El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-27

CURELI the pope did not to include the United
y States when he put the Young Mems Christian assosa-
ZION under the ban Of the church The United States
exception @ many rules which the church applies OF seeks
to apply IL Europe Always the church in the United
States has enjoyed degree Of freedom and independence
that Is the envy OF the old world not only Of the people but
CT the clergy and hierarchy Part Of that freedom and IN
-l----1e . me result q Iolsranee' Whcn has been
eAlnPlsa not only BY Catholics IN authority but BY
protestant denominations and other church organizations
and By the people generally.
It is odd for Americans to read pronouHoeIaent like
that papal decree against the z H. c. A. and that it comes
With unpleasant jar is not be denied It Is true as
me pope says in his decree, that Catholics supporting
ne = n G A So are Jews, and agnostes, and paEans.
Take Il in 81 Pasos for example many Of the largest
buo1s 60 its Wor and most earnest participants in It's
4lle are men who are barred by the charter Of the
e-3laLion ron holding orce therein But they knew
mar when they became interested, and they IN
1asd about It NonCathocs in Fl Paso, including Jews
support Catholic Institutions likewise.
The original charter Of the first Y L. C. A. IN England
limited active direction and office holding to evangelical
Christians aTowed adherents to protestant Christian de-
nominations This bars al who profess definite ad
heence to such church vel those Who as Jews
Roman Catholics members Of other church bodies But
there Is no bar to Membership OF to participation in the
-sAons Flloua ACTIVITIES, OF 10 management short Of
the technical membership the governing board
Ihat the y H. G. A. IS proselyting body Is to
Americans. The religious side Of the not merely
entirely voluntary hut it is never forced into great pro
nenoe Satisfies show that only minor fraction Of mem
bes attend religious meetings Bible classes take any
part IN religious activities The social service idea work
for human welfare in broad sense is the that kept
to The lore and Il il this phase Of the work. the
lgloui pnas that enlists large membership and
generous financial support and personal cooperation even
more valuable than money, from each community served
It is doubtful If single instance could be found IN the
United States Of responsible z H. C. A. official engag
ing IN anCathoc propaganda attempts at pToselyng
The Bible classes readings and prayers Of sort that
could offend Christian, whatever his denominational
adherence And any who might find these activities
serTleeabe TO himself may stay away and harm done
TIE religious activities maintained because they lie at
the base Of the entire work but the work has br0adened
with the passing years and the growing need that few per
think Of the Y H. c A. religious Institution
Ht al but rather community social service institution
An this IS vel understood IN the United States The
pope nay have had in mind specific instances that
may have been reported him from European csnters
where z H. c. A. work has been going It may be that
some Catholic countries and communities the z II C. A.
has IN to IN real need. Perhaps It IS doing certain
kinds Of WeaIe work. educational work physical develop
work social inspirational work that the Catholic
church IN those countries those communities nay have
been ueglsctinE- It Is impossible to say.
But If there Is any effect to be noted on boys and
young who ought according to Roman Catholic rules
adhere strictly Catholic regicas and social agencies
i probably safe say that any change that may have
in attitude toward the Catholic church even In re-
hgous beliefs and outward obsrvances been the re-
suit not Of proseyng but the proofs Of human service
that the association has given.
One must c0ncede kind Of admiration to the cor
ateucy Of the Roman Catholic church IN maintaining It's
faith and membership exclusively IN control It admits
no shades Of meaning deTiatons IN detail no halfght
between oay and dark no private interpretations of the
articles Of belief no quest0nngs and partial acceptance
t is the way aud there uther-thst Is TIE law
j such attitude lies the source Of its strength through
the ages yet other groups have grown strong outside its
doors Humanity has sat in Judgment and only part has
accepted and sn accepts the Roman Catholic point Of view
IN many parts q Europe, protestaut has made little