The Irish standard., 1918-08-31
THE CATHOLIC PRESS BUREAU MIGHTY STEP
FORWARD.

FORWARD.
At the convention of the Catholic Association in
Chicago August 1918 the initiative taken
for the establishment of Catholic Press and Publicity
Bureau having Tor its the strengthening and
panson of the Catholic better
support of all Catholic publications by the clergy and aiy
1t is proposed sustain this by the from
large endowment fund be with cooperation
of the Hierarchy and branch is to be established in
each diocese of the country The amount of this fund
tentatively placed at million dollars, the income
from which at five per cent would provide fifty thousand
dollars annually for the maintenance of the This
service would be under the control of editor To-
Gated central point with correspondence
at Washington New York and in several European cities
Its principal function would be comprehensive
and accurate gathering of special
est to Catholics and the correction and refuation of
ISLANDERS fasehoods regarding Catholic matters that
find their into the daily and other publications
This plan presented by Matthew j. W. Smith, editor
of the Denver Catholic Register though, he stated it
had been frequently brought forward in def
mite form by several other writer's editors received
the hearty support of the convention and Endorsed
in the general resolutions adopted Committees also
appointed to enlist the support of the Hierarchy in the
movement and work out the details of the project
1t Is we'll known that many of the most influential lead
ers of the Hierarchy in hearty sympathy with the
plan proposed for the of Catholic papers
and periodicals. Among them is Bishop Then of Denver
who after careful survey the situation naugurated
day in his diocese which resulted in increase of
twenty per cent in the circulation of the Catholic Register
Another strenuous champion OF the Catholic Arch
bishop Doughery of Philadelphia, Who while Bishop of
Buffalo, personally interested himself building up
circulation of the diocesan insisting that every
family in the diocese able should enrolled
as subscriber Pope Benedict himself has also recently
issued urging upon the faithful the i'm
portance of supporting religious publications
of defending the church against her enemies and the
upbuildng Of her prestige influence of other
leading scholars and WRITER'S both clerical might
be cited to the strong trend of the intellectual
leaders in the direction.
The establishment of such bureau should be re-
garded tending to foster religious strife and contro
On the contrary its effect would be the opposite
of this 1t would prove institution of general educa
tiona value. in like that the Catholic
Encyclopedia which has done prodgous work in the
ghtenmen Of all in respect to Catholic doctrines history
and philosophy, and which has found it's way into amos
welequpped newspaper office in the country.
large proportion of the Misrepresentation of Catholic mat
tiers arises from sheer ignorance of them is
from careful observation of the stores" that find place
in reputable publications. 1t is only the vile
degraded sheets that permit their columns to be l1e
with caumnious and malicious against the churc
and the clergy and to great they may be dis
creey ignored 1t is against the and nsinuation
that printed in the influential and powerful publca
lions that the church her defenders should be
guard. And the and the prophylactic for them
the sunlight publicity and truth.
It is here then that the proposed bureau will find it
principal function and service in the investigation analyst
truthful presentation of the issues and matters
which the welfare of the church is involved and the
prompt adequate dissemination throughout the LAM
Hitherto truth has been oftentimes handicapped wit
eaden the with falsehood. The bureau wou
provide it with the wings to overtake and owe
haul it's foul competitor.
We believe the plan Of the convention is prudent an
necessary the of religion and truth
that it will commend itself when thoroughly considere
to the general support Of clergy and laity.
Our colored troops said to inspire special dres
among the Germans, No wonder. They foreca
Of the dark days ahead for the Teutons.
I'll