The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-01-18
THE ARMY CHAPLAINS WILL BLAZE THE
TRAIL FOR BETTER UNDERSTAND
ING BETWEEN RELIGIONS

That there would be cooperation of Catholics and
non-Caholic Army Chaplains of the American Army
i'll their common welfare work foregone
conclusion from the very beginning of the work Of
preparedness Such harmonious relationship, it
was foreseen and predicted would evtably result
from the principles of reg ious freedom that so
deeply imbedded in the American constitutional
and social systems In the several welfare activ-
ties incident to welfare work these predictions were
splendidly verified and substantated. Likewise it
was foreseen that there would be notable breaking
down of religious barriers and beneficial associa-
ton of the representatives of the several religious
groups in the actual welfare work the battle
fields, there had been among the several sections
Of the people i'll the preliminary work of providing
for the comforts of the fighting forces All of this
has happened and the results have been even more
fruitful and beneficial than anticipated But
the end is not yet. The ntimacies and friendships
born of the Armageddon are but at the beginning of
their development and modification. For the next
decade and perhaps extending indefinitely into the
future the seeds of mutual good will thus sown
under the lowering skies of war will continue to
bear their harvests of blessings for all humanity.
But it is not in America alone that these beneficial
results of less restricted intercourse between the
representatives of the several religious sections have
been noted 1t is gratifying to note that in Eng
land samlar change has been consumrnated Kew
Francis Aveling S. T. D.. a learned English priest
and Chaplain in the British army has contributed
a series of articles this theme to the "Catholic
World' in which he felicitously deals with many
of the aspects of the welfare work as carried on
under the auspices of the chaplains. He writes:
"Whereas before the war; the clergymen OF the
various denominations who now laborng among
the troops out in France, seldom if ever, into
close contact, they now meet frequently and freely
helping each other, and, what is more, helping the
men to the ministrations of their own priest or
minister Instead of looking at the non-Catholic
as mere compendium of heresies, the Catholic
priest generally finds him to be very courteous,
kind and exceedingly Jealous He is frankly
Protestant of course that goes without saying
lust as the Catholic is frankly Catholic. But he
shows largeness of mind and of outlook, which
has place and very exalted place, for the Catholic
and his religion"
The Protestant appeal to the indvual, he points
is strong-to his personal feeling, his adherence
of interference his love of self-determination If
he is free to hold whatever political other opinions
he chooses why should he not be free to believe
he chooses in religion? The idea OF authority is
irksome to most people even if it be constituted
and legitimate authority. But in this matter the
Protestant contends that he is the authority.
Dealing with the uniformity and system of Cath
olic doctrines, Father Aveling speaks follows ::
"The fact that Catholic Chaplans, and therefore
presumably other Catholic clergymen have always
the same answer in substance to give to the same
lie brother Chaplains with no less force that the
fact that they know exactly what to do for their
men in emergencies. And the Protestants have
come to realize, already to very large extent that
this is merely due to accepting doctrines
blindly from Rome and having learned parrot
wise, in college and seminary, the questions and
answers of kind of glori6ed catechism. They have
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