Evening star., 1920-02-21
PASTORAL LETTER
TO THE CATHOLICS
DUE TOMORROW
Message From Hierarchy to
Be Read in Churches
Throughout Country.

l. fIH UuSttUul OOtisiu y.
/ Twenty million Catholics of the
United States tomorrow, will hear the
first pastoral letter from the hier-
archy of the Catholic Church in this
country to be issued in thirty-tive
Years. Il is signed by Cardinal Glib
bohs on behalf of 10l bishops
throughout the country and is the
( virtual history of the progress of the
+ church from 1881 to 1920. 1t viii be
read tomorrow in every Catholic
church Of the country
in lsSt. following the gathering of
me third plenary council IN 8aIti
more, such a letter was issued to the
tnen I.t0o.GGo members OF the church
tafdl nal Gibbons is the only survivor
OF the seventy-siN bishops who signed
'hat JOINT pastoral letter.
| 'arfous Topics discussed.
among the principal topics dis
cusSed IN the review are the mar
rage ana divorce question, the educa-
tlonal problem. Catholic societies war
activities, lessons of the war social
ana Industrial relations foreil-fr mis-
| Siohs' reorganization. the needs of the
| iioiy see and the national shrine. which
Is 10 De placed in this city in honor of
'He immaculate conception
Preamble Quoted.
Inc letters preamble reads as fol-
contents:
"Thirty-fve years have eiapsed
since the fathers of the third plenary
couhcii OF Baltimore addressed their
pastoral letter to the faithful of their
/ Shafge- TIE interval has been mark
sd by events of far-reaching import
for the welfare of mankind. The
greatest of these, the world war. is
nnaiiy ended. And now that God, in
MS mercy. has restored the nations
70 peace. u is Hitting that We offer up
pra'Se .ra Sc ana thanksgiving to Him for
the dressings which He has bestowed
on the church at large and especially
the ehurch in our country.
Ihe progress of the church under
r9pes Leo NH. Plus and Benedict
he work of the laity is given.
Says America Ended War.
The letter gives to America the
| credit for ending the war;
We went into the war and ended
1t, the letter states. I'm any mate
| rial sense. we had nothing to gain
we fought to make the world a bet
Ter place for all mankind. In pro-
Claiming our purpose we held up our
country and its institutions as the
nope OF humanity. The pledges we
gave must be redeemed AS our holy
father Pope Benedict declares. the
American people, retaining firm hold
on the principles of reasonable lib
erty and of Christian civilization, are
destined 10 have the chief role in the
restoration of peace and order on the
basis OF those same principles. when
the violence of these tempestuous
days shall have passed
Declarations on Other Subjects.
The letter also claims that divorces
make for the degradation of mar
riage.
Regarding Industrial disturbances
the letter declares:
1T is an error to assume that the
issues involved are purely economic
They are. at the bottom, moral and
religious. Their settlement calls for
clear perception of the obligations
which Justice and charity impose.
In urging their respective claims.
the parties apparently disregard the
fact that the people as a whole have
prior claim. The first step, there,
fore. toward correcting the evil is to
insist that the rights of the COM
munity shall prevail, tfat law and
order shall be preserved and that the
public shall not be made to suffer
while the contention goes on from one
mistake to another"
Extracts From Letter.
Extracts from the letter are as
follows:
Catholics will do their full share
toward the complete restoration of
peace. With one mind and heart they
will labor for our country's advan-
tage. AS their patriotic efforts were
united to such good effect through
the National Catholic War Council
we have determined. for the ends of
peace. to maintain the spirit of union
tional Catholic Welfare Council.
Under it's direction our needs and
problems in the several fields of edu-
cation and social reform will be care
fully studied. Means will be taken to
secure and publish correct informa-
ton on all matters affecting the
church and Catholic life. The work
of our organizations will be develop
ed and directed toward the fuller at
tainment of Catholic aims
in this regard we cannot refrain
from expressing our gratitude to the
holy father for his unfailing counsel
direction and encouragement. partic-
ularly in his recent letter to the bish-
ops of the United States, in which he
commends most cordially to our Cath
Ollie people the happy completion of
the national shrine of the Immaculate
Conception at the National Capital, as
a noble monument of our love for
Mary Immaculate, the celestial pa
troness of the church in the United
States and the glorious queen of
peace
We have thus set before you. dear
ly beloved, the more striking features
Of our situation, its opportunities and
most urgent needs. We have ind-
Gated the principles which must shape
and develop our Catholic life in order
that we may render effectual service
to the church and to our country.
Let us once more remind YOU of
two essential duties. The first. that
you continually offer up prayer and
supplication for all men, beseeching
the God of Mercies to direct their
hearts in the way of peace and con-
cord. The second. that you show forth
in your own lives, in your homes.
yOur social intercourse and your deal
ings with others, the beauty of our
Catholic faith. it's power to strengthen
the soul in trial. its efficacy for the
accomplishment of the duties which
charity and justice prescribe,