The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-11-11
Counsel to the Catholic

In a recent talk, Pope Plus XII called upon
his listeners 10 he aware to be consistent and TO
be militant. 1t Is of utmost importance that each
of us heed the Holy Fathers counsel. Mental
tszness must be overcome and the Catholic must
be eager to learn more about his Church-her
teachings her practices and her enemies. Pro-
fessions of belief must be put into action so that
each individual becomes apostle OF truth and
takes place beside the Church in her struggles
rs we'll as in her victories A. sharper concept OF
oneself as a confirmed soldier OF Christ should
be visualized and heroism developed accordingly
that each may bear Christ with courage into
every sphere of human life
These three qualities need to be developed
today ss seldom before. The Catholic must recoR-
nize that he is living in an age when propa-
sandists are seeking to destroy reasonable
approach tn and an open discussion OF issues.
self-styed experts, selflabeled intellectuals and
even self-appointed Interpreters of the words OF
the Holy Father are among us. They do not
want lis TO study the facts for ourselves, to exer-
else our own intelligence or to draw our own
conclusions for they propagandlsts; they
demand that we accept their propaganda bllndly
and desist from seeking the truth. We must be
aware too, lest the propagandlsts confuse us.
We must beware of speci0us arguments We must
adhere In reasoning and logic One Of the most
common tricks of the propaganda is to build up
o strswnan, a figment of his imagination that
have us believe represents those who do not
accept whatever he tells them. The aware Cstho-
lie will not take the caricature as existing In
reality merely because it has appeared IN print,
but he will subject it TO the yardsiek OF fact and
reason and reject 1t as a lie If 1t does not con-
form 10 the truth.
The Catholic must not only be consistent him
aef but must also look for consistency In the
propaeandist before accepting his claims. On
matters outside the realm Of faith and morals,
he must maintain his own views with the Chris
tan spirit Of humility and he must demand that
the propaRandist who seeks to influence him 90
likewise II the propaganda Is intellectually
arrogant II he refuses to admit any other than
n ne-eyed view of an issue, if he constantly
resorts to bolstering his position by quoting dig
ntaries because of their position without refer
ence to their authority in the field under dis
eussion, he is not acting consistently with the
virtue Of humility. He may be charitably dis
missed as duped pressured, inculpably Ignorant
or simply vain, but his views are not TO be
accepted without scrutiny.
Finally, the Catholic must he militant in the
fight that Christ's truth prevail among men. The
greatest enemy OF the Church today, Com
munism has not attempted TO nfiitrate among
Catholics openly. Its tactcians knew this would
he futile after the solemn warning OF Pope
Plus XI that mo one who would save Christian
civilization may colaborate With tCommunisml
In any undertaking whatsoever" But the old
feminist instruction to confuse and divide was
stilI available TO weaken the Catholic front.
Mindful of this the Catholic must be militant
not only in defense of the Churchs teachings
but in defense of right reason that division and
confusion may not prevail among us. He must
approach a controversy fortified with facts and
logic. savored with Chrst'S charity He must
In the spirit of true Christian humility constantly
remind himself Of the words OF His Eminence,
McTu nui he tfufh tPta In
us, there is no greater power than that"
Brooklyn Tablet