The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-28
MISLEADING JOURNALISM.

MISUNDERSTANDING OOO4SN @4A4AS4A'
In a recent letter to the Louis
vile Record, the Abbot Obrecht
calls attention to statement
that France is now
diagnosed as very sick sick unto
death-a dying nation;' whilst
a little later it is said that A new
Catholic France is rising Alb
bot Obrecht remarks that it is
scarcely reasonable to claim that
"dying nation" could furnish
considerable more than half the
foreign missionaries in Asia and
Africa, as well as a great number
Of priests and religious in every
part of the globe" as France is
doing today. 1t may be added
that with all her apparent trou-
bles France has contributed to the
Propagation Of the Faith almost
as much as the rest Of the world
combined.
It seems that religious journals,
like their secular brothers, must
ever have at hand some horrible
example," to serve as contrast in
their various comparisons. The
strange and unaccountable part
Of the whole matter is that they
should select France, above all
other nations. We read so much
about the destruction of religion
in France, the illiteracy in Spain,
and Freemasonry in Italy, that
one is led to believe that those
Catholic countries are hopelessly
benighted and irrevocably lost to
the faith. Not only is this mis-
leading, but it is absolutely un-
true and devoid of foundation in
fact, especially as regards France.
The average italian, witnessing
the lavish extravaganza of the
ordinary American traveller, easily
imagines that all Americans are
millionaires. In this the average
Italian is wrong. The average
Catholic journal, in speaking of
France, leads it's readers to believe
that all Frenchmen are atheists.
In this the average journal also is
wrong. The fact is that in the
Catholic countries mentioned re-
ligion not only fourishes among
the vast bulk of the people, but it
exercises strong influence on
their daily lives and conduct. So
wrapped up is the life of the Latin
with his religion that he will new
er make sincere, consistent Prot
estant. Either he is Catholic, or
he becomes an atheist. The fact
that a handful Of Masons, en-
trenched in the powers of govern
ment, wreak havoc on the Church,
is no argument for the faithless-
ness Of the population. If France,
as a nation, is the eldest daughter
of the Church, she is still a faith
full daughter. The overlords Of
Ireland were unable to shake the
faith Of the people, and Ireland re-
mains steadfastly Catholic. The
overlords of France may be
atheists, but the people are ten
aciously attached to the faith, the
faith that has believed the
ground with the blood of French
missionaries on every strand, and
under every sky, and that still
sends forth myriads Of courageous
men and noble women from
France to do battle with ignor-
ance, heresy, and savagery.
Let there, therefore, be surcease
of accusations against our Cath
Ollie countries. Let our Catholic
journals remember that it is their
duty to disclose the good that ex-
lists everywhere, to show the i'm
mense good that the Church is
producing at home and abroad.
We should wish to see them avoid
general conclusions, drawn not
from authentic premises, but from
sporadic incidents mentioned In
some Roman letter, or foreign cor
respondence. The Church has enc
mics enough without having our
Catholic journals parading every
little incident before the gaze of
the world. We do not fear the
truth, but the truth is that the
Church is still as glorious, as sue
cessful, as prolific Of life and holt
ness as at any stage of her exist
ence. A few defections may take
place, but the solid mass of the
Latin peoples is still faithful to
the Catholic Church.
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