The Irish standard., 1918-01-12
THE CATHOLIC PRESS AND OUR HOLY FAITH.
BY James J. Walsh M. D. Phi D.


Not long ago writer present Admins
tration luncheon during which he sat beside who
is thoroughly familiar with the business of printing and
publishing newspapers periodicals. Naturally prn
cpa topic administration" but of course after
while dred to other subjects, among which was
the present status of periodical publishing He asked,
How the Catholic periodicals getting on?" and added
in commentary: perhaps surprised at the ques
tion but suggested by the fact that Protestant perod
calls are suffering very severely and are dWndng in
number and circulation make very different
of affairs in this regard from ten years Even
before the there noticeable marked falling off in
the circulation of all periodicals. and
suited in the quiet easy death of number of them Since
the there has been growing increase of interest in
matters merely secular and most decided lack of interest
in things purely religious. This condition. to
high cost of and other increases expense helps
to explain the mortality of Protestant newspapers and
periodicals of all kinds within The religious
branch of the publishing business is only fraction what
it was generation ago."
Fiourshing Condition.
assured my table companion that, far knew
and l thought that reasonably familiar with the
situaton-our Catholic newspapers and periodicals were
in nourishing condition than before. told
him that had at least half dozen publications. week
lies and monthes, OF national appeal whose circulation
satisfactory growing steady increase
and that they thoroughly representative of
Catholic life and intellectual activity than had
ten Besides these, have at least half hun
dred weekly and they all show marked advance
in quality and most of them increase rather than
decrease in circulation.
My friend, the publisher surprised because
he had been inclined to think that Catholic diocesan
and local newspapers if also the magazines
y share in that decadence which has been manifest for
least twenty in the Protestant which
to have come to elimination since the war began
Decay Of Protestant Press
l ventured suggest that the growth the Catholic
and the decay of the
the difference between Catholicism and Professionalism,
the dwinding interest in sectatransm and the growth of
the Catholic spirit reminded him of Billy Sundays
question: Which church would naturally select
the Church of Christ the which the poor
hocing in such large numbers Sundays that there
to be two or three or four Masses though
who attended expected to for sitting
or the churches which had single, at most
ces and whose doors large sign emphasized that
seats fee and that all welcome nevertheless
had only small audiences"
But while assuring publisher friend wondering
all the time whether there has any really proper
tonate increase of interest and in circulation for
Catholic We Catholics in the United States have
until represent nearly 2O0O00OO of people; but
surely Catholic could be much better supported
than it is at if fair proportionlet
haf-took very definite interest in the Catholic press.
not that the Catholics of this generation are
nearly ready to make sacrifices in order to
Catholic publication into the family and reading it,
thus setting example for the benefit of their children
That true generation ago. While Catholic press
has grown in influence and in circulation cannot think
that it has proportion either to the number of
the population the growth in wealth of our
people.
Absorbed in Worldly Matters.
We, too l fear, suffering from the dry rot of
overinterest in worldly matters the detrment of
deeper interest in religious affairs One thing perfectly
certain that this absorption secular matters continues
our press will the that the Protestant is
going rapidly. quite that it will be serious
for Cathocity whenever this happens do not hesitate
to that family which does not take in regularly at
least Catholic periodical surely sinking into the
depths of declining faith. Sometimes the poor can
scarcely afford it, but the family that spare cent
in order have the privilege of reading Catholic
paper must indeed be mighty 1t costs less
than this to be regular subscriber for Catholic weekly
paper and cent and half day would supply Catholic
family with good local weekly Catholic periodical we'll
as good national weekly monthly
The Negligent Rich
But it is not the who are the most backward
in taking Catholic periodicals. Very often is those who
considerable money spend uxuries
extravaganza who lost their interest in Cathocy
and in the everyday events of Catholic life that they think
beneath their newly acquired dignity and social condition
to occupy themselves with Catholic affairs Catholic
is not properly supported it will undoubtedly work
harm to the Church 1t represents of
the best possible keeping faith and interest in
Catholicity alive.
gradual disappearance the Protestant press
which distinguished Protestant professor of
the great Protestant theological schools
fdent that he gave to his book the title Passing
Professionalism and Coming Cathocity." Nothing will
mean much however, for coming Catholicity the
proper support of the Catholic Any who
tends to be Catholic and is not supporting the Catholic
press is making serious mistake. Any who pre-