The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-10-28
An Editorial:
Meeting Opposition

With election only eleven days off, we have been
told a new wave of anti Catholic propaganda will
sweep across our country beginning October 30, which
is observed as Reformation Sunday in most Prot
estant churches.
A few considerations for Catholic citizens might
be outlined as a course of action during this period.
!. WE SHOULD EXERCISE selfcontrol and kind
ness and not judge the motives of those who oppose
the Church. We shall not accuse them of malice, even
though it is hard to believe such continued opposition
is the result of ignorance in this day and age. Let us
charitably set it down to misguidance, and our prayer
should be: Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do"
2. A NEW ATTAcK will doubtless be occasioned
by last Sundays letter of the Puerto Rican Bishops
condemning the philosophy of the Popular Demo
cratic Party in that country. We ask our readers,
please, to read that story in this issue and the COM
plete text on page 8. Much will be gained simply
by getting the facts. To our knowledge the complete
letter of the Bishops has not appeared in print in this
area.
3. THE LETTER REFERRED to is an historical
fact. 1t has been written. But let us look to the reason
why it was issued. The Puerto Rican Popular Demo
cratic Party for some time has opposed the clergy and
promoted legislation contrary to the moral law. The
Bishops admonition was occasioned by a statement of
philosophy published by the Popular Democratic Party
as a paid advertisement in the newspapers of the
island.
The timing of the Bishops statement is similar
to the situation last year when the US. Bishops issued
their statement on the Population Explosion" con-
demning current fallacies in that matter.
The Puerto Rican Bishops clearly state they do
not want to impose Catholic doctrine or practice by
law. They point out however, that the Popular Demo
cratic Party has no right either to impose by legisla-
ton such immoral practices as abortion, sterilization
or birth control. There is a difference between civil
authority tolerating such things and legislating them.
a. THE CHURCH, CONTRARY to the opinion of
the Puerto Rican political party, not only has the
right but the obligation to speak out against anti
Christian and immoral PHILOSOPHERS, no matter who
proposes them. This is not a mere political difference,
it is a matter of morality, and is similar to the con-
demnation of the Communist Party in Italy.
S. 1T IS REGRETTABLE if condemnation of i'm
moral PHILOSOPHERS makes Catholics unpopular, but
where evil is present the Bishops cannot be silent. The
Church is the divinely established teacher and de-
fender of Gods truth and must oppose those who
would destroy truth regardless of consequences. His
tory shows she has run the risk of losing an entire ma
ton to the Faith as happened in England under Henry
VIII, rather than allow the sacredness of marriage to
be destroyed.
6. WE HouLD BE GRATEFUL for the oppor-
tunity to explain Catholic doctrine and practice in the
present situation. Fair-minded non-Catholics will see
the truth of our position if we present it clearly and
temporarily.
?. THIS IS A TIME for greatness for the Church
in the United States. 1t is a time for Catholics to
stand up and be counted. What we do now will have a
great influence on the future of Catholicism in our
country.