The Catholic Times, 1951-11-23

The Bishops are particularly out outspoken - spoken outspoken in applying this single stan standard - dard standard of rporality to the field of politics. Speaking about the “scan “scandalous - dalous “scandalous anomaly, evident at times ih our national life, of pay ng lip service to God while failing com completely - pletely completely to honor His claims in daily life.” the Statement declares: I “One and the same standard cov covers - ers covers stealing from the cash register and dishonest gain from public of office - fice office One and the same stand standard - ard standard prohibits false statements about private individuals and false statements about members of mi minority - nority minority groups and races.” “In politics.” the Bishops state, “the principle that ‘anything goes’ simply because people are th ught not to expect any high sense of honor in politicians is grossly wrong. We have to recover that sense of personal obligation on the part of the voter and that sense of public trust on the part of the elected official which give mean meaning - ing meaning and dignity to political life.”

I urge the devout people of the Diocese to celebrate Advent and Christmas according to the mind of the Church and the pious tradi traditions - tions traditions of all worthy Christians. It is high time that we do all we can to deflate the sacrilegious commercialism of the holy season It has gone beyond all bounds in its appeal to make this time of extrava extravagant - gant extravagant exhibitionism. The meaning of Christmas has been lost sight of in the eagerness of commercial interests to profit from the religious importance of a fundamental Christian belief. Even the name is changed to destroy the very reference to Christ. The commercial binge is started in mid-November and continues unabated until the sacred anniversary of Our Saviour’s birth. Every secularist device is used to identify the holydays with mere pagan practices. And good Christians make the whole outrageous thing possible by patronizing those who deride their faith and mock the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

The second purpose of the special collection is the support of the Catholic University of America in Washington. Only history will record the invaluable contribution of the University to the works of the Church in this country. Leaders in every part of the United States—Priests, Religious and Laymen—have received their special training at the Catholic University. The strength and vitality of the Church in education, social welfare, economics and labor relations stem in a large part from the University which should be the pride and joy of all American Catholics. Our annual contribution for the University should reflect our sense of appreciation to this great insti institution - tution institution of higher learning.

Drawing a parallel between our times and the conditions of the Roman Empire 1,500 years ago— “barbarism on the outside, refined materialism and moral decay with within- - in- within- -the Bishops ask: “Does our conduct reflect the sobriety of citi citizens - zens citizens who are conscious that a bell may be tolling for them and for civilization?” “We have sent our young men on military expeditions to far-off lands so that justice and freedom may be kept alive in the world and yet at home we have become care careless - less careless about the foundations of jus justice - tice justice and the root of freedom. It cannot go well with us if we con continue - tinue continue on this course.”

Again and again the Bishops stress the fact that there is only one moral law and that all human rights and obligations are mean meaningless - ingless meaningless unless they have their source in God's Jaw. That “single standard.” they say. “applies to every conceivable situation in life.” They warn against the false notion that there are “two stand standards - ards standards of morality”—a notion which “tempts man to live his life on two levels” and “beguiles him into thinking that this can be done without any compromise of moral principles.”

tl.e great Feast commemorating the Birth of our Divine Saviour, Je Jesus - sus Jesus Christ.” “Unfortunately,” he went on, “the Feast of the Nativity is pop popularly - ularly popularly regarded as a mere worldly holiday rather than an essential Christian holyd^y. The true sig significance - nificance significance of the Feast has been lost in a greedy spirit of commer commercialism. - cialism. commercialism. Its sacred character has been destroyed by a silly senti sentimentalism.” - mentalism.” sentimentalism.”

Also taking part in the cere ceremonies - monies ceremonies were the Rev. Hubert A. Rubeck, pastor of St. Luke’s Church, Danville, and the Rev. Robert J. Schuer, chaplain of the hospital, who served as chaplains to the Bishop the Rev. Eugene F. Dunn, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Mt. Vernon, deacon the Very Rev. Harold O’Donnell, as assistant - sistant assistant chancellor of the diocese, sub-deacon and the Rigfht Rev. Msgr. Roland T. Winel secretary to the Bishop, master of ceremon ceremonies. - ies. ceremonies.

Those who are selected for pub public - lic public office, the Bishops emphasize, are bound, in their speech and in their actions, “by the same laws of justice and charity which bind pri private - vate private individuals in every other sphere of human activity.” “Dishonesty, slander, detraction and defamation of character.” they add. “are as truly transgressions of God’s commandments when re resorted - sorted resorted to by men in political life as they are for all other men.”