The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-05-30
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or tneonsidsrsfs

The basic fact about man is that he is the child
of God and is made for the sole ultimate purpose of
knowing loving, and serving God, and of achieving
the fufIlment of his being, even unto Supernature,
in the endless beatitude of heaven This is the one
great truth about himself that man needs to recog
nize and act upon. In the light of this truth human
life has meaning, and goal, and pattern, and
map. Without the light of this truth, struggles
meaninglessly in the dark
In our day. ii is this basic and essential truth
about man that is almost universally ignored, and,
among the so-called integentsia almost univer-
sally denied 1t is this truth, which alone among all
the things that be humanity known, really defines
man, tells us what man Is, and what he is for. Those
who ignore deny this truth do not, in conse-
quence understand at all. Yet it is the people
who ignore and deny who are feverishy engaged in
the pseudo-sociology, the pseudo-psychology, the
psychiatry, the guidance, and all the rest of the
scientistc showing around of humanity that is the
outstanding characteristic of our age.
In word the people who know nothing what
about and mans meaning continually
telling what TO De and what to do. The people
who have understanding of where mans true good
lies, tirelessy engaged in trying to do him good
Surely witnessing the depressing spectacle of
of the blind leading the blind. And we can see a
good deal of the inevitable falling into the ditch
you take away his responsibility to God. And pres
emily you find that you have taken away his respon-
sbility TO all other agencies of control He refuses
to recognize the claim of the rootyirtue of JUSTICE
pilfering and dishonesty rampant, in high
places; watehful youth learns from adults, and we
have delinquency" Man refuses to acknowledge
the obligation of honor; his most solemn word, his
oath and his vow, worthless, as the divorce
court amply teStifies He rejects the burden of per-
sona responsibility and with it the essential requi
site for continued freedom He speaks bitterly of the
police state at the very moment when he has per-
suaded himself and his children that responsible
ity is owed to anyone anything and that the only
force that need be obeyed land this for convenience
only is the police force
Solemn sociologists inquire about youth They
want to know why young men and women (often
hatefuy called "teen-agersO 90 in so flagrantly
for delinquency for destructiveness, for drink and
drugs, for unregulated sex. They propose to set
things right by schooling and recreation centers and
housing improvements and other good things which
largely futile because the central truth and
fundamental good cannot be grasped by the modern
mind
And now the teen.agers OF yesterday are the
junior adults of to-day. They team upon university
campuses. The stalwart males among them achieve
prominence not only in athletics, but in the activities
of what entertainer has called undergraduates"
making moronic sorties sorority houses. What,
cry the sage sociologists is the world coming TO?
What can explain these mad, and sometimes Grim
ina alterations?
OF course, the socologsts soon find an answer.
They ask the psychiatrists, the lads who know all
the answers without understanding any of the ques-
uons. A psychiatriSt-teacher at Coumbias Teach
ers College appeared on television
day or so ago to explain why grown
men find entertainment in raiding womens dormi-
tnrie and off he
what is coyly known lingerie and in forth
right generation was buntly called underwear. Did
the TV CoumbiaPsy-Chi have an answer? Yes, in
deed. He was right there (as Harry Leon Wilson's
hero ssid) with mess of words"
II appears-to the Jsychiatrist in question, typ
ica specimen with the vague and halting manner
of expression usual in his breed-that the KampuS
Kutups who pant for panties in need of some
activity ito show that they are alive" They find
the instruction in classrooms and laboratory so cold
and impersonal that they require some fresh activity
to make them realize that they human beings Lo,
science has spoken! Modern Learning has let its
light shine! Oppressed by the mechanical and de
vtalizing forces OF modern college lfe the student
to regain awareness of his status member of
the human race rusheS out and steals somebody's
underclothesl simple explanation, surely, "Sim-
ple?" cried MIR. Hennessy, "sure, It's foolish"
Thoughtful and puzzled mounders of mind and
0pinion-educators, scientists, editors, and others
have, of late years been of great gap in mod
ern culture They have been striving to bridge il
with misty expressions about spiritual values" and
"transcendenta needs" They have refused to come
Squarely face TO face with the fact that needs
new, clear, strong realization of his responsibility
TO the Ultimate Authority. Man needs awareness of
his duty to know God, and to live for Him.
Nor is the simple word God accepted as an item
in ones list of useful terms of any value The seient
istic notion that Gods existence land much about
HIM cannot be known is simply false notion A
sane man, contemplating himself with his nobleSt
powers and aspiratons) and the world around him,
can, by serious study, know far more of God than
he can know of the artist whose painting stands be-
fore his gaze-and study reveal great deal
about that painter too. "The invisible things of God
(His existence and many attributes) known, be-
ing understood through the things that are made"
Human affairs are full of muddle and distress
because man is off center They will become increas-
ingly more distressing until man gets on center by
recognizing the truly central fact of his existence
the Personal God who is his Creator and Goal.