CATHOLIC JOURNALISM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 46, 7 March 1890, Page 17

CATHOLIC JOURNALISM.

{Liverpool Catholic Times.')

"Mqb. DoppelbAUEß, Bishop of Linz, has published a pastoral letter on the importance of tne Press. Citing the declarations of Mgr. Ketteler, Pius IX., and Leo XIII., the eminent Prelate appeals to all Catholics to support Catholic journals." fco runs a paragraph which we find in one of our foreign exchanges. Now that we have come to the end of the old year and are entering upon the new, at a time when secular journalists are engaged in glancing over the past, and counting up the losses and gains in public affairs, it will not be inappropriate for Catholic journalists to dwell a moment on this theme— the importance of Catholic journalism. No student of ecclesiastical history can fail to observe, in examining the causes of the rise and comparative success of Protestantism, that if it were not for the Protestant Press Protestantism would never have attained tbe power it succeeded in acquiring. In pulpit oratory Protestantism has always been vastly interior to the Catholic Church. Great preachers, no doubt, there have been in Protestant pulpits, but when we contrast their discourses with the deliverances of the masterminds of tbe Catholic Church — of men like Bossuet, and Mas9illon, and Bourdaloue, the comparison is, to use Tennyßon's phrase " as of water unto wine." Again, in the weighty theological publications, the Protestant combatants have been over-matched. Not an argument have they advanced that has not been met and convincingly refuted by Catholic divines. Take the works of any of the great theologians of the Catholic Church, and see the wealth of well-digested learning which they contain. And of these ponderous tomes the number is well nigh endless. How, then, is it that Protestantism gained its strength 1 We believe that in a very large measure it gained it through the ability and skill with which it has exercise! its influence through the Press. It cannot be disputed that Protestantism has used the Press to the greatest advantage to diffuse its doctrines, and especially to inspire a hatred and honor of everything Catholic. It oas thus perverted tbe minds of the people, and filled them with that anti-Catholic bigotry which until quite recently has proved so prejudicial to Catholic interests. Let us be candid, Protestantism is tc-day in possession of the best Press in the world. In all that consututes excellence, the newspapers of Great Britain and America are decidedly at the head of all the journals in the world, and these are, for the moßt part, in the hands of non-Catholica. There are various causes why Catholic journalism has not in the past been properly developed. One reason, no doubt, is the hesitation felt iest the action and doctrines of the Church should be' compromised by journalists wanting in knowledge or discretion. The Protestant pressman has in this matter little lesponeibility. Whatever his individual views may be, he is qualified, according to the common Protestant custom, to become a teacner in Israel, and his opinions are certain to coincide with some phase or other of Protestantism. Not so in the case of the Catholic journalist. He must not only have a sound knowledge of Catholic doctrine and be well posted on all the leading questions of the day from a Catholic point of view, but he must be cautious and prudent to an extreme degree for fear of initiating any policy which, however well intended, may be regarded by the authorities of the Chuich aa inopportune or likely to create dissension or division. He is in this way pretty well shut out from the field even of what may be called legitimate sensationalism. It is true that sensationalism, however mild, is not one of the best features of journalism, but it must not be forgotten that it plays an important part in securing readers for newspapers, and often attracts to what is more solid and more worthy of attention those who would not otherwise be drawn to subjects requiring Berious reflection. Notwithstanding this and other drawbacks, Catholic journalism haa for some yeaiß, we are happy to Bay,

been making steady progress ; and, what is of the utmost importance, it has received and is receiving increased encouragement from the higheat dignitaries of the Church. Bis Holiness Leo XIII. has spoken in no uncertain terms of the necessity of supporting the Catholic press, urging the faithful to aid and foster by every means in their power this invaluable medium for extending the empire of Catholic truth. On tha European continent various prelates have, like the Bishop of Linz, lent to the same cause the influence of their powerful Advocacy ; and in that home of freedom, the United States of America, the heads of the Church have on all occasions sought to strengthen and defend the Catholic press and to extend the sphere of its usefulness. Such men as Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop Ryan, and Archbishop Ireland have in their writings and public addresses assigned the broadest possible limits to the liberty of the Catholic journalist. They have said, in effect:— "Let us recognise that bis •im and his work are, on the whole, most advantageous lo Catholic interests ;«and let us encourage him in the discharge of his arduous duties without being hypercritical or captious as to details. Even if in the exercise of his discretion he makes mistakes now and then, it is better that he should commit au occasional error than that he should, through fear, be continually restrained from giving expression to hiß convictions as to what is beneficial for our Catholic people." Buch a liberal and broad-minded interpretation of the functions of the Catholic pressman on the part of Catholic Prelates is the surest guarantee of the growth of the power of the Catholic press.