The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-02-24
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POPE Plus xI

The passing Of Pope Plus N is Il
matter of more than ordinary con-
eern, not alone because he was Il
great man, but also because Of the
mighty power exerted IN the world
by the Catholic church. AS intol-
erance gradually gives way To intel
ligence and Christianity the great
Catholic church will assume III the
eyes Of mankind the magnitude that
its powerful influence for righteous
ness in the world warrants.
The lies circulated about the
Catholic church 50 often resemble
those circulated about Negroes, that
this writer may have an undue SYM
pathy for things Catholic, hui not
alone on this account, within recent
years this column has striven to be
tolerant TO one Of the mightiest in-
fluesces for righteousness in the
world. ! am d Protestant and viii
remain so until the end of my days,
but this in no way blinds me TO the
good in Catholicism. The time for
tolerance Is AT hand, and the sooner
both Catholics and Protestants real
ize this fact, the sooner we can
buckle ourselves 70 the task Of mak-
ing this world d tit place for eiyiliz-
ed citizens.
More and more am convinced
that divided Professionalism cannot
compete with united Catholicism iii
its attack upon the pressing problems
of the world. More and more, there
fore, We must realize the strategic |
Importance Of the Catholic church. |
During the troublous times that are
upon US, the voice of Pope Plus was |
one Of the most positive voices for
righteousness in the last generation.
The forces Of Catholicism were AZ
ways marshalled for the cause of
peace and its program of practical
Christianity has been steadily adj
vancing. The cudgel Of dictatorship
has been lifted against the Catholic
church, but the church fought back
with a vigor and determination that
mas won the admiration Of thought.
full men everywhere.
The Catholic church Is unutterably
opposed to communism! The world
knows where the Catholic church
stands on this question. This is
salutary sign in religion. Commun-
ism's attitude towards, and attack
on, religion and the church is too
well known to need recounting here
Religion both Catholic and Protes-
LIANT have III communism the threat
Of death and the Catholic church has
accepted the challenge courageously.
Ln fighting communism the Catholic
church is fighting the battle of re-
Igion everywhere Religion must
festroy communism or By commun-
SIN be destroyed, the better for the
'ause Of organized religion.
The church's contest with COM
nunisn is no mere skirmish, but d
lnished fight bitter, bloody, brutal,
morally speaking. Then, too, the
TorId owes the Catholic church
ebt Of gratitude for putting reli- J
ion on the screen and lending dig !,
ity to the Christian ministry. For
lnately for the world and the
sreen, the minister Of the screen ii
sually q Catholic priest and invari-
bly, he ii cast in role becoming
ae dignity Of the ministry. The
atholic church has nonopolized the
inistry OF the screen, but this is J,
y unfortunate for the screen and
ligion. The Catholic church has
allied chat only respected min 4
.ry can serve effectively and 70 the
eseryagion Of this respect the re-
'soaa roles og she screen have been !.