The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-01-26
Our Opinion
S
Extremists

A persistent question raised by many of our cor
respondents is: What do you mean by extremists and
who are they?
AT THE RISK of provoking barrage of incendi-
airy mail we should like to outline what we under
stand by this term in an objective and charitable man
ner. We employ the label extremist" as describing a
type of person rather than an organization, since
there are always exceptions in particular associations.
Such men as Savonarola in Church history and
John Brown in US. history would appear to be
examples Of what we mean. Their basic error was over
simplification and the idea that if ones cause is right,
any means is justified.
IN n PRESENT context of the fight against
Communism we would cite the Boston Pilot which
said "In a world as complex as ours, simplification
can be a vice, and sincerity is no excuse for exag-
geration." And the Kansas City Catholic Reporter: eff
we can't fight Communism with truth, the battle
doesn't have much point; we're already lost"
WE WoULD CALL extremists, individuals or
groups of individuals who:
i. WoULD DEAL WITH INTERNATIONAL dis
puteS In black-and-White terms, e.g. solve the Berlin
situation by giving the Russians 48 hours to get out
of East Berlin.
z. ACCUSE U PRESENT and past leaders not
of error but conspiracy and treason, e.g. President
Roosevelt deliberately sold us out at Yalta.
3. EMPHASIZE THE DANGER of domestic sub
version almost to the exclusion of the Soviet threat
on a worldwide front.
a. ABE AS COMMUNIST opinions and views
that most Americans consider as legitimate, if con-
troversial, political attitudes, eg. federal welfare pro-
grams.
,. IEFND ~ @F1AK1E lHulVluudIS WIN CMe ldDel
"Red", Pro Communist, "ComSymp" without
foundation, eg. the area man who called those who
are promoting Sunday Closing Laws Communist"
&. BORROW TACTICS and methods from the
Communist party in exposure of personal faults, in
harassment, and in exerting economic or social pres
SureS, e.g. recently a Columbus man was forced to
move to another city because of charges made against
him to his employer and his ~neighbors when he
eSpOuSed an unpopular cause.
7. lMPUGN HI SINCERITY and honesty of those
who disagree, and with Catholics, even challenging
the theological orthodoxy of their priests, e.g. quoting
out of context to support ones side.
IF ANYONE FALLS into the c~ategories detailed
above we call him an extremist who is likely to do
more harm than good.
We lament the situation among Catholics where
it is all too common for one to attack another on both
his loyalty and his religious principles. We shudder at
the prediction of Prof. Alan +. Westin of Columbia
University who says 'the 1905 may see an even
deeper division of American Catholics into warning
theological factions" We condemn extremists on the
right or the left who would deepen this cleavage.
WE YIELD TO NO ONE in our opposition to Com
munism but will only fight it in accord with principle.
We invite corrections of our views and dissent with
our opinions if done without abuse and insult. Free
and open discussion with due regard for the other
mans integrity is a means Of finding truth. -GAF.