The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-11-21

Even more alarming are the eff
forts to create a monopoly of edu-
cation for a secularized public
school. To one who cheriShes the
American tradition, it is alarming
to hear all non-public education
denounced as divisive. Not all diff.
ferenceS are divisive, and not all
divisions are harmful There are
political and social differences and
divisions which are simply mani
festations 0f our fundamental free.
dom. The differences which are
harmful to our country are those
which diVl Il our people in their
duty of loyaltv patriotism and
eCod citizenship. Education of chill
dren in schools under religious aus
pIces has no such effect. On the
contrary, the religious instruction
children receive in such schools
i3culcates the duties of loyalty
patriotism and civic service based
on love OF God. of neighbor and of
country sducation that is truly
delicious is then a unifying rather
than dividing force.
Particularly difficult TO under
stand is The attituee OF some few
Tho, while occupying positions of
leadership ia various religious
groups, yet. in almost every ques-
ton involving The influence of
religion in public life and educa-
tion, throw the weight of their in
fluence behind Secufarism. In the
days when Communism was posing
as a new and advanced kind of
democracy, some of these persons
were loud in their praise of prac-
tically everything that came out of
the realms of atheism and tyranny
Now that it is no longer fashion
able to regard Communism as 9th
er than the avowed enemy of our
own country, they indeed main
tain a discreet silence on the sub
ieet of COmmunistic virtues, but
they still throw the weight of their
influence behind such totalitarian
movements as an all-embracinp
state controlled school system and
education completely devoid of re.
ligion Although they often lay
claim to the title of Christian, they
are rather devotees of the pseudo
religion of progress; and they al
ways think of progress in terms
OF materiaistic or Secularistic evo
luton. Consciously or unconscious
ly in eliminating the influence
of religion and in working for the
absolutism of maiorit vote. they
are promoting the disintegration OF
those social institutions whose
foundations are in releion-free
dom. equality, human dignity, the
stable family, ard that eonStitu
tional democracy which has beer
characteristic of this country
lrrelision Our Real Danger
The real danger TO our country
comes not from any division like
ly to result from religious educa
ton or profession. II comes rather
from the threatening disintegra
ton of our social life, due to the
weakening of religion as con
structive force. With he decline
OF religious belief the increase q
divorce and family disintegratior
has become national scandal
With the breakup of the family
juvenile delinquency has showr
an alarming increase. Consequent
upon the weakening of religion
there has been a lowering of mora
standards which has resulted ir
public corruption-and this in turr
threatens all respect for law anC
public authority. The imminen
threat TO our country comes no
from religious divisiveneSs bu
from irreligious social decay. Tn,
truly religious man is certain Il
be one who treasures all thos,
ideals which religion helped I,
build into this nation, To the MAJ
who is lacking in religious belief
nothing in the end S likely TO b,
sacred, nothing worth preserving
I'm that direction lies the real dan
ger 10 our country.
Fundamental Obligations OF
Religious People
Although there have been man,
evidences of the weakening OF re
ligion among our people, in recen
. times there have been unmistak
) able signs of a renewed religion
interest. The number of religion
: books which have attained wild
I circulation. the frequent seriou
i discussion of religious topics in tn
$ daily papers and influential perioC
G icals. the reported increase ever,
: where in Church attendance. tn
Y frequent and effective use of radi
Z and television for religious pr
t grams-all these are encouragin
o signs. Moreover the vitality of T.
e religious tradition in our Countr
d has recently been attested by til
Supreme Court, when in its maio