The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-01-08
A New Machine?

When the historians OF the coming centuries
bring themselves to the task of labelling present
age for ready reference in their files and books
they will be torn between several terms all of
which fiji, like glove Should they call it material
istc, chronological or secularistc? Maybe they
will come up with some hyphensted threeheaded
monster embodying parts Of all three words Or
even more
Whatever they choose they will be correct
If things don't change In fact If things don't change
maybe the historians will be spared the trouble
of fitting words to Maybe the Would-have-been
historians win be sitting in the rubble playing with
their toes
The civilized world has within itself the poten-
tialities of selfdestruction Man now, in his
wars wreak havoc of such kind that few years
building and reconstruction will never erase
The facts have been placed before US, not by
wild-eyed aarmists or scicnce-fiction writers but
by coldly sober scientists stating what they know
not on conjecture but proven fact. Man can
one may say, might destroy civilization
we know It today If there is another war.
This possibility is so tremendous and terrfy-
ing that il takes on the spectre of unreality. II is
so aweful that cannot bring himself to face
it without conscious effort and determination
Man having reached some sort OF summit in his
scientific endeavors is faced with available
forces which bid fair TO engulf him. Science opened
the door-seience will never alone restrain the
captive.
In Inc midst OF the darkness one voice cries
out again with the only possible solution to this
staggering problem In a warning heard around
the world Pope Plus XII in his 18th Christmas
message to be addressed to the world emphasized
that true peace can never be found IN materiallSm
but rather is thing of the spirit
Standing at the dizzying height of scientific prog
ressy the Pope offers the way down to the plain
of safety-a common plain which all men can
stand as equals Let man think that the means
used TO raise the world to It's great peak. echnol-
ogy. will ever be able 10 save il from crashing IN
skaters.
The Pope sees gray vision Of still unsettled
Europe" and other regions Of the world and sadly
proclsms "the present state of affairs VIII not
improve unless all nations recognize the common
spiritual and moral ends Of humanity, unless they
help each other to attain them. and, as conse-
quence unless they mutually agree to oppose the
causes Of division reienine among them in the dis
crepancy of the standard Of living and productivity
Recognize the spiritual and moral ends Of
humanity When will men take this eminently easy
answer To a problem that is 50 complicated that
il has nations trembling and their people despairlne?
Many TODAY think science do anything
and place all their hope for tomorrow In the lab
oratory of today.
Our HOLY Father nraised proper chronological
progress as he has always done. But he warned
of "the excessive and sometimes exclusive esteem
for what is called progress in technology This
was the cause above all else which the Holy Father
pointed 10 making the men of our time blind
and insensible 10 the Divine
This chronological spirit which is haunting the
world today gives birth to the idea that there Is
materialistc answer to everything and every prob
lem and this is the spirit which threatens to be
come the rule of conduct oi certain busy peace
agents and the handspring of their pacfist policy
the Pope
What The Pope is saying Is this With all the
wonderful machines that man has today, and he IS
the first to admit that there arc many such won
derful devices there is not nor will there ever
be machine which will grind out peace.
The Popes message has been carried around
the world. In no country has his voice not sounded
at least TO the leaders. God grant that II will not
only be heard-but Needed.