The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-13
HOLY LAND BEING MODERNIZED

bourgs of our great European cities
without achieving their elegance. The
Catholics are thus exposed to unfor-
tunate examples, and the young people
are in danger of corruption through
easy pleasures.
Are they not in danger of losing
the Faith? Not, perhaps, if they con.
tinue to attend the religious schools;
but are the latter not menaced in their
have been free, but attempts at intru-
sion have not been lacking. The Brit
ish Government, as a rule, respects
this freedom, but in the East religious
struggles are singularly violent. Po-
litical questions are always involved,
and it would be we'll to place the re-
ligious freedom of our houses on firm
basis. This basis has existed for many
centuries in the form Of the capitula-
tions. The Turkish Government abol-
ished these capitulations during the
war and Immediately expelled the
White Fathers (of Algiers) and in
stalled their own teachers in their
schools. The English would never
commit an act of violence of this kind.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to make
some provision for the future in case
| the Zionists become, as they hope to,
the masters of the country. 1t is OBJ
vious that from the legal standpoint
| the revocation of the capitulations by
| the Turks is null and void. This Is
| the stand taken by France, and it is
| important that America should sup
| port this attitude. 1t is the sine qua
non for the maintenance of Catholic
| influence.
Zion Impulse Mostly American.
AS for Zionism, American Catholics
| should know that the decisive impulse
came from their country. This is an
other reason why they should consio-
er it as point of honor not to tolerate
| state of affairs which will lead to
| the dishonoring of the Church. They
| need only be guided by the statements
| of the Holy See. They should think
| especially of the fate of the native
Catholics, whose existence Is such an
honor to the Church. The French,
| Italian and German houses are not
| threatened to the same degree, as
| they always can appeal to their con-
suls and governments for protection,
and even hope to receive the same sub
| sides, although these subsidies are no
longer sufficient. But the Catholic
Missions located beyond the Jordan
are seriously affected. When the ma
| tive Catholics, reduced by poverty to
the point of selling their property ami
seeking refuge elsewhere, shall have
| abandoned the Holy Land, what will
remain for the religious to do but
pray in the desert? Already many
are leaving for America, and not
few are migrating to Syria and Egypt.
| Duty of American Catholics.
Without doubt this grave situation
| concerns France more than other
| countries, since she has always been
| the protectoress Of the Holy Places,
| and still sends her sons and daugh-
| ters to Palestine to practice the char
| ity of Christ. But would not her eff
4 forts be vastly more efficacious with
4 the support of the American Catho-
| lies? The Catholics of America can
no longer evade their duty. They can
no longer be satisfied with more or
less correct information and conflict
ing statements. They should have
their own witnesses on the spot. They
should have house in Jerusalem, and
although their pilgrims may not at
first be very numerous, they will at
least have an interest in the Holy City.
A strict duty, debt Of gratitude to
Jesus Christ, should engage them to
help, but in order that they may not
act blindly, they should come and see
the danger which threatens Jerusalem.