CATHOLICS AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

New Zealand Tablet, 29 April 1920, Page 18

CATHOLICS AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

(By Joseph A. McNamee, • in America.)

"//; Cleric or lay, the Catholic is bound, each in his .own degree, "to go forth and teach all-nations." '■ The clergyman is the shepherd of the flock; he is the official teacher of the people. But in the work of teaching, the layman too has his part. As related in the Gospel narrative, the main purpose of this teaching is. to aid in the propagation of the faith, and it does not seem' an exaggeration to say : that •vin/ this work, the obligation of the layman is daily | growing larger. ■■; To i teach with / success,/ not '; some I only, but all the people must be reached.v Whatever the circle which ) the _ clergyman can reach, the {layman 'in pursuit of his ordinary calling meets almost daily men- of all callings, with whom the clergyman rarely, ; if; ever, comes in touch. But to impress: and \ educate, /theteacher must be in sympathy with his pupil, must know his inclinations, his ambitions, his desires.. This knowledge can-come only from intimate association. Hence, the Catholic, if he,is to ..preach effectively, must mingle with the people. :;-:;'•-, .- . Catholic Interest in Civic Affairs. -.:•; . To combine "the people" with "civics", does not call for any stretch of the imagination, since the rights, duties, j and privileges of citizenship are all phases of civics. For the development and full exercise of these rights, duties, and privileges, the people are obliged to organise. They therefore group themselves, to secure effective results in the advancement/of social, political, and financial interests. Men thus come to know one another and grow in sympathy with one another's activities. ./" / ' ';"•■ ■ Taking the teaching office of the Catholic citizen for granted, it follows that he must mingle with his fellows in their civic activities, co-operate with them whenever this can be done consistently with his belief, and be ever "Teady to give them any assistance that lies in his power. It should be his object to aid them in the accomplishment of such purposes as are according to right reason, and to combat all agencies which are opposed to the natural or the Divine law. Never was there a time when there was more need for genuine Gospel teaching and spiritual support than at the present day. To-day the world does not present a picture of peace, joy, and contentment on the contrary, the hearts of many in the social body are filled with unrest, bitterness, and unhappiness. A relentless war on spiritual ideals and on the principles of supernatural religion is waged by powerful forces. For the first time in the history of the Christian ages, representatives of ■ the civilised nations organize to ;• bring peace back to the world, and on no occasion call on the name of God or of the Prince of Peace. By itself this example suffices to indicate the need of missionary effort in the modern world. If the leaders of the "world's thought are, in • their utterances, examples of that atheism which purposely ignores . God, it would seem that a large number of the men and women who follow these leaders, assent to the same godless philosophy. To combat this subtle atheism in its ■ many manifestations is the duty of the Catholic citizen. One method of doing this is found in his interest in all civic affairs. He should strive to gain the confidence of his associates, so that he may be able, to warn them against tendencies in public affairs which, often innocent in appearance, are, because of their hidden but irreligious purposes, a menace rather than an aid to - the State. The forces that build on materialism build on sand, and their structures are doomed to destruction. Man is not an animal merely, and any civic philosophy which does not take into consideration the possibility of his spiritual development, leads to civic ruin. Error and Intolerance.

It is, of course, generally understood that the Catholic religion inculcates loyalty to one's country and unswerving obedience to the just commands of rightful authority. The need of teaching our modern world this lesson of order, loyalty, and reasonable submission is too plain, in these days of social unrest, to be insisted upon. In his mission of teaching the Catholic citizen is to -avoid all that savors of the spirit of the Pharisee. He gives because to him much has been given He- must' be ever ready to defend the teachings in which he believes, but never to force them upon others. It is not his business to make men, but, according to his ability, to give men a chance to make themselves. Intolerance of errors does not imply intolerance of the men and women who entertain error. If the Catholic citizen has taken care to inform himself of the needs and aspirations of those whom he : wishes to help, -there- will be no - question of force, J or of personal intolerance. While it is sometimes possible

to crush a liar by ' force, a lie can be J crushed only by the proper presentation of . the IJ truth. ■ If he undertakes hio work with prudence and ... zeal;' the Catholic may feel sure that •in his knowledge of his faith- he will find V remedy to meet ■ every difficult'' condition.''-, :-'--—- ! " ■— -- ' 7 -

• . The Cry. for Help. ' ~--' ' : .'., ,V jj&j In trying to make the world; realise the strength and beauty of his faith, the Catholic citizen has every encouragement to continued labor. ; From all sides •' appeals are made to come to the help of suffering humanity. The Catholic citizen'knows that the Church-is founded, on ;the rock of--Peter, that she has been commissioned by God Himself .to teach all nations, and that with this commisThe comes the guarantee that she Can never teach error. The Church was founded for all time her mission is not confined to .any century, to any country, or to special circumstances. - Whatever man's needs may be si e S a remedy for them. If he is in error, she can lead him from darkness to light; if lie is enmeshed in the'net of an evil life, she can teach him how to escape therefrom • i ce fan eS nol despair, " the face of the world's notice, fall upon him, she-can make life brighter by oldnig before him the vision of that world in which all 3^tf and I 0"" 011 *> eace arid eternal ret! aie the portion of men who suffer for righteousness' sake must be IK m th F eat work, the Catholic-citiS; must be well equipped, first of all, in his own personal P rncinll %%?"* SI"* 0 " 1 application of tW~t principles of Christianity which alone can lead toner fect.on 1 the individual and society. There are with us to-day loud and powerful factions which boast- the si eedv ChSanitv & 1 unbridled liberalism over the force of ■pSSj^bi r fijW---J men .T ] !° c ° mpose these groups.true. no, bets o false? A complete triumph over tho Church of God wul never be registered by —mies; neverS i -as, ,n many places they may sorely cripple and even destroy for a time, her beneficent mission* The extent of then- evil influence will d-nend very largelv upon tlo civic activities of the Catholic citizen ' * - *