The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-29
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
A CONVERT ON PROHIBITION.

A convert to the Catholic Church
is at first astonished that SO few Of
his former interests must be dis
carded: he merely discovers deeper
reasons for interest in movements
that make for the uplift of mankind.
Thus one may become more intensely
sympathetic with the Prohibition
movement
One fact which appeals forcefully
to one who has not always known the
Church, is that the Catholic Church in
the United States has a marvellous
power to mould sentiment for or
against any movement. With every
great power goes corresponding re-
sponsibility, that of determining the
direction Of that power. No Catholic.
lay or cleric, should dismiss the Prohi-
bitfon question lightly; each one of
us should face it squarely and an
sWer frankly the following questions:
Am |, perhaps unconsciously, being in
fiuenced by personal or national preiu-
dice, rather than by convictions based
on consideration of conditions now
NAN hOAO Al IAC OIlLCu OIdI6S. IL COU-
ditioHs here and now may be greatly
improved by Prohibition, am | willing
to make personal sacrifice for the gen
eral good? Have l, before Gods altar,
utterly submitted my will to Gods
will and sought without prejudice His
guidance in determining my attitude
on this important question?
In my study of the Church was
impressed by what seems to be an
essential principle of Catholic disci-
pine; namely, the Church seeks to
control conditions of life so as to rem.
der these conditions favorable to the
highest moral and spiritual develop
ment Of man. In controlling these
conditions she often goes so far as
even to prohibit certain definite acts
that are not in themselves wrong. In
her wisdom she sacrifices the lesser
for the greater good; following our
Lord she demands sacrifice, often
great sacrifice, when she judges that
condition in a given state or place
may be made more favorable to spirit
ual development.
If Prohibition would be conducive
to greater and more general spiritual
welfare than is now possible, the
true to the above principle of
discipline, would consistently demand
the sacrifice of the lesser good that
may come through the sale of liquor,
for the sake of the greater good that
would come through Prohibition.
Few priests can point to a single
case where Saturday evening in an
American saloon, with all it's calls to
qualification Of animal appetite, has
paved the way to devout attendance at
Mass, and worthy reception of the
Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning.
Many person without the fold
would come into the Church were it
not for the scandal given by the So
called Catholics who keep or frequent
saloons; another stumbling block in
their way is the attitude toward Pro-
hibition of so many of her adherents
whose Indifference or opposition make
it appear that the Church not only
favors, but is actually in league with
the liquor interests. Would that the
mass of Catholics could recognize this
opportunity to glorify before the world
their Church and their God. Non
Catholics eager to make the world bet
ter cannot understand the Catholics
lack of interest in this great moral
question.
The idea of Prohibition is by no
means new to Catholics. The prin-
ciple so long advocated by the Church
of voluntary abstinence from liquor on
the part of the individual, leads final
ly in it's broader application, to volun-
tary abstinence on the part of an
entire nation. A democracy must
work through individuals; in a democ-
racy every voter is his own and his
brothers keeper; through the ballot
! nation takes it's pledge for life
IF. " FStsbfe.