The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-01-04
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Ineonsidsrsfs

TO person blessed with the Faith, that u.s. to
anyone of the supernatural truths which alone
throw clear light upon the natural world, there is no
amazing mystery in the fact that often wide differ
exists between human profession and human
practice. Man. says the Faith, is made in Gods i'm
age but man blurred the image by sin Consequent
y, although capable of almost boundless perfecting
human nature is perfect in this world; 1t is
always capable of wrongdoing, and inclined to IT,
even in the face OF knowledge of what is right The
dark doctrine of original sin throws essential light
upon all the problems OF human conduct
Moral philosophers and social scientists who
ignore the doctrine of original sin--and by their
attitude give striking illustration of its truth
are forced to of two false theories to account
for human action. Either they regard man as wholly
good needing only free rein to evolve into the
perfect rational animal or they look upon man as
hopelessly vile, requiring nothing so much as com
petent police force Neither of these theories will
square with the facts of experience and of history
for neither is true But the non.C Christian moralist
socologst, politician educator, of every age swings
like pendulum from one Of these opposed theor-
les TO the other never suspecting that truth is not
in either extreme but somewhere between,
John c. Calhoun one OF our greaest political phil
osophers was at first follower of the Jeffersonian
ideal of naturally selfperfectng human nature 1t
required long experience of active politics to dis
illusion the great South Carolnian. From his point
of no return" he abandoned his sWeetly trustfu at
titude towards his fellowmen, and regarded all po-
litica doctrines and movements with frank suspic-
ion Man instead of being wholly trustworthy TO
move ideally towards what is best of all was entirely
unreliable and could be counted TO drive for i'm
mediate personal and material gain, matter what
evils this course Of contact might bring upon the
community
Ii was distressing to Calhoun. as it is 10 many,
TO find high-soundng theory contradicted by base
practice. II was disheartenng to find men appar-
emily devoted to their country and mouthing the
most sweeping dedication to its welfare, framing
practical programs that must manifestly destroy the
country And yet even Calhoun had TO acknowledge
that not all these men hypocrites; indeed as
he was fuzzlly aware, most Of them and perhaps
ALL convinced that they had the true welfare
of their country at heart and that their practical pro
grams would ultimately prove beneficial to its prog
ress
That man in private public life may per
suade himself to believe that what he wants. and
what will bring him personal material benefit Is
what the country needs, is proof sufficient TO show
that evils are not exclusive product of bad wills
they are also the fruit OF muddled minds Only the
Christian sees clearly how this may be. He under
stands that in the beginning man did something
which "darkened his intellect as we'll as weakened
his will Because Of this original sim the wish il
father 10 the thought" Because Of It. man may
persuade himself that what he Immediately wants
for himself is what is right for everybody
Even giants of mind are not immune 10 thi
darkness and weakness imposed by original sin ant
deepened by unreasonable practice. The great Dan
iel Webster was generally accepted as man o
highest social and political ideals and of purest in
tention,--certainly he regarded himself in thi
character Yet can be convinengly shown that Dan
el Webster was a potent advocate and defende
Of Big Business" il can be shown that his effor
rath tu
The general interest of the Union
While it is true that actions speak louder thai
words that what a man does reveals his deepes
convictions and purposes more truly than anythin
he says, IL must not be supposed that disagree
ment between profession and practice means bss
hypocrisy The fact of original sin explains this ma
ter. And nothing else explains it.
Old Doctor Johnson was enough of a Christis
TO understand the matter When person remarl
cd that no man could actually hold sacred the prii
eipes of morality without living up TO them, tn
Doctor turned angrily upon him and asked him ho
he could be so ignorant of human nature"
to suppose that mental conviction must be surrei
dered 10 weakness and failure in conduct At late
day Arnold Lunn was to sum the point UP in III
terse saying, "Credo means L believe not / b
have"
There should be- OF course complete agreemer
Di cDnuufl WIN conNlGuOn Inc content OF AfEu
is meant to be tho norm Of behavior. Credo shou
extend its meaning TO conduct; but even when
does not and until ii does, II still may mean qui
sincerely and unnypocritcally what it says; ar
what II says is 6" believe" Belief that is not tran
lated into action may not deserve high respect; b
is TO be treasured none the less, for at any mome
it may become the course of action and the shaper
endless destiny Belief in truth is certainly not to
abandoned because 4 man does not act IN harmon
with II.
II may sound pleasant TO tell people that man
naturally selfperfeetng, that in following his no
he is making true progress. This is the mistak
principle Of our progressive education and or
complete blindness TO the social history of mank
can convince the mind that here IS progress a
not retrogreSsion and ruin To acknowledge origir
sin is distasteful to the pride which committed
= in the first place but such acknowledgement
the facing Of truth and the turning of light upon
the dark and mysterious phases Of human condu'