St Vincent Seminary - Symposium Yearbook (Latrobe, PA)

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wmumnr as . . . . . ,, that voters are not being taken in by 'hokum'. That there does inextricably woven in the action which made these differences more apparent The new citizen assisted in the rare feat of courage that took place in the aforementioned southern city His apostolic work has been noticeable in not a few instances and we must take cognizance of the heritage of years he has discarded. We find men in the great arena of political life unable to adjust their views of certain sharp differences of party policies who are nevertheless, very willing to carefully analyze the position of each policy and arrive at some certainty which they follow to their poss1ble disadvantage from an expedient point of view. The people of today are looking for the real meat of the political nut. Charles Willis Thompson, the veteran pol- itical economist writes. For nothing is more obvious than that political audiences are much less susceptible to dramatics than they were a quarter of a century ago. Platform pyrotechnics are more likely to engender suspicion than support. He further adds, after a review of conditions: These things may serve to show exist a percentage which can be reached and swayed through it, no one will deny. Ours is no millennium. People are approach- ing closer to the truth uttered by St. Thomas, The common good cannot flourish unless the citizens be virtuous at least those whose duty it IS to govern. f This consideration is a guid- ing star in their selection of a standard bearer. The system upon which is directly incumbent the furthering of a most desirable spirit is Catholic education. Rev. P. A. Halpin in his work The Instruction and Moral Training of Children has defined Christian Pedagogy as, a method of education which in all its details keeps in mind those great principles and those great facts which are taught and maintained and sanctioned by the Church of Christ. Such a school makes of its graduates with the recognition of their need, partakers in a work the effects of which are manifold. A citizenry zealous for better government in all its ramifications carries with it a wider understanding and consequent deeper appreciation of the Catholic Church, since the application of her moral principles cannot but secure results worthy of admiration and interest It will give a solid basis upon which to rest respect for law, the means to man s destiny here and hereafter-his own perfection Law, from the performance of man's first responsible act, is constantly present He will recognize the uses of legislation and will consequently recognize the twofold edge of a great force and consider well before determining to use it in attaining an end. 'Summa Theologica I 2 q.-'92 art. I. ki ll59ll N alllllll INIE slwls ' sl ls 'IIIIICIIIIIIIN 7 Jllhllllllllls Ill .lllllllj f-Ill: 'lllllllllllllh C

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Jlllll IH slll' ammmmr: iff'-9 ' lllllllllllil 3 - . I---S ' 2 S - - - -. L I IIIE E I s E 7 7 7 7 7 Z the veto of the president. The action as to its more remote work- K 7 7 A ' X T f , I I y 1 . 1 , L 7 7 J illls Bllllllllllllh Q-2 - respect is by far moral legislation which has as its ultimate end the adjustment of social evils. This adjustment eventually affects every person and since the time of governments, has been a vital influence in the rise and fall of a people. It is vital prim- arily because It tampers with the free will of man, and herein lies the danger. Here perhaps more than in any other field of public affairs the new citizen may be seen. The evidence of his work in the concrete IS sufficient to make us rueful and confused to some extent. A thorough investigation of his influence on moral legislation leads one to the opinion that indirectly rather than directly the conditions existing can be attributed to him lt seems that basically the zealots in the vanguard of anew citizenry are responsible a slight review of affairs will make this quite evident Several years ago legislation purely moral in tone was rushed through our deliberative bodies and made a law over ings bordered on trickery without becoming nominally a statu- tory fraud. The enactment of the law was greeted skeptically by the people as a whole with an admixture of joy or bitterness according to their personal views. People not supporting this legislation today are honest according to all indications. They are sincere in an effort to correct a condition that all will admit is undesirable in many respects. Regarding the method nothing IS here considered beyond mentioning the confusion resulting we are onlv examining the initiative prompting the support of the movement Now to show that the vanguard of a more common thinking body politic was the prime mover behind the passage of this bill we need but see how agitation for the continuation of this amendment 1S gaining momentum. Many will say that the recognition of self-evident facts is no indication of a more in- telligent or thinking peopleg this is granted. Nevertheless, the experiment had been supported in all good faith and now various plans for its modification are being suggested. There exist many laws on the statute books of countries, which while not enforced are never repealed or amended. The people are not satisfied at present and will never be satisfied with attempts to conceal the inefficiency of this law. The matter must be settled for all time. Time alone can tell of the realization of a change' the entire problem is now merged with the interests of the great. political parties. The various differences of these political parties require the new citizen to face his problems frankly, since his birth is so ' gil ll-5811 K-A EIIIIIIIIIIIIE fm glllg in Qin Wllll llll lllln I 7 I :ll llllllllllli Ellli sllls Hlllllllllllll

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nmmuimn IIIIIIIIIIINZ Ellli alunlg lllllllillllllll 7 ! ! 7 Y general dissatisfaction in non-Catholic bodies, for the reason that Y 5 . . I 7 ' ! I J illl! 'HIIIIIIIIIHIH Af,-'23 Another important element in development has been and is a zealous clergy zealous most of all, by their example. Lessons in good c1t1zenship should be preached here through action, the ex- ample of a good life spent with attention to a pastoral charge The greatness of such an influence is immeasurable, it has in it the calm of quiet occupation and indifference to the rasping voices of b1gotry hatred and political bickering. The priest then, should be a c1t1zen of thought, abiding by the conviction of h1s conscience having at the same time a good grasp of the issues at hand The opponents of the Church have taken courses which border on the hysterical and the results are sad. We see a the people desire to hear the Word of God from their shepherd and not a pol1tical harangue. The advancement of God's kingdom on earth IS the fundamental purpose behind all our actions, it IS the motive power of all our deeds. We have various natural means for the advancement of that kingdom' and the root of all means is the individual as a thinking unit. Better government better laws, and more respect for constituted authority, breed closer intimacy between the individual and his church and pastor, a natural result of public governmental health. We should, then principally by example, strive to overcome those disturbing elements in social life fin order to correct affairs politi- cal 1n this regard Shakespeare in his understanding manner has asked Cans t thou not minister to a mind diseased Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And with some sweet oblivious antidote, Cleanse the foul bosom of that perilous stuj, Which weighs upon the heart The immense convention hall lies sprawled in the dazzling sun like some huge monster, and upon it is the appearance of desertion Upon entering we find the area confronting us strewn with confetti and other signs of merry-making and rejoicing, all used at the birth of the new citizen whom we have just con sidered -We grow retrospective and wonder. Was his birth in vain? Was his the life of a day? The fullness of our pride and confidence answers for us, and instead of a negative answer or even a doubting reply, we breathe a prayer for his continued progress progress not toward an envisioned Utopia but toward the ach1evement of the happiness God has appointed for man on this earth. l60ll lx X ga Ill W gn-.unmni allllllllllllllj slllr SIIIIIIE sllls 'lllllllllllllh Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, i