Evening star., 1947-11-17
Key 10 World Peace
Seen in Bishops Plea
AGAINST SecuIarism
FroternoI Community Held
Possible on Bosis Of
Catholic Declaration
Rn Dnuid Laurence

The words of President Trumans
message to Congress should inspire
hope in a distraught Europe. They
NAV convey to an America reluct-
ant to make unprecedented appro-
priations the imperative needs OF a
war-devastated continent overseas.
But the area of receptivity would be
much wider if the spiritual founca-
tions of governments and peoples
throughout the world were more
secure.
To this end is dedicated note
worthy statement Just issued by the
Catholic Bishops of the United
States after their annual meeting
here. which with minimum OF
sectarian doctrine presents maxi
mum of social truth.
II the words of such a state
ment could be taken to heart by
individuals everywhere, irrespective
of their theological beliefs or creeds,
the whole world might be trans
formed into a truly fraternal COM
munity. Marshall plans and United
Nations organizations would then
have a better chance to carry cut
their ideals and objectives.
Avoids Taking Political Sides.
What stands out in this remark
able document is the implicit style
of expression which avoids taking
sides on specific pieces OF legisla-
ton and emphasizes instead in
simple laymen's language the broad
principles that can guide us in the
life of the individual, the economic
order. and the international COM
munity.
There will be differences OF opin-
ion naturally as to how these prin-
ciples can be applied, but the Catho-
lie bishops declaration does not
attempt to tell Congress or the
representatives of party or faction
how they can best interpret their
duties and obligations under God.
Quotations and excerpts are an
inadequate substitute for the text
of the whole statement but some
extracts may suffice to give the tone
and spirit of the declaration:
mo man can disregard God
and play a mans part in Gods
world, Unfortunately, however. there
are many mcn-and their number
is daily ncreasing-Who in practice
live their lives without recognizing
that this is Gods world. For the
most part they do not deny God.
On formal occasions they may even
mention His name. Not all of them
would subscribe to the statement
that all moral values derive from
merely human conventions. But
they fail to bring an aWareness OF
God into their thought and action
as individuals and members of
society. This, in essence Is what
we mean by secularism.
Return to God Held Needed.
"Secularism does away with ac-
countability to God as a practical
consideration in the life of man
and thus takes from him the sense
of personal guilt of sin before God.
1t takes account of no law above
man-made law. Expediency, decency,
and propriety are, in its code, the
norms of human behavior.
The moral regeneration which
Is recognized as absolutely essential
for the building of a better world
must begin by bringing the indi-
vidual back to God and to an aware
, ness of his responsibility to God.
when disregard of his respon-
rioi1i+1r |n +I,o fNr
get his stewardship and the social
function of private property, there
comes that irrational economic in
dividualism which brings misery to
millions. Helpless workers are eX-
plotted; cutthroat competition and
antisocial marketing practices fol-
low. When men in labor organlZa-
tions lose the right social perspec-
tive, which a sense of responsibility
to God gives, they are prone to seek
merely the victory of their own
group, in disregard of personal and
property rights.
"Atheistic communism, for a time
thrown into alliance with democratic
nations through Nazi aggression
against Russia, stands out plainly
today as the force which, through
violence and chicanery, is obstruct-
ing the establishment of right
juridical order in the international
community. That is plain for all to
see. But Thoughtful men perceive
as we'll that secularism, which over
the years has sapped the Divinely
1t ! 11t; L, los
bears a heavy burden of RESPONSE
bility for the plight of the world
today"
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