Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-17

4 z
Catholic Bishops Of this Nation
noted in their statement of
1913: 1T would be inconsistent
to promote a world reconstruc-
ton in which all nations, great
and small, powerful and weak.
would enjoy their rights in the
family Of nations, unless in our
own national life we recognize
an equality Of opportunity for
all our citizens and are willing
to extend to them the fun ben
efits Of our democratic insti-
tutions.
"In the Providence Of God, /"
the Bishops continued, there
are among us millions of fellow
citizens Of the Negro race. We
owe to these fellow citizens
not only political equality. but
also fair economic and educa-
ltional opportunities, a Just
share in public welfare pro-
jects, good housing without ex-
ploitation, and q full chance
for the social advancement Of
their race.
When given their rights in
fact as in law, they will prize
with US our national heritage
and not lend ear to agitators
whose real objective Is not to
improve but to destroy our way
Of living"
The sense Of mutually so
keenly felt by the Foundin g
Fathers must not be dimin-
ished by tensions between
early corners and later immi-
grants; between groups Of diff
ferent religious or nationality
backgrounds; between manage
ment and labor: between polit-
ical parties and even between
the partiSans Of contrasting
political PHILOSOPHERS within
the same parties. We welcome
and wish to encourage the
trend, which we deem provi-
dental toward emphasis on
the things which unite in mu-
tual love and action.
Strongly operative among us
Is the aspiration to establish
justice. The courts must MAIN
tain vigilance against proce-
dures which offend this cardi-
nal virtue Of the decent society.
But the people must be vigi-
liant. too. lest the courts, how
ever unconsciously and with
whatever lofty intent. annul
the original determination that
ours be q government Of laws,
not Of men.
Our courts must see that the
law Of the land is so interpret
ed as to be free from undue in
fluence Of particular schools Of
thought. 1t has best served the
American tradition when the
law reflects q community con-
sensus or common understand
ing Of what is best to achieve
the common ends Of justice.
Equity and Charity
To insure domestic tranquil.
ty requires not merely the or.
der Of justice but q cohesive
spirit made organic by the life
giving virtues Of equity and
charity. In addition to sound
laws and Just courts, we need
the vital influence Of q free
pulpit. and q highminded press
and theaters-all capable Of ele-
waiting public taste and dis
posed to do so-in q word.
drawing all the agencies Of q
free society to clothe with the
living flesh and blood Of moral
ity the otherwise stark skeleton
of legal justice.
When the common defense
was first spelled out 1t meant
hardly more than that which q
disciplined military and vigi-
liant police could provide. In an
age Of aggressive ideologies. not
less perilous to the common
veal than invading armies or
marauding pirates. the national
defense Is increasingly q mat
ter of intellectual education
and spiritual formation.
We face q deadly menace to
the truths by which we are
made and kept free. To meet
this danger. and conquer 1t, Is
q work that should be done in
cooperation among all educa-
tional, religious and SCUM dly
patriotic agencies.
Promotion of the general
welfare has given impetus to
institutions and programs in
which church, state and pri-
vate philanthropy have vice
with one another in wholesome
rivalry to serve the human per-
son In every need. Differences
Of opinion are expressed among
Us as to ways and means to
meet the detectives bound up
with our general welfare" but
on the nature Of it there Is
substantial agreement.
At the moment, the general
welfare calls for increased at
tention to the complex problem
presented by Juvenile delin-
quency and family breakdown.
A COMMUNICATIVE co-opera-
tive program, consistent with
family rights and authentic
democratic principles, mus t
produce opportunities for the
more secure absorption Of the
young into our organized in
duStrial and commercial struc-
ture. In such q program, the
Government should be able to
take for granted the full COOP
Grafton of industry and organ