The Apostolate of the Catholic Press

New Zealand Tablet, 13 September 1906, Page 15

The Apostolate of the Catholic Press

, Everywhere newspapers are recognised as a area! power for good in upholding lawful authority and in • exposing dishonesty in public or private life (says ?■ writer in the San Francisco ' Monitor '). Greater si ill is the power of the Catholic press in. diffusing Ihe truths of religion and in assisting the seekers of knowledge to improve themselves by wholesome and elevating reading. - We seem to have lost sight, however, of the absolute need of Catholic newspapers, otherwise the Catholic press would be better supported than it is. It is both refreshing to mind and heart ~to peruse the able and splendid articles that are to be found in :xiauy ■lOUILl OUI L , h £ llc Papers. It is discouraging though tc note that the efforts of Catholic editors ,are so^ little appreciated by pur. people for whom they labor so earnestly and faithfully, and the question naturally arises what is the cause of this strange indifference, analysing the reason we find in many instances that it is due to an incorrect idea of the " . ' " Value and Mission of a Catholic Paper. There are numbers of well-meaning people, who maintain that the daily newspaper is quite sufficient for their needs~"as regards religious" and secular affairs. In other words these -people are, .living in a false environment, inasmuch as the daily paper cannot and does not pretend -to be able to supply to Catholic readers the news and happenings, concerning' their religion which the Catholic paper is alone al)le to supply. Besides we know from experience that Catholic " events as chronicled in the dispatches' in secular papers are utterly unreliable and untrustworthy. To offset .inis^we have the Catholic paper ever ready to bat,tle for. the truth when the Church and her doctrines are assailed . Besides being a moral antidote to the' destructive tendencies of our modern Sunday newspapers whose ideas and sentiments as expressed and pictured m editorial and supplement are positively demoralising to young and oW. - . • :We are living .in an age of reading, and tfhe time J - !& ems , °PP° r * u neHo build up- a great Catholic literature that futute-. generations will bless- us for, and to "estab^ ! ? i5 n a P*>stolate of the press that would accomplish untold good, bringing as it would to millions iri hamlet ami city, the light of faith through the aid of the •' ?l~ ™^° Kll thus Panting strong and deep the seed , from which would spring up. . ; A- Great Catholic Civilisation. .■ - t ulP* g , r 1 a !, work of the German Cathoiic press for farfch and fatherland in an age of iron' despotism ; the

establishing of the Centre Party ; the repeal of the obnoxious Falk laws r and the final victory for religious & eed , on } throughout the German Empire is the work of the Catholic press, and nowhere is Catholic journalism so highly respected even by its most bitter enemies as in Germany to-day. • Likewise our efforts should be directed toward making the Catholic press in every way worthy its mission II nyn v t }i m }^ States, representing as it does, the great Church that has ever been the mother and- teacher of the natitms. The question of education, involving as it does the rights of our children along moral and religious • lines,- is one that icannot be discussed too often. It, -is tnevgreat question of the day Tin every •". part of the world, and many- non-Catholics are beginning to believe as we -do that religious instruction is an -absolute necessity for the honesty and integrity of the -future men and women, and for the preservation -of society and home life. - . * 1 •■'* The Mission of a Catholic Journal is an educational one. It has often beetf remarked that to-read a --good paper is in itself a liberal education. It should always foe the aim, therefore, of the Catholic press to keep its readers informed of what the Church has accomplished for- God and humanity' in every ace of _ the; world's history. l ft the long thousand years of the middle ages, ere the blighting influence of i>he" Reformation swept over' Catholic Europe, her colleges~"and universities were thronged with students. It was & 'time when the jblessed influence of .religion permeated the arts aii-d sciences, and ..social and political life. They, were the ages of faith when the Gothic Cathedral and stately. atoJßey;, .those' great books of stone, were erected -to the worship of God. , It was. pre-eminently an age of ; illustrious men, whose stupendous achievements in discovery and learning and in every art thafhas ennobled humanity will ever be the glory of ' the Church and' I>he wonder of the world. ~4 ■*} n ' tik i s y a y Catholic journalism can accomplish untold good along educational- and historical lines, as an aid to. fitting; and equipping Catholic "and non-Oatholic alike .with a knowledge of the early Church, history is the history of the world. - In our' age and-coun-try, living as we do in an atmosphere that is artificial there is an imperative need for a strong Catholic press to counteract the pernicious influences of secular journalism in its endeavor to put aside and relegate "relish 0 " 55 , relief into the background. .. It is "a --duty that devolves upon us, the support of the Catholic and no home can be truly called A Christian Home Without the Catholic Paper. How little we realise the :fadti> that thousands of our fellow-men and women in the faith scattered in mountain and village without -priest or churoh remain loyal and steadfast to their religion. And this is duo to a\ Marge extent to the Catholic paper that is sent to them b*' societies and individuals in our large cities. These people are thus kept in touch with Catholic affairs and many a one has blessed the silent voice of the printed word, that has enabled them to know their religion aoid to be true to the old Church. The leaders in Catholic organisations should, exert themselves in .promoting' the interests of Catholic newspapers and The upbuilding of Qatholic' literature means greater culture more general .reading, and a widespread/ dissemination of the truths! of religion. All of which would leave its impress, oh the mind and heart of this and ' future generations. - ' ....The greatest need of the twentieth century is a vigorous and outspoken Catholic press- to stand as a bulwark against the sordid materialism that saturates our .civilisation and^ threatens to engulf it. What a tremendous power ought 'the voice of the Catholic press to be everywhere around us. If the Catholic laity- -are. . alive to their true interests they will utilise this power to advance Catholic. thought and opinion, that, .standing amid the surging world, they may stamp their Catholic faith upon the face of life. " - ' -'"