The Church and the World, I
Reynold, Gonzague de
18o THE COMMONWEAL June 23, 192 THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD ...
...The year following in Milan, from October eyes open...
...That is also why many Catho- ties, to represent and to defend the Catholic interest lics, as, for instance, Reverend de la Briere, have been in that body...
...and therefore had more need of conciliating a moral That's he now...
...but when Father Gianfranceschi tendency and this an exceedingly dangerous one, which withdrew, this committee was compelled to interrupt can be expressed in one word-laicism...
...with all the great associations of intellectuals radicals, socialists, the internationalists of strict oband scholars...
...The Count de Reynold is President of the Catholic the League of Nations forms of more general activity, Union of International Studies, an organization directly fos- which cannot leave Catholics indifferent-for instance, tered by the reigning Holy Father, and the author of a number all the work done in remolding and in codifying inof studies pertinent to international relations and universal ternational law, in establishing a new system of interpeace.-The Editors...
...Now these try, not excepting the United States...
...that it should last three days...
...It is thus that the International of the League of Nations, if their mission consists in Bureau of Education dreamed of by Messrs...
...But since that time, political events That she did not expect him to show he knew her...
...they seek to use it to with moral problems and cannot ignore Catholic work...
...Here, ignorance or indifference would be duties of citizens toward it...
...The Hygiene laicists have a fervency for the League of Nations Commission, that of opium, that of slavery, that of which at times embarrasses the latter...
...The idea of mission of Intellectual Cooperation, the institute that the League of Nations can and even must rally Cathois now installed in.the Palais Royal...
...All nations and all private institutions shall First, we have said that they cannot ignore it...
...We know how much Viscount Cecil had been im- But he turns away, as it seems by chance, pressed, coming back from the United States in 1923, To pass with the others, his face averting...
...Furthermore, the gov- Her worn hands fall to their task again, ernments themselves seem better to understand the And she fights with the sobs her breast is hiding, importance of the League of Nations...
...They have allies among the libtion...
...Education in the true following a report presented by Mr...
...have the League of Nations interfere in the domain The attitude of Catholics toward the League of of education, thus complying with the resolutions of Nations would be much easier if the Holy See and the congresses of Brussels, Milan, and Geneva-re- the League of Nations would not ignore each other, 182 THE COMMONWEAL June 23, 1926 and if there existed between these two powers some Rome will need it...
...Aulard and allies became the Commission of Intel- In short, the League of Nations, as it is, is neither lectual Cooperation, for which, up to the present time, the work of God nor the work of the devil, but the Catholics have had only praise...
...The League of Nations having of the credit and should leave the League, the latter ignored the Holy See, and still ignoring it, the Holy would be in very bad condition...
...It seeks to spread this cult of Royal, has connections with all the universities, both humanity, these dogmas, and to impose them by teachofficial and independent...
...the Polish Lithuanian dispute, the financial restoration tions...
...But passed a resolution tending to have the League of for how long...
...Unfortunately (more for the lics form numerous and influential parties, very League of Nations than for the Holy See) the latter strongly organized, which could unite themselves with was kept away from the League of Nations by the adversaries of the League for the purpose of refusing veto of an Italy which had not yet had the crucifixes the annual credits which sustain the institution in replaced in the schools, nor manifested toward the Geneva...
...That is why they never cease to speak on tions between the Holy See and the League, it will every occasion against this political exclusivism...
...They consider the traffic in women and children, necessarily deals it as their own, as their work...
...The Com- and particularly to the Catholic Church, a lay church mission of Intellectual Cooperation, which owns in for the adoration of humanity...
...bition they manifest today...
...is possible, and what already has been done for the The idea that the Holy See could be a member of representation and the defense of Catholic interests the League of Nations with the same title and with under the League of Nations...
...But when the lics, but the present reality of the League of Nations League of Nations accepts a dangerous proposition, can and must at times make them suspicious...
...They are irresponsible and lics have duties toward it...
...will have to be purified in a pacifist sense...
...On the contrary, it is necessary to know and this power has not yet been entirely lost this how to make a very exact distinction between the influence has been increasing...
...the League of Nations is itself responsible...
...Since of Nations should not consist in accepting everything the combination of parties obtained power in France- from it...
...She knows her brother's See and the League of Nations, and the right of the High voice outringing so clear and sweet Holy See to send to Geneva pontifical delegates when- In tones that soar above all the others...
...From depend upon the private initiative of Catholics, at this, moreover, derives the principal reason of the their risk and peril, and under their own responsibilcoldness which the majority of Catholics still manifest ity, without engaging that of the ecclesiastical authoritoward the League...
...She should have feigned Church itself...
...At any rate, the Holy See will never take the us realize that a conflict between Catholics and the first step toward the League...
...Cathoit hastens to filter it and to reduce it to a minimum lics do not have to make a free propaganda in favor acceptable to all...
...for example, the brotherhood of man, and of Intellectual Cooperation, located at the Palais indefinite progress...
...The question of Upper Silesia, in order to make propaganda for the League of Na...
...the same rights as the other states, has now been abandoned...
...was that of the peace of God and of the truce of God, For example, the Commission of Mandates deals of the armies of peace and of chivalry, of pontifical with the Holy Land...
...national relations, in defining a new conception of the O NE may or may not like the League of Nations, society of man...
...The commission which had especial charge of an idea which the Church represents and has never pedagogical and propaganda matters was then pre- ceased to promote from the time of the downfall of sided over by the late Mr...
...with the consideration of methods by which the exThus, the conference held by these associations in istence and aims of the League of Nations could be Brussels on the first three days of December, 1919, made known in the schools...
...Since 1919, each of these con• of the hierarchy, the status of the clergy, the institu- gresses has given expression to some very significant June 23, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 181 resolutions bearing the impress of still more signifi- sulted in a small committee of experts entrusted only cant persons...
...18o THE COMMONWEAL June 23, 192 THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD I. CATHOLICS AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS By GONZAGUE DE REYNOLD (This, the first of a series of three articles discussing the work tions of learning, the properties of the Church, and to be done by Catholics toward establishing a more nearly per- the relations between Church and state...
...the outside, and only in questions concerning Catholicism or morals...
...Surely he'll cast a glance force as considerable as that of the Church...
...that of transit deals with calendar arbitration...
...to the Papacy, nor are they satisfied with the present But as long as there do not exist any official relasituation...
...have been possible even two or three years ago...
...it will wait for that League would do more damage to the latter than to body to make the first step toward it, with the pa- the Church...
...Does not the term, League of Nathe Congress of Warsaw in May, 1925, Mr...
...Where she is hid by the grimy curtain...
...Their in- But these duties of Catholics toward the League fluence is thus not very strong, but it exists...
...Christian international law, the Catholic doctrine reIn fact, the activities of the League of Nations never lating to peace and to war, the long and glorious juricease to touch problems in which the greatest interests dical and philosophical tradition of a Church which of Catholicism are involved...
...Aulard tions, translate very exactly the formula, societas civimade such a violent attack against them and against tatum, used by Saint Augustine in his treatise, De Civithe Church that several Polish delegates left the hall...
...fect world order, is written by the foremost authority on the Besides these particular commissions, there are in theme...
...In Third, it is the duty of Catholics to acknowledge the month of June, 1921, this time in Geneva, the in the idea itself, in the principles and in the aims of same conference again came back to the same sub- the League of Nations, an idea profoundly Christian, ject...
...Can the League of Nations ignore but it is too important to be ignored...
...It is thus that the very imperfect, and doubtless temporary, work of propositions made to the assembly in 1925 by the man...
...A Chinese even proposed of influence which it has a right to exert in Geneva...
...with all the scientific institu- ing...
...It is a question of sustaining it in all propositions absolutely dangerous since they aimed to the good, and opposing it in all the evil, which it does...
...The Council of the League of Nations itself has under This state of mind reigns less in the League of its protection the interests of the minorities, of which Nations itself, which is an official institution, an assoseveral are Catholic minorities, such as those of Rou- ciation of governments, than in the private and irremania, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and sponsible groups which have been formed since 1918 Slovenes, Turkey, etc...
...The apostles of laicism are the freemasons, the tions...
...Was it not the Herriot League of Nations as principle and as idea, and the ministry that offered, in 1924, to create, for the Com- League of Nations as it exists today...
...This first step was taken on tiptoes...
...A solution of this kind would Where she stands by a misty pane of the kitchen...
...In many parliaments the Cathoofficial relations...
...studying how official relations may be established be- In a further article, I shall attempt to show how this tween the Holy See and the League of Nations...
...national organization could venture to dispense with But Catholics themselves cannot forget this insult it for any length of time...
...The question While she hears the notes of the glad refrain has therefore been adjourned-but only adjourned, About truth and spring far away subsiding...
...In fact, one no longer visualizes the Brother and Sister Papacy taking part in purely political or economic (Translated from the Swedish of Albert Ulrik Baath) litigations, compromising itself in all the questions It's certain she still feels big somehow, which the League is more or less obliged to settle...
...When Benedict XV ? Without the sovereign Papacy, the inan attempt was made to fix the date for Easter, the ternational organization of the contemporaneous world Holy See was kind enough to permit the Reverend will always be incomplete...
...It may be possible to consider, for The chorus echoes along the street instance, direct diplomatic relations between the Holy As the banners flutter...
...because the League will always need Rome more than CHARLES WHARTON STORK...
...As is known, its work...
...They fill each corner and whirl in her soul, At that time, the League was weaker than it is now, As with a sunbeam the motes shine rich in...
...Nations create a permanent bureau for education and but it is a first step nevertheless, and we must keep our science...
...It works in all domains of mental life- servance, and a large part of the Jews-especially the science, arts, letters, questions of law and of educa- Jewish freethinkers...
...by the powerful organization of the American Catholics, which had revealed to him the power of the He couldn't have nodded...
...Quartier LaTente, chief the Roman empire and of the invasion by the barof the Swiss freemasons and, shortly thereafter, gen- barians-the unity of the Christian world, the peace eral secretary of the International Bureau of Free- of Christ in the reign of Christ, by truth and justice, masonry in Geneva...
...ever the participation of the Papacy is desired, either There are words about spring in the songs that roll by it or by the League...
...If two or three European countries, even if Church the respect that is shown it by the govern- they are of little importance, should refuse their share ment of Mussolini...
...Although but a drudge in a kitchen slaving, The Holy See can only enter into communication with As she sees on her only brother's brow the League as a superior with an inferior, and from The white student's cap he looks so brave in...
...This demonstration See can only ignore the League of Nations-since it is purely theoretical because it is very doubtful that is above the League of Nations, as eternity is above such a case may present itself, but it suffices to make time...
...tate Dei ? We must constantly remind the League of Certainly we must not exaggerate the influence of Nations that the Church is its mother, that consethese laicists and of these internationalists in the quently it has some duties toward the Church, if CathoLeague of Nations itself...
...Gianfranceschi, director of the Nuovi Lincei Academy, But then we discern, if not in the League of Nations to attend, in his personal capacity, a few meetings of itself, at least around the League of Nations, another a special committee...
...In this instance, the League of Nations laicism consists in opposing to the Christian churches could do nothing without the Catholics...
...all manuals of history much more harmful than hostility itself...
...This lay church has Paris, as a working organ, the International Institute dogmas...
...12 to 16, the same conference discussed and approved These facts suffice to determine exactly what the atthe following program : "International Bureau of titude of Catholics should be in regard to the League Education, analogous to the International Bureau of of Nations Labor...
...finally, an Second, they must watch that Catholic interests are annual celebration of the League of Nations shall be not lost sight of by the League of Nations, but that it instituted, a compulsory celebration and holiday, ob- considers them and reserves for Catholicism that share served by the entire world...
...It is not a question of kneeling before it nor of delegations of Haiti, of Uruguay, and of Chili- exorcising it...
...These names cannot but be sus- by the application of Christian laws and morals to picious to Catholics: it is well to recall here that at international life...
...The moral authority of the Church is tience of a divine institution for which time does not not of such a nature that a young and feeble intermatter...
...I have in mind the national associations for the of Austria, that of Hungary, the affairs of Albania League of Nations and the international congresses and others have raised, and will raise incessantly, prob- which are held every year, sometimes in one capital, lems of a religious character, such as the organization sometimes in another...
...it is the centre of a system of national commis- eral and agnostic Protestants and can depend on the sions which have been formed in almost every coun- "secular power" of many governments...
...F. Buisson, sense of the word will remain forbidden ground...
...But for this it is necessary that Catholicism, as Aulard who presided over the special commission Catholicism, be represented there...
...Buisson, working for international peace and morality...
...in France and elsewhere have given to laicism and to His comrades maybe would not have refrained anti-clericalism the new life and recrudescence of am- From ribald jokes had he spoken to her...
...On include, in the program of all schools, compulsory the contrary, their duty is to follow its activity very teaching concerning the League of Nations and the closely...
...Catho- here, and can we permit it to ignore, the principles of lics, among others, therefore cannot ignore it...
...Can it ignore, and can we permit it to reforms: on this subject it has been compelled to come ignore, Saint Augustine, Pope Innocent III, Saint to an understanding with the representatives of the Thomas Aquinas, Suarez, Pope Leo XIII, and Pope churches, beginning with the Catholic Church...
...dominate the world as if it were their Vatican...
...I add that it was Mr...
...where these three resolutions were formulated...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 7
