Newspaper Page Text
4—THE CATHOLIC TIMES Friday. Doc. 10. 1954 oik THE CATHOLIC TIMES Published Every Week by The Catholic Times, Inc. Columbus. Ohio NOTICE: Send All Changes of Address to P. O Box 636 Columbus. Ohio Executive and Editorial Offices: 246 E Town Street, Columbus 15 Ohio Address all communications for publication Io P. O Box 636. Columbus 16. Ohio Telephones (A 4-5195 CA 4-5196 Price of The Catholic Time* i* $3 per year. All •inscriptions ho u Id he presented to our office through the pastor* of the cmrfohee. Remittances should be made payable to The Catb- I im*». Anonymous com municat ions will be disregarded. e do not hold ourselves responsible for any views or opinions expressed in the communications of our cor’e- nun dents. kntPr^ a. Swnnd Claw Matter at Port Office. C-'it«nbuf. Ohm. St. Frarri« He Sales. Patron of the Catholie Preea. Prav fur ua This Paper Printed by Union Labor A New Brand On I he Market? Axuch has been said within the past few months about peaceful co-existence—its possibility and de sirability. Muchxmore will be said before this knotty problem is solved to the satisfaction of the world community. There are those among government leaders in countries not officially given over to the doctrine of communism that believe—in the face of denials (if not in word, at least in action) by the leaders of communism—that such a state of living could be. worked out. We don't believe it, unless com munist doctrine and philosophy were radically changed. This is just the point, though. Many, including the communist policy makers, wmuld have us be lieve that such a change is coming about. We are witnessing today a new tack in communist policy: going easy on the persecution of religion. We read every day of new overtures on the part of Russia and Yugoslavia, both following the same line, to convince the world that they are having a change of heart that here is a new communism which will be acceptable to the free nations of the world. We are advised more and more to buy by the "brand name” to be sure of what we are receiving. We are told that purchasing in this manner assures us nf obtaining just exactly what we want. It in sures us against receiving substitutes inferior to the desired quality which we want. This is all very nice and handy, and wp sub scribe to it. But it, unfortunately, can be carried too far in some applications. The old saw: "A rose hy any other etc.” still holds good, even in re verse, You will never be ahle to change the con tents of the can by altering the title on its label. Atheistic Communism will always be just that, with all its degrading, immoral characteristics, no mat ter what guise it is given or what name it is called- by. It is discouraging to find some people, who should know better, atting and speaking in such a way that would seem to imply that there is a difference in “brands” of communism. For instance: We all know the “Old Joe" Russian brand of communism, so familiar for so many years. We knew exactly what we were buying when we dealt w,th him—or with Tito, Mao or any of the rest of them, for that matter—Godlessness, whole sale murder, false imprisonment, truthlessness, the loss of individual freedom and, in short, practically the opposite nf everything we know as moral. Now, however., we are being asked to reconsider. We are being shown a product with the name “Athe istic” deleted from the label. And many people are going to he fooled into buying this brand No matter what beguiling pronouncements comp from the Kremlin or from Belgrade beamed to the outside world t*^aell this new brand of commun ism, we can be suiX by listening to official pro nouncements with these countries themselves, that their basic philosophy has changed not one iota, ommunixm will live with religion only as long as It suits the communist policy. The two, and all that they stand for. are diametrically opposed, and will remain so until one changes so much as to be no longer existant. I^et no one be fooled by the new communist propaganda. Communism is still communism, no matter what the lahe) on the can says. A Call To Action The 5 2 decision handed down last week by the Flhio State Supreme Court which held as unlawful any censoring order made by the Department of Education in regard to films to he shown through out the state, should not he taken as the death knell of film censorship but rather only as a rally ing cry for those interested in seeing moral enter tainment insured in our theatres. Stemming as it does from the United States 'Supreme Court's ruling that the Ohio law as it ’now stands, is not specific enough in its wonting, .the new decision by the state court should not he looked on as a new, or telling blow at censorship. It was bound to come in the tide of the previous •ruling by the highest court in the land. leaving clear the way for some future legisla tion to govern the censoring of films, this newest -action should hr a signal to get busy now tn in sure the passage in the coming session of the legis lature of adequate laws enabling the Department of Education to continue its fine work in guarding the nublic from the evils of immoral entertainment. Every one should be prepared, when the time comes, to lend the sentiments and support to the framing of this new law. It should be in the inter e ts of all to see to it that the members of the legis lature he apprised of the need for immediate action ,‘nn this subject. You can be sure that the opponents nf film censorship are busy right now in their own interests. Governor Lausche has voiced the hope that “the Parent-Teachers Associations, the churches and other agencies concerned with juvenile delinquency and the development nf a better moral code will inter rt themselves in support of the adoption of a law that will properly cope with the problem.” It is our hope that they will heed this call to action. St. Anthony Addition Dedication Wednesday of a $1,000,000 addition tn St. Anthony Hospital was a reflection of an achievement of a most gratifying nature The new structure will stand as a memorial to resourceful ness, faith, patience and service nn the part of all those associated with its building. Completion nf the new wing comes at a time when the additional facilities it will provide are desperately needed St. Francis, the city’s oldest hospital which carries a giant load of the com munity’s hospital needs, has announced its closing 4n the near future. St. Anthony will be looked to to fill a portion of the gap left by the closing. But while St. Anthony Hospital is well on its way to meeting increased responsibilities, it even now it handicapped to a great extent. It is putting 60 new beds into service, but will wind up with a net gain of only 35 beds—240 to 275. Expansion pf laboratory and X-ray facilities will absorb a por tion of the space now used for h|ds. But the potential for increased bed space in the near future is good, dependent somewhat nn the will of the community. The new wing consists of a basement and four above-ground stories. Avail able funds, however, are so limited that only the basement and two floors can be put into immedi ate service. The two other floors will be put into service when the $30,000 needed to equip them and the problem of staffing them can be met. Columbus is a fast-growing community and unfortunately its hospital building program, while stepped up considerably in recent years, still lags far behind the needs. The additional space now to be available at St. ‘Anthony is most welcome. This hospital which is the only one in the city providing care for the, chronically ill, now will provide more of the gen eral hospital services. The best wishes of a grateful community will accompany St. Anthony Hospital as it takes a second breath and moves forward info the forefront of institutions providing valuable and necessary services to the people of the community in their hours of illness and distress. Guest Editorial Ohio State Journal Just Among Ourselves Passing Comment Considered or Inconsiderate The Marian Year has come to a eJose. We are to see in the years that lie immediately ahead the fruits of its observing. For the Year was designated as a time in which to stir up in Christian hearts anew and lasting spirit of .eligion. And it was meant to show to mankind that the readiest way to Christ is the way in which Christ came to mankind, that is, through the Immaculate Mother of God. The non-Catholic world has never understood, and refuses to understand, the true attitude of a Christian towards the Blessed Mother. Yet nothing could be more reasonable, more sane, than that attitude. Only bigotry can perversely refuse to see that attitude for what it is, distorting it, misrepre senting it, and then condemning it. Those who dislike devotion to the Blessed Virgin say that we are meant to pay honor to God alone. Yet God’s own word tells us to honor our parents, and St. Paul, speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, says, “Fear God honor the king.” We are to give divine honor to God alone. But we are to honor and reverence God’s image in all men, and God’s authority in parents and justly established rulers. Surely, then, we are to honor Mary if we arc to honor every child of God. If what we do to the least of God’s human creatures is done to God,— and Our I^ord Himself says that this is so,—cer tainly what we do to the greatest of human crea tures is done to God. Ordinate reverence paid to the Blessed Virgin is reverence paid to God Himself. For the Blessed Virgin is God’s masterpiece, “our tainted nature's solitary boast." In honoring her we honor the Master. All that we honor in Mary is the work of God, and she herself deciares that if is God who has made her worthy of our honor and reverence. She says that all generations shall call her blessed, because “He that is Mighty hath done great things to me.” When we are accused of Mariolatry, we declare with simple truth that the accusation is false. The ending of a word in latry (from the Greek latria which means divine worship) indicates that divine worship, or a fanatical demotion, is paid to the per son or thug indicated by the first part of the word. Thus idolatry means divine worship paid to idols ronlatry means divine worship ol animals stateolatry means fanatical devotion paid to the civil rule even in matters that contravene the natural and divine law. Catholics give to Mary neither divine worship nor fanatical devotion. They merely accept the Blessed Mother as God has given her to us. And God has made her the channel of His coming in the Incar nation. For this wonderful office, he has kept her from every stain of original sin and from every actual sin. without at all interfering with her human free will. He has endowed her with every gift and grace the angel of the Annunciation saluted her as “full of grace.” God has given her the two glories of womanhood which are found united in no other she is both virgin and mother. Is it unreasonable to honor her whom God has honored above every creature? Is it taking away honor from God when we honor Him in his most perfect and dearest image? No it is the person who refuses to honor the Blessed Mother who dis honors God. No one can treat a mother with neglect or disrespect without offending her devoted son. And Mary’s Son is God himself. Anyone who refuses to look into the sheer logic of the matter, may take instruction from the facts of human history. For he slorj of heresies is largely the story of people who loudly proclaim ‘heir belief in Christ as God and their exclusive devotion to Christ. They have no time nor regard for the saints, especially the Queen of Saints. And what happens is that very soon they cease to ha\e belief in Christ. Thousands today call themselves Christian with out having any real belief in the divinity or God head of Christ. They regard Him as a great Teacher, as a Leader, but not as a Divine Teacher or a Leader who is God made-Man. They do not hesitate,—air unconscious of blasphemy in the act,—to compare mere men with Christ, and to set Christ on a level with Confucius, or Socrates, or even Buddha. Catholics venerate the Blessed Virgin with a re ligious veneration that is greater than that paid to any of the holy men and women called Saints. This is right and reasonable and in full accord with what God has manifested But Catholics never adore the Blessed Virgin with divine adoration. They know that while Mary is the most nohle and holy of all creatures, she is a creature. They understand that her sublime part in the workings of Providence is the part assigned to her hy the Infinite God. Catholics sec in Mary not only an ideal that is to he admired and loved. They know her as a Mother, and as an active and most powerful inter cessor of God. It was by her own free* human will, albeit a will filled and supported by God's grace, that Mary consented to be the Mother of the Savior. She might have refused: she might have shrunk from the tremendous dignity and responsi bility of her vocation. But she did not refuse she consented fully to the fulfillment of God’s will in her. And for that consent, every human being, from greatest to least, owes her unending gratitude, love, and honor. For it was hy Mary’s consent to do what God would have her do, that mankind was (men its chance to rise from sin and work towards neaven. We have redemption and the chance of salvation, and the needful grace for salvation, from Christ God has given us “all things together with Him.” And, in God’s marvellous plan, we have Christ through Mary. Plain, ordinary gratitude, if nothing else, ought to make every man a devoted child and client of Mary. May 1hc Marian Year, just closed, continue its effect in making us continuously aware of that fact. J? I -Ji WASHINGTON LETTER WASHINGTON Something is about to happen here which could take place only in a genu ine democracy. The Government of the United States is going to be held up to scrutiny, and it is going to be told to change some of the ways it does business. Citizens are going ip do the talking, but they will be some 200 of the best thinkers and "doers” in the country. They will call for the most complete overhauling ever made in func ions of our Government. Come January, and the 84th Congress, the second Hoover Commission (the second Commis sion on the Organization, of the Executive Branch) will begin to make a series of reports. The first Hoover Commission (1947 1950 dealt with the organiza tional set up of the various Gov ernment departments and agen cies. It made 273 recommenda tions for changes in organiza tion, and 196 of these already have been put into effect. A dozen more have been made ob solete through the passage of time and the introduction of oth er changes. Still others are in the process of being worked out. So, the Hoover Commission is no debating society or scholastic LOUIS l\ III DENI The national drama now un folds the poisonous purpose be hind “the battle against Mc Carthyism.” As the'Communists promised and planned, this battle is to be extended into “a stru 1 e against Know 1 a n i s m,” which is depict ed as bringing war down upon our heads in stead o-f “peaceful coex istence.” The Red barrage which is now being laid down for Sta lin’s “coexistence” slogan is af fecting many outstanding news papers and Washington itself, preparing the way for new sur renders by the United States in the Far East. This column has repeatedly pointed out that the Daily Work er months ago began an assault on the “Knowland Me a y gang.” The Senator from Cali fornia earned the ire of the Red conspiracy in that he recom mended the only realistic and sound American policy, the breaking of all relations with So viet Russia and its satellite re gimes. Over against any such de fense of the United States, the Soviet fifth column had long ago offered us the overdose of po litical sleeping pills fraudulant ‘ly termed "peaceful coexist ence.” Drug Official Washington One of the chief conditions laid down by Dictator Malenkov in August, 1953, and by his agent, William Z. Foster, in the August, 1954, Political Affairs, was American betrayal of For mosa, accompanied by the recog nition of Red China. That was the first way wc could get “peaceful coexistence” hut it was to be followed hy many other Peaceful Coexistance JUST LET ME TIE YOU Uf AfTD TAKE OVER Mt KE AHO EVERYTHING MA BE o This Could Only Happen Here seminar. Its recommendations carry weight. The first such group having been largely suc cessful in reorganizing the set up of government departments, the second has concerned itself with the functions of these re organized departments, bureaus and agencies. Il’s a real big “renovating job.” The first Hoover Commission effected a threc-billion-d o 11 a saving in a 40 billion dollar bud get, but this was lost when war came and the budget jumped to 70 billion dollars a year. The second Hoover Commission hopes to effect savings in the present huge budget. The functions of government have to do with the way its agen cies carry out their work. Today, the functions of the U.§. Gov ernment are large, extensive and varied. For example, Gov ernment agencies write as many as 4.000,000 letters each day, or more than a billion a year. A billion letters, stacked one on top of another, would reach 390 miles into the stratosphere. The Government carries on activities in many different parts of the world. Furthermore, the Gov ernment is in a great many more kirfds of business than most peo ple suspect. It is, for example, a Now It Is “Knowlandism” conditions which would lead us into “negotiations” that would disarm and destroy the United States. Now on November 19, the Dai ly Worker gives lengthy direc tives to its followers on the pos sibility of weakening the will of the present Administration in Washington by an all-out assault on “Knowlandism.” A wedge is to be driven between the Execu tive Department and the Cali fornia Senator’s proposals, just as a similar wedge was created in the battle against McCarthy ism.” The Red organ makes no bones about the fact that this en tire campaign to drug official Washington with “peaceful co existence" is immediately design ed to achieve the conquest of Formosa and the recognition of Red China. Of course, with the usual Communjst duplicity, it brings this argument forward in the form of accusing those forces who support Senator Knowland of wanting to bring on war. That is an old and tiresome theme, one that might be thought to be thoroughly exploded by now. But many intelligent Americans still fall victims to it. "Peace" Merged Wtih Aggression The New York Times was not slow in follow ing the lead of the .Daily Worker in this area, just as it so quickly responded to the Red demand to crush “Mc Carthyism” On November 26, only one week after the Daily Worker directives, the Tinies re repeats the same arguments in its leading editorial entitled “Knowlandism.” This distinguish ed paper which is considered al most sacrosanct in certain col leges, links up the batttt' against “McCarthyism" and the struggle against “Knowlandism" just as the Communists do. This newspa per, w’ith its extensive facilities. baker and a launderer, among other things. The second Hoover Commis sion no doubt expects to find economies, and improve efficien cy, in all three directions. The commission is made up of 12 members. The President ap pointed four, the Vice President four and the Speaker of the House of Representatives four. Its members are Democrats and Republicans in equal propor tions. Those members who are in the Government serve without compensation. Those from pri vate life get a per diem allow ance for the time they are ac tually engaged in commission work. Herbert Hoover, the itoritr man, a former President of the United States, devotes virtually all of his time to the commis sion, working 12 to 14 hours every day, his associates report. James A. Farley, former Post master General, and Joseph P. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassa dor to Great Britain, are mem bers of the commission. Neil MacNeil, retired manag ing editor of The New York Times, is editorial director of the commission. He calls its work “real democracy in action.” A thing like this simply couldn’t happen in Soviet Russia, he points out. is evidently unaware that the Soviet fifth column, in its secret conference of September, 1953, laid down precisely this form of program, and published the re sults in a widely distributed booklet, “New Opportunities in the Fight for Peace and De mocracy.” In that booklet it was said—as this column has stated on sev eral occasions that “the strug gle against McCarthyism” must be merged with “the fight for peace”—that is, for new Soviet aggression under the cloak of “peaceful coexistence.” Once more, then. Moscow’s program for our annihilation by the “encirclement” of the United States the program laid down by Stalin in 1939 is moving forward and is being accepted in official Washington. It can be halted if from all parts of America there will arise a de mand for the breaking off of. relations with. Soviet Russia and its satellites, accompanied by a continued vigorous probing of the conspiracy in this country. This is a duty to which every American who values his free dom must be dedicated. Good Omen Encouragement can be given to all of us in raising this is sue in local organizations, the press, and with our repre sentatives' in Washington by the stand of such splendid gen tlemen as General Stratemeyer, General Van Fleet, and Admiral Standley. By heading the Com mittee of 10.000,000 Americans, they have struck a blow’ for the United States and against Soviet psychological warfare. That the spirit of these men has not been crushed is a good omen for us all. With the same courage, and with knowledge of Red methods, we can imitate their example by defeating the fraud of “peaceful coexistence." Inquiry Corner Q. What do we know about St. Anne A. From the Bible we can learn nothing about her. Tradi tion and Various legends supply the name and few details of her life. “The Protevangelium of James” tells us that she was, like Joachim, her husband, of the tribe of Juda. It further re lates that they had great herds and that they were a saintly cou ple, but that they had no chil dren until Anne was at an ad vanced age. Her feast day is Ju ly 26th. Q. If Christ is the Mediator how can the priest forgive sins? A. Christ is the One Mediator, who redeemed us and pours His graces upon us. He gives us the supernatural life of sanctifying giace through mediators whom He appointed (Matthew 28.19-20) and He restores it and increases it through these same successors of the Apostles. He gave the Apostles power to forgive sins (John 20:19-23) and explicitly said, “as the Father has sent Me I also send you.” In the Ads of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. Paul and Tradition we find the record of the delegating of this power which comes down to our own day for our happiness and salvation. Q. If the people are to take par* in the Mass actively why is the language they do not under stand still retained? A. The participation of the people does not depend upon the language used by the priest at the altar anyone who cares to can have a missal in his own lan guage. Further, the Mass is a Sacrifice and anyone can enter into the ACTION of the Mass without following every word. While the use of the Missal is the best way to take part in the Mass the principle was laid down by St. Pius X: “Don’t prav AT Mass, PRAY THE MASS.”’ The priest is the chief and official offerer of the Mass and the people are supposed to unite their prayers and offering with his. The priest then is not speaking TO the people (as a rule the Dominus vobiscum and Oremus would be excep tions) but to God. He is speak irfk to God and the people should be praying with him rather than listening to him. Latin as a MONSIGNOR HIGGINS Father Healey---------------— bond of unity and stability can not be easily displaced. It ser ves beautifully as a universal language for a universal (ca tholic) Church. Q. What answer can 1 make to a neighbor who insists that priests cannot be justified in by passing marriage. Frankly, he still believes some of the old stories about scandalous goings on in convents, etc. A. One of the many reasons for clerical celibacy is the chal lenge which this way of life pre sents to the world. The Catholic Church believes that a man of God ca- be more devoted to the service of God (as did St. Paul: see I Corinthians 7:32-33) and of souls if he dedicates himself to tally to God. Such a life of “un natural detachment troubles the worldly. We admit that it is a difficult choice, but onlv if man believes only in his own nature and hi: own will-power. The priest takes literally the words of Christ when He said: "And everyone who has left house or brothers, or sisters, o father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive, a hundredfold (Matthew 19:27-29) The candidate for the priesthood has years of training and his acceptance of this condition for ordination in dicates that he makes this sacri fice for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Fanciful gos sip ab »ut alleged scandals is simply the frustrate, man's at tempt to explain away the chal lenge of the dedicated lives of priests and sisters. He knows that the Catholic Church has great respect for the Sacrament of Matrimony. The American Myth It is the opinion of Barbara Ward, British Catholic econom ist and publicist, that recent de velopments in the American eco conomic s y s tem “amount to s o ething very close to a e v o 1 ution.” The fact that this revolution, this welcome change for the better in the field of indus trial relations, is virt u a 11 y unknown out side the Unit ed States is attributed by Miss Ward to the influ ence of the “men of the l^eft” in Europe.” Victims, she says, of their own mythology, they hon estly believe that the United Stales is in the last stages of monopoly capitalism, from which it would seem to follow logical ly that the American economic system is w’orse today than it was yesterday and will be even worse tomorrow’. The "men of the I^eft” are so wedded to this belief, this thor oughly outmoded myth, Miss Ward complains in her latest book. “Faith and Freedom,” that they never even think of studying the facts of American economic life objectively and scientific ally. Barbara Ward’s sympathetic analysis of the American eco nomic system, her willingness as a foreigner to give credit where credit is due, will be mu ‘sic to the ears of the American people. Her criticism of the Eu ropean lz*ft will also meet with a welcome response on this side of the Atlantic. It is our opinion, however, that we Amer icans ourselves are at least part ly to blame for this widespread misunderstanding of our econom ic system. To some extent at least, we are victims of our own mythology which, incidentally, has played into the hands of our ieftist critics in other parts of the world and has served to deepen their own misunderstand ing our economic system. Th« “Dangerous Freedom" The American myth is the phil osophy or the slogan of free enterprise and rugged individ ualism. It is analyzed rather well by a native American au thor, Bradford Smith, in a new book entitled “A Dangerous Freedom.” According to Mr. Smith, the characteristic Amer ican freedom is lhe "dangerous freedom" of voluntary associa tion which, he says, has been used more successfully and ap plied to a greater multitude of objects in the United States than in any other country in the world. In other words, few' if any other nations in the free world arc more highly organized than lhe United States. Q. Is there an established feast day for Blessed*Edmund Cam pion? A. December first is his feast day. This brilliant graduate of Oxford was honored in his stu dent days by Queen Elizabeth, but after his acceptance of the Catholic Faith he had to go into exile. Returning to England later as a priest he was finally caught, was condemned and executed by order of the same queen. Send questions to Father Ed ward F. Healey, Inquiry Corner, The Catholic Times, Box 636, Columbus (16) Ohio. Strangely enough, many Amer icans are unwilling to admit this obvious fact. On the contrary. Mr. Smith continues, “we have built up a myth about oursel ves which is damaging our repu tation abroad and limiting our behavior at home. This myth is that the United States is a cap italist-materialist ii dividualist culture in which the individual, through the mechanism of a free economy, devotes himself to the piling up of material goods and comforts as his sole end and aim in life We are still thinking of ourselves through outworn slogans and habits of mind shouting the old cries of free enterprise when everyone knows enterprise is no longer free and has always depended on governmental protection and of free-wheeling individualism —we know that no man is able to live by and for himself or could endure sible.” were pos- Mr. Adolf Berle of Columbia University makes the same point in another recent book, "The 20th Century Capitalist Revolu tion.” The American economic system, Mr. Berle says, is con siderably different from tha caricature “which stalks the fin ancial pages of many newspa pers.” So it is indeed'. Tim* for D»c*nt Burial The moral of all this is that the American economic system will never be properly understood until it is properly understood at home. In other words, the mythol ogy of the European Left will never be abandoned until our own mythology of exaggerated individualism is discarded. The former is buttressed and sup ported by the latter, and the one is no more revelant to our mod ern problems than the other. Karl Marx and Adam Smith have both been dead for lo these many years. The time has come to give them a decent burial so that we can all get on with the ser ious business of economic life, which bears little resemblance, whether in Europe or the United States, to their outmoded theor ies. We have done well to exer cise the “dangerous freedom” of association so extensively. For behind it, in the words of Mr. Smith, “lies the essentially mor al idea that if men want to be free, they must serve each other, for no man is strong enough lo be free by himself.” It is not enough, however, to serve one another within the narrow limits of our own respective organiza tions. Somehow, or other the various organizations themselves will have to find a way—an or ganized and systematic way—of cooperation with one another for the mutual service of all our people, for the service of the common good. This is at once our greatest problem and our greatest opportunity.