of church and state
The Star declared that few will dissent from the
proposition ol the Bishops’ statement that “'the im
minent threat to our country comes not from relic
ious divisiveness hut from irreligious social decay.”
“The contentions,” the editorial continued, "can
be documented if documentation be deemed neces
sary But this should hardly he required, for the
evidence is all around us. plain for any one to sec
Perhaps there will be some difference of opinion
concerning the extent to which religious instruction
associated with the public schools can remedy these
evils The weight of logic suggests, however, that
religious instruction of this kind, when properly
conducted and adequately safeguarded, can he
helpful.”
At almost the same time. Dr Oliver Carmich
ael, president of the arncsie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching was issuing an annual re
port which said that “neutral instruction” probably
weakens a pupil more than it strengthens him
Dr Carmichael said the absence of a dear and
positive philosophy is the great weakness of the
Western world in its fight against communism, and
that ‘it is probable that whollv neutral instruction
weakens rather than strengthens the ability to make
commitments And yet he said "an education
which doe* not strengthen the power of conviction,
that does not inculcate a sense of social responsibil
ity. fails in its duty to society
The objections raised hv critics mas, in manv
eases, to be taken as measures of the distance which
persons and institutions this country have drifted
toward Secularism The Washington Letter)
Look Before on Buy
We are advised more and more to buy by the
“brand name” to he sure of what we are receiving
We are told that purchasing in this manner assures
u? of obtaining just exactly what wr want It in
sure* us against substitutes.
This is all very nice jnd handy, and we subscribe
to it. But it can he earned too far in some applica
tions The old dictum: “A rose by any other
etc.” still holds, even in reverse You will never he
able to change the contents of the can by altering
the title on its label Atheistic Communism will al
ways be just that, no matter what you call it
It is discouraging to find that some people, who
should know better, acting and speaking in such
a way that would seem to imply that there a a dif
ference in “brands” of Communism.
For instance: We all know of the “Old Joe"
brand of Communism. We know precisely what w e're
buying when we deal with him: Godlessness, whole
sale murder, the loss of individual freedom and. in
short, practically the opposite of everything that we
know is moral.
Now. however, let’s pick up another “brand”,* the
“Mild Tito” variety. Experience shows that we are
buying exactly the same thing: irreligion. persecu
tion. the restriction of liberty and the swallowing up
of individual freedom in that of the state. Respon
sible people w’ould seem to be trying to convince us
that this brand is different, though, only because
the brand name is different.
We read with dismay and incredulity that An
thony Eden. Britain’s Foreign Secretary, was talk
ing up a warm reception in England for Marshall
Tito on his proposed visit. What can he see in Tito
that he can’t see in Butcher Joe?
Anthony spent his honeymoon in Yugoslavia
hobnobbing with gond old Tito. Came away thinking
he was a bit of all right you know. This seems very
ndd from a high official of a government which so
short a time ago professed its sympathy with Arch
bishop Stepinac and decried the treatment meted
out to him hy Tito.
Tito's pronouncements on religion, his constant
warring against it. his degrading youth policy, his
utter disregard of truth—all of these things point
up exactly what Tito’s brand of Communism is.
We hope that those who are shaping the policies
nf nur freedom loving nations are not going to be
fooled into buying Mr. Tito's brand of atheistic
communism
Just Among Ourselves
Pasting Comment Considered or Inconsiderate
Advent comes again. Another new year begins
in the calendar of Mother Church. It begins with
joy, in anticipation of Christmas. In all the seasonal
prayers and offices of Advent, the Church begs God
to stir up in her children a joyous and holy longing
for the great feast of the Nativity, and a happy en
ergy in the service of Our Ixird.
The Church has no lament for the passing of
lime she utters no words of sadness over vanished
youth, lost opportunities, and halting age. The
Church leaves to the pagan poet the cry of ,“Alas,
alas, the fleeting years glide by.” She has no occa
sion for such utterances, for the Church is never
old. The Church is ageless. Nor are the opportuni
ties she makes available ever lessened or hopelessly
lost. God gives joy to her unalterable youth.
The Church makes time her ally in her untiring
efforts to get us all on to heaven All seasons serve
her uses Advent she employs Io arouse glad appre
ciation of the faith in the hearts of the faithful.
Christmas and Epiphany are made occasions of
thanksgiving and new allegiance to God. Ix’nt is her
time to urge us to sorrow for sin, Easter and Penta
cost are full of glory, and awaken our hopes for
the happiness of henvcn
Not cycles and seasons alone are employed by
the Church to further her work no day is without
its saint, -or. more properly, its multitude of saints
There Is a record called the Martyrology from w’hich
a selection is read each day in the solemn chant
ing of the Divine Office: it is a partial list of the
saints commemorated on that day. For the Church
at large, in a general or public way. saints’ days
and feast days make up the liturgical year where
there is a mere ferial day (or “day of the week"),
no single saint is especially commemorated and no
single feast ohsetVed, but prayers arc said, none the
less, in Mass and' Office, to honor the Trinity, the
Blessed Mother, and all the saints together.
Even the day is not the minimum unit nf lime
which the Church uses in her solicitude for our
welfare Every hour is utilized. The official prayer
nf the Church is the Divine Office, which is recited
daily hy all priests and all persons who have taken
solemn vows in a religious community. And this of
final prayer is divided into oarts called "the canon
ical hours." The events of the day. and their times
nf occurring, are sanctified hy Catholu practice:
morning prayer at rising, meal prayers, evening
prayer, the Angelin, the Dr Profundis.
However, it is especially of the seasonal devotion
nf Advent that we are thinking now This is a devo
tion that tolerates, but does not consist nf. outer
displays and celebrations. Advent is not meant tn
hr a harried time of shopping for gifts if it hap
pens to hr such a time, this is merely an unfortun
ate circumstance nf nur modern custom And no cus
tom, modern or ancient, should be allowed to oh
score or tn replace the essential fact nr event which
the custom was originally means to emphasize.
Christmas is the day of "Christ’s Mass" the day
unnn which Holy Mass is offered in commemoration
of the birth of God-made Man All the feasts which
end in "mas” in English, have such an origin.
Candlemas is the day on which candles arc blessed
at Mass, that is, in a ceremony immediately pre
ceding the Mass itself Michael max is the day on
which Mass is offered to God in honor of St Michael
People not of nur faith arc usually unconscious of
the fact that they arc speaking of the sublime sac
rifice of the Mass when they speak of Chrstmas but
that is what they arc doing, just the same.
The manner in which outer display and the ex
changing of purchased gif’ have absorbed the cele
bration of Christmas is unfortunate It is right and
reasonable that our religious joy in the memory
of Christ's coining should find expression in out
as well as inner jubilation, in song, and feasting,
and the giving of tokens. Rut it is neither right nor
reasonable that the outer jubilation should be so
excessive and so absorbing of attention that sight is
Inst of what the jubilation is all about. It is not
right that the coining of Christ in poverty should be
made the occasion of excessive and foolish spending,
and consequent worry about bills There is no point
in making Christmas merely a shopkeepers' wind
fall and bonanza, while it troubles and impoverishes
Christian people.
If is reasonable to do a bit nf fussing over a baby,
and to be pleased to bring rich and delicate gar
ments to clothe it. Rut it is unreasonable to smother
fhe child in endless wrappings of silks and laces.
It is douhly and trebly regrettable that the infant,
forgotten and smothered in finery, is the Infant of
Bethlehem It might help the Christmas External
ists to remember that the Divine Child was swadled
in one simple strip of cloth, and laid in a manger.
The great thing about Christmas is its true mean
ing as Our Lord’s birthday. And the true way to cel
ebratc that day (and to make ready during Advent)
is hy holding possession of, or recovering, the grace
of God For Catholics. Christmas is preeminently a
day for a devout hearing of Holv Mass and a worthy
receiving of Holy Communion That the day should
be a family day of rejoicing is also good, but inci
dental That it should be a day of exchange of re
membrances nr gifts, is well enough orovided there
is not too much elaboration and expense in the bus
iness Rut the enre and center of the celebration is
the conscious union of a man’s soul with God and a
devout partaking nf Mass and Eucharist. For Cath
nlics. who know what Christmas means, there is no
excuse if they make it but the manifestation of gay
wrldlinasa.
FATHER HIGGINS
THE CATHOLIC TIMES, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1 952
Three days after the untimely
death of this “great, good man”
as Bishop Francis Haas re
ferrod to him affectionately in
his funeral sermon at St. Paul's
Cathedral in Pittsburgh the
long-awaited definitive biogra
phy nf another great American
was published
That man was James Cardinal
Gibbons, Archbishop of Balti
more, who for more than a gen
oral ion was the acknowledged
spokesman for Catholicism in
the United States and is widely
LOVIS F. R( DEM
Don't Let
As early as
September, the
Commit n i s s
began to pre
pare for a pos
sihlc change
in the political
complexion of
the I' n i I (I
States govern
ment while
deno u n i n
General Eisen
how’er as their mortal enemy,
they trmd to pave the way for
new methods of infiltration
which could bring pressure on
the new administration. We can
afford to keen our eyes on these
maneuvers: the election has not
ended Red or pro Red influence
among certain commentators ond
other makers of public opinion.
The opening gun. by way, of
directives in preparation fur new
tactics after the election, was
sounded in Political Affairs for
September. It serves to alert us
as to what the Communists arc
now up to The title of the article
giving the directives is signific
ant: “On the Question of Sectar
tanism in our Peace Activity”
We might pause to ask: How
many Americans know what “sec
tarianism” indicates in Common
ist phraseology? That is no un
important piece of knowledge,
since under the injunction to
halt “sectarianism” the new di
rectives are given
The term can be defined as
such concentration on the revo
lutionary goal of the Commun
ist Party—one of its great tasks
—as tn injure the other obliga
tion. the penetration of mass or
ganizations. And now we learn
that it is "sectarianism," for the
Stalinites to ignore the infiltra
tion of “conservative” groups
and organizations The Septem
ber instructions even demand
For A Greater America
Z
The Cardinal Paved
The late Phil
Murray was
a symbol
perhaps e
most perfect
symbol in the
history of the
United States
I—of the whole
omc relation
hip vv hich pre
.ails and,
please God,
will continue to prevail between
The Catholic Church and the
American labor movement Mur
ray was the perfect combina
tion of the practical Catholic
and the practical lahor leader.
His intense loyalty to the Faith
of his fathers and his equally
intense loyalty to the cause of
organized lahor. far from bring
in conflict with one another were
opposites of the same coin, the
former loyaltv providing the mo
livation for the latter.
recognized increasingly so as
time goes on—as one of the
greatest men in the history of
the American republic.
History-Making Oafansa
The “Life of James Cardinal
Gibbons” by Father John Tracy
Ellis of the Catholic University
of America (2 vols., 1480 pages,
Bruce. SI7 50) is probably the
most importaant single publica
tion in the field of American Ca
tholic church history even
more important than the pioneer
biographies of Archbishop Car
roll and Bishop England hy the
late Monsignor Peter Guilday.
It firmly establishes Father El
lis’ reputation as the leading an
thority in this neglected field nf
study.
The relationship between
Cardinal Gibbons and Philip
Murray will he immediately ap
parent to anyone reading Fath
er Ellis’ scholarly summary
(Chanter XII. Volume I) of the
Cardinal’s history-making de
fense of the Knights nf I^ihnr at
the end of the 19th century
The Knights of Labor move
ment immediate forerunner
nf the present-day American la
hor movement—was under sus
picion as a secret society. As
such it might have heen con
demned hv the Holy Sep had it
not been for the far-sighted per
sonal intervention nf Cardinal
Gibbons, culminated in his cel
ebrated memorial address to Car
dinal Simoom, Prefect of the
Up After
that the concealed Communists
work hand-in-hand with those
who engage in criticism of So
viet Russia, provided the Reds
can persuade these people to
stand for an immediate “cease
fire” in Korea.
This represents a new twist
in Communist tactics. Hitherto
their chief concentration has
been on the “progressive” organ
izations. such as the Americans
for Democratic Action The ex
tensive space devoted in the
Daily Worker to these groups
has heen in itself an indication
of how much work has gone in
to influencing them. We can
now take it for granted, howev
er. that the Stalinites and their
friends will seek to invade those
fields closer to the dominant po
litical tendency tn Washington.
I^et us take note that the con
servative women's organizations,
“Right-led unions” and profes
sional and intellectual groups of
a decidedly non-radieal persua
tion are singled out for special
attention These are to be infil
trated the Rod hope being that
they can then be directed toward
influencing Washington circles
along the path the Kremlin
wants followed.
Ceas* Fira Cover-Up
We may inquire as to why
Stalin's followers are so intent
on obtaining a cease fire in
Korea while negotiations still
drag on. The Red attack on “brut
al American aerial bombard
ment.” hoth in fhe September
directives and in other Red or
gans, tells us why. The Com
munists hope to repeat their
China performance in which they
used the cover of truce to. build
up their forces without being
barrassed in the fulfillment of
that task They count on the deep
peace sentiments of the Amen
can people to aid them tn this
The Way
Sacred Congregation of the
Propaganda.
Crucial Turning Point
This memorial on the Knights
of Labor, which was signed by
Cardinal Gibbons alone although
drafted with the assistance of
Archbishop Ireland and Arch
bishop Kane, will go down in
history as a crucial turning point
in the relationship between the
Church and the American la
bor movement It was more than
a defense of the Knights of La
bor. It was a prophetic vote of
confidence in the common man
and, under the circumstances, a
courageous challenge to eccles
lastical authority to throw' the
full weight of its official sup
port behind every legitimate ef
fort to advance the cause of so
cial justice It was submitted to
the Holy Sec hy Cardinal Gib
bons in 1887—nnc year before
the birth of Philip Murray.
Philip Murray never met Car
dinal Gibbons and very prohab
ly never had occasion to read
the Cardinal’s memorial on the
Knights nf Lahor. Nevertheless
it would be fair tn conclude. I
think, that it was this memorial
considered in the full context
of fhe Cardinal's persistent de
fense of the rights of labor—
which made it possible for an
exemplary Catholic like Murray
Io emerge, exactly 20 years aft
er the Cardinal’s death, as pres
ident of the newly-established
CIO
November
cry for a “cease fire’” and by
that means to win the breathing
spell necessary for renewed ag
gression.
What stands out strikingly is
the Red dependence nn ‘“the
American peace partisans” to
wangle their way into conserva
tive circles. This is another re
minder of an old fact how
much the Kremlin relies on cer
tain intellectuals to perform its
work here. American “peace
partisans” are those men and
women in strategic positions in
education, medicine, law. and
other professional fields who do
th bidding of Moscow. They are
the persons who have swelled
the lists of "distinguished
names” supporting the numerous
Communist "peace crusades."
We must not close our eyes to
the relations many of these
“peace partisans” have with
some of our most distinguished
and conservative citizens. Such
relationship is what is now count
ed upon to aid the new twist in
Red tactics necessitated hy what
happened in November
Rely on Divino Guidance
Heroic measures are still re
quired on the part nf those who
want to defeat atheistic Com
munism and to prevent the tri
umph nf its line. Alertness with
in “conservative” grouns and
circles can be joined with pub
lic recognition of the existence
of God. Few moves would do
more to challenge the atheistic
minded and pro-red "intellect
uals” than the constant dedica
tion in the proceedings of the
United Nations to reliance on
Divine Guidance That might be
Extended into every hamlet in
our land with a renewal of pray
er in all our schools and institu
tions to the God whom the Com
munists and their intellectual
allies deny.
INQUIRY CORNER
Why Don't Catholic
Priests Marry?
Why don't priests marry?
A. Catholic priests of the Lat
in rite do not marry because the
law of the Church excludes mar
ried men from Holy Orders.
When St. Peter asked Christ
about the apostles’ reward, say
ing “Behold we have left all and
followed thee,” Christ spoke
of this practice. He said, "And
everyone who has left house or
brothers, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife., or children, or
lands, for my name’s sake, shall
receive a hundredfold .” (Mat
thew 19:27 29). St. Paul refers
to the ideal too: "He who is un
married is concerned (w’e might
add “more”) about the things
of the Lord, how he may please
God. Whereas he who is married
is concerned (more) about the
things of the world, how he may
please his wife .” (I Corinthi
ans 7:32-33). As a universal law
it originated with the Church,
as we see by exceptions where
by married men (with the con
sent of and upon separation
from their wives) become priests.
The priests of oriental rites may
marry.
Is it of obligation for em
gaged couples to reveal the past?
If one has been guilty of seri
ous sins, for example, does he
have to tell the other person?
If not necessary is it advisable?
A. No one is bound to destroy
his own good name. If there is
something in the past which
would substantially affect the
marriage consent, so that decep
tion in the matter would make
the marriage invalid, it must be
told. Generally, however, a pros
pective bride and groom choose a
certain person knowing that it is
for “better or for worse.” includ
ing a possible “past”. The advis
ability of telling past sms, espe
cially sins against the sixth
commandment, e ends upon
the individuals. It is a Christian
practice to recognize the third
purpose of marriage, the relief
of concupiscence, but revelation
nf past sins may lead only to les
sened respect. In many cases it
leads to suspicion and jealousy
when such confidences are re
called in later years. We actual
ly need some illusions, as we do
not know all the person's past
good deeds and virtues.
Q. Why do Catholics abstain
from meat on Friday?
A. Because it is the express
will of Christ expressed through
His Church. From earliest
times the Church (e.g. the
Didache or Teaching of the
Twelve Apostles) has observed
this respect for the day of
Christ's death. It is combined
RICHARD PATTEE
The Adamic Tito
Louis Adamic
made a special
ty during his
lifetime of
books on his
native land,
Y u o s lavia.
During the
course of the
years he gave
us num erous
i n e eta
tions both of
Yugoslavia and
his native Slo
venia and of
the impact of the United States
on the Balkan immigrant. Later
he became one of the outstand
ing spokesmen of what is some
times called euphemistically
—the “new” Yugoslavia.
A volume published after
Adamic's death has just come
from the press. “The Eagle and
the Roots.” It is Adamic’s last
journey into Tito's dominions
and, according to the blurb, of
fers the reader the most accur
ate and complete account of
what Yugoslavia looks like, as
well as a comprehensive biogra
phy of Tito himself.
Sam* Old Story
The book follows the invari
able Adamic theme of zeal and
praise for the “accomplish
ments" of this fervent, Marxist,
non-Soviet Yugoslavia. The most
curious part is that devoted to
the religious question. For one
thing, Adamic quotes extremely
long conversations and puts in
the mouths of those with whom
he is dealing, lengthy exposi
tions of policy and opinion. The
interview with Tito, in which
the matter of Archbishop Stepi
nac is raised, allows for a dis
quisition on the State’s attiude
toward religion and the clergy
that merits the closest reading
nn the part of Catholics every
where. And it would be excellent
reading for those who live under
the absurd illusion that we are
doing the common cause a serv
ice by lining up Tito as an ally.
The old nonsense about the
Archbishop of Zagreb as a “war
criminal” is rehashed with all
the old familiar details: “Proof
that Stepinac was a war criminal
existed as far back as 1943 and
1944 before the term war cnmi
nal was defined and used by the
Allied world The Vatican
wanted us to try Stepinac.
There's reason for the belief that
Stepinac himself—a murky, cun
ning individual—wanted to be
tried and become a martyr and
an international cause celebre”
Tito Appalled'!
Tito and his collaborators con­
with the idea of penance, which
is appropriate for a remem
brance of Good Friday, and giv
ing up meat is an apt and uni
versal object of such self-denial.
Q. Was not Christ a Christian
Scientist?
A. No. Christian Science was
founded by Mary Baker Eddy in
1875, as any reliable reference
w'ork will show’ (e.g. Webster’s
Biographical Dictionary). Influ
enced by Dr. Phineas Parkhurst
Quimby she practiced a system
of healing and wrote “Science
and Health” (1875) to give ex
pression to the system she had
evolved. The first church was
founded in 1879 and a perma
nent church organization was
established in 1892. The mir
acles of Christ were worked
through His power as Son of
God. and Christian miracles are
very unlike the “faith healing’’
of Christian Science.
Q, When is the feast of Bles
sed Edmund Campion?
A. This brilliant graduate of
Oxford, who returned to Eng
land to die for the faith is hon
ored on December first. Honor
ed in his student days by
Queen Elizabeth he was con
demned and executed because
he would not choose between
the Pope and the Queen.
Q. Why must so humiliating
a thing as confession be requir
ed of Catholics?
A. The humiliation connected
with confession has the same ex
planation as that connected with
medical care. Just as health is
the object of a trying examina
tion or operation, so the sorrow
ful presentation of sins has as
its object the health of the soul.
In instituting the Sacrament of
Penance Christ said, “Peace be
to you,” indicating the purpose
of the Sacrament. In the follow
ing verses He added: “Receive
the Holy Spirit: whose sins you
shall forgive, they are forgiven
them and whose sins you shall
retain, they are retained.” The
humiliation impresses us with
the real evil of sin, and serves
as a deterrent to sin, forcing a
man to see himself as a sinner.
Without confession a vague feel
ing of good will can deceive a
man, or find him groping his
way without spiritual direction.
The feeling following confession,
if it is sincere and accompanied
by a firm purpose of amend
ment, is that deep peace of soul,
for which Christ instituted the
Sacrament.
Send questions to the Rev. Ed
ward Healey, Inquiry Comer,
The Catholic Times, Box 636,
Columbus (16) Ohio
tinue to argue that Archbishop
Stepinac was a sort of anachron
ism tn the new Yugoslavia and
♦hat they were quite frankly
“stuck with him.” He is a prod
uct of religious history in th®
Balkins. going back not hun
dreds of years but a thousand.
In a way he is a delayed climax
of the Rome-Byzantium rivalry.
He is part of the heart of a
heartless world. Remnants of
that w'orld are still with us. Our
task is to work ourselves clear
of them
Tito and his colleagues, ac
cording to this transcription of
Adamic, were “appalled” at th®
ide£ that a school in New’ York
should bear the name of th®
heroic Archbishop. “We are ap
palled that American parents
wish to send their children to a
school named after a war crimi
nal.”
Pained Incomprehension
In wandering about Slovenia
and Croatia. Adamic has numer
ous reflections on the state of
religion. He finds churches de
serted and the anti-religious
feeling so strong in Slovenia
that the clergy go about in civil
ian dress to avoid insults. H®
discovers numerous priests who
are in great disrepute—accord
ing to him—because of their ac
knowledged "anti-people” atti
tude during and after the war.
The picture one gets of reli
gion in Yugoslavia through thes®
pages is not a persecution at all,
but a sort of pained incompre
hension on the part of the com
munist state that there should
still be citizens who see in re
ligion anything but a snare and
a delusion. Adamic gives an al
most idyllic account of the pa
tience and moderation with
which the paternal state allows
these aberrations to exist in th®
certainty that sooner or later th®
Yugoslav will reach sufficient
maturity to recognize the pueril
ity of the whole thing.
Odd Courtship
1 rather imagine that books of
this kind will do considerable
damage. We are living through
a period in which the warmth of
feeling for Tito is rising. Th®
British Catholic press has be
come extremely caustic over th®
invitation extended by Anthony
Eden to Tito to come to Britain.
It will be instructive and illumi
nating to see just how the Brit
ish manage this contradiction if
the visit materializes. It is not
easy to defend the institutions
and convictions of the west and
at the same time court one of
the most notorious and vicious
enemies of those institutions.