davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-12-03
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Torch of the World
BY DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

NOAi6ICoo LllJ CIdNclo dCTOoO
the Nation suggest a new ap-
plication of st. Paul's words,
Il have learned in whatso-
ever state I am, there to be
content" From the teeming
East. across the mountains
and the plains to the expand
ing economy Of the great
West, and southwark to the
romantic ways of New Or
leans. one impression fairly
shouts its insistence. That
emphatic verdict is that the
Nation. in its emphasis, is
turning from an almost hys-
terical fear and hatred Of the
Communist commotion to a
grim determination to get on
with the American Revolu-
ton.
There is a new proclama-
ton of a positive creed that
the greatest event of the last
200 years is not the French
Revolution, or the Soviet
Revolution, but the American
Revolution. AS the fortunate
heirs of American democracy
look with grateful eyes at
their birthright there is a
new realization that the in
spring symbol of the COM
mon man is not an en-
balmed Lenin nor a debunked
Stain, but an heroic figure
who belongs to the ages
Lincoln - who, in eloquent
phrases, gave the prescription
to keep Government of the
people from perishing not in
just one geographical area.
but from the earth.
The emerging and quite
changed attitude on the part
Of increasing multitudes
means that instead of a ma
tional posture of clenched
fists raised against some
thing evil, the hands of con-
vinced and unafraid patriots,
in the spirit Of 1776, are hold
ing aloft something - the
starry banner of the Ameri-
can Revolution.
That flag is being lifted
aloft with the burning con-
viction that the wave of the
future is not symbolized by a
red flag. but by one which is
red-white-and-blue!/
In intelligent and informed
minds there is no diminution
in disgust and recoil so far
as the American attitude to
the enslaving plots of Mos
COW and Peiping are con-
cerned. But there is every
where a growing realization
that it is not enough to see
red every time anywhere in
the world collectivism and to-
talitarianism shows its
blighting hand. The thing
that will prevail at last over
regimented tyranny with its
ball and chain is a vibrant
positive democracy based on
a brotherhood that practices
equal right for ala democ-
racy in which We believe more
strongly. and love more deep
ly, than we hate commu-
niSm. The free world with al
its resistless strength will ul-
tirnately destroy the foul
growth of atheistic regimes,
not merely by denunciation
of the things we deplore, but
by marching with the blaz-
ing torch of the things we
are for.
In this new day, under all
skies, uncounted millions are
demanding their share in the
more abundant life. There il
being made more clear to al
the world the amazing reve'
lation that with all its imper'
fections the American Revo'
luton has produced the high
est level of living for more
people than the earth ha!
ever before witnessed. Whar
Evening star., 1961-12-03
FROM THE STAR FILES,

lens that beset the Govern
ment. it was not one of Lin
coins best literary efforts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Wider Horizons
For Obligations

In rebuilding a sound re-
ligious and moral foundation
for America, a special difficulty
arises from the varied
character Of our society. Since
we are a people of many re-
hgous beliefs, Of diverse racial
and national origins, there will
undoubtedly always be tensions
and some MISUNDERSTANDING,
But these differences will not
constitute insurmountable bar
riers to national peace and CO.
operation if we are faithful
to the moral principles which
are the foundation Of our ira
ditions-pa particularly if we COM
plement justice with charity.
This is true of the racial issue
which continues to rise and
plague our country; it is true
Of other issues which divide us.
Our moral responsibility,
however, transcends the limited
circle of our individual lives
and the combining borders of
our country. Our interests and
our obligations are worldwide
indeed our horizons are no
longer confined to this world;
they have been projected into
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

/ stage, screen and television; ;
in the disclosures Of greed and
cynicisrH in government, labor
and business; in the stubborn
continuance of race prejudice
and injustice: in the multiple
cation of divorce and in the
rapid disintegration Of the
family: in a harsh and pagan
disregard of the sacredness Of
human life concealed under the
mantle of science.
This present moral deterio-
ration cannot be interpreted as
a mere temporary relaxation
Of standards which will be fol-
lowed by the sort of moral re-
form past experience would
lead US to expect. The con-
ditions we face are unique;
for them, the past gives neither
precedent nor guide. Many men
are questioning and often de-
nying the objective distinction
between good and evil and the
ability of human reason to
know with certainty what is
right and wrong. They are
cutting themselves off COM
pletely from moral traditions.
For the first time in history
they find themselves without
q moral law to break.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
.ATHouc BISHOPS STATEMENT
The Foithfu Are Called to Fight MoroI Deterioration

Catholic bishops of the
United States at the close of
their annual meeting here is
sued the following statement.
Tt iDdS signed in their names
By the Administrative Board
Of the National Catholic We'll
fare Conference.
Few nations Of the world can
look back on their historic
origins with such justifiable
pride as the United States.
That pride. in large measure,
finds its justification in the
high moral principles which
guided our Founding Fathers in
laying the foundations Of our
Government and in launching
this Nation on its history. Our
first legal documents, the Dec
laration of Independence and
the Constitution with its first
10 Amendments, marked us
from the beginning as a Nation
committed to the principles of
the moral law.
Those principles and the
religious beliefs that underlie
them continued to guide our
people in their national de-
velopment. At a time when our
country was emerging from
infancy into vigorous youth,
De Tocqueville, in his still
widely read Democracy in
America" said: Religion in
America takes no direct part in
the government Of society, but
it must be regarded as the first
Of their political institutions. I
do not know whether all Amer
leans have a sincere faith in
their religion but I am
certain that they hold it to be
indispensable to the mainte-
nance of republican institu-
tions."
Later, at the end Of the 18th
century. when our country was
entering upon its maturity, an
other European observer, James
Bryce. still could write: "Reli-
gion and conscience have been
a constantly active force in the
American Commonwealth i
not indeed strong enough to
avert many moral and political
evils, yet at the worst times
inspiring a minority with a
courage and ardor by which
moral and political evils have
been held at bay and, in the
long run, overcome"
In the present century 1t was
not without a sense of moral
duty that the United States
became an arsenal of defense
against totalitarian aggression.
a storehouse to feed the hungry
and starving world, q Samari-
tan helping defeated enemy
nations to rehabilitate them
selves in peace. The history of
our country has been generally
infused with an ideal based on
moral principles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Sense of Mission
More Essential

At present, when America is
beset by so many Illustrations,
when there are so many temp
tations to despair, all who be-
lieve in God have the special
duty of keeping alive within
their own hearts and within
the hearts Of all free men a
true and undying hope. Our
hope viii not be for a Utopia
Iof material wellbeing, al
though we do look forward to
a world in which science and
technology will be used to the
full in eliminating needless
poverty, hunger and disease,
Nor do we expect a world in
which all will be morally and
socially perfect.
Our hope is for a world in
which men, imperfect though
they be, will accept the reign
of Coda world in which the
principles of the natural law
and of the Christian dispense
ton will be recognized as the
norm of moral judgment and
the basis of the social order
Should such an order take hold
on the world Of today, there is
not a single problem, no mat
ter what its magnitude, which
would not admit of a reason
able and, on the whole, a sat-
iSfactory solution.
Above all, the Christian to-
day must have a profound
sense of mission, which will
cause him to bear witness to
his religious faith and his
moral convictions as the early
Christians did by deed anC
affirmation. even by de eth
Such was st. Pauls program
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Evidence Points
To Moral Decline

The time has come to con-
fess, however. that our ma
tional ideal no longer rests
upon a foundation of broad
and solid popular morality.
Ignorance Of moral principles
and the rejection of the very
notion Of morality are on the
rise today and threaten to I'M
dermine our Nation and its
most sacred traditions.
The evidences of our moral
decline are everywhere to be
seen: In the alarming increase
in crime, particularly among
the young; in the sensational
treatment of violence and sex
uality in literature, on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Almost All Touched
By Moral Apathy

The result of these trends
has been. even among those
who have not rejected moral
principles. a widespread moral
apathy which touches practi-
cslly every group: Citizens who
are not concerned enough to
exercise the right to vote;
elected officials who are in
terested only in their public
image" their personal power;
union members, labor leaders
and industrialistS who pla C e
their selfish interests above ma
tional security and the COM
mon good. Harmful as these
weaknesses are, our acknowl-
edgment of them can give no
real comfort to our enemies.
It is the American tradition
to look at ourselves. to examine
our conscience, to reappraise
our moral position. In a
dictatorship this is impossible.
In a democracy it is a con-
slant necessity.
Both apathy and amorality
certainly run counter to the
American tradition. Because we
have been a moral people, it
has been characteristic of
Americans ultimately to be
guided by moral considerations
and, even in periods Of laxity,
to respond vigorously to moral
appeals. Our best traditions
have been based on moral prin-
ciples and ideals. We must re-
main true to them. We mem
bers of the household of the
faith have a special obligation
to promote them. What, then,
are our particular duties in the
face of present conditions?
In today's world, our most
obvious duty is to speak out,
to make open profession of re-
ligious beliefs and moral con-
victions, to reaffirm morality
as the foundation of our Ma
tons past greatness and of its
future aspirations. We must in
deed be prepared to demon
strate the falseness of the
claims of scientism, the hollow
ness and futility of the cult
of the image, the corrosive eff
feet Of secularism on both the
individual and society. Espe-
cially we must recognize and
affirm the essential place of
religion and morality in the
formation Of the human per-
sonality If we are to survive as
a moral people.
But over and above all this,
the temper of the times de-
mands that, by our words and
acts. we bear personal witness
to the existence of moral prin-
ciples grounded on religious
belief. In a world in which in
dividual obligation is being de-
MED, we must show the reality
Of personal responsibility .
transcendent responsibility to
God for all acts and attitudes,
personal accountability for self,
for family, for community, for
Nation. In particular, our
teaching, our influence and our
conduct must show 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.
AS God-fearing people we
must not only bear witness to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

that denies God and makes
sport of the moral law. From
positions many of them oc-
cupy in schools and univer-
sites. in literature and
journalism, with all the mod
ern media Of communication
at their command, they sue
coed in impressing their doc
trine on great numbers of mis-
led minds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Present Atheism
Is Different

The reasons for this moral
revolution can be aScertained
at least in part. Just as the
high morality Of our early
history found it's strength in
religion. so now the rejection
of morality finds its most basic
cause in the denial of God.
Here, too, is something quite
new. In the past there have
always been men who for vari-
Gus reasons have denied the
existence of God. But the
present atheism is different.
Now not only do many act
and live as if there were no
God to whom they are re-
Sponsible, but a steadily in
creasing cumbersome indi-
'Viduals of great influence =
proclaim the nonexistence of
God to be a scientifically
established fact.
The consequences Of such
an attitude are unacceptable. If
human life has to be re-
organized on a new basis. Many
modern men find themselves
without God and religion, on
a lonely eminence of their own
making. left to create their own
moral values, forced to deter
mine for themselves what is
good and evil. right and wrong.
In their newly proclaimed
independence, modern men
have tended to place their
main reliance on physical
science. While the enemies Of
religion and morality have at
tempted to make science the
principal weapon of their at
tack, actually science itself has
no part in this warfare.
Science" says one of its most
eminent scholars, DR.. Vanne-
var Bush, docs not exclude
faith .. science does not
teach a harsh materialism. 1t
does not teach anything be-
yond its boundaries, and those
boundaries have been severely
limited by science ITSELF"
But many who have taken
science as their creed and their
cult do not share the humility
of the scientist. With invin-
chile self-asSurance and with
an air of unchallenged au-
thority, they teach a scientism
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

the uncharted seas of space.
In its earlier years, our Ma
.tion-young in its freedom and
confident in the nobility Of its
democratic ideals stood as an
inspiration to all those who
suffered in bondage and hoped
for freedom. Country after
country, encouraged by the
success of cur endeavors, threw
off their shackles and asserted
their independence.
Millions flocked to our shores
as to the haven Of freedom
and hope. Now. in our more
mature years. the newer ma
tons and some Of the older
impoverished ones have looked
to us for material help and
for the most part they have
received from us a ready re-
Spouse. But particularly
the emerging peoples-have
needs that go deeper than the
requirements for mere material
help. They want more positive
evidence of our understanding
They seek a recognition of
their dignity, both individual
and national. They crave the
knowledge and technical skill
which will enable them to help
themselves. They need the
vision which comes from faith,
and spiritual leadership.
Our own freedom sprang in
large measure from religious
and moral sources. We must
inspire, even help these ma
tions wherever possible to build
on a religious and moral
foundation if we are to con-
tribute significantly to the
achievement of their national
dSplI dJlOilS.
Meanwhile, we must be will
ing to open our hearts and
our homes to those who come
to our shores; to make room
for them in our schools and
universities; even to send our
own sons to their lands to as
sist them. All these things we
must do, not as mere counter
moves against communism,
but for their essential right
ness, as expressions of our
highest principles: Love of God
and love of neighbor.
Because we have so often fall
tered in our course, and be-
cause the Communist nations
have profited by our mistakes
to inspire false ideals and to
awaken glittering but barren
hopes, we must not be discour-
aged, imagining that our hour
of opportunity has passed. 1t
has not passed. The hour of
greatest opportunity is striking
now, as the forces of freedom
and Of tyranny grid for a de-
cision. Americas strength, be-
slowed by Divine Providence,
has been given for this hour
that freedom may not fail.
The exercise of our national
strength, in order to achieve
its true purpose, must be guided
by those principles on which
our strength was built. We
must apply those principles in
both national and international
affairs. We shall be worthy of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
Moral Focus
Is Distorted


Toward the present moral
decline, the modern media have
done more than supply instru-
ments for the spread of un-
belief and moral revolt. Al
though the communications
industry through many sincere
and admirable leaders has
made valuable contributions to
human welfare, yet it has also
inflicted on the modern world
a pernicious cult of the
image" Submerged beneath
waves of publicity from image
makers" and hidden per-
Suaders" modern man tends to
become a victim of the image.
Whether a thing is true is less
important than the impression
it creates.
Mans moral focus is
distorted. For nations as well
as individuals the all-im-
portant thing is the image
that is projected on the minds
of others. The rosy deception
is rated good if it succeeds
in selling more products. in
winning more votes, in con-
vincing more taxpayers.
Popular education also bears
a measure of responsibility for
the decline, and rejection of
moral principles. At first, there
was no intention of excluding
either religion or morality from
the common tax supported
school. But the diversity of our
religious pattern and the ris-
ing pressure of secularism have
produced the school without re-
ligion, and it was idle to sup
pose that this school could long
inellcate in American youth
md al convictions which would
be firmly held.
The result is that our soci-
ETY. is now faced with great
numbers Of young people al
most completely devoid Of re-
ligious belief and moral guild
ance young people who are
causing increasing concern at
every level Of the community
and in all parts of our country.
Beneath these present trends
and pervading all modern So
ciety has been the influence of
Secularism the Punishment of
God from public and private
life and the enforcement of
human nature in His place.
Born in the enlightenment" Of
the 18th century, deriving its
great impetus from the French
Revolution, adopted and fos-
tered by 10Th century liberal
ism, it became and still re-
mains the principal character
istic of modern society. Under
its influence, men may not per-
haps deny God; on formal
occasions, they may even mem
ton His name. In practice,
however, they simply ignore His
existence.
They do not openly reject
moral principles; they may
even pay them lip-service. But
they disregard them or reduce
them to hazy generalities. In
general, the only sanctions they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

those principles governing per-
sonal and family life; we must
also give testimony to the
reality and Importance Of those
moral principles which govern
mans wider social relation
ships. Pope John has recently
reminded all Catholics of this
obligation. THE social teaching
proclaimed by the church, he
tells us, cannot be separated
from her traditional teaching
regarding mans life" The
norms Of justice contained in
the great social encyclicals of
the Popes during the past 20
years are vital moral principles,
Just as are the principles of
individual morality. We have
the duty to know these
principles through study and
reading. through reflection
and prayer. Nor can these
principles be allowed to lie
idle.
Social norms Of whatever
kind" says Our Holy Father,
ARE not only to be explained
but also applied. This is
especially true Of the church's
teaching on social matters,
which has truth as its guide,
justice as its end, and love as
its driving force"
The moral influence Of these
social principles must be- made
to permeate all Of society and
its institutions. The laborer
must bring them to his union
meetings; the industrialist, to
the business world; the teacher
to his class; the parent, to
his home each to the sphere
of life in which he moves. Only
in this way will each religious
person become involved with
his fellow-citizens in construct
ing a public philosophy" based
on a frank acceptance of God
and the moral law.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

Of action; such, too, was st.
Augustine's. Like Paul, we face
a world largely paganized. Like
Augustine, we see the encroch-
ment of barbarism. Like both,
we must be dsuhtless in pro-
claiming Christ.
In this way, We shall be true
to our Christian duty in pre-
serving Gods moral order as
mans standard Of action. Only
in this way shall we preserve
the religious and moral tradi-
tons in which our country was
born and without which our
country cannot survive.
Signed By members of the
Administrative Board, National
Catholic Welfare Conference, IN
the name of the bishops Of the
United States
Francis Cardinal SpeIIman,
Archbishop of New York;
James Francis Cardinal Nc
Intyre, Archbishop of Los
Angeles;
Richard Cardinal Cushing,
Archbishop Of Boston;
AlOisius Cardinal Muench,
Roman Curia;
Albert Cardinal Meyer, Arch-
bishop Of Chicago;
Joseph Cardinal Ritter, Arch-
bishop Of st. Louis;
Karl ]. Alter, Archbishop Of
Cincinnati, chairman;
John F. Dearden, Archbishop
Of Detroit;
William E. Cousins, Arch
bishop of Milwaukee;
Lawrence ]. Shehan, COad-
jutor Archbishop of Baltimore;
Emmett NJ. Walsh, Bishop Of
Youngstown;
Joseph NJ. Gilmore, Bishop
of Helena;
Joseph T. McGucken, Bishop
Of Sacramento;
Allen J. Babcock, Bishop Of
Grand Rapids;
Albert r, ZurOweste, Bishop
of BelleviIIe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

world leadership only If we are
willing to pledge our lives, our
fortunes and our sacred honor
in behalf Of the right.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

recognize are those supplied by
individual taste. public opinion
and the power of the state.