The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-16
Fother CouehIin's Voice Needed to Ster
 Risinq Tide of MoterioIism

dred years, the enemies of holy scripture have developed series of presumably scientific arguments tn order to break down mans faith m @ Creator and his hope for eternal reward This Is the aim of the in- fidel who in building his material istic school ordains by the princi- ples of his logic to drag man down from the lofty pinnacle of divine origin, and to degrade him to a mere animal.
 What has the Christian world done to defend itself against this surge of infidelity? What has the Christian world done to check or destroy the causes that directly en- tices and welcomes Communism and inildelity? Practically nothing Certainly nothing effectual. Oh, dear bishop, fear that you guardians of Christianity are relying too se- renely upon the promise of Christ That Ills Church would endure forever, and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against It." Why wait to endure the struggle for ad- vantage? Ought not the horrid spectacle of. Russia, Mexico and Spain be 0 sufficient example of the waiting policy? Be not hearers Of the Word, but doers of 1t also." By neglectlng to become doers of the word today, we hand 1t down as an imperative obligation to some fu. ture generations of the faithful to shed their blood in defense of the blessed privilege of being able to stretch forth their hands towards the extended arm of Christ.
 In this troubled world conditions have changed and will yet change, with amazing rapidity, and the growing impulse of unrest and un- certainty will one day suddenly manifest itself, in the sullen minds of men, for still greater change Would that that change be for the best. It will be for the best, If the maggot of un.Christian practice that has burrowed itself into the fiber of our social life be removed This parasite of the social order will be removed If men and women ot fraternal Christian vision be allowed to occupy the field of thought. Il will never be removed If shallow minds be permitted to operate as our guide and counselors. Shallow minds whose only gift Is a vibrating tongue, who, unwilling to abandon the bleak philosophy of their an- cestral heritage arc content to live only in the present, agitating them- selves by condemning others--nevei offering a constructive idea, ob- structing the natural progress Of as sociates, fault -finding to a degree oi mania---always looking for at least the second place. at the table, and jealous of the personal attachments of men who possessed the courage to face the realities of life, and tc give articulate sense to their vision Such is the activity of those who lacking in natural attainment strive by subterfuge to make 1t appear as though they had 1t. When those in authority rid themselves of such false counselors and advisors their burden will be lighter and their path straighter.
 Tn e certain figurative sense Christianity is today in the garden of It's Gethseinane and It's leaders those foresworn to guard and pro- tect 1t, are asleep at the gate. In Q certain sense our age is a parallel oi the age that witnessed the Crucifix- ion. DO I exaggerate? Is my as sertion unfounded? Let the optimist view the acts of a timid, compromis- ing priesthood, out of tune with the spirit of unity and justice promul' gated by the Founder of Christian ity. Let the optimist view the rank and file of the leaders amongst oul dissenting brethren, and point ou' for me the one who dares to raise his voice against the evils Of the vested interest. Let the optim!s' step outside of his sphere for Q mo- ment and take a glance at the in' side of the materialistic camp Of in. fidelity that has sprung up al around us and he will soon convince himself of the necessity of study ing the schemes and doings or mer who have defiantly cried out that priests place is in the pulpit. Lel the optimist, for moment, descenc to the lower strata of intellectua life and view the brutal logic oi the free-thinkers of factory, farm.