p. 8 | CATHOLICS AND POLITICS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 35.

CATHOLICS AND POLITICS.

In the Catholic Mirror of June 7 is an article setting forth the objects of the American Federation of Catholic Societies, by Hon. Thomas B. Monahan, the secretary. On the political side of the Federation he has this to say:—

It will be conceded, I think, that legislation, national and State, hostile to Catholic interests is constantly in evidence. Sometimes such legislation and also executive action, are without intentional hostility. More often, however, they are with malice aforethought. Those who do not clearly see this fact must live far from Washington or from State capitals, or belong to the inclosed orders.

Here is the class against which political effort must be put forth:—

It is not the government nor, in the main, the executive officers in State or nation, that are at fault, so much as it is a certain class of ubiquitous, jealous, narrow meddlers, who persist in poisoning the wells of the public mind on the subject of the Catholic Church in America. They are always active. Their work goes on unhindered, save when lamely opposed by some chance individual effort.

The constant admonition to us in such cases is: “Keep quiet; things might be worse.” Our reply in this regard is that things would be very much better if we had fearless, systematic, and tactful opposition, backed by the power of nearly one-half of the professed church-going people of America, assertive enough to call their soul their own, and forceful enough to take their church out of the slough of continual apology for its presence in this country.

As to how the work is to be done, he suggests “tactful methods,” and outlines the following:—

For State and national legislation and in dealing with those in power, the federation appoints a committee on law. The business of this committee, acting with an executive body and advisory board, is to closely study and watch legislative and executive action involving Catholic interests with the special view of forestalling hostile measures. The work of this committee, whether it be one appointed by county, State or national federation, is so hedged about with safeguards that the reasonably conservative can put aside all fear of indiscretion. The work of this committee is not however, so hampered as to prevent its meeting the full expectations of the prudently aggressive. The federation’s work along this line, once the movement is crystallized into a thorough, disciplined organization, will be felt rather than proclaimed. The living fact of a thoroughly organized body, with a membership of half a million or more, need not be proclaimed from the housetops. Its existence alone will bespeak its influence.

It will not ally itself permanently with any party, but “will always set its face firmly against the danger of disgrace of mingling mere politics with a judicious, necessary, and most effective defence of the best interests of our church.”

If a person feels that he ought to warn against the encroachments or errors of that church, and the public press admits any of his teaching, the American Federation of Catholics proposes to bring that editor to his senses. Mr. Monahan says:—

Unfortunately the daily press too often weighs its fearlessness and manliness in the scales against dollars and cents, and cravenly suffers itself to be used, when common decency would counsel at least silence. But let the combined action of thousands in the city, or hundreds in the town, openly put their patronage with the newspaper that will make common cause with them and vindicate the constitutional right of religious belief and practise free from public slander, and it will not take long to make newspaper managers to realize that cowardice in the public press will not pay. The cash-drawer is a tender nerve of modern journalism; let a powerful public opinion press that, and you have the open sesame to editorial policies. In other words, Catholic unity alone can enforce a hearing that will be respectful, and thus find a voice in the forum of every community, large or small.

In other words only that which is Catholic, friendly to Catholicism, or neutral, is to be suffered to appear. To publish this is “decent” and “manly” and “fearless,” but to publish the other side is “cravenly,” and “cowardly.” Of its future, Mr. Monahan thus speaks:—

One needs but little reflection to realize that if federation were even partially organized on the magnificent scale it aims at, if it were in position to take up and successfully carry out one-tenth of its purposes, then opportunities and occasions by the score would await it.

In the last analysis, a most important mission of federation is to secure the layman’s part in helping to make this country Catholic. Nor is such a hope an idle dream. To even superficial observers and thinkers Protestantism has not satisfied, and can not resist the stern, searching logic of American thought. Infidelity, agnosticism, or absolute indifference, is already digging the grave of Protestantism in the United States.

The vital, the great work, then, of federation is to build up Catholicity into a living, controlling force in the moral, social, and intellectual activities energizing and throbbing at the heart of this restless American age. Federation must forge to the front as a leader in that kind of endeavor which not only compels respect but also begets confidence and wins esteem.

Masterful direction and successful accomplishment by this body will make Catholicity in this country what the incomparable Leo XIII. has made the church in the world at large—a factor of commanding influence instead of a timid, shrinking apologist for its very existence.

And when the great machine gets well to work, as it will, it is safe to say that politics will move in harmony with the Catholic Church. Not much will be said in public, but vacillating politicians of all parties will be brought to time; and then will be fulfilled the purpose of Catholicism that “what the church has done in the past for others, she will now do for the United States.” What she has done may be told by Spain and Italy.