International Pioneering
Wood, L. J. S.
428 THE COMMONWEAL February 24, 1926 INTERNATIONAL PIONEERING By L. J. S. WOOD (The series of lectures on international relations, arranged by the New York Archdiocesan Council of Catholic...
...The Natural Law, and Psychology and Modern Problems were the two subjects specially listed for expert lecture this year...
...Thoughtful non-Catholics also may be interested...
...The Fribourg Union, it has been seen for instance, claimed a measure of independence in view of the special character of its work...
...its International Handbook of Catholic Societies is an invaluable reference volume in five languages...
...The immediate work of the secretariat, the preparation of the constitution to be submitted for definite approval, will be in the hands of the present director of the office, Dr...
...Wood has summarized for The Commonweal in two authoritative articles.—The Editors...
...Two years ago a new element of active study and work had been introduced by the formation of the British Catholic Council for International Relations, and this was the real moving body in the recent development...
...But the problem of the union of existing societies was only a preliminary...
...The Rome office has done most valuable statistical and intercommunication work...
...The chairman, Father Martindale, summarized this with remarkable lucidity and, when asking that a small preliminary committee be appointed to help him in the arrangement of the discussion-program and the consideration of a draft constitution, put in a special plea that one of the nominees of the assembly should be chosen from among the representatives of the United States...
...The work of each of the three existing organizations, it was seen, had its own special characteristics...
...Those at Oxford paid a tribute to the work done and hoped to profit from the experience gained...
...This, as its name implies—for "international" in this connection does not in the least mean "sopranational"—is based on nations...
...A third point goes without saying—Catholics will submit any scheme of organization for approval to ecclesiastical authority...
...but the listener at all the meetings could get the benefit of illuminating learned thought on many another present-day problem...
...and the International Office of Catholic Organizations, with its seat at Rome...
...but not even the most sceptical could deny that there was good ground for hope of something solidly useful resulting...
...That of the International Catholic League carried on in the face of great difficulties by the self-sacrificing efforts of a few devoted Catholics, and expressed mainly in annual conferences, had been largely on the lines of existing Catholic Social guild organizations...
...A decision had to be taken as to the place of the headquarters secretariat of the new organization— at any rate, provisionally during further consideration of the constitution to be submitted for definite approval by a general meeting next year...
...They, in fact, are the organization...
...Not even the most enthusiastic at Oxford will claim that more was done than lay a foundation...
...But it is, I think, safe to say that not until last summer was there laid a solid foundation on the basis of which work may have a chance of rising to achieve success...
...The practical work of organization to promote the ideals expressed in the encyclical was first brought home to English-speaking men and women through the Catholic meeting at Oxford last summer...
...The idea that was put before the gathering and welcomed by it was that the component parts of the organization, called provisionally in the handy universal language, Confoederatio Internationalis Catholica, should be national Catholic groups which must have these necessary qualifications: They must be representative of Catholics and Catholic organizations in the country...
...There are two points worth remembering: First, there is no intention of rushing things—ufestina lente," was the authoritative word at Oxford...
...It induced the societies above mentioned to act as official "conveners" of the Oxford conference, sending out on their behalf invitations to the world and getting a very satisfactorily representative response...
...Nor was it unnatural that the Fribourg Union should claim and receive a special place as regards its special work...
...University and city authorities expressed their pleasure in welcoming Catholics assembling in conference—at their head, the first Catholic of the country, Cardinal Bourne, on whom, moreover, the university had, motu proprio, bestowed the not frequently given distinction of D.C.L...
...It specializes on problems which are or may come under the consideration of the League of Nations...
...Every delegate to the meeting must have asked himself, before starting, the first question on the paper: Is some form of organized Catholic international cooperation desirable...
...Second, what is being done at present is mainly study—immediate and violent action to revolutionize the world in any direction is not contemplated...
...Many people have thought about it, written about it, and worked for it...
...That said, one may ask oneself: uWhat useful work does this proposed organization hope to do...
...428 THE COMMONWEAL February 24, 1926 INTERNATIONAL PIONEERING By L. J. S. WOOD (The series of lectures on international relations, arranged by the New York Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, will necessarily bear a definite relation to the work of worldwide federation which Mr...
...they must be completely independent of any political party...
...the Catholic Union of International Studies, of Fribourg, Switzerland...
...And he must have answered it in the affirmative...
...four other countries wished to take part, but at the last minute were unable to send representatives...
...The position which the organizers of the meeting had before them was this: There were, in existence, three international organizations working in general for the same end, but in different ways—the International Catholic League, with its seat at Zurig...
...It may be of interest to summarize somewhat more definitely than has hitherto been possible the accomplishment of those who took a part in the great endeavor...
...otherwise he would not have come...
...And "useful," as a sincere Catholic interprets the word, means not only to Catholics but to the world...
...For this Rome was chosen, and for two reasons—because it is the obvious residence of an international Catholic body...
...The groups attending the meeting included the annual summer school of the Catholic Social guild, and the annual conference of the International Catholic League...
...Monti, with two immediate assistants and a committee formed of one member of each of the other two societies, and nine members of different nationalities...
...THE highest interests of Christendom are inseparable from harmony among the peoples of the earth...
...That these three should agree to combine in the proposed international body was not only natural but necessary, if anything was to be done at all...
...In the draft constitution drawn up at Oxford, place was found, and justly, for representatives of the three European societies which had already done international work...
...Some representatives, those from the United States, for instance, had to begin by making themselves conversant with the present situation—the work, that is, of the three existing international societies...
...Regarding the former, it is matter for regret to be able to give but this passing mention to an institution which, with the summer school and other activities of which the study circles are the best known, is doing such enormously valuable educative work...
...Much was said about international Catholic cooperation...
...These groups, or whatever they may be called, would be the component parts of the proposed confederation, but each would retain its own autonomy...
...honoris causa...
...But the national is the foundation of the international...
...If, later on, it or another of the three were to say that it preferred not to merge itself, but to dissociate itself, and work in complete independence, that would not in the least impede the formation and development of the International Confoederatio...
...This work, it was agreed, should continue to be carried on from the Fribourg centre, and unanimous consent was given to the proposal that the headquarters of the proposed confederation should be established at the already existing and functioning international office of Catholic organizations in Rome...
...Twenty-five countries were represented there...
...With this question a second article will deal...
...James Ryan of the Catholic University of Washington...
...This truth has been stressed so often by the Church that the recent encyclical of the Holy Father may be considered the climax of numerous and continued labors to restore the Divine Kingdom...
...These notes are concerned with one aspect of the matter in particular, but will give some attention to the general international situation...
...and because there is already existing there the International Office of Catholic Organizations—from its nature, work already done, and accumulated statistical information, a ready-made intercommunicatory centre...
...The Fribourg Union is a society of experts, including many learned French scholars and thinkers, studying great problems of the day from the point of view of Catholic doctrine...
...This is no new subject...
...The annual conference of the International Catholic League chose for its subject, Nationality, and the opening address was given by Dr...
...it was not the main basic idea of the project of international cooperation...
...if international, they will submit it to the highest authority...
...While this committee is working, Catholics in different nations will have time to consider the project...
...and they must be recognized by ecclesiastical authority...
...The international character of the assembly was also remarkable...
...First, no thinking man present at the opening reception could fail to be struck by the position now held by Catholics in the university city and the recognition of it shown there—as, indeed, it is now shown by all unbiased people throughout the country...
Vol. 3 • February 1926 • No. 16
