The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-07-08

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ened farther To encompass
Jews as well as Christians.
But why do so many entertain
suspicious, if not hostility, to.
ward us Catholics?
The principal decisive fac
tor unquestionably was the
Protestant Revolt Of the 18th
Century. Mistaken the lead
ers were in quitting their an
estral fold; yet recent Catho.
lie writer's have softened the
harshness of prior judgments
of them as individuals.
FOR ITS PART the Presby-
terian Church, U.S.A., has
stricken from its creed the
traditional damning of the
Pope as Christ" The
findings Of scholars, however,
are long delayed in reaching
the majority of mortals. Mean
while doubts and distrust Of
Catholics by their neighbors
do not vanish.
To exaggerated nationalism
may be attributed much of
the blame. Love of country is
indeed a virtue but-in the
words of Theodore Roosevelt
mo man is a true American
who hates another country
more than he loves his
own"
All Christendom recogniZ-
Ing the Pope as supreme head
gave way to political section
ing embittered by religious
friction. Often. unjustified,
popular fancy persisted in
f%ashioning credal molds for
nations or peoples. A North
German or scandinavian was
presumed TO be Lutheran,
while a Frenchman or a Span
lard must belong TO the Cath
Ole Church.
Geography preserved the
separation for three long cen
turtles. In this era of jet mo.
bility how difficult it is to
realize that most people new
er ventured more than walk
ing distance from the place
where they were born. Misbe.
liefs about distant and I'm.
seen Catholics assumed the
rightly of the language spok-
en- or the number Of fur.
rows to an acre.
IN SCOTLAND the cxtermi-
nation of Catholicism was
much more complete than IT
ever was in England. Con-
Torrance to the church estab-
lished by Henry VIII never
approached total realization.
and there were Catholics
during the darkest days of
suppression. The valiant Cath.
olics who persevered were
not considered allies by the
multiple English dissenters.
With their own opponents
within the Anglican Church
these separatists found - TO
repeat the words OF Bishop
England about the United
States "a common ground
upon which the discordant
camps can meet and bend in
amity."
Physicists teach that a GER.
tain amount Of heat or energy
Is lost in transmission. Not so
with Old World anlmosity to.
ward Catholics That it was
frequently intensified rather
than reduced or mitigated
will be seen in later articles.
EVEN TO THIS DAY, the
consequences are felt. The
eminent Jesuit, John Court,
ney Murray, has said that we
are all in some way the
product of our histories. Red
hair or blue eyes may be
ours from an unknown great
grandfather. Likewise the hos
tility expressed by some fel'
low-Americans may have been
unknowingly inh erited by
him. Through kindly explana.
ton we may help him cast
off a garment unDecomlng &c
his citizenship.
Fortitude and patience are
not contradictory virtues, ano
the American Catholic of 1860
may have frequent occasion
to call upon his reserve Of
both qualities. Because of thu
possibility of personal advan
tage, statements by living fig
.nres If whateuer nrnminencI