A Congress of Western Catholics
By Editor
THE Pan-American Congress in Washington has suggested to the Catholic Review the idea of a Congress of the Catholics of the Western Continent. The Review says:— “The Catholics of the Continent, such as they are, outnumber the Protestants largely, and it would not be at all an impossible task so to blend them on general matters as to make them masters of the religious destinies of the Continent. If a commercial idea and the ability of Mr. Blaine can bring together eminent men from all parts of the country, cannot the Christian idea and the ability of Cardinal Gibbons bring together a similar body of men from the same quarters? There is no doubt that the Catholics of the North are to-day the Catholic body of the West, and, with the exception of the Germans and Belgians, the Catholic body of the world. We must lead the way in ideas and practical work. The Catholics of South America are fast asleep, not to say dead. . . . They ought to be rescued, waked up, and made alive. A visit of their leading men, ecclesiastical and lay, to this country, the education of their clergy among us, would make them acquainted with our methods, and at least trouble their consciences. Perhaps, too, it would be worth while for the Catholics of Washington to look after the Catholic delegates to this Congress and bring them into contact with American Catholicity.” It may be that the Catholics of South America are in this condition described by the Review, but it would seem that their Northern brethren are active enough to make up for it. The Romanists of the United States never were so aggressive as now.