The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-07-22
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or lneonsiders's

Now that the All Star Baseball Game has been
and lost the nations eyes swivel from Mil.
waukee to Geneva We shall have word and picture
as the high advocates assemble, each with his own
strong body-guard Among the boys who will ex-
plain things to us will be +. r. Morrow, otherwise
called The Voice of Doom. We shall be entertained
and enlightened
There is something about the meeting that Sug
gests cartoon published away back,-Oh, all of
fifty years ago-whiGE pictured two rival politicians
with their right hands clasped in apparent agree
ment and friendship; but each mans left hand was
behind his back, and in each left hand was half a
brick
Naturally, we all hope for great things from the
Conference. We had better pray for them too One
need not be pessimist to think, at this iuncture,
Of the lines:
But since the affairs of men rest still Uncertain
Let's reason with the worst that may befall"
The worst that may befall is that the West will
be bamboozled again by the Reds. 1t is tribute
to the character of our leaders that they assume
a fundamental human decency in Soviet representa-
tives; however il is not much of a tribute to their
inteiligence-nor to their memory of events of the
past few years. Let us pray that they may have
only the simplicity of doves as they seek to lure
the dove of peace to a permanent perch.
Geneva suggests 20 the Catholic mind the great
St Francis de Sales who was once its Bishop IT
also suggests to any mind the cold and alien logic
of Calvinism. II suggests the ineffectveness of the
League of Nations II suggests the dubious effective
ness of UN. In of the CalvaniSc churches Of Ge-
neya Monsgnor Ronald Knox found himself sensibly
aware Of The Real Absence,
Peace is sought. On one side at least il is
sought by those who have specifically adjTed all
connection with the Prince of Peace. Well we may
hope for something from those who have not re-
jected Him, But il must be confessed the Christian
outlook and expectation of the freedomloying
delegations is not very srticulate.
Who hath forsaken the ways of the Lord and
hath found peace? In the councils and conferences
of our generation there has been extremely little
consideration of the Lord and of His ways. And
extremely little peace has come from them. 1t
takes strongly deermir ed will to hold to the
hope that something looking towards peace will
come from the Summit meeting. Does one cling
10 the Lord and His ways by thin reference to
spiritual yalueS?" Is there sound allegiance to the
Lord il the rare and hasty mention of His name?
Without Christ the Prince of Peace men can
do nothing. That is a truth diyinely revealed, and
spoken by the lips of Our Lord Himself. 1t is only
by the ardent prayer of all Christendom that we
can bring the Prince of Peace To the Geneva delib-
eraonS And He will be blocked out if possible,
by the athestic communists with whom our repre-
sentatives will exchange the amenities.
There is terrible word in the Holy Writ about
the crying for peace where there is no peace. Can
there be peace in the hearts of atheists? Can there
he love of peace in hearts wholly dedicated TO world
domination at any cost? Can there be peace in
minds of wholesale murderers and oppressors of
the poor, who are shielded from penalty only by
their high position in totalitarian state?
Reasoning with the worst that may befall is a
gloomy business. The most roSeate of Spectacles
does little TO brighten scene that is too Red
already There is much in all the high statesman
ship now in full gear that suggests graSping at
sraws and building palaces of smoke
Certainly only Gods power can bring anything
good and lasting out of the Summit meetings And
that power will be exercised according to our
hearts true desire and persevering prayer Not
the delegates al Geneva but honestly religious
people at home will be the human instruments of
anything worthwhile that may be accomplished,
our business is not merely to look at teleyison
reports and listen to radio We might dispense with
all that and nothing would be lost What we have
TO do is to take upon us the of prayer and
penance, When atheism ieerS at delegates
the conference table there is need Tor us to re.
member that "thiS kind is cast out only by prayer
and fasting"
II matters, really, not at all what measures and
programmes presented to the delegates That
is, il does not matter which wise schemes are form
ulated in the effort To win the approval of Russia
For in all honesty, that is what the western
delegates have as objective: to get something past
the shrewd and inhunan guard of the Reds high
purpose! Talk about htching your wagon to a
star! Yes. the Red Star. And if We are not careful,
the Red Star will shoot back to Moscow, carrying
wagon with it,
No il does not matter what schemes are offered
or considered II matters. only that people who
know that this human crisis is in Gods hands turn
by prayer and sacrifice and renewal of virtue,
10 lmplore His infinite mercy and power to shape
he nlcnme according 10 His will.