Evening star., 1953-09-06
The Week in Religion
By Religious News Service

0y NSH9lVuS NEWS SSIVICe
Labor Day messages pointing
up the concern of ma ajor Ameri-
can church bodies with the well
fare of labor have been issued
by the Nations top Protestant
and Roman Catholic organiza-
tionS.
Both the Protestant state
ment, approved by the general
board Of the National Council of
Churches. and the Catholic mes
sage. issued by the Department
of Social Action of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference,
pointed out that labor's position
has improved greatly in recent
years and labor-management
cooperation is on the increase.
Almost every branch of the
Christian church now recognizes
the important social contribu-
ton of the labor movement, I"
said the National Council state
ment.
Important Christian Vocation
But although churches gener-
al1v acknnwledpe the value of
the labor movement, churchmen
should appreciate to a greater
degree that leadership in this
movement is IAN important
Christian vocation" it added.
The Catholic message viewed
the improved position of labor
as a corollary of a general shift
in social outlook that has beer
taking place slowly in the
United States in recent years.
In the past, it said, too much
stress was laid. in our economic
life, on personal rights and
strength, at the expense Of hu-
man brotherhood.
But now, said the statement,
"are beginning to re-
cognize the importance of and
the relationship between the
personal dignity Of the individual
on the one hand and the
brotherhood of man on the
other"
Good Beginning Made.
Although too few Americans
have rejected the old ideas Of
exaggerated individualism, it
there is reason for "qual-
flied gratitude and realistic op-
timism" because a good begin
ming has been made.
The Catholic message said
that, despite recent advances,
still faces serious eco
ncmic problems" foremost of
which is how to avoid another
major depression when the cold
war ends.
This problem is not insoluble.
it declared, but will require "the
greatest possible measure Of in
telligent and unselfish co-opera-
ton on the part of all of us"
Given such cooperation, the
United States can expect a con-
tinued expansion of it's national
economy and further improve
ment in living conditions, the
Catholic leaders said.
Cooperation Cited.
They note with approval such
examples of increased labor
management cooperation as
more mature" collective bar
gaining and a growth in profit
sharing schemes and joint pro-
duction committees.
Employer-worker cooperation
also was cited in the National
Council statement, which said
thousands of labor contracts
are negotiated by union and
m a ma g m e mt representatives
each year without bitterness or
strikes, and with regard for the
public interest"
Unfortunately, the Protes-
tant declaration went on, "these
settlements are rarely featured
in the newspapers, while strikes
are headlined. Fair settlements
arrived at through free and
honest bargaining by men of
good will open the way to a
better economic and social life
for all people,"
Urged To Raise Sights.
Although the NCWC state
ment praised the level of CO.
operation already achieved by
labor and management, it said
that they must be encouraged
to raise their sights beyond the
plant or the company level to
the industry level and to the
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