The Irish standard., 1909-04-24
SOME OF THE PER|LS TO AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The Catholic Church Has Lived Too Long in the World
Not to Know that Religion is Needed to
Save Nation

On Palm Sunday evening In st.
Johns Church at Altoona, Pa, Rcv.
Morgan NJ. Shccdy delivered a lee
t,lre on "Ihc Catholic Church and the
Republic" lie began by saying that
the gospel, considered Onlj as a NOR
al code, is the most perfect rulo that
mankind has ever received. IL It
were only promulgated by a human
executive, it would produce state
of social peace, personal purity and
honesty. higher than any tho great
est statesman or tho wiscst political
philosopher had ever vcntured to con-
ceivc. 1t is, in truth. the basis of our
modern civilization; it is the miglltIcst
power of national development and
progress without 1t communities,
statcs and nations, once Christian,
must lapse into paganism. Now 1t
would be. folly to deny that a great
change is taking place under our very
eyes with regard to Christianity by
multitudes of men and women Of these
latter days. Christian terms and forms
remain whilst Christian realities arc
fast passing away. There Is IL spc-
cious outward christianity on the sur
face of nations and households and in
dividuals but the spirit and substance
arc sadly lacking. Life and conduct
are untouched by the saving Influence
Of religion. This is tho peril OF our
day. Deep working evils are eating
out the heart Of such n Christianity.
Laxity, Indifference, false theories,
OF life, material progress, Il mad pur-
suit of wealth. worldly greatness,
luxury and sclfishncss. unrest and dis
content among tho masses OF the pco-
pie, the relaxing OF the bonds, domcs-
tic and public, which bind socicty-
these arc the dangerous omcns that
arc only too visible in our modern
civilization.
No one. he went on to say, can
read the history Of Christianity with
out discerning the law Of decline and
deterioration prevailing. not over the
Church, as it Is tho work of divine
wisdom, but over the moral. intcllrc-
t,Ial and social condition OF individu-
ais and whole communities that
make profession Of the religion Of
Christ. The state OF public morals,
the habits OF personal and social life,
popular amusement Of criminal law.
the frequent defeat Of Justice in our
courts-thesc tell all too plainly how
far civil society has been DEPART ng
from the spirit and principles of
Christianity. History has proven the
truth of the word Of God: '"rhc nation
Thee shall perish; and that, not by
judicial sentence. but by an intrinsic
law Of it's own being, which works
out It's own dissolution" Well will IL
be for the American nation to heed
the dangers that threaten our civiIiza-
tion.
Father Sheedy then proceeded 20
point out the great part the Catholic
Church can play In safeguarding
American institutions. He recalled
three propositions laid down in for
mer discourse:
"a That the growth and extension
Of the Catholic Church must always
serve to strengthen the loyalty of
American citizenship.
(2) That the Catholic Church from
the very nature Of her work and mis-
sion must serve to make more secure
the foundations Of our American ir-
stitutions.
(3) That the Catholic Church is not
only force that must always tend
to support the State. but that it is
the strongest force that can possibly
be enlisted in it's defense.
What, he asked. are the safeguards
Of the State? We all agree that they
are morality, intelligence and religion
From these the republic must draw its