Bishop Buddy Scrapbook 1937 (2)

CHIMES

CHIMES

As a journalist, I have been reading the official papers of the Vatican as they have been published in the daily newspapers and in the Catholic press for many years. As a foreign correspondent during and after the World War I had the privilege of reporting and commenting upon some of the important public pronouncements from the Vatican. Recently I have examined many of the public papers of Pope Pius XI. The range of sub- jects, the art of expression and the knowledge and understanding of humanity are as im- pressive as the courage and the faith of the author. The persisting earnestness of the scholar, the steadfastness of the statesman and the spiritual fortitude of the man who is in- creasing the world-wide prestige of his high office, are faithfully reflected in the words he writes and speaks. In addition to his posmon as the ruler of the Catholic Church, Pope Pius XI is also a leader of public opinion throughout the world. While other religious groups have their spiritual and intellectual leaders the Pope alone among them has a world audience. This is due not only to the wide distribution of his followers but to the press and the radio which make it possible for millions of men, women and children to share the benefits and the influence of his leadership. In this day and age there is a close relationship between the freedom of speech, of assembly, of the press and of the church. Heretofore in the public discussion of the freedom of the press and of the radio, atten- tion has been focused almost exclusively upon the national and international political and economic phases of this issue. Now, I think, we are becoming publicly aware of the as- tounding fact that where the instrumentalities of communication are controlled by govern- ments, the lines of supply and distribution to and from the spiritual and the intellectual reservoirs of the world are blocked. Today many of the lines of communication to and from Vatican City, to and from the people of His Holiness, the Pope, are controlled or

have been destroyed over vast and populous areas of the earth. Millions of people are in danger of being isolated from his leadership. Speaking at the International Catholic Press Exhibition at the Vatican two years ago, Pope Pius said: "In one place and in the other (he was re- ferring to Germany and to Russia) the honor is being paid the Catholic press of fearing its power and efficacy. In one place and in the other there is nothing but negation and opposition, which have been well-termed the last honors paid to truth." A few days ago the OSSERVATORE RO- MANO, one of the important newspapers in the world, confirmed this statement in an edi- torial. "There are some Pontifical documents which the German people do not yet know. There are acts and facts that if printed would be sufficient to tear down the barriers of in- comprehension, suspicion and hate that have been artificially created. But German public opinion has not been allowed to take cogni- zance of them." The leadeship of the Pope is being endan- gered also by the spiritual exhaustion of peoples. By spiritual exhaustion I mean the weakening of the intellectual endowments of the mind and the disintegration of moral feel- ings as well as the modern tendency to dis- regard the divine spirit. This condition of public opinion may be presented most effec- tively by a brief reference to a tragic valedic- tory which appeared as an editorial in the "Neue Freie Presse" of Vienna shortly before Austria disappeared as an independent state. "One might think that with all the modern technical and scientific advances in the last two decades that our standard of living would have been raised," the editor wrote. "The standard of living is no higher today than it was in the pre-war period, and for this reason: Today the most vital spiritual requisites are lacking. Peace, security, freedom from care, are all lacking, and they cannot be compen- sated for by the automobile, telephone, or

press safeguard the freedom of the home. In the United States these spiritual and intellec- tual liberties are superior to government and beyond the control of the most powerful ma- jority or the most militant minority. On the whole, throughout the Western Hemisphere, the peo- ple are remarkably

radio. We take these amenities of modern life too much for granted to realize their real value. Spiritual exhaustion weighs heavier in the balance of life than mechanical progress." The spiritual exhaustion of people is en- dangering the leadership of the Pope because

those who are seeking to destroy it or to re- strict it are alert, active and aggressive. To the political leaders of totalitarian states the spiritual exhaustion of neighboring peoples is more welcome than political or economic exhaustion. If the need of the world is spiritual forti- tude are we not obli- gated on this Comence- ment Day to adjust our minds and our lives to this reality? As citizens of the United States we are in a unique position to be of service to the world, not by imitating political leaders who consider security ex- clusively from a ma- terial point of view, b u t b y remammg steadfast in the faith

free from spiritual and from intellectual regi- mentation as it is known and practiced throughout the greater part of the o t h e r hemisphere. While it is true that there are a few countries in Cen- tral and m South America where the de- gree of liberty is not as extensive as it is in the United States the people of this hemis- phere are among the privileged citizens of the world. If by means of tele- vision or some other scientific instrument we could see across the Atlantic and the Pa- cific Oceans we would be confronted by pic- tures of students in

Dean Ackerman

uniforms or fac- tories, mines and fields supporting gigantic military machines. In only a few nations throughout that hemisphere are students free to study and to prepare themselves for ser- vices and careers, o~tside of the demands of the state. With few exceptions Commence- ment Day in Europe and in Asia means the commencement of governmental regimenta- tion. From a political, economic and social stand- point the world may continue to be divided for some time half free and half regimented, in

that spiritual security is the only solid founda- tion for every other form of security. We can be of service because of our spiri- tual and our intellectual freedom. These are greater world assets than our economic, our political, our geographical and any other ma- terial advantage. The freedom of speech and of assembly make it possible for us to observe Commencement Day without fear of perse- cution and imprisonment. We are fortunate indeed to be citizens of a nation where the freedom of religion and the freedom of the JUNE, 1938

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JUNE, 1938

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