The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-01
WORK OF OUR CATHOLIC PAPERS
GREAT FIELD FOR RELIGIOUS
ACTIVITY-NEED OF ENLIGHT-
EMINENT AMONG CATHOLICS
+ THE CATHOLIC PRESS AND THE
. RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

Nicholas Conner, X. S. G.; editor of
the Catholic Tribune, Dubuque, Iowa,
writes as follows: The Importance
and the value of the Catholic Press
in the United States, as in other coun-
tries, will again be proven, in strik-
ing manner, in the period of recon,
struction, now beginning. The writer
of these lines believes one of the first
needs of American Catholicism in the
new world in that period will be a
Catholic press with more frequent is
sues up to daily. He has adopted, as
a policy for the papers under his di-
rection, a program Of Catholic Press
development to. greater efficiency by
more frequent editions" We believe
an influential Catholic press must ap-
pear frequently, and that this need
will be- especially felt from now on.
The desire for reading matter, during
the war, was intense; and war news
easily got the front page headlines,
the increased interest in the news
features of the press, being dpubly felt.
During the reconstruction period, the
reader who is interested, will most
likely turn, with great intensity, to the
new problems, that are facing: the
United States and every other coun-
try, as result of the wars disturb
ances. New ideas and new ideals
will demand recognition and express
sion, in the news as we'll as the edi-
torial columns of the press; and the
Catholic press, if it should not be-
come entirely negligible quantity,
must assert it's influence in this all
important matter of forming, enounc-
ing and shaping the practical working
out of the hearts desires, of the COM
ing New World
Catholics, like all other Americans,
will be deeply concerned in those vast
problems of greatest Importance, await
ing the solution offered by Christian
order in society. The Christian or
der alone has real solutions, not
mere palliatives. Let us mention off
hand a few of the big concerns, 2 that
will control the headlines of Catholic
interest during the reconstruction
times: Correct Americanization of
the foreign elements that are present
in the country, and the immigration
that may come; means and methods
of avoiding the great danger of mis-
understanding the presence and i'm
portance of the Catholic school sys-
tenn; efforts to procure proper ap-
probation of the patriotic and civic
value of our Catholic schools among
nom Catholics; modern methods in dis
polling the bigotry of those who dis
trust us, because they do not realize
the. real meaning of our adherence to
the Papacy of Rome, believing it de-
tracts from the American ideal of ed
ucation and citizenship Ii. e., explain
ing "Ultramontanism); opposition to
all forms of monopoly, of education,
local, State or national; the care of
invalid soldiers and cripples, and the
many problems of practical charity,
which are upon us with the list of
dead and injured; the new political
Vi q c1llu stlIC IOW.t- pOIltlCdl IllSJIlOuS,
which will naturally be demanded by
the returning soldiers and those ac-
.customed to; direct action, etc., etc.
All these and many other interests
and difficulties will test the religious,
charitable, social and political value
of the. Church in the United States,
and also test the service-va1ue Of the
Catholic press as an agency Of Chris
tan Americarism, in the best sense.
Some Handicaps.
Naturally, the Catholic press in the
United States is handicapped by the
fact that most of our publications are
weekly, and some of us positively
weaklies by a lack of support, efficien-
cy and quality of goods delivered, ETC.,
etc. Different Catholic papers will, to
be sure, strive to Increase the ability
and efficiency and quality of the Cath
Ole press service to Church and
Country: some by merely erllarging
their present publications, some, Hike
The Catholic Tribune by seeking more
frequent issues with the Catholic daily
Las a gaal Had il not been for positive