The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-09-10

ing him in the name of all my
brothers in the Clergy and in your
name, The members of the various
employee and employer groups
here represented"
1T was just sixty years ago tnat
Labor Day became a National Holi-
day the Bishop recalled. Three
years before, Pope Leo XIII wrote
his Eneyclical, 'Rerum Novarum',
which applied to the conditions of
the working man at that time and
which applies equally to the condi-
tions Of today"
1T was in this Encyclical," the
Bishop pointed out that the Pope
outlined the very responsibilities
that our speaker has noted this
morning"
The full text Of Father Carney's
address follows)
Ii has become a somewhat tradi-
tional and standard procedure. my
dear friends, on the occasion of
this annual Labor Day Mass to
praise those who, historically and
currently, are associated with the
growth and development of the
labor movement here in the United
States. This praise from repre-
sentatives of religion is richly
deserved and / have no intention
this morning of detracting from it
in even the slightest measure.
/ do sincerely believe, however,
that something more than praise
can be offered you on an occasion
such as this, something perhaps
more sslutsry than the inspiring
praise you have so often heard
from this and many other pulpits
of the Catholic Church throughout
America This annual Labo DAY
Mass, it appears to me, affords you
an excellent opportunity to medi-
tate upon your endeavours in the
field of workers organization in
the light Of Christian conscience
and the teachings of your Church.
which has ever evidenced grave
concern over the material, moral
and spiritual fortunes of the multi
tudes you represent in the area of
economic and social life.
In a true and fitting spirit of
Christian charity. therefore, let
us think this morning not so much
of the rights of organized labor,
which are heralded high and wide
throughout the United States to-
day in impressive ceremony, but
rather of the duties and RESPONSE
hilities of organized labor in the
perspective of Christian ethics and
the morality of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. A discussion and proclama-
tion of the rights of individuals
or groups always arouseS an audi
ence to attention, whereas a care
full edict of duties and responsible
ties often creates only apathy and
even sometimes an unfavorable re-
action.
orsanizsd labor by its status
in American life today, however,
must evidence as much concern
over IFS responsibilities as il does
over ifs rights, for this attitude
is essential TO the aeeeptsbiIify
and survival OF organized labor
on the American scene and a.
the same time a Fundamental
principle OF action, il the Ameri.
can labor movement is 10 merit
the quslifiestion OF being
Christian in its future and in
its past.
abstain, therefore, this morning
from the customary praise of your
heroic efforts on behalf of the
workers of this country, only in
the hope that, by placing before
you again your deep responsible
ties, you may be encouraged on to
even greater accomplishments in
the light of the dictates of a Chris
tian conscience, a real motivating
force for good in human activity.
trust, then. that in your mature
judgment you will accent my words
in the sense in which they are in
tended and that | continue TO be
counted friend of Labor, while
seriously speak of your duties ra-
tner than of your rights.
Labor unions admittedly we're a
long time coming into their own
and in attaining status on the
American social scene. American
business and public opinion lapsed
long behind the natural law in this
regard, only grudgingly according
workers the God-given right to or
ganize which Christian ethics and
morality so clearly emphasized.
Historically the Wagner Act was
delayed assent to natural and
Divinely implanted tendency of
man, the worker.
Having now won recognition
from the law and continuing to
win public approval, it would in
deed be a tragedy to jeopardize
these gains by failure to accept
and fulfill responsibilities that ac-
company this winning of status.
Organized Labor, in my opinion,
has reached a point of maturity to-
day in American economic and so
c.aI LIE ard With Ahls r,naEa1.-,tsr