The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-08-24
p hops
Continued from Page II

- 40 q 0O4CllAl1 i1ICCI4lISs
whose members are divinely
constituted to bear witness
to the contents of Divine Rev
elation, the Deposit of Faith
and to enact disciplinary reg
ulation, the Deposit of Faith
and to enact disciplinary
regulations for the Universal
Church." they said.
However, the prelates said,
Bishops do bring to the coun-
Gil the benefit of their own
experience. Hence, the Amer
leans will bear witness to the
elements which have led to
the remarkable growth of
the Church in the United
States and to its generally
flourishing condition -"
THE noted
both the limitations and
strengths of the Church in
this country.
I'VE are all aware that,
relatively speaking, we are a
new and recently cultivated
part of Christ's vineyard"
the Bishops said.
1--WE cannot boast the
saints that have arisen in
Europe and even in some in
our own hemisphere. We
have not produced the num-
Der of profound scholars and
brilliant writer's who adorn
some of the older centers of
Christian culture" they
wrote.
The bishops said that us.
Catholics bear the imprint
of our past"
This imprint, they said,
rs that "of a Church which
was born and has grown to
: maturity in an atmosphere
not always friendly; which
has had to struggle almost
every step of the way to pro-
duce the institutions neces-
sary for its preservation and
development; whose people
are sprung from ancestors,
many of whom, a few gen.
erations ago, came to this
country unlettered and in
great poverty"
THE CHURCH also has
had to struggle against an
Excessive preoccup a atom
with material things and
against a public philosophy
Strongly affected by a spe-
cial kind of secularism,"
they said.
But, despite limitati o n S
the US. Church has numer-
Gus strengths, they said.
I'VE know, first of all, the
advantages which have come
to the Church from living
and growing in an atmos-
phere of religious and po-
litical freedom.
THE very struggle which
the Church here has had to
face has been responsible in
large measure for the vitali-
ty which it has developed as
it grew to maturity, unaid-
ed by political preference
and unimpeded by political
ties" they stated.
Other strengths listed by
the prelates included grow
ing enthusiasm" for the lit
urgy and spiritual retreats;
eXtraordi narily active lay
people; devotion to the
Mass; the vast US. educa-
tional system (which con-
tinually tries to improve it.
self; the growth of con-
templative voca tions; and
charitable works.
THE BISHOPS also cited
Increasing missionary activ-
tiles; and the manifesto
ton of love for our brothers
of all races and nations
which energies our Catholic
Relief Services and similar
organizations"
From the background of
such a national Catholic life,
the Bishops of this country
are confident that they will
not go to the council empty
handed.
Predi ting a successful
council, the Bishops said that
lone of the most heartening
auguries" is the recognition
that whatever is done must
be done in the spirit of char
ity, of true Christian love-"
THIS APPLIES, they said
In efforts toward the achieve
ment of immediate objec-
tives and "in the direction of
that ultimate Christian uni
ty, for which there is a sort
of universal desire"
Yet, they warned, there
should be no "eXtravagant
hope" of Christian reunion
as a direct and immediate
result" of the council.
They concluded that
Catholics have a special du-
ty to deepen that spirit and
to broaden and intensity its
practice as a main source of
Christian renewal and as a
preparation for the hoped
for ultimate reunion"
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