The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-11-24
Friday, Nov. "a, 1861
US. Bishops Statement

officials who are interested
only in their public image
their personal power; union
members, labor leaders, and
industrialists who place their
selfish interests above nation
al security and the common
good"
IN THE FACE or THIS
moral decline, the Bishops
said, the most obvious duty
of a religious person is ito
speak out, to make open pro-
fession of religious beliefs
and moral convictions, to re-
affirm morality as the founda-
ton of our nations greatness
and of its future aspirations"
Religiously motivated
Americans, they said, must be
prepared to demonstrate the
falseness of the claims of
scientism, the hollowness and
futility of the cult of the
image, the corrosive effect of
secularism on both the in
dividual and society"
Especially we must recog-
nize and affirm the essential
place of religion and morality
in the formation of the hui
man personality, if we are to
survive as a moral people"
THE URIC o
Americans to show by their
actions "that the soundness
OF society depends on the
principles of family life: the
unity and sanctity of mar
riage, parental duty and au-
thority, filial reverence and
obedience"
They stressed that God
fearing people must also
give testimony to the reality
and Importance of those
moral principles governing
mans wider social relation
ship"
They said that these prin-
ciples are contained in the
papal social encyclicals of the
past 70 years and stressed
that I'VE have the duty to
know these principles through
study and reading, through
reflection and prayer
THE MORAL INFLUENCE
of these social principles must
be made to permeate all of
society and its Institutions"
they continued. 1.-THE laborer
must bring them to his union
meetings; the industrialist to
the business world; the teach.
er to his class: the parent to
his home-each to the sphere
Of life in which he moves"
In the effort to rebuild a
sound religious and moral
basis for American society.
the Bishops noted, some ten
sions and some misunder-
standings" are inevitable be-
cause of the diversity of re-
ligious, racial, and ethnic
backgrounds Of the people OF
the nation.
But, they said, these differ
ences will not be "insur-
mountable barriers to nation
al peace and cooperation" so
long as Americans compile
ment justice with charity"
THIS is TRUE or THE
racial issue which continues
to rise and plague our coun'
try; it is true of other issues
which divide u.s." they said.
The statement also empha.
sized that moral responsibility
today extends beyond nationa.
barriers TO the international
community as well. Today, the
Bishops said, the new nations
of the world look to Americs
for aid and this country
must respond with materia
help, technical assistance, anC
most important of all spirit
ual ideals and spiritual lead
ership."
I'VE must inspire these ma
tons wherever possible Il
build on a religious and mora
foundation if we are to con
tribute significantly to tn,
achievement of their nation
al aspirations" they declar
ed.
Meanwhile" they continu
ed, 1--WE must be willing I,
open our hearts. and on.
homes to those who come [,
our shores; to make room 70
them in our schools and uni
i.