'STAND PAST IN THE FAITH’

New Zealand Tablet, 6 May 1915, Page 13

'STAND PAST IN THE FAITH ’

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the . N.Z. Tablet by Ghimel.) - THE NEUTRALITY OF THE POPE. A reader of these articles wishes to have the attitude of the Pope in the present war explained. ‘ He asks why the Pope continues to preserve a diplomatic silence, and why, especially, when morality and religion are being daily violated in,-Belgium which has been so faithful to God in the mass of its population, so noble in its King and its Catholic government, the Pope pronounces no judgment? - ~ Before dealing with this very delicate question one point should be set down. The war has drawn out all the latent patriotism of the nation. Strong in the conviction of the justice of their cause, stung to indignation by the tale of bitter wrongs, men look at everything in the light of their, passions and their interests. These feelings are sacred, of course, and these interests just but it is as well to recognise that it is our feelings and interests which are concerned. And it is a happy circumstance for the sake of justice and truth, that there is, outside us and above us, someone who is not swayed by any of these feelings. He is likely to examine facts more cautiously, and to form judgments with greater calmness and independence, than is possible to us. We say then in the first place that the present attitude of the Holy Father is fully in accordance with the universal character of the Papacy and the new conditions under which its authority has to be exercised. Even careless observers , are beginning to see that the Vatican alone has been able to keep its international character, and to exercise it effectively. All other institutions have (very properly, of course) disappeared before the State and sacrificed their individuality to the State’s supreme rights. Men, who a year ago were glad to forget the sacred ties of nationality and join hands with their brothers of other countries in various ways for the betterment of mankind, now- stand in battle array on opposite sides. The Papacy alone is above these many divisions; it alone can prevent that absolute divorce between nations which our common Christianity forbids. ‘ Lord,’ the Apostle said of old, ‘ to whom shall we go? Thou (alone) hast the words of eternal life.’ And the Christian nations of to-day, in presence of the threatened breakdown of all civilisation may well ask: ‘ Round whose throne shall we all gather as brothers of Christ unless round the throne of the Fisherman who represents the Divine Master?’ Nor must we forget that though the power of the Papacy still dominates the world, it does not exercise the same authority as once it did. In the Middle Ages it was the uncontested head of the only form of religious life then known in Europe: men, at least tacitly, agreed that it was supreme among Christian peoples. It could speak, 1 as one having authority.’ At the present time it is in the eyes of Catholics the supreme authority. Its rights have not changed one jot or tittle, but they are not recognised as a plain matter of fact by ji large part of Europe. And thus many look up to the Pope as a great moral force in the world, the greatest if you will, but refuse to take his directions as commands. The Papacy of our days, as of past ages, is, therefore, if not the centre of union at least the meeting point of the different factions of men. But many flock to it not for reasons of faith and obedience, but compelled by the political interests of their respective countries. . All roads lead to Rome, we know, but not all the roads are Catholic or even religious. God has interlaced the interests of morality and the interests of politics. This union works out for man’s good, for temporal interests are often more attractive than moral ones. The Decalogue and the Church would, indeed, have been quickly forgotten if they had not in some way or other furthered even our earthly welfare. That being so, the head of Catholicism cannot but take account of the political situations affecting his subjects in different parts of the world. And if days come

_ . , . . . . . > . - - jr-f ' - r v ~ - -•- v , when faith does not suffice to draw souls, to himself, his duty is to go and find them in places where his presence and his services- are t- still accepted. J 1 ' s