The Irish standard., 1904-01-23

forth properly. Catholics would be
dull and unappreciative, indeed, who
would not recognize the splendid work
of the daily press-for example, at the
death of Pope Leo XIII and the sue
cession of Pope Plus X.
But in the matter OF religious news
giving the daily paper cannot be ex-
pected to consider exclusively any re-
ligious denomination, however large
and powerful, nor to. discriminate in
the matter of news, except in favor of
the most sensational and sale-making.
1t spreads its nets everywhere and
promptly disseminates all that they
catch, whether of good report or
scandal, of fact or invention, of strong
probability or crazy fancy.
Then, religious freakishness of every
kind, however distasteful to Christians
whether of recondite Parsees and
high-caste Brahmins, or ignorant and
vulgar spectators in human credu-
lity-must be duly exploited for the
followers of each and all read the
papers.
Moreover, the great constituency of
the unchurched must be considered,
and space freely accorded to the ex-
ponents of materialism, alleged "scien-
tific" skepticism, un-Christian social
ism and all other Goddess fads.
Finally there is no classification;
Dowie's insane vaporings neighbor the
latest papel encyclical, and the news
OF martyrdom in China is side by
side with the latest matrimonial scan
dal from Newport.
So that even in the matter of news
record, while the weekly religious
journal does not enter the lists with
the daily press in news getting, it has
its higher mission selecting and classi-
flying and putting in suitable environ
.ments what is of more than days
interest, as we'll as of correcting er-
roneous statements and false rumors.
Moreover, the giving of the relig-
ious news is not the sole function of
the religious press. 1t has another
field which the daily press cannot and
never will attempt to cover. To speak
for ourselves chiefly, the true Catholic
journal reflects the Catholic spirit. It
not only records the religious event,
but gives the bearing and the moral of
it. The events of contemporary secu-
lar history it reads and interprets by
Catholic principles. Without usurping
the functions of the pulpit, it dissem-
mates Catholic trutll-especially in the
effective object lessons of commend
able Catholic example-in those places
where the preachers voice is not
heard.
It applies the Catholic test to cur
rent literature and sets forth the best
in distinctly Catholic literature. AS
commentator on events and record
of applied religion it is the best ally
OF the priest and the best friend of the
Christian home, and it never was
more needed than it is to-day.
This being SO, the word of its use
fulness outgrown proceeds only from
the enemies of religion or from those
Indifferent Catholics who fear to ap-
proach an influence which would
quicken the smouldering embers of
their faith into flame of loyalty and
zeal.
1t remains true, however, that the
Catholic journals are not supported as
they deserve. Even the few which,
like the "Pilot," are not bounded by
city or diocesan lines and can rejoice
in large and long national list of
subscribers find their enterprise Grip
pied by the nominal patrons who con-
slider every debt before the debt due
to the Catholic journal-not to men
ton the petty knaves, happily few in
who try to steal their re-
llglous education by not paying at all.