C T OLIC CT.ION-

Vol. XV, No. 12 December, 1933

N.C.W.C. Bishops Report to Hierarchy on Work of Conference Departments

Report of Bishops' Annual Meeting

Dubuque's Institute of Catholic Action Motion Pictures-A Problem for the Nation C. A. I. P. Conference at Notre Dame University

Our Common Catholic Interests: Analysis of the Causes of the Collapse of our Financial and Eco­ nomic Structure: Full Text of the Statement Issued by the Administrative Committee, N.C.W.C., November 16, 1933- Education Faces Task In Dethroning False Individualism- Priest Editor Shows Ways of Aiding Catholic Press

A NATIONAL MONTHLY - OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE 2 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

FACTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE

:-: What It Is What It Does :-:

"Thi, organization (the N. O. W.O.) i. fWt only useiu', but nece88a11l . ••• We praue all toho ita anti waf! cooperate i" this oreat work."-PoPIl Pros XI. TAB,LE OF CONTENTS The National Catholic Welfare Conference was organized in September, 1919. The N. O. W. C. is a common agency acting under the authority of the bishops to DECEMBER, 1933 promote the welfare of the Catholics of the country. It lias for its incorporated purposes "unifying, co~rdinati~g and orga~izi~g the PAGE Oatholic people of the United States in works of educatIOn, socIal welfare, Immlgrant Our Common Catholic Interests 3 aid and other activities." A1'l;alysis of the Oauses of the It comprises the following departments and bureaus: OoZlapse of our Financial and Economic Structure: Full Text EXEOUTIVE-Bureaus maintained: Immigration, Publicity and Information, HiBtorical of the Statement issued by the Record., Publication., Busine88 and Audit,ng and Latin American. Administrative 00 m mit tee, N.O.W.O., November 16, 1933 EDUOA.TION-Divisions: Statutic. and Information, Teacher.' Regi.tratioa, Librsrt/. -Education faces Task in Dethroning False I ndividual­ PUBs-Serves the Catholic press in the United States and abroad with regular ne108, ism-Priest Editor shows ways feature, editorial a ,ictorial .e1'1)ioe8. of Aiding Oatholic Press. SOCIAL ACTION-COVer the fields of Industrial Relations, International Affairs, Oivio Education, Social Weljare, Family Life and Rural Life. Members of Hierarchy Meet in Annual Session , , , , . , ... ,. 7 LmAL--Serves as a clearing house of information on federal, state and local legislation. LA.Y ORGANIZATIONS-Inc udes the National Council of Catholic Men and the National Conference Activities During Council of Catholic Women, which maintain at N. C. W. C. headquarters perma­ Year Reviewed by Bishops of nent representations in the interests of the Catholic laity. These councils function N.C.W.C. Deparbnents , , . ,. 9 through some 3,000 affiliated societies-national, state, diocesan, district, local and parish; also through units of the councils in many of the dioceses. Executive Department-Educa- tion Departmenfr-Legal De­ par tm en t-Press Depart­ The N. O. C. M. maintains at itt!- national headquarters a OathoUo IiJvidence Bu­ ment-Lay Organizations De­ ,.eau and sponsors a weekly nationwide radio Oatholic Hour over the network of the partmern;t-Social Action De­ National Broadcasting Company. partment-Bureau of Immi­ The N. C. O. W. maintain. in Washington, D. C., the National OathoUo School 01 gration. iJ ocial Service. The Conference is conducted by an administrative committee composed of seven Month by Month with the archbishops and bishops aided by Beven assistant bishops. N.C.W.C. 16 Each department of the N. O. W. O. is administered by an episcopal chairman. Dubuque's Institute of Catholic Through the general secretary, chief exeeutive officer of the Conference, the reports Action ",.""...,."'" 19 of the departments and information on the general work of the headquarter's staff are By Rt. Rev. Msgr. John M. sent regularly to the members of the administrative committee. Wolfe The administrative bishops of the Oonference report annually upon their work to the Holy See. Motion Pictures-A Problem Annually at the general meeting of the bishops, detailed reports are submitted by for the Nation. , ...... 21 the administrative bishops of the Conference and authorization secured for the work By Mary G. Hawks of the coming year. No official action is taken by any N. C. W. O. department without authorization of International Peace Discussion ita episcopal chairman. Topic at Notre Dame Uni- No official action is taken in the name of the whole Conference without authoriza- versity Conference ...... 25 tion and approval of the administrative committee. By Elizabeth B. Sweeney It is not the policy of the N. O. W. O. to create new organizations. December Study Topic-Lay It helps, unifies, and leaves to their own fields those that already exist. Organization and National It aims to defend and to advance the welfare both of the Catholic Church and of Recovery ...... 27 our beloved Country. It seeks to inform the life of America of right fundamental principles of religion Diocesan Conventions of N.C.­ and morality. C.W•...... 29 It is a central clearing house of information regarding activities of Catholic men Des Moines Diocesan Council, and women. N.C.C.W., Hears "Sales Talk" All that are helped may play their part in promoting the good work and in main­ on Conference Magazine . . . 31 taining the common agency, the National Catholic Welfare Oonference. OATHOLIO ACTION records monthly the work of the Conference and ita affiliated The contents of CATHOLIC AC­ organizations. It presents our common needs and opportunities. Its speeial articles TION are fully indexed in the Oatholic Periodical IndeaJ. are helpful to every Catholic organization and individual.

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"CATHOLIC ACTION co,..."t. not merely of the pur.uit of per­ .onal Chri.tian perfection, which i. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE howe"er before all other. ill /ir.t and greate.t end. but it al.o con.i.t. of a true apo.tolate in which Catholic. of e"ery .oeial claa. participate, coming 'hu. to be united in thought and action NATIONAL CATHOLIC around tho.e center. of .ound doc­ trine and multiple .ocial acti"ity, legitimately con.tituted and. aa are­ .ult, aided and .ustained by the au­ WELF ARE CONFERENCE thority of the bi.hop•• " -Pope Piu. XI.

VOL. XV, No. 12 DECEMBER, 1933

OUR COMMON CATHOLIC INTERESTS

E ARE printing herewith as most appropriate and timely material for "Our Common Catholic Infer­ W ests" department the full text of the statement issued by the N. C. W. C. Administrative Commit­ tee on the occasion of the general meeting of the archbishops and bishops of the United States at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C •• November 15 and 16, 1933. In this stateme.nt the bishops point out the root causes of the collapse of our financial and economic structure and attack those influences that have degraded the family, demoralized youth. and corrupted business. We earnestly recommend that this statement be read and discussed at meetings of the laity, by the general group and by study circles within the group. Through its careful study there should result a rededication of the Catholic forces of the nation to those causes and activities recommended by our ecclesiastical leaders which will help bring about the speedy rehabilitation of the religious, social and economic life of our distressed country.-The Editor.

"I T WOULD BE folly to deny or to attempt to min- lysed; transportation systems were crippled; agricul­ imize the gravity of the situation with which the people ture was ruined; millions were thrown out of employ­ of the United States are now confronted, and it would ment, and the deaths of thousands were averted only be craven to entertain for a moment the thought that through the combined efforts of public and private re­ this situation is beyond cure or that it calls for remedies lief agencies. so drastic as communism or a dictatorship. The re­ , , No good end can be served by enumerating again sponsibility for the situation, such as it is, lies at the the long list of evils, social and political and economic, door of the people at large and the cure is in their which are now pressing on the community at large, and hands. which are making their presence felt by the increasing "The collapse of the financial and economic structure volume of demand, which goes up day 'by day, that · a few years ago, which spread destruction and disaster they be removed. In their distress the people are turn­ everywhere, was not the result of a single, sudden ing to their governments, municipal, state and federal, catastrophe. It had its roots in forces which had been begging that an end be put to this period of horror, corroding and undermining the foundations of law, jus­ uncertainty, and suffering. Many of the. present evils tice, and morality for years. When the crash could, no doubt, have been averted by wise leg­ came it spread universal havoc. Every institu­ islation or through prompt governmental inter­ tion of our civilization, every home, every in­ vention, but the people, themselves, are respon­ dividual was made to feel the effects of its de­ sible for the kind of government they got. It structive violence. All the moral activities of was the fault of the voters that municipal gov­ society were interrupted; business was para- WI 00 OUfit PAIT ernment was so often synonymous with fraud, 3 4 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 graft, corruption, misappropriation of public funds, end. No person can live outside the scope and the ac­ and the unholy alliance between criminals and the tivities of the various agencies that have been set in police: that state governments, through extravagance, motion to restore to the people their inheritance of piled up impossible tax burdens: and that the Federal prosperity and morality. These agencies were created Congress..... squandered public money in such a fashion in obedience to a peremptory mandate by the people, as to make a balanced budget an impossibility. they were planned and devised by the representatives of the people in Congress, and their execution was com­ mitted to the President as a constitutional and sacred "I F GOVERNMENT was lax, business was shot duty. It is abundantly clear that the President has through with a spirit of greed that led to the perpetra­ set himself to the perforn;tance of his task in the spirit tion of f.rauds on the public; the full heinousness of and with the purpose his mandate from the people dic­ which is slowly coming to tated. He has called to his assistance men who are Frauds on the Public light through the investi­ experts in all the fields that demand his attention. They Result of Spirit of Greed gations of the Senate Com­ have given him of their best, but, before he or they in Business Practices mittee on Finance. The could proceed to the work of reconstruction, it was publication of the crooked necessary to remove the wrecks that blocked the way to and dishonest practices of stockbrokers and bankers any field of positive performance. The President, him­ to fleece the public as revealed in this investigation has self, has said, he does not promise to work miracles, done as much to destroy respect for the integrity of but already every section of industry, coonmercial, commercial institutions and to fan the flames 6f dis­ 1 nancial, and agricultural, every phase of economic content as the preaching of radicals and communists. life, aU the departments of normal activity are com­ , 'The sacred character of the family has not escaped mencing to feel, in greater or less degree, the influence the general deterioration and corruption. The divorce of his activities and are being revitalized by his efforts. courts have crowded calendars, and some communities That he will, at times, make mistakes, and that those have resorted to the degrading device of adding to their he has called to his assistance will sometimes be in er­ revenues by turning their halls of justice' into divorce ror, is to be expected, but a good augury for the future mills. Theatres and amusement places have been con­ is to be found in the fact that, so far, he has been so verted into centers for the exhibition of lewd and in­ often right in the midst of so many possibilities for decent performances, and for the presentation of plays error. and moving pictures that are constant stimulants to prodigality and vice. The printing presses have poured forth a never-ending stream of obscene books and pic­ "T HE President stands in need of friendly coop- tures that are a menace to the morals and the charac­ eration and helpful advice and he has not shut himself ters of the youth of the land. off in sullen isolation from his fellow-citizens to work "Nothing can be gained by elaborating this cata­ out his problems alone. logue of the vices that a:fflict our civilization. Their net Attempts at Partisan Profit The program he is seeking result can be seen in the degradation and the poverty Denounced as Crime to carry out is the best he of masses of our people. Dishonesty in financial cir­ Against Humanity could devise, it is the best cles, crookedness in business, corruption in politics, Congress could construct, perversion or maladministration of justice, murder, and any attempt to make partisan profit out of the suicide, robbery, rackete~ring, kidnaping, and violence present misery and' distress is a crime against fair­ are merely lurid manifestations of the general demoral­ dealing and humanity. Prudent suggestion and criti­ ization which has doomed millions to unemployment, cism are always helpful, but it is well to remember famine, suffering and despair. Black as the picture that the tooting of horns never turned on the green may be, it is not hopeless. The majority of our people light. have not yielded to the debasing tendencies of the age, "The President and Congress planned the campaign and there are millions who believe in and practice the and it is the part of good citizenship t o help them fight simple virtues which alone can offer a basis for any it out on the lines they think best ~ven though it should civilization that can hope to endure. The future of take all winter and all summer. The most effective way the country lies with those who still believe in the in which individuals can promote the cause of recov­ validity of the moral law, and who, if they desire to ery is to enter into their own souls and to ask them­ make their will felt, can save it from the morass of' selves how far they have been affected by the general crime and corruption into which it has been thrown demoralization that threatens not only our prosperity by a corrupt and irreligious minority. but the existence of our civilization. Such self-exami­ "Many measures have been undertaken by the Fed­ nation and self-analysis should have fruitful results. eral Government, under the leadership of the Presi­ If public opinion can once more be made the expression dent, to bring this era of crime and lawlessness to an of the moral law taught by Christ, no power on earth December, 1933 CATHOLIC ACTION 5

can prevent this nation from becoming, what its we must go on and rededicate ourselves to the cause founders hoped it would be, the home of liberty,. of of education, of preaching and of religion, to every opportunity and of plenty. The plague spots in our function of' the sacred ministry that promotes the sal­ financial centers that destroyed business integrity and vation of souls, and in this way we shall aid most ef­ debased business methods, must be made amenable to fectively in the restoration and reconstruction of our justice and decency; the pest hole that infects the entire country. " country with its obscene and lascivious moving pictures ------~------must be cleansed and disinfected: the multitudinous EDUCATION WEEK, observed last agencies that are employed in disseminating porno­ ~ERICAN month in the Catholic schools of the nation with a graphic literature must be suppressed, and all those seven-day program based on .A Statement on the Pres­ forces and influences that bring starvation to the bodies ent Crisis issued by the of men and poison to their souls must be utterly de­ Education Faces Task bishops of the Administra­ stroyed. Before there can be any hope for a return to In Dethroning Present-day tive Committee, N. C. W. political liberty, social peace, or economic justice, the False Individualism C., offered an opportunity spiritual life of the nation must be renewed, there must to inventory the condition be an awakening of faith in God and a renewal of of education generally in our present unhappy situa- trust in His P.rovidence. tion and to study what must be done, and undone, es­ pecially by the schools, public and private, before a "R ESTORING the moral values and reawakening lasting recovery can be effected. One such analysis the life of the 'spirit through faith in God is the task of was made by the Rev. Dr. George Johnson, director of religion. The civilization we see crumbling before us, the N. C. W. C. Department of Education, in an ad­ historically and funda­ dress on "Education for Social Justice," broadcast in Restoring Moral Values mentally had its basis in a nation-wide hook-up from the headquJirters of the Task of Religion in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. National Education Association in Washington. the Present Crisis Unless the Lord build the The program of the Catholic schools' participation house they labor in vain was arranged, Dr. Johnson said, "to encourage the that build it. (Psalm 126, 1.) The house, or the city, teachers and students in our schools, as well as the or the state that the Lord builds rests on the humble Catholic public at large, to study more deeply and in and simple virtues of the people that live therein, and greater detail the statement of the bishops. It was is­ it is only such that can last. Any other foundation but sued not as an idle gesture or for purposes purely aca­ that of the Gospel is a foundation of sand, and when demic. It was aimed to inspire action, to suggest im­ . the winds of adversity blow, and the floods of material­ portant practical steps that must be taken in the direc­ ism rise the house that is built on sand shall fall and tion of the Ohurch's perennial goal-' to restore all great shall be the falf thereof. things in Christ.' " "Everyone of the evils, with which the demoraliza­ The present crisis presents a challenge to Catholic tion and infidelity of the present have afflicted our education, to Catholic parents and Catholic teachers, a country is a crime against the Christian conception of challenge to take stock of themselves in order to dis­ society. The civil law seems to be powerless to punish cover whether or not they are transmitting to the chil­ men for the destructive practices in finance, govern­ dren, undiluted by compromise and opportunism, a ment, and business which have brought such deplorable sound social education based on the principles of the consequences, or for the innumerable crimes against Gospels, Dr. Johnson stated. decency and good order which are destroying private Referring to the complacency with which the Ameri­ as well as public morality, but such crimes can not go can people regarded the abnormal development of in­ unrequited in the face of an awakened public con­ dustry and called attention to the decline of home in­ science. fluence and the shifting of responsibility upon the "Time after time the words of the Supreme Pontiffs school, causing expansion of its curricula and. multipli­ have rung out over the world inculcating the truth cation of its activities, Dr. Johnson said that under about the Christian State, about the eternal principles such circumstances" it was but natural that the schools that govern economic relations, and about the recon­ should lose sight of certain blessed simplicities that are struction of the social order. There is urgent need of the very essence of true education. They have put now that these words and these principles should be their faith in expansion and much spend.ing of money. made familiar to all the faithful, and to all who suffer As a matter of fact, they have made costliness the in­ under the present collapse of our social order. We, dex of educational progress. They h~ve succeeded ourselves, have not escaped the effects of the general greatly; but they have likewise failed greatly. As a calamity. Our schools are in many places crippled, the nation, thanks to our schools, if you please, we are re­ demands for relief have increased a hundred fold, but sourceful, energetic, creative, dynamic; yet at the same 6 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 time, and shall we also say, thanks to our schools, we have been exhibiting of late a woeful ignorance of AN ENLIGHTENING unfolding of the aims and fundamental principles of justice and morality, a purposes of the Catholic press and a vigorous appeal strange obtuseness to all moral values. Little wonder for its more widespread support were made at the that there has been created in the minds of some peo­ recent Chicago convention ple a douht as to our capacity to maintain much longer Priest Editor Shows of the National Council of the institutions of democracy, since after all democracy Ways of Aiding Influence Catholic Men by the Rev. presupposes mutual trust and trustworthiness." of Catholic Press Dr. Timothy Rowan, news editor of The New World, "There has been too much loose talk," said Dr. J ohn­ official organ of the Chicago Archdiocese, who ad­ son, "about new moralities and new ethics too much . ' dressed the meeting on "The Catholic Press. " Ignorant assumption that because times change the basis of right and wrong changes. There is a G~d in Dr. Rowan explained the functions of the Catholic heaven and we are His creatures. To do His will is press as three-fold: It constitutes an historical record the purpose of our existence. His "law is eternal. All of our times by first-hand observers; it is the chief, if things, both human and material, were made to sub­ not the only means we have for correcting misrepresen­ serve that law and the principles it implies. If our tations of the Catholic Church; it preserves, defends boys and girls are not taught to know the will of God and spreads the Catholic. Faith. In performing the and to conform their lives to it, they must inevitably first two functions, the Catholic press serves Catholics develop into men and women who are a source of dan­ and non-Catholics alike. In combating the anti-Chris­ ger to any social order in which they live." tian, irreligious and immoral practices of the day, the tholic press serves the Church and civil society. Dr. Johnson quoted the bishops' condemnation of the "The Catholic press," Dr. Rowan stated, "has posi­ philosophy of life which has caused governments, tive as well as negative functions. It is supplementing groups and individuals in the past to disregard the the ulpit and the school in educating the pUblic. It is moral law and which today, through unrestrained in­ doing what no other agency can do in checking evils dividual economic freedom, "permits individuals cor­ and the worldly spirit of the age by reintroducing into porations and nations to accumulate as much ~ealth the home the spirit of Christ, which is the foundation as they can and " to use such accumulated" wealth as of all our institutions and the very essence of Catholic they see fit, which has de~ied, and denies, in reality, Action. . . . To young and old goes out the message the oneness and solidarity of mankind." This false of the Catholic press-a message which all mankind individualism must be dethroned, Dr. Johnson stated, needs, a message bringing hope to bewildered modern and its dethronement is the task of education. youth, the message of Christ Himself: 'Be not over­ The kind of education needed, he observed, is the edu­ come with evil but overcome evil with good.' " cation which is traditionally American, education Indicting practices of many secular publications for rooted and founded in religion; the kind of education their publication of base, immoral and degrading read­ which the framers of the Northwest Ordinance had in ing matter, the reverend editor stated that the Catho­ mind when in 1787 they set aside public lands for the lic press is fighting, almost single-handed, the destruc­ support of schools, scho~ls which they said must be for­ tive manifestations of this so-called modern journal­ ever encouraged because religion and morality as well ism. "It is not only to irreligion, to vice and to im­ as knowledge are necessary to good government and the morality that the Catholic press has thrown down the happiness of mankind. gage of battle," he said. "The Catholic press has de- Concl uding his address, l)r. Johnson said: clared unending war on all subversive agencies which , 'The nation owes it to the schools to see that they threaten the life of our government and our nation." pass through the depression unharmed in any vital way; Another field of influence of the Catholic press was the schools owe it to the nation to take an account of shown in a comment by a columnist in The New World to the effect that an ancient copy of a Catholic news­ their stewardship and to discover wherein by omission paper, used to wrap a package of medicine, once con­ or commission they have contributed to the breakdown. verted fifty people in North Carolina, and a Catholic The schools owe it to themselves to define their field to , book, left by a travelling peddler early in the last cen­ refuse to saddle themselves with responsibilities that by tury was the means of bringing a noted New England nature do not belong to them and thus to force a re­ family into the Church and to the religious life. habilitation of the other educational agencies which "Since these things are true," Dr. Rowan added, "it operate in a normal social order. They owe it to them­ staggers one to contemplate the possibilities of a vigor­ selveS' to labor toward that . simplification of program ous remailing campaign. Leaving a Catholic paper in a which will be effected in the degree that they under­ street car, a train or a hotel might be instrumental in stand more fully the intellectual and moral founda­ making many conversions. Distribution of Catholic tions upon which alone a sound educational structure pamphlets by zealous Catholic laymen is another way can be reared." of spreading the influence of the Catholic press. " ------.------MEMBERS of HIERARCHY MEET in ANNUAL SESSION ECEIVE and approve reports of archbishops and bishops of N. C. W. , C. Administrative Committee on R year's work of Conference departments and bureaus and reelect personnel of committee for ensuing year.

IGHTY-THREE members of the American general body of bishops, was announced in the follow­ Hierarchy-three car~inals, ten archbishops ~nd ing statement: E seventy bishops-met In the 15th annual seSSIOn "The Administrative Committee, National Catholic of the National Catholic Welfare Conference at the Welfare Conference, in its session this afternoon ap­ Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C., pointed a special continuing committee of members of on November 15 and 16, 1933, to receive the reports of the American Hierarchy to act against the growing the archbishops and bishops of the Administrative Com­ abuses and licentiousness of the moving picture in­ mittee, N. C. W. C., covering the work of the organiza­ dustry. tion during the past fiscal year. These reports, which "The committee further took action to gain the co­ are summarized elsewhere in this issue, were approved operation of the bishops in Europe to curb the grow­ by the assembled bishops, who reelected the same seven ing moral menace of the lurid American movie." prelates of the committee and authorized them to con­ The continuing committee is composed of the Most tinue the direction of the N. C. W. C. during the com­ Rev. John T. McNicholas, O.P., Archbishop of Cincin­ ing year. nati; the Most Rev. John J. Cantwell, Bishop of Los An important result of the general meeting was the Angeles and San Diego; the Most Rev. Hugh C. Boyle, authorization of a new division within the setup of the Bishop of Pittsburgh, and the Most Rev. John F. Noll, Conference, namely, a Department of Catholic Action. Bishop of Fort Wayne. This result followed a discussion at the general meeting of the need of gathering and disseminating informa­ FOLLOWING adjournment of the general meeting, tion on Catholic Action. It was proposed that a de­ the archbishops and bishops elected thereat to con­ partment of the. N. C. W. C. be set up as a clearing stitute the administrative committee for the coming year house through which b~hops could ascertain what is be­ met at N. C. W. C. headquarters and organized as fol­ ing done in any or all dioceses of the country regard­ lows: The Most Rev. Edward J. Hanna, Archbishop of ing Catholic Action. Instructions of the hierarchies of San Francisco, chairman; the Most Rev. Thomas F. other nations regarding Catholic Action cO,?-ld thus be Lillis, Bishop of Kansas City, vice chairman of the Com­ referred to bishops when deemed advisable. The de­ mittee and episcopal chairman of the Department of So­ partment would have no authority but would collect cial Action; the Most Rev. John Gregory Murray, directions and norms of the Holy See, with relation to Archbishop of St. Paul, treasurer and episcopal chair­ Catholic Action. The proposal was approved and the man of the Legal Department; the Most Rev. John F. Most Reverend John F . Noll, Bishop of Fort Wayne, Noll, Bishop or Fort Wayne, secretary and episcopal Ind., who is also secretary of the administrative com­ chairman for Catholic Action; the Most Rev. John T. mittee, was charged with developing such a department. McNicholas, O.P., Archbishop of Cincinnati, episcopal chairman of the Department of Education; the Most NOTHER matter discussed at length at the gen­ Rev. Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland, episcopal A eral meeting was the question of motion pictures. chairman of the Department of Lay Organizations; The seriousness of the film situation had previously and the Most Rev. Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of Pitts­ been considered by the administrative committee, meet­ burgh, episcopal chairman of the Press Department. ing at N. C. W. C. headquarters prior to the general On the occasion of the general meeting of the bishops, session. The committee appointed a continuing com­ the N. · C. W. C. Administrative Committee, issued a mittee of bishops whose sees are in eastern, western statement dealing with the causes of the collapse of our and intermediate sections of the United States, to study, financial and economic structure and attacking those to observe and report to that body on the evils of im­ factors in the life of the nation which have resulted in morality in motion pictures. The action of the ad­ widespread social and business evils. This statement ministrative committee, subsequently approved by the is printed in full on pages 3-5 of this issue. 7 8 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

Those in attendance at the general meeting were: Lake; Francis C. Kelley, of Oklahoma City and Tulsa; His Eminence, William Cardinal 0 'Connell, Arch­ Francis M. Kelly, of Winona; Edward J. Kelly, of bishop of Boston; His Eminence, George Cardinal Boise; Michael J. Keyes, of Savannah; Louis B. Ku­ Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago; and His Eminence, cera, of Lincoln; C. Hubert LeBlond, of St. Joseph; Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York. Thomas F. Lillis, of Kansas City; Maurice Francis Mc­ Auliffe, Auxiliary of Hartford; Joseph Edward Mc­ RCHBISHOPS FRANCIS J. L. BECKMAN, of Carthy, of Portland; John J. McCort, of Altoona; ADubuque; Michael J. Curley, of Baltimore; Ru­ Philip R. McDevitt, of Harrisburg; Patrick A. Mc­ dolph Aloysius Gerken, of Santa Fe; John J. Glen­ Govern, of Cheyenne; John M. McNamara, Auxiliary non, of St. Louis; Edward J. Hanna, of San Francisco; of Baltimore; Thomas E. Molloy, of Brooklyn; John John J. Mitty, Coadjutor of San Francisco; John T. J. Nilan, of Hartford; John F . Noll, of Fort Wayne. McNicholas, O.P., of Cincinnati ; Edward A. Mooney, Archbishop-Bishop of Rochester; John Gregory Mur­ DWIN V. O'HARA, of Great Falls; Thomas M. ray, of St. Paul; and John W. Shaw, of New Orleans. E O'Leary, of Springfield; Thomas C. 0 'Reilly, of Bishops Joseph H. Albers, Auxiliary of Cincinnati; Scranton; John B. Peterson, of Manchester; Joseph C. Karl J. Alter, of Toledo; Henry Althoff, of Belleville; Plagens, Auxiliary of Detroit; Elmer J. Ritter, Auxil­ Robert J. Armstrong, of Sacramento; Hugh C. Boyle, iary of Indianapolis; Henry P. Rohlman, of Daven­ of Pittsburgh; Andrew James Brennan, of Richmond; port; Joseph F. Rummel, of Omaha; James H. Ryan, John J. Cantwell, of Los Angeles and San Diego; . ector of the Catholic University; Philip G. Scher, of James E. Cassidy, Auxiliary Bishop and Apostolic Ad­ 1Ionterey-Fresno; Joseph H. Schlarman, of Peoria; ministrator of Fall River; Daniel Francis Desmond, Joseph Schrembs, of Cleveland; Anthony J. Schuler, of Alexandria; John A. Duffy, of Syracuse; Edmond S.J., of El Paso; Augustus J. Schwertner, of Wichita; John Fitzmaurice, of Wilmington; John A. Floersh, of Bernard J. Sheil, Auxiliary of Chicago; Alphonse J. Louisville; Michael J. Gallagher, of Detroit, John Smith, of Nashville; John J. Swint, of Wheeling; Mark Gannon, of Erie; Richard O. Gerow,' of Natchez; Thomas J. Toolen, of Mobile; William Turner, of Buf­ Edmund F. Gibbons, of Albany; Thomas K. Gorman, falo ; Urban J. Vehr, of Denver; Thomas J. Walsh, of of. Reno; James A. Griffin, of Springfield in Illinois. Newark; Emmet M. Walsh, of Charleston; James A. William J. Hafey, of Raleigh; James J. Hartley, of Walsh, M.M., Superior General of the Maryknoll Columbus; Ralph L. Hayes, of Helena; Edmond Fathers; Thomas A. Welch, of Duluth; Abbot Vincent Heelan, of Sioux City; Edward F. Hoban, of Rock­ Taylor, O.S.B., of Belmont Abbey, N. C.; and Chris­ ford; Francis W. Howard, of Covington; Francis tian H. Winkelmann, Auxiliary Bishop-elect of St. Johannes, of Leavenworth; James E. Kearney, of Salt Louis.

Catholic Action in the Fort Wayne Diocese NFORMATION of unusual pertinency and value to the ing, etc. In this connection use of the l'iterature of the work of Catholic Action is contained in the booklet just N. C. W. C. Social Action Department is recommended. I issued by the Fort Wayne Diocesan Council, N. C. C. W., Other topies for study are suggested, among them the recently organized under direction of the Most Rev. John following: How to be of assistance to your pastor; di­ F. Noll, Bishop of Fort Wayne. vorce; birth control; harmony between faith and science; Part I of the booklet conta'ins the constitution and by-laws sterlizat'ion' euthanasia; a study of the attitude of mind ot of the couneil, which has adopted as its slogan: "Solidarity the affiliated Protestant towards the Catholic Church; the of Faith calls for Solidarity of Action." Part II sets forth study of the state of mind of the non-Catholic who holds no with very definite directions matters with wh'ich, it is recom­ church affiliation; a study of conditions in secular colleges mended, the local councils should concern themselves. and universities; do we want state aid for parish schools; The women of each parish in the diocese have been di­ if so, how proceed to procure it; the Catholic laws relating rected to affiliate "as a unit" with the N. C. C. W. "The to marriage' mixed marriages take little account of God. local parish board of the distr'ict council," the introduction Other spedific 'instructions are given with regard to parish of the booklet states, "will be constituted of ladies selected activities. The following titles of the various subdivisions from the different sodalities of women. This board will of Part II of the booklet will indicate to our readers some select a secretary whose name will be sent to the national of the things wh'ich Bishop Noll has in mind for p'arish office in Washington in order that she may rece'ive the units to do: Make your parish society a live one; Train the monthly magazine--CATHOLIC ACTION-as well as the young for Catholic leadership; Church defense and pub­ monthly correspondence from headquarters." licity; Purify the movies; A parish census; Relig'ious in- Two special works requested by Bishop Noll are the foster­ . struction for the spiritually neglected; Interest in depend­ ing of study clubs and the training of youth for an ap'osto­ ent children; Interest in the orphans; Interest in hospitals; late so badly needed in every community. Study clubs, the The big sister interest; Missions; Catholic pTess. bishop states, are an absolute necessity in order that we "Cooperation" is the final note of the booklet, which con­ may have leaders in Catholic Action. And, in vIew of the cludes with the statement: "The people of a single parish dominant interest today in economics, study clubs dealing can do little to remedy moral or social evils, or correct in­ with social justice are recommended with special attent'ion justices to Catholics, wh'ile all the people of all parishes in to such problems as old age pensions, widows pensions, un­ the United States can do much. EVERY parish unit must employment insurance, home banking loans, low priced hous- join all others." ------~.------CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES DURING YEAR REVIEWED by BISHOPS of N. C.W. C. DEPARTMENTS

EPORTING at the annual meeting of the arch­ Action in the United States. It seeks, particularly bishops and bishops of the United States, held through its Lay Organizations Department, to effect a R at the Catholic University of America, Novem­ closer union of the Catholic laity and a more effective ber 15-16, 1933-the fourteenth held since the estab­ coordination of the activities of organizations repre­ lishment of the National Catholic Welfare Conference senting them. Changing conditions in our social and in 1919-the Administrative Committee of the Con­ industrial life are bringing many new problems to the ference, through the episcopal chairmen of its several Church-problems concerning which, as Archbishop departments, presented to their fellow members in the Hanna stated in his report, the laity must depend upon hierarchy a detailed account of the work which en­ the constant, deliberate counsel of the bishops in order gaged the attention of the organization during the that there may be brought about the results which only past year. The reports, which dealt with a great va­ a common understanding of the problems and con­ riety of activities and concerns of the Catholic Church certed action in their solution can accomplish. How in the United States as well as matters affecting the our common Catholic work and interests are being general welfare, were approved by the general body of furthered by the archbishops and bishops of the United bishops. States through the National Catholic Welfare Confer­ In all its work, as the various reports indicated, the ence is shown in the following summaries of the N. C. N. C. W. C. serves as a unifying agency of Catholic W. C. bishops' reports: . EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT I EPORTING AS CHAIRMAN human soc i e t y, " Archbishop the spiritual conditions of family R of the N. C. W. C. Adminis­ Hanna said. and individual life have been modi­ trative Committee, the Most Rev. , 'The statement was the more fied for better or for worse. The Edward J. Hanna, :Archbishop of timely," His Excellency contin­ income for our churches, our San Francisco, presented to the ued, "because of the extensive pro­ schools, for all the works of re­ general meeting of the bishops a gram of economic legislation con­ ligion, has been materially af­ brief summary of the work of the sidered and enacted into law by fected. The conditions 'of secur­ Executive Department of the Con­ the United States Congress during ing loans are, as a result, different ference during the past year. the year. As one looks back upon from what they were. We might Carrying out the recommenda­ that program, it is evident that it continue by further examples of tions of the last general meeting, was in many ways a breaking with this federal legislation to show how Archbishop Hanna said that the the dominant industrial individ­ the material, the financial, by Administrative Committee had pre­ ualism of the immediate past, and, which the well-being of the Church pared and issued in the name of its in a measure at least, a relinking on this earth is in part conditioned, members "A Statement on the with those Christian principles, the has been seriously affected. We Present Crisis," setting forth the unity of which was broken and ob­ think it unnecessary to do so. We specific principles of our Catholic scured before the world three hun­ think it equally unp.ecessary to say Faith which should be emphasized dred years ago. It is not too much we are not defending these new . in view of the present economic sit­ to say that, all unwittingly per­ measures of federal legislation. uation, the extended unemploy­ haps, our legislators were restoring We are recording them. They are ment and the consequent long suf­ to the structure of human society closely connected, in some in­ fering of the people of our country. some of the Christian stones that stances identified .with Christian "The statement pleaded for a their forefathers rejected." principles. They are or may be study and application of those Commenting on the changes made the agency for the applica­ truths and principles as the only brought about by the new indus­ tion to human society of the Chris­ solution of, as well as the only trial and economic situation, Arch­ tian principles of social justice. ,. security for, the wellbeing of bishop Hanna said: "As a result, The policy and program set forth 9 10 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

in "A Statement on the Present must be guided by the constant, a task given by His Excellency, the Crisis" were cited as showing that deliberate counsel of the bishops. Apostolic Delegate to the United the Catholic Church in the United Attention was called in Arch­ States, to the general secretary of States, h~ bishops, priests and bishop Hanna's report to the the Conference. laity, are desirous of giving fullest changed situation with regard to The report also referred to the support to the work of legislative procuring sacramental wine as a withdrawal by the League of N a­ reconstruction. "But with all this, result of the ending of prohibition tions, upon N. C. W. C. representa­ supplementary to all this," Arch­ and the passing away of the old tion, of a resolution favoring birth bishop Hanna said, "is the work of federal permit system. His Excel­ control. An account is also given keeping in. touch with federal leg­ lency stated that steps are being of the past year's work of the N. islation, conference in the prepara­ taken to exempt sacramental wine C. W. C. Bureau of Historical tion of bills, reading and study of from any federal liquor tax. Records and of the Latin Ameri­ bills presented, attendance at hear­ The archbishop cited steps taken can Bureau. ings, possible modification of pro­ by the Administrative Committee In concluding his report Arch­ posed bills. This work can be done to secure, under the NRA, recog­ bishop Hanna said, referring to . only by a staff actually at work in nition of the right of collective bar­ the several departments of the N . Washington and di!ectly under the gaining as set forth in the Quad­ C. W. C.: "Their work will evi­ guidance and supervision of the ragesimo Anno encyclical; also the dence the increase of the work of Administrative Committee." successful efforts m e to secure the National Catholic Welfare The increased activity of Catho­ NRA exemption of Catholic uni­ Conference. It is all our work. lics and of Catholic bodies in the versities, colleges and schools. And I believe you will see it is public questions of the day is cer­ Other petitions were presented, building up more and more into tainly laudable, Archbishop Hanna with helpful results, for exemp­ that structure of Catholic Action­ said. He took occasion to point tion or modification of the code for Catholic Action, our apostolic mis­ out, however, that "with the num­ Catholic institutions engaged in sion as bishops shared in and ber of questions and applications part in industry or trade. through us by priest and by laity. arising from increased manifold Other work of the department "For the cooperation and gen­ federal legislation, the pressure on reported on concerned the securing erous support which you, the car­ Catholic activity will be the of information from government dinals, archbishops and bishops of greater, and the more varied the authorities on the conduct of the the United States, have given and channels in which that activity will Civilian Conservation Camps and which alone makes our labors pos­ be led to emphasize itself." In all of reports from the bishops on the sible, we thank you out of the full­ this, His Excellency said, the laity religious care of the men therein- ness of our heart." I EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HE WORK OF THE N. C. W. said. He also stated that special There is no doubt that a strong T C. Department of Education attention is being given to ques­ movement for federal support of was reported at the general meet­ tions dealing with public support education, at least in an emer­ ing of the bishops by the depart­ of private schools and tax exemp­ gency, is underway." ment's episcopal chairman, the tion. A further concern of the The report stated that the direc­ Most Rev. John T. McNicholas, department in this field is a study tor of the department had been O.P., Archbishop of Cincinnati. of current developments in foreign asked to become a member of the The first section of the report school systems. Through coopera­ committee appointed by the Amer­ deals with the research and inf~r­ tion with the National Catholic ican Council of Education to ob­ mation activities of the depart­ Educational Association the de­ tain a ruling of the status of pri­ ment. A compilation and classifi­ partment is keeping informed con­ vately supported schools under the cation of laws and court decisions cerning t r end s in educational NRA. "It was ruled," Arch­ of the past five years that have any standardization. bishop McNicholas said, "that all bearing upon private education is , 'The economic crisis has raised schools except those conducted for being completed with a view of a series of problems in the field of profit are exempt, as are public bringing the previous study, "Pri­ education, " Archbishop McNicho­ schools, from signing a code." vate Schools and State Laws," up las stated. "Most of them concern The department is cooperating, to date, Archbishop McNicholas the adequate financing of schools. Archbishop McNicholas s tat ed, December, 1933 CATHOLIC ACTION 11

with the Catholic University of motion pictures in relation to edu­ ing the Ph.D., particularly Cath­ America in two important pro­ cation. olic women," His Excellency re- jects: A study of secondary educa­ Another section of the report ported. . tion, a statement of the progress deals with the matter of statistics. Among the bodies whose conven­ of which occupies a considerable Returns of the 1932 biennial sur­ tions and conferences were at­ portion of the report; and a sur­ vey of Catholic colleges and schools tended by representatives of the vey of current materials for the are now being compiled for publi­ department last year Archbishop teaching of religion. This latter cation in the 1934-35 edition of the McNicholas listed: National Cath- . olic Educational Association, Amer­ study has been completed and the DirectOlry of Catholic Colleges and ican Council of Education, North findings will soon be ready for Schools. Cooperation of the dio­ American Conference on Religion publication in the form of a doc­ cesan superintendents in furnish­ in Higher Education, National trinal dissertation. The policy of ing data for the directory is grate­ .Council of Catholic Men, Catholic enlisting the aid of the university fully acknowledged. The Statistical Educational. Association of Penn­ in such research work as seems Division of the department has sylvania, National Advisory Coun­ necessary from time to time has been able to be of service to a num­ cil on Radio in Education, Radio proved most helpful to the depart­ ber of members of the hierarchy in Institute of Ohio State University; ment, it was stated. compiling specially requested data, all meetings of the National Com­ Important developments " of to research students in colleges and mittee on Education by Radio, De­ deep interest to the Church" have universities, the United States partment of Superintendence, Na­ arisen in the fields of adult educa­ Office of Education, and numerous tional Education Association, and tion, radio and motion pictures, other inquirers. the Citizens' Conference on Voca­ Archbishop McNicholas reported, Archbishop McNicholas the n tional Education and the Problems stating that the department is rep­ touched briefly upon the depart­ of Reconstruction. resented on two important commit­ ment's library service and its Through the director and other tees engaged in a study of radio Teachers' Registration Section. staff members, the N. C. W. C. De­ matters, and that, at the invitation The demands of the latter, he said, partment of Education ~as mem­ of the United States Commissioner have been very heavy during the bership on a number of important of Education, the department is last year. "There is an ever-in­ educational organizations and com­ participating in a conference on creasing demand for teachers hold- mittees.

I LEGAL DEPARTMENT 1 STATEMENT covering the human sterilization laws in force the NRA and to the various phases A work of the N. C. W. C. Legal in the states have been collected of the government's recovery pro­ Department was made at the gen­ and digested, as well as the ob­ gram, particularly as that program eral meeting of the bishops by its scenity and birth control laws. A affects Catholic interests. The de­ episcopal chairman, the Most Rev. study is being made at the present partment, the report stated, has co­ John Gregory Murray, Archbishop time of the problem of tax exemp­ operated with other departments of St. Paul. The primary and most tion as it affects the Church and of the N. C. W. C. and with Cath­ important function of this depart­ religious institutions, including olic agencies in efforts to enforce ment was stated to be informative. schools. A full report containing postal regulations prohibiting the The information collected is di­ analyses of laws and court cases shipment of obscene matter through gested and transmitted to other de­ arising under these laws, together the mails. Cooperation was also partments of the Conference and with the history and phil<;>sophy given the N. C. C. M. and N. C. to others interested. This infor­ underlying tax exemption, will be C. W. in their study of the motion mation has to do not only with prepared as soon as possible, the picture code, resulting in the pro­ legislative matters but also with Archbishop stated. tests by the two orga.nizations administrative questions and inter­ The staff of the Legal Depart­ against certain provisions of the national affairs. ment has devoted much time and code. An important phase of the de­ study during the past months to Discussed in Archbishop Mur­ partment's work, Archbishop Mur­ legislation enacted in the Seventy­ ray's report were the meaning and ray stated, is research; e. g., the third Congress, to the codes under effect of legislation, proposed or 12 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 enacted, dealing, among other sub­ free health service; a code for hos­ partment of education. Other mat­ jects, with the following: Free text pitals; radio broadcasting; federal ters discussed are the Pan Ameri­ books for private schools; free emergency relief; the obscenity can Conference, Mexico, Haiti, and school buses; free school lunches; law; birth control; a federal de- Spain.

I______p_R_E_s_s_D __ E_p_A_R_T_M __ E_N_T ______~l

ESPITE UNFA VORABL:E lay commentators on major Catho­ lowing countries: Australia, British D economic conditions, a year lic questions-No C. W. C. Bishop's West Indies, Canada, Columbia, of progress resulting in an expan­ Statement on the Prf)sent Crisis, England, Hawaii, India, Ireland, sion along several lines was re­ Spanish Hierarchy's Letter on Per­ Italy, New Zealand, Panama Canal ported by the Most Rev. Hugh C. secution, German Hierarchy's Let­ Zone, Philippine Islands, Poland, ·Boyle, Bishop of Pittsburgh and ter on New Regime in Germany, Puerto Rico, and the United episcopal chairman of the N. C. Vatican-Ger~an Concordat, etc. States. W. C. Press Department. Some of In several cases trans . tion of the Bishop Boyle's report notes the the major developments cited by documents was necessary. growing eagerness of the seGular Bishop Boyle at the general meet­ press to report Catholic news and The News Service was able to ob­ ing of the bishops were: launching cites as an outstanding evidence the tain, Bishop Boyle stated, excellent of an immediate wire service from recent appointment by the Asso­ advance material on the 1934 In­ Washington to subscribing papers; ciated Press of a religious editor widening of news coverage by ar­ ternational Eucharistic Congress to devote his entire time to church rangement for a correspondent to to be held in Buenos Aires and to news. In this connection the re­ represent the N. C. W. C . .News make the necessary contacts for port states: "The rise of Catholic Service in Puerto· Rico; increase adequate coverage of this great Action has provided much com­ and improvement in the general event. Especially well received by pelling news. There is little doubt, Vatican City coverage; and the the editors in this connection was a however, that the Catholic press, doubling of texts of papal docu­ series of articles by the Rev. R. A. through its more complete and ac­ ments cabled to this country for McGowan, assistant director of the curate reporting, has been largely use by subscribing publications. N. C. W. C. Social Action Depart­ responsible for the new attitude of Among the important events de­ ment, who recently made a tour of the secular papers toward Catholic manding extraordinary news re­ Latin America for the purposes of news.... " quirements of his department, observation and study and also to G rat e f u 1 acknowledgment is Bishop Boyle reported the follow­ make contacts for the N. C. W. C. made in the report of the. coopera­ ing: New Holy Year--canoniza­ Latin American Bureau. tion of the directors of the N. C. tion and beatification causes, pil­ G rat i f yin g information in W. G. Legal Department and the grimages ; new cardinals; new apos­ Bishop Boyle's report was the N. C. W. C. Latin American Bu­ tolic delegate to the United States statement that not a single Catholic reau in handling matters dealing and new apostolic delegate to newspaper in this country sus­ with Spain, Mexico, and Latin Japan; difficulties in Germany­ pended publication last year. On America, and to the editor of concordat; new administration in the other hand, two new papers CATHOLIC ACTION in emphasizing Washington-NRA codes; contin­ were established, two increased the importance of the Catholic ued persecution in Spain and Mex­ their size, and two reported satis­ press through the preparation of a ico; Catholic education-financial f act 0 r y financial rehabilitation special Catholic Pre·ss Month num­ difficulties; Catholic efforts for so­ after going through critical periods ber of the magazine. In connection cial justice and relief activities. with the prospect of suspension. with Press Month, Bishop Boyle Besides furnishing its subscrib­ The total number of subscribers to notes that a very large number of ers the full text of papal docu­ the N. C. W. C. News Service now bishops sent out local Press Month ments issued during the year, the stands at 79. During the year the appeals. A large amount of special N. C. W. C. News Service supplied N. C. W. C. News Service lost four material was sent out to subscrib­ texts of many other important subscribers in the foreign field and ing papers by the N. C. W. C. News documents, necessary for use of gained six. The news dispatches Service to aid in realizing the aims editorial writers and religious and now go to pUblications in the fol- of this annual observance. December, 1933 CATHOLIC ACTION 13

I LAY ORGANIZATIONS DEPARTMENT I

ONTINUED sup p 0 r t and organizations affiliated with the N. made in the report of the cordial C gratifying growth of the two C. C. W. are seventeen national or­ hospitality extended by His Excel­ coordinate branches of the N. C. ganizations which include groups lency~ Archbishop Murray, in act­ W. C. Lay Organizations Depart­ in all parts of the country. ing as host to the recent thirteenth ment-the National Council of Contact with officers and dio­ annual convention of the N. C. C. Catholic Men and the National cesan councils and affiliated organi­ W. and of the genuine interest and Council of Catholic Women-were zations is maintained principally devotion of the women of the arch­ reported by the episcopal chair­ through the N. C. C. W. 's Monthly diocese in making the convention man of the department, the Most Message and CATHOLIC ACTION, of­ an outstanding success. " The Rev. Joseph. Schrembs, Bishop of ficial organ of the Conference. It presence of' His Excellency, the Cleveland. The two councils have is the hope of the council, the re­ Apostolic Delegate to the United at the present time approximately port states, to stimulate interest in States, " the report states, "was a, 2,500 affiliations of national, state, subscriptions to CATHOLIC ACTION great factor in bringing about the diocesan and local_organizations of to the end that Catholic women success of the meeting." Stressed Catholic lay men and women in all may come to realize the very far"­ as of equal importance was the sections of the United States. reaching and effective work which holding of fifty diocesan conven­ While the principal activities of is being carried on through the tions and three state conventions the two councils were summarized channels which center at national during the year. in the convention reports of the na­ headquarters. Other channels of The report refers to a new de­ tional executive secretaries of the communication are direct corre­ velopment during the year, namely, N. C. C. W. and the N. C. C. M., spondence, sending out of leaflets, the holding of a joint regional con­ published in the October and No­ pamphlets, etc. Increased corre­ ference under the auspices of the vember numbers of CATHOLIC Ac­ spondence last year indicates the Archdiocesan Council of San Fran­ TION, respectively, the following growing development throughout cisco, at which eight states and resume of the work of the councils the country of study groups among fourteen dioceses in the Provinces as submitted by Bishop Schrembs Catholic women. In answer to re­ of San Francisco and Portland will prove of interest at this time. quests received, there were sent out participated. It is planned to hold from N. C. C. W. headquarters 27,- a series of such regional confer­ NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC 972 leaflets and pamphlets. ences during the coming year. WOMEN The report commends the cus­ Another development of inter­ IVE new diocesan councils were tom of holding district meetings est, according to the report, is the F organized during the past year and acknowledges the assistance holding of what is called "Cath­ as follows: The Archdiocese of St. given by the national officers, mem­ olic Action Week." Two such pro­ Paul., Minn.; the Dioceses of Port­ bers of the national board and dio­ grams were held during the past land, Me.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Spo­ cesan presidents in attending at . year-one in Denver and one in kane, Wash.; and Grand Island, their own expense such meetings Dubuque. Nebr. Work of organization is in in dioceses other than their own The report names the confer­ progress in the Diocese of Scran­ and in different sections of their ences, previously mentioned in the ton, Pa., and plans have been made own dioceses. The council, the re­ report of the N. C. C. W. execu­ for the organization of the council port states, continues to stimulate tive sec ret a r y, at which ' the in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., interest in the extent of the pro­ Women's Council had official repre­ in the early spring. This brings gram of religious education, calling sentation during the year; also the the total of diocesan councils up to attention of its members to the im­ protests filed in behalf of the N. 57, leaving 47 dioceses to be organ­ portance of membership in the Con­ C. C. W. and affiliated groups ized. The goal of the Women's fraternity of Christian Doctrine or against the birth control bill and Council is for representation from the Catholic Instruction League. certain other measures presented to every parish, to the end that the Where these do not exist coopera­ the Seventy-third Congress. A p­ message of the National Catholic tion with the pastors in the teach­ preciation is expressed for the Welfare Conference and the pro­ ing of catechism, particularly to splendid service rendered by af­ gram of Catholic Action which it the children in attendance at pub­ filiated organizations during the represents shall reach into every lic schools, is urged. time of depression and for their section of the country. Among the G rat e f u I acknowledgment is support of the NRA. The national 14 CATHOLIC ACTION- December, 1933 president of the N. C. C. W. is a in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and and its reforestation program. The member of the National Commit­ in the Dioceses of Spokane and N. C. C. M. has kept its affiliated tee · for Mobilization for Human Great Falls. The ordinaries of groups informed of the needs of Needs, the National Committee for nine additional dioceses ' have con- local attention to this problem and Child Health, and the National -sented to organization, which will has urged Catholic societies, af­ Committee :for Crime Prevention. be undertaken as soon as field rep­ filiated and unaffiliated, to do their The report notes the request made resentatives are available. utmost in supplying Catholic litera­ by the N. C. C. W. of the admin­ Through the initiative of the N. ture, religious articles, etc., to the istrator of the NRA for insertion C. C. M., numerous and vigorous men of the camps. in the motion picture code of pro­ protests were filed with the Judi­ As a result of action taken at visions that would prevent" blind' , ciary Committee of the United the Chicago convention the N. C. C. and "block" , booking and double States Senate against the Hatfield M. has inaugurated in Washington feature programs and an industry­ birth cont~ol bill. The N. C. C. M. a Catholic Youth Bureau and for dictated censorship. cooperated with the W 0 men's this purpose has recently procured Mention is also made of the suc­ Council in action taken to combat the services of a priest director ex­ cessful action on the part of the the display and sale of contracep­ perienced in the field of recrea­ national council and diocesan tive devices and literature and in tional organization. The report groups with regard to preventing this had the active interest of its gives a brief summary of the work the display and circulation of in­ affiliated societies. Likewise, the of the N. C. C. M's Catholic Evi­ decent and obscene literature, dis­ N. C. C. M. protested 0 the na­ dence Bureau. plays of contraceptive material, tional association of motion I?ic­ An outstanding contribution of etc. Grateful acknowledgment is ture producers and distributors the the N. C. C. M. is, of course, the made of the response by the prevalence of indecent motion pic­ Catholic Hour. Bishop Schrembs Daughters of Isabella to the N. C. tures, and further protested the stated that the Hour has been C. W. 's appeal to affiliated organ­ proposed code of fair competition broadcast without exception on all izations for financial help in sup­ of the motion picture industry be­ the fifty-two Sundays of the year porting the National Catholic cause of its failure to eliminate the covered in the report and has been School of Social Service, resulting practice of "block" boo kin g, carried on a network of the Na­ in the establishment by the Daugh­ "blind" booking and double fea­ tional Broadcasting Company of ters of Isabella of the Queen Isa­ turing, and because it authorized 56 stations situated in 34 states be­ bella Foundation; also of the Cath­ the motion picture industry to con­ sides the District of Columbia-24 olic Daughters of America contri­ stitute itself its own legal board of of them west of the Mississippi, 32 bution of $1,000 for the mainten­ censorship. in the east, and 17 north and 15 ance fund of the school. The re­ Another activity of the N. C. C. south of the Mason and Dixon Line. port concludes with an appeal for M. was the assembling of material In addition the program has been a larger enrollment of existing or­ regarding the offensive Judge carried over the short-wave experi­ ganizations of Catholic women in Rutherford radio talks and the mental station at Schenectady, N. the N. C. C. W. transmission of this information to Y., resulting in correspondence its affiliated societies, resulting in from all over the world. All ad­ NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC practically every instance of the dresses delivered on the Hour have MEN banning of these talks locally. The been published and distributed to ISHOP SCHREMBS, report­ report notes that the headquarters those requesting them, the total B ing on the National Council of staff of the N. C. C. M. has worked number of reprints sent out during Catholic Men, stated that the coun­ under the direction of the general the year being 221,650. More than cil numbers at the present time secretary of the Conference in fol­ a million and a half copies have nine diocesan councils. In the past lowing the problems growing out been distributed since the Hour year, organization was undertaken of the Civilian Conservation Corps was inaugurated. I SOCIAL ACTION DEPARTMENT I HE WORK OF THE N. C. W. ternational relations showed a man of the department. This T C. Social Action Department · marked increase from July, 1932 to growth was due, Bishop Lillis covering the fields of industrial re­ July, 1933, according to the Most stated, to prevailing conditions in lations, citizenship, rural welfare, Rev. Thomas F. Lillis, Bishop of the country, interest aroused ·family life, social welfare and in- Kansas City and episcopal chair- through the issuance of .the N. O. December) 1933 CATHOLIC ACTION 15

W. C. Bishops) Statement on the ences were held during the year Citizens were distributed to the Present Crisis) the department's under the sponsorship of the most groups named. The report also Catholic Action program in the lay reverend ordinaries as follows: notes the bureau's cooperation with organizations and colleges and to Providence, Albany, New York the N. C. W. C. ' Bureau of Immi­ new contacts and increased oppor­ City, Fort Wayne, and San Fran­ gration and ~he preparation of a tunities for work through the Na­ cisco. These meetings have been program, at the request of the N. tional Councils of Catholic Men marked by increased attendance C. C. W. for distribution through and Women. and in range of subjects discussed, its Monthly Message) on "The During the year the department also in the number of speakers Catholic Woman and Civic Life." distributed 85,000 books and pam­ qualified and available to discuss The Family Life Section of the phlets. Seventeen new pamphlets Catholic social teaching. The in­ department has devoted itself in were issued, including five from the dustrial meetings with the Negro part to the preparation of a much­ department itself and the others Catholic organizations have been needed popular literature on fam­ from associations auxiliary to the continued. Ily life. Pamphlets issued include department. During the year, according to Some Guildmg Tho ugh t s fm' A new developm.ent inaugurated Bishop Lillis' report, the monthly Parents, A Study Club Outline on during the year resulted in the program of Catholic Action was the Family, and the third volume ' holding of three special meetings carried on, in cooperation with of The. Parent Eduoator. The for priests. These meetings dealt other departments of the N. C. W. Family Life Section reports a no­ with Pope Pius Xl's "Recon­ C., in 77 colleges, 46 seminaries, table increase in requests for the structing the Social Order" en­ and 35 Newman and study clubs. , 'Christian Marriage" Encyclical. cyclical and special study was Suggestions for various types of A member of the staff of the de­ given to the meaning of the en­ . programs, references, ways and partment has acted as secretary of cyclical and the use of the encycli­ means of continuing Catholic Ac­ the Catholic Association for Inter­ cal in the pUlpit, in personal con­ tion in the above mentioned insti­ national Peace, and others have tacts and in writing. The plan is tutions or societies were sent out aided in the preparation and criti­ to be continued with the addition every month to the cooperating cism of the reports of that body, of the use of the NRA as a basis groups for use in their Catholic which included during the year of comparison and contrast with Action observances, the distribu­ The Church and Peace Efforts) , , Reconstructing the Soc i a I tion of such literature totaling Tariffs and World Peace, Manchu­ Order. " 2,100 pieces. The initial program ria, The Problem in the. Far East­ The report notes . a number of dealt with Catholic Action itself all of which were supplemented by articles, studies, book reviews, etc., and the others treated of education study club outlines. as a means to promoting Catholic contributed by staff members to Renewed interest in Catholic Action, lay organization as the or­ leading Catholic ' and non-Catholic rural life was evidenced during the journals; also the delivery of lec­ ganized method of accomplishing it, year, Bishop Lillis stated, in re­ tures before Catholic and non­ the family as the primary social quests for information, for litera­ Cat hoi i c organizations, labor unit toward which it is directed ture and for suggestions regarding groups, university and college stu­ the press as an agency for propa~ rural activity programs. A most dents, and others. Members of the gating it, and specific types of 'encouraging development was the department have been asked to Catholic Action, for e x amp I e, establishment of 27 diocesan rural serve in various capacities on so­ peace, industrial relations, spread life bureaus and the appointment of the Faith and its retention cial and economic committees. of directors for the same, giving through social work. The ' plan is A special arrangement with the the N. C. W. C. Rural Life Bureau being extended this year to include National Council of Cat hoi i c a contact with at least one inter­ Catholic high schools and acad­ Women was made during the year ested leader in each diocese. Other emies throughout the country. whereby two members of the staff activities, interest in which is fos­ prepared and directed for the N. The department's Bureau of tered by the Rural Life Bureau­ C. C. W. study club programs on Civil Education has continued to the religious vacation school, the industrial problems and interna­ assist the Catholic foreign-born, to religious correspondence 'course, tional peace. Members of the staff promote civic education in the the confraternity of Christian doc­ also rendered special help to the parochial schools, and the study of trine-all show an increase over N. C. W. C. Study Club Commit­ civics among Catholic lay organi­ previous years. The religious va­ tee in the preparation of study club zations. Through the year 16,685 cation school attendance has now outlines. copies of the Civics Catechism on reached the 200,000 total. The re­ Five regional industrial confer- the Rights and Duties of American port notes the (Turn to page 18) MONTH by MONTH Bishop Schrembs Praises N.B.C. CATHOLIC ACTION For Cooperation in N.C.C.M. Catholic Hour Broadcast OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE PEAKING FROM CLEVELAND on November 12 on the NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE S regular Sunday evening program of the Catholic Hour, "We have grouped together, un.der ~he N atio~~d the Most Rev. Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland and Catholic Welfare Conference, the vanOU8 agenC'&e8 chairman of the N. C. W. C. Lay Organizations Department, by which the caU8e of religion i8 furthered. Each of lauded the N. C. C. M. sponsorship of the Hour and ex­ these continuing its own special work in its ch08en pressed gratitude to the National Broadcasting Company field,' win now cl.erive additional 8upport through general cooperahon." over whose network the Hour is carried weekly. The occa­ -From the 1919 Pastoral Letter of the sion was the opening of the N. B. C.'s new studios in Radio Archbishops and Bishops of the U. S. City, New York. N. C. W. C. Administrative Committee Bishop Schrembs recalled that the Gatholic Hour was in­ MOST REV. EDWARD J. HANNA! D.D., Archbishop of S.an augurated Sunday, March 2, 1930, and that it has been on Francisco chairman of the commIttee and of the Executive the air every Sunday since that time, beginning with 22 Departme~t; MOST REV .. THOMAS F. L~LLIS, D.D., Bishop of Kansas City, vice-chaIrman, and chaIrman, Department stations associated with the N. B. C. and building up to 56 of Social Action; MOST REV. JOHN G. ¥URRAY, S.T.D., stations in its domestic coverage and one short wave-length Archbishop of St. Paul, treasurer, and chaIrman, Legal De­ station which broadcasts the program practically through­ partment· MOST REV. JOHN F. NOLL, D.D., Bishop of Fort out the entire world. It was stated that approximately a Wayne, s~cretary and chairman, Department of Catho\ic Action' MOST REV. JOHN T. MoNICHOLAS, O.P., S.T.M., hundred thousand letters have been received from members Archbi~hop of Cincinnati, chairman, Department o~ Educa­ of the radio audience since the inception of the Hour and tion' MOST REV. JOSEPH SCHREMBS, D.D., Blshop of . that mo'" than a million and a half copies of the addresses Clev~land chairman, Department of Lay Organizations; delivere<.. n the program have been distributed. and MOST REV. HUGH C, BOYLE, D.D., Bishop of Pitts­ burgh, chairman, Press Department. Bishop Schrembs also recalled the words spoken by His Eminence, Patrick Cardinal Hayes, on the occasion of the Assistant Bishops, Administrative Committee inauguration of the Catholic Hour, at which time His MOST REV. EDW.A.RD F. HOBAN, D.D., Bishop of Rock­ Eminence stated that the Catholic Hour is for all the people ford' MOST REV. EMMET M. WALSH, D.D., Bishop of of the United States; that the Hour is one of service to Chal~leston; MOST REV. JOHN B. PETERSON, D.D., Bishop of Manchester; MOST REV. JOSEPH F. RUMMEL, D.D., America; that its purpose is not to triumph nor to boast, Bishop of Omaha; and MOST REV. EDWIN V. O'HARA, not to attack nor to blame; but to serve. D.D., Bishop of Great Falls. That the hopes for the success of the Hour expressed at REV. JOHN J. BURKE, C.S.P., S.T.D. the initial broadcast have been largely if not fully realized General Secretary is evident from the figures quoted by Bishop Schrembs indi­ cating its appreciation by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. CHARLES A. McMAHON Editor

Opinions efCpre88ed in article8 publi8hed in thi8 Quartermaster General of the U. S. Army magazine are to be regarded a8 th08e of the re8pec­ Thanks N.C.W.C. for Interest in Gold Star Mothers tive contributors. They do not nece88ariZ1l carrll with them the formal approval of the Admini8tra­ FFICIAL appreciation of the assistance rendered by the tive Committee, National Catholic Welfare Con­ National Catholic Welfare Conference in connection ference. O with the Gold Star Pilgrimages has been expressed by Major General J. L. DeWitt, quartermaster general of the United States Army. In a letter addressed to Mrs. Bridget N.C.W.C. Pledges Full Cooperation in Harrison, Pal'is agent of the N. C. W. C. Bureau of Histor­ Mobilization for Human Needs Campaign ical Records, who cooperated with the Government in looking after the comfort of Catholic war mothers and widows from N RESPONSE to an appeal sent the N. C. W. C. by New­ the United States visiting the graves of their dead in I ton D. Baker, chairman of the National Citizens Commit­ France, General DeWitt said: tee of the 1933 Mobilization for Human Needs, the Very "Numerous letters have been received from the mothers Reverend John J. Burke, C.S.P., general secretary of the N. and widows who made the pilgrimage to the cemeteries C. W. C., has replied to Mr. Baker stating that "the National of Europe during the past summer, commenting upon your Catholic Welfare Conference WIll this year, as formerly, give kindness to them, and I feel I should be showing a lack its full cooperation to the plans both for the mobilization for of appreciation should I fail to add my sincere thanks for human needs, and, as it has done from the very beginning, of your cooperation and the courtesies extended. the National Recovery Administration." Mr. Baker's com­ "Your affiliation with the National Catholic Welfare Con­ municat'ion requested the cooperation of all social welfare ference and your contacts with the Catholic churches in organizations and emphasized the necessity of "the utmost Paris were of material assistance to Colonel Jordan and team work between all national forces that can aid re­ the pilgrims, while your presence at the teas and the kindly covery." assistance rendered the mothers and widows contributed Both the National Council of Catholic Men and the N a­ greatly toward making their journey pleasant and satis­ tional Council of Catholic Women have communicated with factory. their hundreds of affiliated groups throughout the country "During the past four years, your gracious courtesies bringing to their attention the appeals of Mr. Baker and and genero'QS assistance in the plans and conduct of the General Hugh S. Johnson, national recovery administrator. pilgrimages have b.een of considerable value and I desire The national president of the National Council of Catholic to assure you of my appreciation for the part you played Women, is a member of the National Women's Committee to assure the success of the movement." of the 1933 Mobilization for Human Needs of which Mrs. The Gold Star Pilgrimages closed in 1933. They brought Roosevelt, wife of the President, is chairman. 6,674 mothers and widows to the American cemeteries. 16 the N. c. w.e. Father Gillis, Catholic World Editor, economic questions are included. Resumes of the efforts of Speaker on Catholic Hour, Beginning November 19 Popes Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, and Pius XI to enun­ ciate clearly and to propagate widely the ideals of Catholic HE REV. JAMES M. GILLIS, C.S.P., editor of The Action are given. T Catholic World, began a series of eight addresses on the American Catholics will find in this excellent work a clear Catholic Hour, the nation-wide broadcast sponsored by the exposition of their interpretation and realization of Catholic National Council of Catholic Men, on Sunday, November 19. Action. The N. C. W. ·C. is here signaled as the organiza­ This is the fourth appearance of Father Gillis on the tion which is conferring on the efforts of American Cath­ Catholic Hour which is broadcast over a network of the olics the unity which is essential to success. The article National Broadcasting Company, through Station WEAF, entitled "L'Action Catholique et la Presse" offers a good New York. The general title of Father Gillis' series is analysis of the differences existing between the Catholic "This Mysterious Human Nature." The titles of the five and the secular press. . It also indicates what the press addresses are: November 19 "So Like an Angel: This Quin­ department of the N. C. W. C. has accomplished in making tessence of Dust", N oven:ber 26, "Masters of Destiny: the Catholic press of America more t'imely and attractive. Slaves of Circum~tance"; December 3, "Flesh Against Every article is written in French. The style is generally Spirit: Spirit Against Flesh"; December 10, "Children of good, idiomatic, and betrays excellent instruction. It is God: and Rebels"; and December 17, "The Everlasting needless to point out the immense amount of good accruing Mercy: He Knoweth our Frame." to a student participating in a work of this nature, both in reinforcing his knowledge of the language, and in deepening N.C.W.C. Joins in Arinual Tribute his appreciation of the nature and the end of Catholic Action. At Tomb of Nation's Unknown Soldier N ACCORDANCE with their annual custom, representa­ Rev. Vincent Mooney, C.S.C., Head I tives of the seven welfare organizations of the World Of N.C.C.M.'s Catholic Y.outh Bureau War joined with other patriotic, civic, reli.gious and wel­ NCONFORMITY with the action of the Executive Com­ fare groups in observing the fifteenth a~mversary of t~e I signing of the Armistice. The ceremomes were held In mittee of the National Counc'il of Catholic Men as taken Arlington National Cemetery and a wreath was placed on at its recent Chicago convention, a Youth Bureau has been the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as "the tribute of the established at N. C. C. M. headquarters in Washington as seven." one of the important interests of the council. Rev. Vincent The Rev. Michael J. Ready, assistant general secretary of Mooney, C. S. C., has been appointed director of the :newly the N. C. W. C., acted in behalf of the National Catholic establ'ished bureau and is already organizing the service War Council. Other organizations represented were the features which it is intended to supply. War Camp Community Service, ~he Sa.lvation Arm~, .the The Catholic Youth Bureau is designed to: (1) provide for Jewish Welfare Board, the AmerIcan LIbrary AssocIatIon, an interchange of service and information regarding activi­ the Young Men's Christian Association and the Young ties of all Cathol'ic and non-Catholic agencies in this field; (2) Women's Christian Association. secure unity, cooperation, and coordination of leadership in existing approved agencies; (3) secure more concerted effort on the part of Catholic lay organizat'ions in the develop­ December 8, 1933, Date of ment of a youth apostolate; (4) secure participation through Monsignor Ryan's Investiture Catholic lay activities, in local, state, and national youth . NVITATIONS have been issued to the s.olemn investiture programs and committees, as well as parochial and dio­ I by His Excellency, the Most Rev. MIchael J. Curley, cesan programs and movements; (5) provide for a better understanding of the Church's attitude in its relation to Archbishop of Baltimore, of the Rt. Rev. John A. Ryan, the youth of America. dean of the School of Sacred Sciences, Catholic University Father Mooney's record in the field of boy's work fits him of America and director of the Department of Social Action, especially for such a position as that which he now assumes. N. C. W. C., as domestic prelate to His Holiness, Pope Pius From 1923 to 1925 he was viee-cha'irman of the Boy Life XI. The investiture will be held on Friday, December 8, Commission and director general of Boys' Work for the at 10 a. m., in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Con­ Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus, and spe­ ception, Washington, D. C. The ~ost Rev. John Gregory cial national field scout commissioner, Region 9, Boy Scouts Murray, Archbishop of St. Paul, WIP preach the .sermo~. of America. At the same time he organized and dIrected A dinner complimentary to MonsIgnor Ryan wIll be gIven three boy leadership courses at St. ~dward's University, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, December 8, at 7 Austin, Texas. o'clock. In 1925, Father Mooney returned to Notre Dame, where he was instructor in sociology and director of off-campus Fordham University Students students. In 1926 he succeeded Knute Rockne as director Present Catholic Action Studies in French of Physical Education. Wh'ile in this position he super­ vised three distinct projects: The required program in phys­ "L E RAYON," publication of the "Cercle. F~ancais" ical education; t~e four-year normal eourse, leading to the of Fordham University, will be of specIal mterest degree of bachelor of science in physical education; and. the this year (it is issued annually) to Catholic students of the 'intramural athletic program. French language. All of the articles deal with some phase From 1929 to 1931 he served as prindpal of St. Thomas' or other of Catholic Action, and are largely from the pen Military Academy, St. Paul, Minn., returning to St. Ed­ of the students of the university. A few of the articles ward's University in the latter year as head of the Depart­ have been contributed by European members of the Society ment of Education, where he was again active in the boy of Jesus. The scope of the work is confessedly more exten­ work program of the Knights of Columbus. sive than intensive. The progress of Catholic Action in the In sponsoring this new project the Men's Council hopes United States, France, Belgium, England, and Germany is to make a distinct contribution to this 'important field of reviewed. Essays treating in detail' of various social and social service. 17 18 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

Conference Activities During Year Reviewed-Continued from page 15 printing by the Bureau of a new and Why Rural Life. The con­ operates in the matter of parish edition of 10,000 copies of the cluding section of the report deals credit union extension with the Manual of Religious Vacaticm Parish credit Union National Com­ Schools, a booklet entitled "The with the bureau's activities in the mittee, the headquarters of which ReI i g i 0 u sly Under-Privileged promotion of credit unions. The is at 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, Child, " Catholic Rural Activities, N. C. W. C. Rural Life Bureau co- Washington, D. C.

I__ B_U_R_E_A_U_o_F_I_M_M_IG_R_A_T_Io_N __ I--+f<·I HE YEAR 1932-33 was one of tude of fairness and sympathy to­ correct procedure. Commenting T splendid opportunity for the ward the immigrant. For the first on the conditions at Ellis Island N. C. W. C. Bureau of Immigra­ time since the N. C. W. C. bureau the report states: tion, according to the report sub­ was established, the report says, "The present-day situation is a mitted to the general meeting of "we can look forward to a really distinct contrast in that the Cath­ the bishops by the Most Rev. humane administration of the im­ olic position is solidly established, Thomas F. Lillis, Bishop of Kan­ migration laws with d' considera­ each succeeding commissioner hav­ sas City and episcopal chairman tion given to social jus Ice for the ing congratulated our representa­ of the N. C. W. C. Department of alien and the welfare of the· de­ tive on the high standard we have Social Action. Among the factors pendent family." set, the thoroughness of our meth­ which contributed to the work of According to the report, appeal ods and the deserved success we the bureau during the year, Bishop cases totaling 318 and involving have attained." Lillis enumerated the following: 330 persons were pressed before A section of the report deals (1) an increase in the volume of the Secretary of Labor's Board of with the work of the bureau's of­ requests for help and the added Review, the Visa Office of the State fice at EI Paso, Tex., and the importance thereof to individuals Department, or the Department of branch office at Juarez, Mexico. and families, (2) the less favorable Justice. Favorable decisions were Through the EI Paso office, 120 ec­ position of aliens as regards pub­ obtained in 307 of the cases in­ clesiastics and religious were aided lic relief and employment, (3) the volving 318 persons, this represent­ during the year and 953 parole rigid U. S. Government immigra­ ing a success of 96.54 per cent in cases handled by the bureau's tion policy up to March 4, 1933, in handling by the bureau. workers. all phases of the subject, but par­ ticularly in relation to illegal resi­ Another item of service was that A total of 1,752 new arrivals­ dents, deportations and the restric­ rendered in a number of cases of all Catholics-were referred to the tion in issuance of visas to new im­ deportation, the Government total N. C. W. C. Bureau during the migrants, especially those wishing of which last year reached the all­ past year, resulting in 2,176 reports to join families already here, and time record of 19,865. Varied as­ from the various dioceses where ( 4) the hopeful situation under the sistance was also given to 684 ec­ follow-up attention is given by so-called "new deal" which gave clesiastics and religious. local Catholic agencies and indi­ immediate relief to thousands of The report further points out viduals. Gratitude is expressed in aliens who were in distress because that twelve years' experience has the report for this interested of the earlier strict interpretation enabled the N. C. W. C. Bureau of service. of the law. Immigration to increase the ef­ Another item of the report states Requests for the solution of im­ ficiency of its work at New York that there were referred to the bu­ migration difficulties, the report. and Ellis Island. The New York reau 349 problem cases, involving stated, came from persons and office is recognized as a center of 676 persons. These cases originated agencies of world-wide distribu­ accurate information on every­ either in the United States or tion. While the greater majority thing bearing on the subject of im­ abroad and involved international of such requests came from Cath­ migration. As such it has been cooperation in their solution. Some­ olic sources, many others were widely used by Catholic organiza­ times attention was required in sev­ problems involving Catholics re­ tions, priests, and religious com­ eral countries on a single problem. ferred by non-Catholic agencies. munities in favor of persons al­ Follow-up in Canada will be an Mention is made in the report of ready in difficulty or for those added feature of the bureau's work the present Administration's atti- wishing to assure themselves of beginning with the new fiscal year. • DUBUQUE'S INsrrITuTE of CATHOLIC ACTION By Rt. Rev. Msgr. John M. Wolfe, Ph.D.

HE SECOND ANNUAL Catholic Action Week Ignatius Smith, O.P., on "Mary and the World Crisis" in Dubuque, held on the 24 to 26 of October, was gave a new orient~tion to the thought regarding the T sponsored by His Excellency, Archbishop Beck­ evils that afflict the distressed' peoples of the world. man, and in his. words the "comprehensive program Thus Catholic Action Week fittingly proposed the Eu­ constituted an institute for Catholic Action in the arch­ charist for the opening conferences and Mary, whQ diocese. " Leaders and representatives from every par­ guards Jesus and His truth in the hearts and minds of ish, mission and institution were invited to attend the the faithful, in the closing religious exercises, so that ceremonies and conferences and thereby enrich them­ all might seek Jesus through Mary, His Mother. selves "with high purposes and determined zeal in the The conferences of round table and banquet groups cause of Catholic Action. were broadly classified for the three days , into the The general principle that guided the drafters of the following: (1) The Priests' Eucharistic League and the programs and the organization of the conferences was Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women; (2) Arch­ that of Catholic Action groups. Every Catholic Action diocesan Rural Life Bureau; (3) Marian Congress of ' society in the archdiocese was given recognition on the Sodalities and Catholic Students' Mission Crusade, So­ program. The purpose was to educate the several cial Justice and Charity, and Holy Name conferences. groups for more extensive activities in the several The activities of the first day were held at Columbia parish, mission, and institutional units, by studying the College gymnasium and the nearby Nativity Parish experiences and methods of others. The aim is to bring Guild Hall; those of the second day at St. Raphael '8 all organizations into archdiocesan unions under the Cathedral, Columbia College gymnasium and dining direction of the archbishop. halls; of the third day at St. Mary's Parish Church, The personnel on the prOgrams were generally chosen society halls of the Casino, and Columbia College gym­ from amongst archdiocesan groups, although there was nasium. The college is the heart of the educative forces generous selection also of national representatives for in the archdiocese and its faculty was generous not only several societies. The reason for selecting the confer­ in their participation but also in their generous kind­ ence leaders from diocesan and parish associations was ness in offering accommodations and conveniences for to bring them into the practical thought and wisdom of the conferences and luncheons. local achievements through activities that would pro­ mote religion in this area through the legitimate Cath­ AMPHLET racks which carried every type of olic Action units. PCatholic Action literature were set up in the gallery of the Columbia College gymnasium and were gen­ ACH day's activities were begun with the solemn erously patronized by the large number of visitors. A E splendor, sacred beauty, and devotion of the pon­ special effort was made to pre~nt to the visitors of the tHidal Mass. The music was presented by choirs which exhibits every form of the liturgical arts and crafts and were carefully trained in this liturgical art. Congrega­ teaching religion through art and other visual materials. tional singing was attempted and encouraged. The On the first day, the "Priest and the Eucharist" was processionals and recessionals of each ceremony brought the central theme of the sermon of Archbishop John out the beautiful pageantry to which the liturgy so Gregory Murray, of St. Paul, at the pontifi~ial Mass. beautifully lends itself. Every musical instrument was A t the noon banquet, " Catholic Action" was considered made a means of spiritual and religious expression. in relation to the Mystical Body, the Church, and the The Marian Vespers and procession of the closing eve­ vivifying strength received from the Holy Eucharist, ning ceremony brought forth most amazing reactions in whose consecration, care, and ministration amongst from the vast congregation of Catholics and non-Cath­ the faithful the hierarchical orders function preemi­ olics. Its beauty and truth will linger long in the nently. The participation of the laity in the liturgy, memories of all who were present. The sermon by Rev. congregational singing, and leisure time activities of a 19 20 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 religious and cultural nature was amply discussed at Catholic Action and guilds of professional men and this conference. women. The afternoon program comprehended round table TH~ ~~pics of. the afternoon conference comprised actIvItIes, whIch the archbishop has designated as discussions of the problems, methods and activities of the specific w..s>rk of the Archdiocesan Council of Na­ the following societies: (a) parish sodalities and pious tional Council of Catholic Women; The Confraternity associations; (b) school sodalities; (c) Students' Mis­ of Christian Doctrine; Catholic home school associa­ sion Crusade; (d) Holy Name societies; (e) Catholic Historical Society; (f) Laymen's Retreat Association' tions; study clubs; evidence guilds; Catholic women '8 , clubs; and the Junior Daughters. The reports on the (g) Catholic Youth organizations (C. Y. 0.) ; (h) study methods used and the results achieved during the past clubs. year were very heartening. The evening conference The dinner program considered more specifically the was devoted to. the consideration of the need for lay theme, which gave the title to the day-Marian Day. volunteer workers and their training, in promoting a The following were some of the subjects: "Marian resourceful Catholic Action program in the parish and Congresses in European Countries"; "Mary and the institutional groups. In connection with this confer­ I rish Catholic Home"; "Mary and Children of the ence there was held also a reception for His Excellency Catholic Home"; "Mary and the Catholic Mother." the Archbishop, who gathered together all the thread~ Groups of Catholic Action students from the local of the day's discussi.on and wove them into a stimulat­ academies and colleges presented becoming music and ing exhortation and charge to Catholic Action, because served at the luncheons and dinners. Groups from the God's Church wills it. _local pa ish boy scout troops acted as guards of the The second day's program was devoted to rural life processi ns, ushers at the conferences and orderlies at problems, which are naturally many in this rural area the churches and halls. and which have become a specific study of the Arch~ SEVERAL groups that are devoted to specific parish diocesan Rural Life Bureau, under the direction of cultural activities, but which were not placed on Rev. J. M. Campbell and twelve archdiocesan priest di­ the program this year petitioned for due recognition rectors. The following were some of the topics dis­ for the coming years. Though the program in the first cussed in the conferences: "The Church and the R~ral scrutiny appeared to be complex and detailed, the ex­ Problem"; "Catholic Teaching and the NRA"; "Eco­ periences were favorable and suggestion was made by nomic Security and the Catholic Attitude"; "Organi­ many, who helped to enact it successfully, that in future zation of a Rural Industrial Community"; "The Small years there be more small groups . assembled for inti­ Farm"; "Helping to Stay on the Land"; "Credit mate round table exchange of experiences and discus­ Agencies and Credit Unions"; "The Present Federal sions. The many, who were interviewed, recognized the Facilities"; "Back to the Land: a Catholic National deeply effective inspirational sermons and lectures, Need"; "Four-H Clubs." The evening program fea­ which the program carried, but ventured the opinion tured one act plays and band music, so that every phase that the more practical phases of the Catholic Action of the Church's influence and activities might be em­ Movement should be expanded by the organization of phasized. The farmers who attended in large num­ additional conferences and round tables, so arranged bers were enthusiastic in the recognition given to their that related interests would be grouped and timed that problems by the priests and lay leaders. visitors might attend meetings of personal appeal from day to day, as they wished to "prepare themselves for HE third day, as the other two, began before the T more specific and concrete activities in their parish altar with the solemn pontificial.Mass, at which His groups. All the priests of the archdiocese were in Excellency, Most Rev. Edmond Heelan, Bishop of Sioux hearty sympathy with the plan of Catholic Action City, preached on "The Encyclical on Christian Mar­ Week, because it has a determined place on the dio­ riage and Mary the Ideal of Christian Womanhood." cesan calendar. The conference, which followed immediately, was given ______~I------over to the discussion of the Catholic League for Social Justice, in which the national director Michael DISCOURSES OF APOSTOLIC DELEGATE " , O'Shaughnessy, and the diocesan director, Rev. M. M. THE N. C. W. C. announces the printing in one pamphlet of two recent discourses of His Excellency the Most Rev. Hoffmann, led. An exemplification of the need for A~leto Giovanni Cicogna:r:i, Apostolic Delegate to the social justice was presented by Paul Nauman, chair­ Umted States,-the first delIvered at the annual meet'ing of man of the local emergency relief organization. the National Conference of Catholic Charities New York City, October 1, 1933, on "The Holy Father ~nd Catholic The luncheon program was devoted to the considera­ Action"; the second to the St. Paul convention of the N a­ tion of the social and religious asp"ects of charity, tional Council of Catholic Women, on October 10 1933 through the following discussions: archdiocesan charity entitled "The N at'ional Council of Catholic Women.~' S~ a.nnouncement of this and other recent N. C. W. C. publica­ works; St. Vincent de Paul conferences and works', tIons printed on page 32 of this issue. ------.1------MOTION PICTURES- A PROBLEM/ortheNATION

AN address delivered at the 13th annual convention of the National Council of Catholic Women, St. Paul, Minn., October 7-11, 1933, by the retiring national president of the organization. By Mary G. Hawks

HE complete breakdown of the economic and in­ selection or judgment and also through the ownership dustrial system; the dangerously lowered moral by producing corporations of chains of movie theaters T tone, due to the unbridled commercialization of in all of the large cities and in many of the smaller ' recreation, have aroused public consciousness and the ones. The effect of this hydra-headed monopoly of dis­ way of opportunity is open for a virile program of tribution by the producers is to render negligible the Catholic Action. influence of the local patrons with any well-meaning Let us consider the features and the proportions of local distributor who, were he free to select films to just one phase of the situation we must face and see if suit his patrons, might select very differently. Only by we may bring to bear on it an effective program based not showing the films he has paid for, hence at great on Christian principles which must win the apprecia­ pecuniary loss to himself, can the distributor now heed tion and, possibly, the adhesion of all right-minded the appeal or demand of his patrons for better movies. people. For public consciousness is now aroused to the Such is the power over popular recreation vested in fact that the "movies," as they are produced and dis­ the hands of a mighty few by American inertia. and in­ tributed today, are a menace to the physical, mental difference. And with what effects? and moral welfare of the nation. Effects of Movies on Children A recent volume, Our Movie-Made Children, by Henry J ames Forman, published by the Macmillan THE studies of the reactions of children and young Company, offers the result_ of an "absolutely objec­ people to the movies, recorded by experts using tive, unprejudiced and authoritative" study of the scientific instruments, testify to serious physical, emo­ movies and their effects carried on by the Motion Pic­ tional and social disturbances. Physical disturbance, ture Research Council, financed by the Payne. fund. indicated by increased restlessness in sleep, averaged 14 The study concerns itself chiefly with children, who per cent in girls and 26 per cent in boys. Individual should be for us a major concern. World statistics reactions registered as high as 90 per cent. In all cases show that the movies touch the lives of 250,000,000 the increased restlessness lingered over a period of people every week. The average weekly attendance in several nights. The group of children tested were nor­ our own country is 77,000,000 (these figures are for mal children whose reactions had remained normal 1929) of which number 23,000,000 are young people after an evening spent in window-shopping. The movie under twenty-one years of age who spend two hours shows were not selected but were the usual two-hour each week in movie theaters. 12,000,000 of these are program of the current neighborhood offering and the fourteen years or younger, 6,000,000 seven or younger. children went to bed at the customary hour. Seventy per cent of the pictures reviewed had for a Emotional reactions were found equally great, that dominant theme, crime, sex love, violence or horror, of children being twice as great as that of the adults 449 crimes being noted in 115 films taken at random. who were tested for the sake of comparison, in certain cases even five times as great. Pulse rates varied re­ Control of Film Output markably. A young woman of twenty-two, nor.mal in OUR motion picture producing companies control every respect, when tested was found to have a pulse of F not only the production but the distribution of the 140 instead of her normal of 80 during the course of an immense output of American moving pictures. This ordinary film, while during a "thriller" it jumped to control of distribution is exercised by the system of 192. The opinion of a noted New York neurologist is , 'block" and "blind" booking which obliges the dis­ that scenes of horror and tense excitement produce an tributor to buy blindly in a block without any right of "effect similar to shell shock" and if the stimulation be 21 22 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 too often repeated the effect "amounts to an emotional effect a moral decline at the very outset of life's debauch, " such effects being frequently cumulative and adventure. , 'sowing the seeds for future neuroses and psychoses." The reports, made by the Educational Research Committee of the Payne Fund, leave small loop-holes of Crime and Sex Reactions escape from such conclusions. Nine" research vol­ ACE pr~udice was generated in a 'community of umes" (page 250, Survey Graphic, May, 1933) written R about 6,000 people where it was non-existent as the by eighteen psychologists and sociologists, substantiate result of a movie, a result which persisted definitely for the figures given here from Our Movie-Made Children, eight months after the showing. A group of 110 young the "popular summary volume." Much light on the men prisoners ascribed to the pictures they had seen the situation can also be gained from a series of articles desire to carry a gun, to "pull off a hold-up" to fool published in the Christian Century, now collected under the police, and to achieve success in crime, while in­ one cover and entitled: ' , Your Child and the Movies." numerable children in various social groups have testi­ A sound basis of fact for intelligent and conscientious fied to the effect of the movies on their social attit"(!.des action is thus provided. Indications that the time is and behaviour, not the least being very definite sex ripe for such action are also at hand. suggestion and stimulation. These injurious effects are greatly enhanced by the Revolt of. Intelligent Patrons shameless sex appeal of the advertising current in HE COMMONWEAL in an editorial (May 5, 1933) the ' motion picture magazines and others, an appeal T finds "a promising note" in acknowledgment by which is also the keynote of the modern" sales method." the Society of Motion Picture Engineers that "55,000,- The lurid and sensual are flaunted in the public eye on 000 int igent people in this country habitually absent posters and in headlines with no apparent revolt on the themselves from the movies because the pictures are part of public opinion. Has the doctrine of laissez 'below the level of their intelligence,' " and also that faire, which has brought our economic system tumbling child audiences exhibit greater "susceptibility to un­ about our heads, wrought such havoc with our moral wholesome details depicted throughout the progress of sense that we will tolerate as a nation the blatant dis­ a picture than to a moral tacked on to the end." It is play of moral abnormalities peculiar to the underworld? promising, indeed, if those associated with the industry Shall we remain impotent at home while other nations are honestly taking stock of its moral and intellectual revolt against the "American prQducer's domination" liabilities. The pressure of financial liabilities upon the and demand a "publicity raised to the highest pro­ motion picture producing companies at this time, also fessional and ethical standards?" The mental and places tremendous power within the grasp of public moral health of our people at home and the good name opinion if it will but seize and wield it. The bankruptcy of our country abroad alike demand some definite, con­ of Fox Films, Paramount and R. K. 0., who numbered certed, constructive action. As the Manchester Guard­ their local theaters by hundreds and even thousands, ian suggests: "The United States has agitated against has shaken the "impregnable system" which they be­ the trade of opiate in the Far East. Would it not be lieved they had worked out. Will public opinion enter well for her to act as vigorously against the corrupting the breach thus created and demand the full surrender influence that comes from her own shores?" of that most iniquitous feature of the system-blind and block booking 1 Need of Vigorous Action The recent decision rendered by the Supreme Court IGOROUS action will only be taken, however, when of Wisconsin against the United Artists Corporation, Vthere is full realization of the "corrupting in­ gives reason to believe that decent exhibitors and a de­ fluence" exercised by the motion piCture literature, ad­ termined public may invoke state and federal laws vertising and films in our country today. We must against these "standard contracts" of the moving pic­ fully realize the futility of public health education ture monopoly, since it controls 95 per cent of the mo­ while we allow our children to be wrecked nervously by tion pictures and sound records in the United States, the current movie thriller. thereby constituting "an unlawful conspiracy and re­ We must clearly recognize that in exposing our chil­ straint of trade." dren to movie shell shock and emotional debauch, we But if the laws as they stand do not afford adequate necessarily multiply psychiatric clinics to explore and protection against this exhibition of "greed for profits" correct these disturbed and distorted emotions. We preying" on the bodies and souls of little children," it must face the lmpleasant fact that constant exposure to is high time that we, of the National Council of Cath­ screen stories of successful gangsters and" slick" rack­ olic Women, should" urge," as did the National Con­ eteers, of flaming passion and high power emotionalism, gress of Parent-Teacher Associations at its last con­ may easily nullify every standard of Hfe and conduct vention, "support of federal legislation to regulate set up at home and at school and will almost inevitably blind and block booking and other undesirable practices December, 1933 CATHOLIC ACTION 23

in film distribution. Blind and block booking must go. tures have given place to the production of the most Public opinion the world over arraigns it and may be immoral films of all time." counted on to uphold any definite program for its Evidently, excellent and necessary as is the work of elimination. previewing and classifying, it but scratches the surface of the deeper problem of this conscienceless, monopo­ Question of Federal Censorship listic sway over the emotional life of the masses, espe­ BILL (H. R. 6097) has been introduced in Con­ cially the young. Must we not go farther as women, A gress which provides for a federal commission on mothers and Catholics, and declare nationally, as did motion pictures. The directors of the National Council the Dubuque Archdiocesan Council, that "we cannot of Catholic Women are opposed to government censor­ countenance longer the type of films sent us in the ship and believe, moreover, that the provisions of the past; and should they continue, we must make our pro­ bill relating to moral standards lend themselves to test felt at the box office?" varied and self-contradictory interpretations. If Catholic women, alone even, were to combine to N ow is the time for positive opinion and drastic stay away from the ~ovies and to keep their children action. With our customary American aversion to away until their demands were heeded, the exhibitors Government censorship, we have trusted the moving would soon be "on the side of the 'angels" and the pro­ picture producers to clean house themselves and satisfy ducers could be brought to terms. , So long as we talk public demand. This trust has been betrayed; how and do nothing, nothing will be done by the producers ' absolutely it has been betrayed, the articles of the code either. agreed to by the producers, March 31, 1930 will best The weekly paper on the movies issued from the Cath­ show. They are as follows: olic Center of Collaboration in Paris, is entitled ChCYisir 1. No picture will be produced which lowers the or "Choose," and has for its motto: "To live is to moral standard of those who see it. Hence the sym­ choose. " Are we virile enough to choose now, to con­ pathy of the audience should never be thrown to the trol rather than to be controlled Y And if we are, how side of crime, wrong-doing, evil or sin. shall we go about it 1 2. Correct standards of life subject only to require­ ments of drama and entertainment shall be presented. Business Evils of Industry 3. Law, natural and human, shall not be ridiculed SUGGEST and urge, as an essential featur.e of a nor shall sympathy be created for its violation. I Catholic program for better movies, a demand for There has been no lack of sympathetic cooperation such legislation as will effectively eliminate the system on the part of women's organizations to effect re­ of blind and block booking-the strangle-hold of pro­ forms without censorship. Too much can hardly be ducer-owned theaters and give to the public, especially said, in this connection, for the indefatigable labors of women, a larger control over the making and the adver­ the Motion Picture Department of the International tising of pictures. Federation of Catholic Alumnae. Their organization For we must have the weapon of law in hand in order of a devoted band of volunteers to preview and report to cripple this deadly foe of the "children's charter" on pictures, to check and weigh opinions, has accom­ enunciated by the White House Conference. It is plished notable results in removing objectionable fea­ merely hypocritical to ask "for every child spiritual tures from many films. Their classified lists of "better and moral training to help him stand firm under the pictures" have rendered a real service. The same pressure of life" and to permit the present constant holds true of similar work done by the Federation of , 'menace of the movies" to every factor for his "spir­ Women's Clubs. Yet the facts reported in the studies itual and moral training." of the Educational Research Committee of the Payne Nevertheless, this weapon of law, while useful, even Fund remain the same. necessary, should be only auxiliary in a Catholic women's program. We cannot admit that the forc~s Protest by Catholic Women of evil are stronger than the forces of good. We believe TILL, as stated by the Dubuque Archdiocesan that the spiritual power of grace and personal moral S Council of Catholic Women: "We find the average standards can withstand "the pressure of life" amid film reeking with vulgarity, crammed with lewd dia­ pagan looseness. The record of the martyrs, the Chris­ logue, disguised under the term of 'wisecracking.' We tian story throughout the centuries attest to the truth find immorality exalted; gross spectacle presented in of this belief. We need to formulate this belief into a the form of realism. Divorce is upheld as an ideal con­ working program. , dition; faithfulness between husband and wife is looked Not many months ago, a woman columnist practically upon as something unusual. asked why women were forever protesting against the "Films deal with the lives of morons, rather than of movies, etc., as injurious to their children instead of decent men and women. The gangster and horror pic- doing the obviously simple thing of keeping their chil- 24 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

dren at home. Of course they should do both. Yet, operation of producers, parents, and public, are needed obviously, there is no compulsion about the movies. to discover how to use motion pictures to the best ad­ Because they are there to see, we do not have to see vantage in the development of children." them, nor need our children see them. To bring to this work our intelligent contribution as Catholic Program Proposed Catholic mothers we must have clearly in mind a Cath­ olic standard. IF WE ARE alive, as Christians, as' Catholics, we will choose, as Christians and Catholics, for" to live The Church has never set for art an impossible is to choose." standard. As Cardinal Newman once said: "You can­ not expect a sinless literature of a sinful people. " Truth I would, therefore, propose as primary to a Catholic does not deny sin, quite the contrary, but neither does program: truth exalt sin as a resistless dominant in life. 1. A Catholic standard of judgment in re movies, "Drama in its appeal to the emotions will always drama and literature. find disorder an effective theme. But we have a right 2. Determined elimination from our personal recrea­ to insist that disorder be presented as disorder, and tional program of all that violates that standard. . order as order" was the point well taken by the editor 3. Self-education and the education of our children of a screen magazine, in Paris during the International in that highest expression of human life-the power of Congress on the Mother in Industry and the Working choice-selection. Education to know, to like, to select Man's Home. the best, is education to character that will" stand firm under the pressure of life." True Canons of Art 4. To use the facilities of organization to educate B EA TTTY, in the mind of the Church, is more than public opinion to this standard of selection. "skin deep .." Art which truly holds up the mirror 5. To carry to Catholic mothers generally by means to nature reflects, even though the image be at times of organization facilities in parishes, etc., information somewhat distorted, something of that harmony and ac­ regarding the menace to health and morals of the mo­ cord between the visible and the invisible. There is an vies and thereby counteract the common habit of "park­ inviolable unity between physical and spiritual beauty, ing" children in the movies to get them out of the home the one cannot be sacrificed without marring the other. and off the street. This ,is frequently done by parents Love, depicted as mere passion, robbed of selfless giv­ who would not spend the admission price for their own ing and sacrifice, is deformed and debased. amusement, and consequently do ~ot know the "men­ Weare "off the gold standard" as Catholics, as the ace of the movies" for their children. Cardinal Hayes Literature Committee puts it, if the 6. Urge that young children be not admitted to the veneer of artistry can blind our judgment to the viola­ movies unaccompanied by an adult. tion of the true canons of art and its obligation to Eter­ nal Truth, Beauty, and Love. 7. Urge that this form of recreation be a rare treat rather than a habit for children. " A work of art should enfold a thought and prepare 8. Manifest organized interest in the showings of lo­ it for assimilation. Sometimes it will be presented cal theaters. Demand good pictures: protest bad ones. without proofs and the idea depicted will penetrate the (Patronize the former and boycott the latter if protest inmost depths of the spectator's soul more surelv than is unheeded.) if it were imposed from without. This is the key" to the 9. Unite with other community groups in request for great works of art. They are not fashioned to prove special children's programs of real recreational and something, but to enable us to' feel the eternal truths educational value and not shown in conjunction with of the world and of men. "-says Jean Morieuval in Chaisw. coming features of an adult program. 10. Seek and give fullest cooperation towards secur­ As Catholics we do not seek to make of a work of ing federal legislation that will eliminate blind and art mer e propaganda for good. But we do demand that block booking and monopolistic control of theaters. it shall not be, as the movie drama now is a flagrant 11. Give to women an effective sphere of influence propaganda for evil. ' over the movies as a potential and powerful medium ------~I------for sane recreation and education. NOTICE Responsibilities of the Industry It is a great pleasure to announce that with its HAT the movies are an unrivalled field for popular current volume CATHOLIC ACTION will inaugu­ rate the policy of furnishing its readers with a T education and recreation, is universally conceded. yearly index of the contents of the magazine. The It is the perversion of their potentialities that is stir­ first release--covering Volume XV, January, 1933, ring public concern and public outcry. America says to December, 1933-will appear in the January truly: "Deep interest, keen intelligence and sincere co- 1934, issue. ' INTERNATIONAL PEACE DISCUSSION TOPIC at NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE By Elizabeth B. Sweeney

LERGYMEN AND EDUCATORS meeting at The morning session which dealt with "Education the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., and Peace" was opened by the Rev. William Bolger, CSunday, November 19, to participate in the reg- C.S.C., of Notre Dame University, who welcomed the ional conference of the Catholic Association for Inter­ delegation and explained the purpose of the conference. national Peace, sounded a warning that the vogue for Rev. Charles C. Miltner, C.S.C., dean of the College of nationalism and individualism instead of a regard for Arts and Letters at Notre Dame University, began the godliness and brotherhood was endangering the peace session with an address on "Peace and the College Cur­ of the world. riculum. " This was followed by a symposium on Twenty-five Catholic colleges and universities and "Education and Peace, " participated in by Rev. Joseph nine other Catholic groups throughout the Middle West Reiner, S.J., of the Sodality Secretariate of Chicago; were represented in the crowd of 500 which attended Miss Mary McCandless, of the International Federa­ the two day-time sessions and the international dinner tion of Catholic Alumnae, and representing the newly held during the conference. formed Fort Wayne Diocesan Council of Catholic The conference opened with a Mass said by Most Women, Sister M. Benedictus of St. Mary's College, Rev. John F. Noll, Bishop of Fort . Wayne, Ind., Notre Dame, Indiana; Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. M. Wolfe, of followed by a sermon in which he declared that the Columbia College, Dubuque; and Miss Virginia Ten Commandments and the message of Christianity o 'Brien, South Bend, Indiana, representing the N a­ point the only way to friendly relationship among men. tional Sodality Union. He lamented the growing enthusiasm in nationalism under dictatorship. "Nationalism, " he stated, "makes N DEVELOPING the subject of "Peace and the for war, not peace-the dictators seek selfish ends. I College Curriculum," Father Miltner said: "The Would they wish to rule under Christ ~ , , task to be accomplished in relating peace to the college The discussions of peace throughout an all-day ses­ curriculum is essentially one of utilizing the materials sion of the association came at a time when universal that are at hand in the curriculum of the average arts unrest and economic competition had reached the great­ and letters college as a more or less covert and informal est stages of development since the war. instrument for the gradual development of what I may The conference also followed by a few hours the call a proper mental attitude toward peace. " arrival of the United States and Russia at a diplomatic Continuing, Father Miltner said: "Studying this accord, opening up economic and diplomatic exchanges question not only from the factual viewpoint, but as an between these two nations. organic whole wherein each part is seen in its coordina­ tion with all the others, .it will not be difficult to distin­ ERTAIN foreign policies of the present govern­ guish the things that have made for peace from those C ment were criticized in some phases of the confer­ that have engendered strife. For as peace is the child ence for promoting a type of nationalism considered by of justice, so strife is the offspring of injustice. Just many as inimical to international understanding. The and unjust are determinations of l~w, as law itself is President, however, was praised for his domestic policy determined by the ends of individual and social life." of economic recovery because it incorporated essential The apparent futility of any attempt to preserve principles of Catholic teaching on the rights of men to peace within Europe, as seen both in the history of the earn a livelihood and have a decent living wage. past three centuries, and in modern times, and the Some of the American imperialistic policies came in place of the United States in the European picture for sharp rebuke, as did standing armies, wars of ag­ were discussed 'by seven speakers at the afterno.on gression, and selfish patriotism that blinded govern­ session. Honorable William Cain, of Notre Dame Uni­ ments to the benefits of international goodwill. versity, was chairman of the meeting. A universal trend to religion was pointed out in the Opening with the assertion of the Very Rev. J. W. R. conferences as the chief requisite to peace, since it Maguire, C.S.V., president of St. Viator College, that would counteract the growing notion that the state was Americans consider themselves superior and are in­ omnipotent. clined to hold themselves aloof from international rela- 25 26 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 tions, the group of educators dwelt on topics of dis­ said. "Soldiers do not produce-they are parasites, armament, nationalism, peace treaties and responsibil­ yet i~ Europe today the standing armies of nations ities of the Catholic student toward peace movements. range from 500,000 to 50,000 men." " We would have been better off long ago if we had The Rev. F. A. Mullin, of Columbia College, Du­ canceled the war debts," Father Maguire contended. buque, Iowa, speaking on "Peace Policies in the United "For the purpose of restoring the balance of trade and States, " said our policies lack both energy and idealism. fostering amicability between us and Europe, nothing , 'This dissatisfaction of other nations with our inter­ would serve better . Yet in exchange we would demand national attitudes has much justification," he said. an agreement for complete disarmament." , , Until recently most people had come to accept the belief ~hat America had taken her place with other ITING two problems of peace as the European nations as a participant in world affairs. This attitude C decline since the turn of the century,· and the dis­ gained ground until President Roosevelt's statement of union within that continent, the Rev. R. A. McGowan, July 3 of this year which definitely turned us back to assistant director of the Social Action Department, N a­ a policy of isolation, economic nationalism and a big­ tional Catholic Welfare Conference, pointed out that navy program." Europe refused to recognize the facts. Nationalism, as defined by Dr. Francis E. McMahon, "The growth of Japan, Russian extension in Asia, Notre Dame professor of philosophy, is "a belief that a independence of European colonies, growth of the Latin people possessing a common language and a distinctive American countries, the revolt in China and the pas­ culture-pattern have inherently the right to political sive revolt in India, and the growth of the United independence; that the chief allegiance of individuals States in its control of world markets and credit, have is owing to the nationalistic state, and that all other been factors in the decline of Europe," he said. nationa groups are inferior to one's own, and should "Europe must realign.itself to the facts. Geograph­ not be treated on a place of equality. ically, economically, linguistically, the nations of Eu­ rope are far apart. We are a rising nation, and nation­ "NATIONALISM fosters a spirit of distrust and alistic to the extreme. hatred. It involves heavy expenditures for , , We are bound to be imperialistic, but we should try armaments. It advocates the erection of barriers re­ to be decent about it. stricting trade, with a view of achieving economic self­ , 'Europe has a long way to go in the achievement of sufficiency. It impoverishes the national budget to unity, and the danger is that it will turn to old methods support militarism and foster economic nationalism." of settling differences, and the result will be another Charles P. O'Donnell, Ph.D., head of the Hist~ry De­ explosion. " partment at De Paul University, in his talk on peace "The problem of Europe," Father McGowan said, treaties, said there can be no sure hope of keeping "is the problem of a declining and disunited continent. peace through a procedure of revision of treaties, as Europe began to rise with the Age of Discoveries. It long as nationalistic feeling stands in the way. rose still further, even with its set-backs, as the Indus­ "Nor can we hope for the peace which treaties are trial Revolution came upon it. With the twentieth intended to maintain," he said, "unless the revision of century it began to decline and the greatest single ele­ treaties is tied up with a form which must include as ment in its decline is the rise of the United States." essential elements such things as disarmament, freedom of international trade and world cooperation in the "OVERSHADOWED," he continued, "by us and League of Nations, the World Court, the Paris Peace our refusal to cooperate with Europe and to help Pact, and other forms of amity." Europe itself to cooperate, Germany goes Hitlerite in Concluding the afternoon session, Dr. Robert C. disgust at Europe's delay, and all Europe stands on Pollock, of Notre Dame University, brought out that the verge of war.... If Europe blows up, we will be in the responsibility of Catholic students today toward part to blame and we, too, will suffer, as we are suffer­ peace movements is one in which unity will prevail. ing now from the effects of a chaotic world. ' , "The domination of material forces is not the true end Disarmament as a step toward abolishing war, and of culture," he said. "To civilize is to spiritualize." the difficulties concerning fulfillment of any approach Dr. George Hermann Derry, president of Marygrove toward disarmament were discussed by the Rev. Fred­ College, Detroit, spoke on "Modern Nationalism" at eric Siedenburg, S.J., dean of the University of Detroit. the dinner session. The Very Rev. F. V. Corcoran, "We believe in conciliation rather than war," he C.M., president of De Paul University, Chicago, told said. "The cost of war is almost beyond imagination, of the work for peace of the Catholic Church in the when you consider that two-thirds of our national past and of its present and future opportunities in his budget goes to the cost of paying for past wars or de­ talk on "The Church and Peace." Dr. Daniel C. fense preparations." O'Grady, of the Economics Department of Notr~ Dame "The world is armed more today than in 1913," he University, presided at this session. -----.----- DECEMBER STUDY TOPIC-"CATHOLIC

ORGANIZATION tn the PRESENT CRISIS"

NOTE: With this instalment the N. C. W. C. Study Club Oommittee presents the third of its 1933-34 series of ' study club discussions. These brief disc1t8sions are planned to p1'omote the proper understanding of and active par- ticipation in various WQ1"ks of the Catholic Action apostolate. . Each article is divided into tlvree parts: supplies mate1'ial to be used for p1'ograms at organization meetings, as three Sh01"t addresses~' one address covering the entire s1l,bject, or preferably for gen&l'al discussion under three lead­ ers; for small study groups; or for individual reading. The National Councils of Catholic Men and Women will wel­ come correspondence seeking a more detailed study of the topics treated in this and succeeding instalments; also reports covering the use and effect of the monthly discussions as printed herein. It is 1'ecommended that discussion groups pursuing this month's study topic summarize the previous outlines on "Lay Organization" appearing in CATHOLIC ACTION, Jan1.tary, 1932, and in Part III of the N. C. W. O.'s recently published booklet, "Aids to Catholic Action"; also recommended is the st,ttdy of the N. C. W. C. pamphlets "A Statement on the Present Crisis" and "Recent Discourses of His Excellency, the Apostolio Delegate to the United States on 'The Holy Father and Catholic Action' and 'The National COlmcil of Catholic Women'''; "Toward Social Justice" by Rev. R. A. McGowan; a recent statement of the N. O. W. O. Admwstrative Oommittee published on pages 3-5 in this issue of CATHOLIC ACTION; and other articles in CATHOLIO ACTION as follows: Fathm' McGowan's series, begun in the OctoQer, 1933, issu,e, "Testing the NRA. by Oatholic Teaching"; "Our -Catholic Duty in the P1'esent Crisis," by Mary G. Hawks, also in the October issue; and article on page 8 of this issue, "Oatholic Action in the Fort Wayne Diocese." 1. THE NEED OF LAY ORGANIZATION Men and the National Council of Catholic Women. In this EVER WAS it so imperative as at the present mo­ crisis the bishops make a special appeal to our people to ment that laymen and laywomen become informed group themselves under these two great federations. "They N and articulate regarding present problems. In these deserve," say the bishops, "fuller recognition and the gen­ erous support of Catholics of all classes. The field of Cath­ times of storm and stress, our people ought naturally to olic Action invites them to a wider participation in the work seek leadership and guidance from the C~urch as they seek of the hierarchy, under the direction of the ordinary of each and expect relief and assurance from theIr government. diocese." The Catholic bishops have carefully analysed for us the II. LAY ORGANIZATION EXPLAINED conditions and the factors which have led to the present crISIS. They point a way out of the dangerous situation. HE duty of cooperation with our ecclesiastical and civil They restate those fundamental ~~ws, only by re;ognition T leaders in solving the pressing problems of the day is of which can any state have stabIlIty and prosperIty. The one that devolves upon every Catholic. The proper dis­ government seeks to meet the serious practical issues in­ charge of that duty calls for membership in that apostolate volved by attempting to set in motion vast programs of which our Holy Father has called "Catholic Action"-"a public works as well as of relief. It is necessary that these participation of the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy fundamental laws, set forth by the bishops, and their appli­ of the Church." Catholic Action in turn calls for organiza­ cation to our present problems, be clearly understood so as tion. On this point, note the words spoken by His Excel­ to make possible the successful cooperation, for the good of lency, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, at the our people, of leaders in Church and state. recent conference Qf Catholic Charities in New York City: Loyalty to our country calls fo1' this cooperation. Study "Catholic Action is not a mere striving for individual per­ and discussion of these problems-by well chosen and in­ fection. It is not simply this or that particular activity formed leaders, in forums, in lectures under authentic aus­ conforming to the principles of our Holy Faith and carried . pices, require a knowledge and a guidance for which our out by this or that group or association of Catholics. It is laymen and laywomen reasonably look to their ecclesiasflcal not the works of a Catholic lay organization or religious leaders, the archbishops and the bishops of the United association performed in compliance with its own particular States. constitution. Catholic activity that is not de facto and Present programs of social and economic readjustment officially made participant in the mission of the bishop is will profoundly affect our national life and will probably not Catholic Act'ion." . make great changes in the lives and fortunes of individuals "The laity are to be so organized through Catholic Ac­ since they will touch our indiv'iduallives most intimately. It tion," the Delegate further explained, "as to have an orderly is clear that Catholic principles are involved. Men are so and ordered participation in the apostolate of the hier­ much more widely interested today, and their individual archy. And, thus organized, they must profess and defend and collective fortunes are so bound up with each other that Catholic principles. They must be eager to act under the it is hardly necessary to point out that organization and direction of the Pope and the bishops q,nd zealous in carry­ unity among our Catholic people are first essentials in help­ ing out the orders received from them. Under this safe ing to build up a new well-ordered society. guidance their words and actions will manifest the courage ' Legislation of great import is and will be before the and the prudence of the Church. . people, legislation which if enacted, will directly affect the "Th~ unite~ la:y o~ganization engaged in the apostolate of lives of everyone which will determine the influences sur­ Cathohc ActIOn IS, mdeed, a dependent work' but within rounding youth, the nature of th~ education they receive, the limits necessary to any formal particip~tion' in the legislation that will have to do WIth the economic security Church's religious-social mission, it is really an organiza­ necessary for the founding of a home and the rearing of a tion of the laity themselves. They are its members. They family. are its 8,dministrators. They carryon its work." . At this crisis in our affairs Catholic Action is of para­ That the Catholic laity in this country might possess that mount importance and unity and organization of our laity corporat.e unity and solidarity necessary to successful Cath­ under the wise guidance of the bishops, is a first essentiai olic ActI0I?- :called for in normal times, but especially in a of Catholic Action. To contribute our greatest strength to this time of crISIS such as the present; that they might further movement and to participate fully in the benefits which must possel:lS the Catholic outlook and knowledge which true flow from it requires coordinated organization such as the Catholic Action demands; that they might in word and act bishops have envisioned in the National Council of Catholic reflect "the courage and prudence of the Church"; the 27 28 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933

archbishops and bishops of the United States set up in 1919 idea and value of such federation. This training should a Lay Organizations Department as a necessary and vital begin at the earliest stages, in the education of our Catholic part of the National Catholic Welfare Conference-the or­ youth. The following paragraphs call attention to con­ ganization in which they have grouped together "the vari­ structive works of Catholic Action through lay organiza­ ous agencies by which the cause of religion is furthered." tion, including special works in training of Catholic youth Through the two coordinate branches of the N. C. W. C. for Catholic Action: Lay Organizations Department-the National Council of Sponsoring Youth Organization.-In view of the lack of Catholic Men and the National Council of Catholic Women employment, of elimination of child labor, and the conse­ -the Catholic laity was given the opportunity to share in quent increase in leisure time, organizations of Catholic men the apostolate of the hierarchy and to add their coopera­ and women, as a special charge this coming year, should tion and effort to the work of their ecclesiastical leaders in develop constructive educational and recreational programs advancing the interests of the Church in the United States. for youth; should sponsor youth organization itself; should The two councils are, as His Excellency, the Apostolic Dele­ take interest in and aid in the support of Catholic settle­ gate, stated, organizations of the laity themselves. "They ment and neighborhood houses; should assist in the founda­ are its members. They are its administrators. They carry tion of girls' and of boys' clubs under Catholic leadership; on its work." should assist the pastor in the organization and develop­ The two councils in turn have given the Catholic laity of ment of sodality groups under the patronage of Mary, the country an opportunity to cooperate in and support the Virgin and Mother. works of the Conference and to bring its services and assist­ The N. C. C. M.'s Catholic Youth Bureau, recently organ­ ance to their own local organizations. Neither council seeks ized under the direction of an able and experienced priest to interfere with or supplant existing organizations, the youth leader, is in a position to give valuable assistance to only desire being to help, to unify, to leave ' to their own all organizations desiring to enter the field. The National fields those that already exist. They do seek, however, to Committee on Girls' Welfare of the N. C. C. W. stands federate the laity not only nationally but locally, especially ready to help those councils or organizations seeking help through diocesan councils, unified down through the dean­ in their endeavors in this field. eries and the parishes. Through the affiliated parish unit Junior Organization.-The formation of junior groups as well as affiliated inter-parish organizations, opportunity within larger organizations is reported from a number of is afforded every Catholic man and woman in the diocese to dioceses. In one instance a junior council of girls has 3,000 participate through his or her own organization in the active members. Its program is varied. Sharing of exper­ apostolate to which the Holy Father is so insistently calling. iences aw g these junior groups bids fair to become a In the opinion of a number of bishops, greatest of all are nation-widt:: movement. Available on request of N. C. C. W. the intangible values of counselling together in parish, dean­ headquarters is a pamphlet-Catholic Youth Directory. ery, district, diocesan-and lately in interdiocesan or reg­ Aid to Catholic Education.-There is opportunity not ional-meetings, conferences and conventions. No longer only for the individual but for our Catholic organizations to need any Catholic man or woman be isolated where units of contribute their strength and support in behalf of our Cath­ the two councils exist. olic schools, which are carrying espeeially heavy burdens The plan of organization is flexible, providing opportunity at this time. All schools in need should be relieved as far for the participation of all organizations, parish and inter­ as possible; none should be allowed to close. Catholic parish, including parish federation or "parish units" when schools should also be relieved of the burden of double tax­ so desired by the bishop. By means of this flexibility the ation which they are forced to carry at present. Every National Councils of Catholic Men and Women are able to sacrifice should be made to keep children in school, and lay lend themselves wholeheartedly to carrying out the plans organizations should assist our talented young people' to of the respective bishops in all matters perta'ining to dio­ procure the benefits of Catholic higher education. cesan organization. The diocesan councils operate with the National Comm,ittees.-Through its national committees technique of federation which is team work. The autonomy the National Council of Catholic Women reaches out into of organjzations thus federated is assured by this technique. the dioceses where diocesan councils exist, and offers there­ Membership consists of all types of organizations under by opportunities for organizations and for women within ecclesiastical approval. It is the pol'icy of the N. C. C. M. these organizations to promote the work of religious edu­ and N. C. C. W. to urge every Catholic to become identified cation for pupils not attending Catholic schools, girls' wel­ with a parish organization. fare, study clubs, family and parent education, industrial Through such form of organization, national and local, problems, representation, immigrant aids. the National Councils of Catholic Men and Women, acting Study of Questions of the Hour.-With the realization under the direction of their ecclesiastical leaders, are de­ that we number approximately one-sixth of the population veloping among Catholic men and women a better 'under­ of the United States, Catholics should study the live ques­ standing of the common problems of the Church and a more tions of the hour, so as to be ready to state the Catholic active cooperation in aiding in their solution. They are, position in such a way as to invite further inquiry. The helping in every section of the country to realize the idea occasions are many-particularly so at the present time presented by the Holy Father in' his longer definition of when principles advocated by the Hoiy Father are active in Catholic Action, namely: "A true apostolate in which Cath­ the program for national recovery. olics of every social class participate, coming thus to be Interest in the Catholic Hour.-One way is to call atten­ united around those centers of sound doctrine and mutiple tion to the Catholic Hour sponsored by the N. C. C. M.-the social activity, legitimately constituted and, as a result, greatest broadcast of Catholie truth in the world; not only aided and sustained by the authority of the bishops." to call attention to it, but to contribute financial support, to use influence to have the pTogram carrled by additional III. PROMOTING CATHOLIC ACTION THROUGH LAY stations, to have at hand the reprints of radio addresses to ORGANIZATION give to 'interested non-Catholics. EDERATION of Catholic societies of men and women, Interest in the C. C. C.-Cooperation of organizations F of diocesan units of the National Councils of Catholic is sought in the work of the bishops and chaplains· in re­ Men and Women, is now an accepted and established fact. forestation camps. Approximately one hundred thousand As His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, has pointed out, members of the Civilian Conservation Corps are baptized it is not sufficient merely to be a member of a Catholic or­ Catholics-many of whom have lost contact with Holy ganization because "true Catholic Action means association Mother Church since early childhood. Reports of chaplains of the laity organized by a special mandate of ecclesiastical on active duty, indicate these men welcome spiritual minis­ authority." It is the duty, therefore, of all members of lay tration. Organizations can learn how they may participate organizations to seek the affiliation with the National Coun­ in this work by inquiry at headquarters of N. C. C. M. cils of Catholic Men and Women which the bishops have set Exercise of Ci'L'ic Rights.-The standards of justice and up for this purpose. Our people must be educated to the morality predominant are reflected in the (Turn to page 30) DIOCESAN CONVENTIONS of N. C. C. w. Unity of Effort Evident in Reports from Twenty-eight Dio~eses

"The first requirement to build up strength is tional Catholic School of Social Service; and the support that we know each other, amd as we establish a of welfare agencies. Bishop McAuliffe declared the coun­ mutual understanding, we will together create ~ cil to be the offic'ially recognized unit of Catholic Action to 8ense of unity, and develop th~ 'Pr'.estige of Catholw carry out the wishes of the Holy Father, and compared the women in order that our pr'LnC'tples may beoome members to the "valiant women" of Holy Writ, stating St. kn()1,(Jn to the world at large." Paul's praise of the Christian women of his own day be­ cause of their assistance in the ministry of the Church, was HAT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC equally applicable to the Cathol'ic women of today. Miss WOMEN has heeded these words of the Most Reverend Mary P. O'Flaherty, state chairman, presided at the T Karl J. Alter B'ishop of Toledo, is indicated by the sessions. twenty-eight dioce~an or state-wide council meetings held PORTLAND, ME.-His Excellency, the Most Reverend during the past two months. For what better opportunity to Joseph Edward McCarthy, Bishop of Portland, presided at "know each other" could be pTovided than the coming to­ the dinner which marked the opening, of the first conven­ gether in convention to discuss common problems and in- t'ion of the Portland Diocesan Council of Catholic Women on terests? . October 20. He declared the organizat'ion to be the "crys­ The widespread geographical. representation 'is o~ especIal talization of the forces of the parishes of the diocese, in interest. Virtually every sectIon of the country IS repre­ response to the Holy Father's appeal for Catholic Action," sented. Thirteen of the fifteen ecclesiastical pr?vinces are and stated: "It does not disfranchise the women, separat­ included in the reports which have reached natIonal head­ ing them from their parishes, but gathers the representa­ quarters. Several d'ioc~s~s withi~ the two remaini~g prov­ tives from each parish and un'ifies them into a great coun­ inces-Baltimore and PhIladelphIa-have held sectIonal or cil of Catholic women." board meetings. The work of the National Council of Catholic Women It is with deep regret and with ~he feeling .of loss, that was outlined by Miss Agnes G. Regan, executive secretary. space allotted forbids onl~ the ~rIefest me~tIon ?f ~he.se Rev. John F. Conoley, editor of The Church World, of­ inspir'ing aspects of Cathohc ActIOn. CatholIc ActI.on It IS, ficial organ of the Diocese of Portland, made a stirring as defined so clearly by several. members of th~ hlerarc~y appeal for the cooperat'ion of all of the Catholic women speaking at the national .and dIocesan conventIon; and m throughout the diocese. "We must not mistake emotional particular as stated ~y HIS ~xcellency! the Most Reverend response for sturdy purpose, enthusiasm for accomplish­ Amleto Giovanni Clcognam, ApostolIc Delegate to the ment, feelings for deeds," he said. "We must know the Un'ited States at the annual meeting of the National Con­ plan; we must study the program, we must be prepared ference of Catholic Charities in an address on "The and willing to do the often uninteresting ground work; we Holy Father and Catholic Action." His Excellency stated: must be content at first with small results; we must know "Catholic lay groups or religious associations that have not where our immediate duty lies; we must preserve, above a commission from the hierarchy and are not made by the all, a sense of proportion if we are to do the work we are b'ishop' of the diocese to share in some measure his apos­ called to do and do it as it should be done, effectively and tolate are not Catholic Action, even though they labor under with a view to permanence and lasting results." In order its banner. Since a commission must be given it can come that the work of the counc'il may be permanent and lasting, only from him who holds 'it-either the Vicar of Christ or the officers throughout the diocese are concentrating upon the bishop of the diocese." - making the purpose and program of the organization known The outstand'ing achievements gleaned from the reports to every Catholic woman in the diocese. The Church World received include general growth in interest and better under­ has been an invaluable aid in preparing the "ground work" standing of the purposes of the organization-termed by of the Portland Diocesan Council. Mrs. Charles L. Donahue Bishop Walsh of Charleston, at the national convent:on gave an interest'ing account of her work in connection with the "intangibl~ results"; increase in civ'ic interest and rep­ the N. C. C. W. Committee on Representation and stressed resentation; furthering the Catholic e.du:ati?nal system the need for interest in civic affairs. through study clubs and other forms; asslstmg m the bring­ The council will focus its attention for the present on the ing of relig'ious education to those not in Catholic schools formation of study clubs and aid for the extension of rural and colleges through vacation schools, week-day religious m'issions within the diocese. For many years parish coun­ instruction correspondence schools and Newman clubs; cils have been active throughout the diocese. The great fostering the Retreat Movement; apologetic work-dissemi­ stimulus provided through federation will doubtless make nation of literature in an organized way; ass'isting in insti­ the work a notable success. Miss Katherine T. Campbell tutions· participating in emergency relief, community chest, is president. and in'the various organized methods of aid'ing in this greatest of all economic crises; an~, .~hat is in the .ultimate FORT WAYNE, IND.-Formation of a Fort Wayne Diocesan sense the most significant, the mobIlIzmg of CatholIc youth, Council of the National Counc'il of Catholic Women was as ' was des'ignated in Archbishop Stritch's stirring address effected in Fort Wayne on October 16 when a joint meeting at the national convention in St. Paul. of district groups was held at the Catholic Community Center with 305 delegates in attendance. The Most Rev. HARTFORD, CONN.-In the Province of Boston, one of the John Francis Noll, Bishop of Fort Wayne, under whose oldest and one of the youngest councils, Hartford and Port­ leadership the work was inaugurated 'in the diocese, took land (Maine), respectively, met in annual convention. a leading part in the proceedings, addressing the large With an attendance of over two hundred and fifty women group of clergy and women assembled for the sessions and from every part of the State of Connecticut and the hearten­ naming the temporary officers, who will serve until the ing presence and praise of the Most Rev. Maurice F. Mc­ convention in May, 1934. Dr. Anne M. Nicholson, field Auliffe AuXiliary Bishop of Hartford, the Connecticut representative of the national counc'il, who spent some time Councd of Catholic Women heard reports of its varied ac­ in the diocese prior to the national convention, returned for tivities including girls welfare; legislation; Lakeville the organization meeting and remained over several days to Manor a vacation home for work'ing girls; religious edu­ confer with various committee chairmen, expTessed great cation; study clubs; immigration; scholarship in the Na- pleasure at the splend'id program launched by the Catholic 29 30 CATHOLIC ACTION December, 1933 women of Fort Wayne. With the keen interest and whole­ Province of Chicago.-:-Springfield Diocesan Council of hearted cooperation of Bishop Noll and the aid of Our Catholic Women; Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Sunday Visitor, official organ of the diocese, this council Women. has had a most auspicious beginnIng and gives promise of Province of Dubuque.-Dubuque Archdiocesan Council of rapid growth and development. Mrs. John W. Eggeman, a Catholic Women; Des Moines Diocesan Council of Catholic prominent leader among Catholic women in Fort Wayne, Women; Davenport Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; was appointed temporary president. Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; Omaha Dio­ eesan Council of Catholic Women; Grand Island Diocesan TOLEDO, OHIO.-In addressing the second annual conven­ Council of Catholic Women. tion of the Toledo Diocesan . Council of Catholic Women, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Karl J. Alter, BIshop of Province of Milwaukee.-Milwaukee Archdiocesan Coun­ Toledo, made a forceful appeal for the council to meet the cil of Catholic Women; Green Bay Diocesan Council of menace of obscene literature and motion pictures,-and com­ Catholic Women. missioned the women to have .as their p'articular care the Province of New Orleans.-Natchez D'iocesan Council of provision of wholesome and well-directed recreation for the Catholic Women. youth of the diocese. He further urged the increase In Province of New York.-Rochester Diocesan Council of study clubs as an important factor in the development of Catholic Women. Catholic lay leaders. Province of Portland (Oregon) .-Spokane Diocesan Other speakers included the Right Reverend Msgr. Fran­ Council of Catholic Women. cis Macelwane, sup.erintendent of Catholic schools in the Province of St. Louis.-Kansas City Diocesan Council of diocese, who emphasized the value of self-improvement that Cathol'ic Women. comes from study; Dr. Anne Nicholson, who spoke on the Province of St. Paul.-St. Paul Archdiocesan Council of functIon of eommittees; Miss L. Genevieve Griffin, super­ Catholic Women; Duluth Diocesan Council of Catholic visor of the Child Welfare Department of the Toledo Cath­ Women; Minnesota State Council of Catholic Women. olic Charities, who explained the work of her department; Province of San Antonio.-Galveston Diocesan Council Miss Anna Rose Kimpel, activities secretary at the National of Catholic Women; Oklahoma C'ity-Tulsa Diocesan Coun­ Catholic Community House, who discussed the work of the cil of Catholic Women. house 'in its relation to the diocese; and Miss Marguerite Province of San Francisco.-Los Angeles and Han Diego Griffin, . chairman of the Advisory Board of the National Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; Monterey-Fresno Dio­ Sodality Union, who made a plea for active parish sodalities. cesan Coune'l of Catholic Women; Reno Diocesan Council Mrs. E. F. Brucker, president, presided at the meeting of Catholic omen; Sacramento D'iocesan Council of Cath- which was attended by more .than 500 Catholic women. olic Women. . Province of Santa Fe.-Santa Fe Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. Brief reports of the addItional 24 diocesan council con­ A series of district meetings throughout the Diocese of ventions will appear in the January issue of CATHOLIC Great Falls were held prior to the national convention in ACTION. These include: St. Paul. A report WIll appear next month.

. ~

December Study TopiC-Continued from page 28 laws of that community. Where important groups fail to Hayes Literature Committee sends quarterly a recom­ exercise their civic rights the laws dictated by special mended book list, including children's literature. interests and minorities are an unfaithful reflection of these By P'rotest Against Indecent Motion Pictures, Advertis­ standards. Every association of Catholics, therefore, ing and Exhibits.-Action has been taken by several dio­ through study clubs, reading circles, and discussion should cesan councils in protest to exhibitors and producers of encourage its members to know the law and its relation to indecent motion pictures. Action has been taken by these Catholic standards. and others in considerable number against exhibits and ad­ Appropriating the Facilities of Diocesan and National vertising of an indecent character in drug store windows. Headquarte1's.-Perhaps the most important and most use­ Need of a Common Mind.-Our country is at the parting ful function of every council in this connection is to ex­ of the ways; new formulae must be found for the changed change reports and information not only as to ordinances adjustments and relations between Church and State, be­ and laws and their enforcement, but as to methods which tween government and religious or private institutions. are found to be of practical value in influeneing the enact­ Hence the need of "deliberate counsel on the part of the ment of better laws and In bringing about greater justice bishops, and the handing down of that counsel and guidance in the enforcement of laws. to our laity.... In the remaking of .the world there must be guidance not alone in the statement of Catholic prin­ No local association working alone can accomplish all ciples, but in the application of those principles to our that is expected of it. Working in cooperation with one an­ social, political and economic rife. The applieation of these other and with the national headquarters they are strength­ principles means 'clean living, faithfulness to the obliga­ ened and encouraged and enabled to accomplish results that tion of family ties, decency in social relations, purity and otherwise seemed impossible. integrity in the performance of public duty.' " The headquarters of N. C. C. W., N. C. C. M •• and other A Final Suggestion.-Send to the national headquarters departments of the N. C. W. C. are agencies set up by the of the N. C. C. M. and N. C. C. W. for copies of the resolu­ bishops to foster cooperat'ion among parish, diocesan and tions adopted at their respective national conventions. These state councils and groups, they are storehouses of exper­ statements will help to stimulate and guide the work _of lo­ ience and of information which they will be happy to place cal organizations, to spread the Catholic viewpoint and ob­ at the disposal of every council or group. . tain a wider hearing for Catholic teaehing. Interest in the Public Library.-The public decides which books are in the public library. It is up to the Catholic ------~------citizenry to suggest Catholic books. All leading Catholic FATHER McGOWAN'S ARTICLE POSTPONED periodicals have been placed in one public library by or­ Part III of Father McGowan's series of articles entitled ganizations each choosing which one it will contribute. Or­ "Testing the NRA by CatholIC Teaching" is unavoidably gani7;ations can avail themselves of the reviews of books in postponed. It will app'ear in the January issue of CATHOLIC Catholic weeklies, and for fifty cents a year ' the Cardinal ACTION.

------~I------DES MOINES DIOCESAN COUNCIL, N. C. C. w. HEARS "SALES TALK" on CONFERENCE MAGAZINE

EDITOR'S NOTE: A feature of the recent fourth Do become a subscriber and help spread the ~ospel of Cath­ annual convention of the Des ¥oines Diocesan olic Action. (A review of numerous articles was then given.) Council, N. C. C. W., was a publicity luncheon pre­ We have one of the very best magazines that can p'ossibly sided over by Miss Anne Gallagher, dio.cesan chair­ man. At this luncheon Miss Florence Kinney, of be published. Why-because it gives you articles by the Des Moines, a charter member of the N. C. C. W. very best minds within our Church in this country and and. a reader of the Confere?we magazine since its foreign countries. May I quote what one of the leading inception, presented a thoughtful analysis of progressive priests in the rural districts of our diocese CATHOLIC ACTION, official organ of the N. C. W. C., and made a convincing appeal for its wider circula­ says of this magazine? He says: "CATHOLIC ACTION is the tion. rVe print below excerpts from Miss Kinney's best m~nthly magazine puJ?lished under Catholic auspices. address in the hope that others of our readers may There IS a purpose to every number.... A scrutiny of imitate her example and work for a larger circula­ any number would make an intelligent· Catholic desire to tion and influence of CATHOLIC ACTION. !ead every number." That was not for publication, but it IS so good I wanted you to have it. ERHAPS the most significant thing about the organ­ D~d y.ou have any idea there was such a wealth of infor­ izat'ion work of the National Council of Catholic matIon In CATHOLIC ACTION? Do you now realize what you P Women, to me at least, was the p'lacing of the chair­ personally have been missing in not using this magazine man of publicity at the very top of the list of committees. at your monthly meetings, in not being a subscriber and ... There is perhaps no more thankless task than to try to constant reader of it in your own home? put over publicity for the council, the deanery. or just your own rosary or young ladies sodality. You simply have ~~~~~~s~~~ with'in you the satisfaction, if the paper cannot use your 'item or article, that you have done your best. I CHRISTMAS GIFl' ORDER BLANK . ~ Long before the diocesan cou~cil idea for the Des Moines diocese was formulated, 'in 1920, in the city of Des Moines, ~ For CATHOLIC ACTION, official organ of N.C.W.C. ~ a group of women functioned under the name of the "Cath­ olic Community Council," and from this came to us the ;tl. Please enter a yearly subscription to CATHOLIC fA tangible evidence of something accomplished by grouped ft ACTION to go to ~ Catholic thought and effort-the establishment of the South Side Community House. Mrs. Louis C. Kurtz, now our honorary pres'ident, headed this and, through her, I became I Name ...... OneY•• r ~ a subscriber to the N. C. W. C. Bulletin. And through this monthly bulletin, we have Mrs. Kurtz' interest in the work Addr.s...... Two Y.ars of the National Council of Catholic Women. I ~ This magazine was filled with items of interest, because it ment'ioned not only something that might be of immediate interest iIi the State of Iowa but also included news of if ············································1 organizations throughout the United States. The late Archbishop Dowling of St. Paul, first Bishop of Des Moines, I Name ...... On.Y.ar ~ and then chairman of the National Catholic Welfare Con­ ference Department of Education had numerous articles in Addr.s...... Two Y.ars the N. C. W. C. Bulletin (now called CATHOLIC ACTION) and I 1 his words were among the very first I would read. When Miss Nicholson, at the request of Bishop Drumm, came to Des Moines in her whirlwind campaign to organize 1················································1 the women of the diocese in this great work we have been hearing of today as being in its fourth organized year, 'it was a pleasure to meet her, and she spoke to me as a friend might speak, for she knew my name from this SUbscription list to the Conference magazine, and we had much in com­ I S.~ bUl ro I mon in knowing of the work that was beIng done throughout the country. I Nam•...... ~ CATHOLIC ACTION is publ'ished monthly by the National Catholic Welfare Conference, which, you know. is composed of the hierarchy of the United States. Its two lay groups ~ Addr...... ~ are the National Council of Catholic Men and the National Council of Catholic Women. It records monthly the work of the Conference and its affiliated organizat'ions. Its spe­ I ·································1 cial artides are helpful to every' Catholic organization and individual. Each affiliated organization receives thIS magazine, and SPECIAL Ye.. Iy .nIuocrlpU•• I. u. s ..... $2.00 I urge that each president make use of it. Pass it on to 1 ~ SUBSCRIPTION Two years or two 8ubscripti0!D8.$3.50 your members; have articles reviewed in your meetings. 19 1t l}; RATES Add 25 cents outside the U. B. ~ Why not subscribe for it and place it in publ'ic libraries; leave your old copies in public reading rooms? Send. the magazine to your pastor, to your friends. Individual sub­ scriptions are $2.00 per year for this splend'id magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~I 31 Read! Study!! Help Circulate!!!

These Late~t N. C. W. C. Publications; Invaluable to Clergy and Laity Alike.

Discourses by His Excellency, The Apostolic Dele­ By the Bishops of the Aamvinistrative Comnnittee, gate to the U. S. N. C. W. C.

THE HOLY FATHER AND CATHOLIC ACTION A STATEMENT ON THE PRESENT CRISIS N ADDRESS delivered at the annual A VIGOROUS pronouncement condemn- meeting of the National Conference- of A ing the evils responsible for the pres­ Cathol'ic Charities. Explains what Catholic ent economic disaster and urglng, in the Action IS; what it is NOT. light of Christian Truth, remedies which THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC point the way to recovery. WOMEN N ow ready in pamphlet form, 36 pp'., A N ADDRESS to the St. Paul Conven­ attractively printed in large readable type t'ion, urging attention to the Youth and n merous captions. Movement and Study Clubs and stating rea­ sons therefor. Price: Single copy 10 cents; $2.50 for The two d'iscourses in one pamphlet. 50 copies; $4.50 per hundred; carriage paid. Price: S1tngle copy 10 cents; $f.50 for = 50 copies; $4.50 per hundred; carriage paid. By Rev. R. A. McGowan, Ass't. Dir., N.C. W.C. Social Action Dept. = By the N. C. W. C. Study Club Committee TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE AIDS TO CATHOLIC ACTION A BOOKLET presenting a series of dis- A DISCUSSION and application of Pope cussions on "Catholic Action," "Catho­ Pius Xl's Encyclical "Reconstructing lic Education," "Lay Organizat'ion," "The the Social Order" dealing with s'ix main sub­ Family," "The Catholic Press," "World jects as follows: "The Regime and Its Peace," "Evidencing the Faith," and "Eco­ Origin"; "A First Purpose of Economic nomic Justice," planned to promote the Life"; "Partial Measures"; "Economic Life proper understanding of and active partici­ and Organism"; "The Full Program"; "The pation 'in the Catholic Action Apostolate. Motive Power and Guide."

Price: Single copy 15 cents; 1 f for Price: Single copy £5 cents; 5 for $1.50; 50 for $5.50; 100 for $10.00,' $1.00; cOJrriage paid. carriage paid. -

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