The Irish standard., 1914-04-04

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this the Chlrch is not ready to adj
NIT, but contends that there is con-
tact of moral and religious duties in
problems such as the relations of
the employer and the employed, that
labor itself has a moral character,
as we'll as the trade-agreements and
obligations arising therefrom;
strikes. lockouts. and the means en-
ployed to make them effective are
alike amenable to Christian moral
law, etc. etc.
The Christian Foundation.
The Catholic Church is founded
upon the belief that Christ is God
and that all the moral issues of
Christian civilization were commit
ted by Him to the tribunal of eccles-
iastical authority established by
Him. Neither claiming nor exercis-
ing any Jurisdiction over non-Cath-
olics. and applying this doctrine to
their part in any labor movement,
the Catholic Church permits catholic
workingmen to join and to maintain
aff1liation with the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor on condition that
this neutral" (neither CATHOLIC,
Protestant or Socialist) trade-union
movement does exclude in principle
and in fact all ideals and methods
not in conformity with Christianity.
Dividing the Labor Movement?
With all that these Catholic views
involve. there will not be Cat least in
our estimation) division of the
American trade-union movement for
all that Socialism says to the con-
trary. Socialists will not be able to
force their anti-religious issues to
such an extent as to make the situa-
ton acute. The American trade-un-
ion movement has kept itself remark
ably immune from the Socialist con-
tagion and will continue to do SO,
with the result that the Socialists
who are in the trade union move
ment (and we hope they will re-
main) really get the education they
need.
The Burden of Neutrality.
The Seattle Convention in defeat
ing the Socialist resolution to ex-
clude the fraternal delegates of
Church organizations from all future
conventions Of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, went on record as
follows: Nothing would be more
injurious to the welfare of our move
ment than the injection Of questions
relative to religion. The American
trade-union movement from its in
ception has excluded all questions
Of a sectarian nature and this rigidly
applied policy has made it possible
to build up a united movement,
which otherwise would be impossible
to either secure or maintain"
No neutral" movement could
state otherwise and to that extent
the statement is eminently satisfac-
tory to Catholic trade-unionists.
They. in fact, desire nothing better
than to live up to the spirit and the
letter of this statement. It would
be impossible to show that any Cath
Ollie unionist has ever introduced
religious issue: it remained for the
Socialists to do this; they are behind
all the provocation. The Catholic at
titude is one Of defense merely and
of protecting the fundamental guar
antees of the American Federation of
Labor. The Socialist programs in
deed conflict with Christian morality
and by attempting in season and out
of season to force these Socialist
anti Christian issues upon the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor meetings
and conventions. the religious issue
is raised both in a negative and in
positive sense. Socialism must
bear the odium of this charge or re-
form itself. In all cases that could
be cited the religious issue raised
has been raised by Socialists. The
issues that are raised will not be set
tied by resolution or two; these
are mere skirmishes. We are no
farther along than the serving of
notice. The Catholic trade-unionist
iS on the Job to show the Socialist