The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-11-25

duty of citizens to make pro-
per representation of such
judgment to their respective
governments.
However varied the above
mentioned evils, ranging from
the single act of wrongdoing
TO the moral laxity of the
mass mind, the root cause is
the same-the rejection of
personal responsibility. This
is a moral evil, as are all the
major ills that beset the pre-
sent world. As such their
cure is largely within the
power of individual persons.
A cody society is the work
of cody men. Even the most
universal evil and the threat
ened mechanization of man
can be made to yield before
the just and determined wills
of individual persons.
Our Holy Father has point
ed out the capacity of the in
dividual in the face of such
problems. Does it follow that
the process of Specialization is
impossible to control and
that. increasing constantly in
its breadth and depth, it will
one day surely reduce men
to the role of automatons?
Certainly not. For ~socializa-
ton is not the result of forces
of nature acting according to
determination that cannot be
changed. It is the work of
man, of a free being conscious
of and responsible for his
acts" Letter of July II, 1860
to 'Semaine Sociale' in Gre
noble)
In our national life we have
experienced the truth Of this
statement. Our progress has
been achieved chiefly accord
ing to the measure Of lndl-
vidual commitment to respon-
sibility. The heroes of our
history have not been blind
forces but stouthearted per
sons; our worthy national
goals have been achieved not
as a result of environment
but by men who made their
environment. A strong and
responsible nation is fashion
ed by responsible persons, not
group pressures. AS Pope
Plus XII stated: "The people
live from the fulness of the
life of the men who make it
up: each OF them in his place
and in the manner proper
TO him is a person conscious
of his own responsibilities
and of his own convictions.
christmas Message, l944.l
What is personal RESPONSE
bility in the context of mans
relation to the world? II pre-
supposes the acceptance of
ones dignity as a son of God
in whatever environment he
may be placed and the ac-
Acknowledgement of binding
moral law. II requires the
free and deliberate accep-
lance of ones obligations in
the position he occupies
in the family, in the church,
in the corporation. in the la
Dor union, in the community,
in the nation, in the family
of nations. II demands the
rule Of conscience, not self
satisfaction. II recognizes that
every deliberate action OF the
human person has a reia-
tionship with his Creator and
His purpose in creating the
world. 1t affirms that every
human action q man performs
derives its significance from
that relationship and makes
him a cooperator with his
Creator in forwarding the
Kingdom of God. II is the
solemn profession that con-
sequently every product of
his mind and his hand, every
bounty wrung from the earth
is to serve that high pur-
pose. AS man. bearing the
image of his Creator, is the
brother of every other hui
man person, his noblest work
is to bring to his fellow-man
the blessings of the destiny
intended for him by God.
1t must be emphas 2 e d,
especially in these times, that
the freedom innate in man,
as we'll as the social nature
he enjoys. demands as a cor
relative the fullest personal
responsibility. "The
every one Of US will render
an account for himself to
God" Romans IA: ~.
THE MARVELLOUS INvEN-
TlvENEss of the human
mind. conquering space and
making each man a neighbor
OF every other human being
on earth, gives urgency to
this twofold need: to main
tain ones freedom by using
il according to the limits and
norms OF rightful authority;
TO use it also according to his
social nature and he needs
of his fellow-man. "For you
have been called 10 liberty,