The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-06-19
Just Among Ourselves
Posing Comment consiasred or Ineonsidersfs

ication At least subscriber to the editor
for an explanation And the editor was bit crusty
about it.
The editor said that the Holy Father had sent
representative to the coronation of the Queen
and that services for the Queen would be observed
in all Catholic churches in England Hence said the
editor ii is clear that there is nothing out of line
with Catholic Action in printing the Queens pic
ture on the front cover of Catholic magazine.
This editor likely studied the art and science Of
logic long ago. probably he has forgotten.
The Holy Father is the Vicar of Christ He is also
the political head of the state of Vatican City He
has diplomatic relations with governments and
heads of governments His representative at the
coronation was political representative. Indeed
this representative made quite sure that people
would not mistake his function as religious he
did not enter the Abbey,-as he might have done
without scandal, Catholic may enter
nonCatholic church for funeral of a friend but
remained IN specially prepared place outside while
the politico-rellgous service was going on.
That services are conducted in Catholic churches
for the head OF the government is nothing new nor
startling nor does this fact have anything to do
with the publishing of pictures the cover of Ca
thohc magazines We all pray and pray publicly for
the President, Governors of States and other public
officials. But do not set up these officials in
pictures, otherwise as personages identified with
statesmen personally. impersonally, or officially
without any implication of heresy. We cannot do
that with England's Queen
The head of the British Monarchy is the head of
tho Established Church. She swears soemnv 10
God TO uphold "the Protestant reformed religion"
She stands in the place and office of those who but
generation or since took blasphemous oath
against the Mass against idoatry. Elizabeth the
Queen might have been given place on the
OF any magazine. even Catholic missionary maya
zine, without any offence other than that of good
judgment, if she were only Elizabeth the Queen
But she Is also Elizabeth the head of an anti-Ca-
thohe religion. And il certainly is an offence 10
Catholics for a magazine devoted to the spread Of
the Catholic religion TO give honored place 10 the
photograph of who is officially and by oath an
opponent OF that religion.
We must leave entirely aside all considerations
that can be called personal or perhaps the better
word is emotional. Elizabeth has won the hearts"
as the papers say OF almost all the people certainly
of almost all Americans. The human race loves
lord and the great democratic heart of America
never beats faster than when IL have glimpse
of royalty. Besides. all America loves heroes and
heroineS. We must have somebody TO be Americas
sweetheart" whether ii be Mary Pickford or Shirley
Temple, Grandma Moses. We are particularly
susceptible to feminine figures in the political field
witness the place in public affection of Margaret
Truman and Mamie" Eisenhower.
We all like the new Queen of England She is
perSonabe, modest, dignified without being stuffy
She Is calm and capable She is kind and considerate
without condescenson. She represents decency good
home life motherly and witey affection without an
overpuS of Sentmenality. In her personal life and
in her public official capacity she appears to be
always interested competent and full of good com
nonsense. Therefore, Elizabeth II is highly
esteemed
But when there is question of her position as
head of the Church of England as by law established
we must entirely omit from consideration all these
pleasing things, and fix attention solely upon the
fact that she is the head of church. And il is
an antiCathoc Church. the Queen opposes, and
by oath promises still TO oppose the Catholic Church
Therefore II would be just reasonable TO put upon
The front cover of a Catholic magazine the picture
of Henry Vlll, or, for that matter, the picture of
Martin Luther, OF John Calvin as TO print there
the picture of Queen Elizabeth H.
We wonder what the editor of the offending
magazine would say to Justify picture of Henry
VII lie could say much more than he has said
Tor the picture OF the new Queen For the Pope did
not send representative 10 Henrys court; he had
cardinal living there and high in the affairs of state
And OF Bishops no end even after the trouble; good
but mistaken men like stephen Gardiner. And there
Catholic church services for Henry all over
the place Yet OF these things would Justify In
Nalhonc eyeS,~-eNen the ewes OF an editor OF mis-
sonary magszine-the printing of Henry's picture
in the most honored place Catholic magazine can
offer.
one thinks here Of something Arnold Lunn men
toned IN one of his first books written after his
conversion. He said that young woman. discussing
what more elearsighted generation called morals
but which modern people like TO call social relations
remarked that marital infidelitv could not be so
bad because many nice people practlSed il, The
fact that people are nice is an excuse for any
thing they do. Lunn replied that there must have
been good deal that nice" about Judas, or
the other Apostles would not have tolerated him.
That England's young queen is nice has moth
ing to do with the question We here discussing,
What We say is that she is. In undoubted fact as
plain her undoubted queenship, the head Of
on.Catholic and an antiCatholic church. AID that
surely eliminates her from Catholic consideration
when IL comes to printing pictures in on Catho-
lie magazines, missionary other
The editor SAYS erisply TO his correspondent, In
the future do not confuse prejudice with principle
He ought to hang his illogical head in shame. Let
him IN future, not confuse emotionaiism with prn-
cpe.