The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-14

SOCIAL WORK - MISSIONS
ETC.
A national program for the Catholic
Church in America will be outlined
and carried into execution This is
the assurance in a letter addressed by
James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop
Of Baltimore, to the Rt Rev. P. j. Null
doom, ID. D., Bishop of Rockford Rt
Rev. Joseph Schrembs, D. D., Bishop
of Toledo; Rt. Rev. J. S. Glass, C. NJ,
d. D., Bishop of Salt Lake, and Rt.
Rev. w. 7. Russell, D. D., Bishop of
Charleston, who constituted the eX-
ecutive committee of the National
Catholic War Council and have now
been constituted the General Commit
tee on Catholic Interests and Affairs
AS was told in the letter of the Holy
Father addressed to the American
hierarchy, printed in the last issue of
The Catholic Bulletin, the Bishops of
America will hold an annual meeting.
The permanent committee of the
American Bishops that will act for the
American hierarchy during the year
consists of Bishops Muldoon,
Schrembs. Glass and Russell The
letter of Cardinal Gibbons outlines to
these Bishops the nature of the work
they are to undertake 1t is a most
decided advance over any national
Catholic program that has thus far
been suggested and takes in all i'm
portant features, including Catholic
literature and the Catholic press,
Catholic education, Catholic social
and charitable work, Catholic mis-
sions, legislation, home and foreign
missions, etc. A dispatch states that
the Cardinal has called a meeting of
the entire American hierarchy at the
Catholic University ON september "a
The purpose will be to organize COM
mittees for the carrying out of the
plans outlined in this letter.
The letter of the Cardinal to the
General Committee on Catholic Inter-
ests and Affairs follows:
Cardinals Letter.
Right Reverend and Dear Bishops:
As the Administrative Committee
of the National Catholic War Council
is to meet this week in New York, |
ask it's members to convene separate
ly also as The General Committee
on Catholic Interests and Affairs" l
cannot be present, but | ask Bishop
Muldoon to act as chairman in my
place. Archbishop Hayes, on account
of his pressing new duties, has re-
signed from the Administrative Com
mittee. | requested Archbishop Han
ma to suggest in his stead a Bishop
from the Far West He proposed
Bishop Glass of Salt Lake City, whom
| very gladly appointed on the Ad-
ministrative Committee and who will,
consequently, serve with us on the
General Committee on Catholic Inter-
ests and Affairs.
We all recognize, dear Bishops, the
Importance of the act now being ac-
Gomplished, in pursuance of the sug-
gestion of the Special Delegate of the
Holy Father, Archbishop Cerretti.
This suggestion | regard as a divine
call to summon our best thought and
maximum energy in order to organize
and direct them for the kindling of re-
ligion in the hearts of the American
people. Coming at this time it is pro-
vidential the formation of this com
mittee begins, | believe, a new era in
our Church. A closely knit organiZa-
tion of the hierarchy acting together
in harmony promises, under God S
guidance, the greatest extension and
development of the influence of re-
ligion. No other church in history,
probably, had SO grand an opportunity
challenging it as we have at this mo-
ment. On us, and particularly on
your younger minds and stronger
arms, devolves the duty of surveying
the field and planning the great work
AS | cannot be present at the first
meeting to discuss with you the scope
of the work, | beg to submit to your
consideration some of my own
thoughts and some suggestions made
to me by members of the hierarchy
l am not yet prepared myself to en-
dorse all these suggestions, but com
ing from such esteemed sources,
pass them on to you as topics to be
considered in the formation of plans
The ordinary work of the commit
tee, as | conceive it, is to prepare fol
the meetings of the hierarchy and tc
serve as an executive to carry out
their decisions and wishes. 1t will
necessarily be a clearing house fol-
the general interests of the Church.
In planning this work, one may
make various divisions of genera
Catholic Interests and Affairs"
suggest the following which is along
practical, rather than logical, lines:
l. The Holy See; 2, Home Missions;
3, Foreign Missions; 4, Social and
Charitable Work; s., Catholic Univer
sity; 6, Catholic Education in Gen
eral; Z, Catholic Literature; s, Cath
olic Press; 8, Legislation; 10, A Cath
olic Bureau. II Finances