THE WAR AND THE CHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 12 November 1914, Page 51

THE WAR AND THE CHURCH

ONE OF THE LEADING CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ENGLAND IN GRAVE PERIL. (By Ambrose Willis.) _ * * ||U: When a country goes to wpf one of t}ie first things to happen is a shortage of supplies on the • part of almost all charitable institutions. A sad instance of this is the case of the Crusade bf Rescue in England, which, was ‘ formed by Cardinal Vaughan more than , a quarter of a century ago to, safeguard the faith of countless little »ones whose religion •is in peril. This society maintains homes for such children as would otherwise drift into non-Catholic surroundings, and is one of the most fundamentally •important Catholic. institutions of Great Britain. To-day it is responsible for nearly ■ 1000 Catholic children, whom it has rescued from circumstances of grave danger to faith and morals. And yet* “oh).the outbreak of the war, this society itself has been shaken to its very foundations. Almost all subscriptions, and donations have stopped, creditors are clamoring for payment, and the authorities are faced with a terrible situation. , - ; . Tr* j For an organisation such as this to fail at such a moment, when the whole country' is involved in -war would be a colossal calamity. * f England has gone to, war to maintain her national honor it would indeed be a sad thing if the faith of so. many British Catholic children should be sacrificed in consequence. The Catholics of Britain are straining every nerve to save the situation, but with- their country in a state of war, they are in a difficult plight. Is it too much for them to hope that the bond of universal Catholicism will make itself felt at this time of crisis, and that their fellow-Catholics overseas will co-operate in this work of Catholic urgency—the saving of 1 the faith of so -many Catholic little ones. A postal order for four shillings will buy food for one child for a week if sent to Father 11. S: Collins, 48 Compton Street, London, W.C., England.