The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-04-17
WHY A CATHOLIC COUNCIL

AS everyone is aware, activities
of the Catholic Church in this
country are now represented by
the National Catholic Welfare
Council. 1t is not equally clear,
however, to all as to just what
the Council intends to accomplish.
This object may be condensed in
few words: the fostering and
promotion, the strengthening and
solidifying of each and all the
Catholic activities in our country.
AS to the need Of such an organi-
zation it may be we'll to glance at
the scope pretixcd by the Protes-
tant sects through the lnterchurch
World Movement of North Amer
lea.
This coalition Of thirty denom-
limitations plans an ecumenical
campaign of evangelism during
the next five years. TO finance
this program the sects have
pledged American Protcstants to
provide the staggering sum of
1,320,O00,0OO. Of this sum more
than three hundred and thirty six
million dollars is to be subscribed
in 192O-practically in a week S
time-and $175, 100000 Of this to-
tai is to be available at once.
Contributions to this titanic
fund are expected from about fiji
teen million members of the scctS
cooperating i'll the campaign, and
from the tifty-eiGht million Amer
leans who, according to Protestant
figures, are identified with no re-
li"ious organization. 1t will be
seen, therefore, that this religious
campaign will depend for it's sue
cess upon the money and energy of
a following that is several millions
less than the Catholic population
Of continental United States.
The Baptists are to collect the
largest amount, in round figures,
$141 100000. The Prcsbytcrians
will seek $S6,OOO,00O. the Mctho-
dists. $43,000,0O0. The Disciples
Of Christ, who number slightly
over one million members, will
gather more than $12,OO0,OOO,
which is more than ten dollars per
capita. Other denominations will
raise even larger proportionatc
sums.
The disposal Of this vast fnan-
cial power is interesting. About
one hundred and eight million dol
lars will be appropriated from this
years budget alone for foreign
missions. Naturally enough, this
Protestant offensive will be di-
rected against Catholic lands. Not
only the heather at home and
abroad, but also perfectly good
and loyal Catholics in France, Bel
GUM, Italy, Mexico, and Central
and South America are to be
"cvangelized."
The Missionary Review of the
world (Protestant, speaking in
support of this Interchllrch World
Movement, has the following sig
nifcant remarks:
A most delicate and difficult
part of the program of evangelism
is that which must provide for
carrying the Gospel message to the
women Of Latin America. The
women of the cultured classes are
very exclusive; those Of the mid
die class spend their lives largely
in the seclusion Of their homes !;
and the women of the lower class
are interested only in the things
to which they are accustomed in
the daily round Of their lives. The
majority of the women Of all
classes are religious, and arc a
powerful force which is holding
many of the men to the Roman
Catholic Church.
In view of these few facts it is
well for our Catholic people to
realize the aims Of the work
mapped out for it's efforts by the
National Catholic Welfare Coun-
Gil.