PAGE FOUR Friday, September 24, 196S
iiA. Question Of Freedom
e are diametrically opposed to the
inclusion of the Planned Parent-
hood Center of Seattle into the Seattle-
King County Economic Opportunity pro-
gram. As soon as the Anti-Poverty Pro-
gram was announced branches of the
lianned Parenthood organization took
steps to get involved locally. They want
to get involved because if accepted by
local Economic Opportunity Act spon-
sored Service Centers they can under the
guise of fighting poverty get government
funds to pay £or their nationwide pro-
g[ams of birth control indoctrination and
mass dissemination of contraceptive
dSvices.
We do not deny the right of Plan-
ned Parenthood organizations to exist.
But we do deny that they have a right
to federal endorsement and subsidy. The
moment the US government gets finan-
cially involved in family planning through
birth control she can no longer call her-
self the protector of personal liberties.
IVhat are the chief guideposts of
personal freedom symbolized by the
statue of liberty and defended so strong-
ly by the Supreme Court of these
United States? They are in general:
freedom from governmental inquisi-
tion; the related right of privacy; con-
cern for the weaker members of so-
ctety; and freedom from governmental
coercion of mind and conscience.
Should planned parenthood organi-
zations become governmental sponsored
agencies these freedoms will be in grave
jeopardy. Human sexuality is a private
and deeply human reality. Since the sex
act in man ]s a human act it has moral
as well as biological implications. It is
something sacred, something for which
he is accountable not only to his fellow
man but to God Himself.
Once the government gets involved
in birth control there will be sex forms
like income tax and pension forms. Our
society will be rendered "naked" and the
present de facto non-confidentiality of
files in which personal case histories of
individuals on public assistance are re-
corded is but a mild foretaste of what
is to come.
There is no privacy in a barnyard
because nothing there is sacred. Expose
the intimate acts of human beings making
them a matter of public record and hu-
man beings will no longer treat as sacred
at which society no longer regards as
s&red.
',/'[hat about concern for the weaker
members of society, especially the
]egr o and the poor? Negroes in our
untry like the poor' and the daiker peo-
,in most parts of the world for the
lst two centuries have been de facto
ghtiess," that is to Say, lacking in any
1lwer whatever tO assert rights or realize
liberties.
;-- If the federal government gets into
he birth control business and begins to
:put pressure on people to get off federal
assistance by keeping down the size of
Fheir families which members of our so-
Ciety will be the most vulnerable? Will
not the American Negro and the poor
ibe put directly on the spot: "either stop
iha;ing babies or don't eat."
How any Negro leader who
claims to be fighting for civil rights
:can be in favor of government funds
for birth control dissemination among
the poor is beyond our comprehension.
Finally and perhaps most important
of all is the problem of coercion of mind
'and conscience. We must avoid at all
cost any compulsion where conscience,
religion, belief or outlook on life, politi-
cal creed or familial relationships are con-
cerned. But how, on a practical basis can
coercion of mind and conscience be
avoided if the poor of this city are going
to be told: "you are costing the state
money, birth control saves state money
now you help us and we'll help you."
If an individual wants information
about Planned Parenthood he can pick
up the phone and ask for it. This is a
free country. But once we put pressure
on people to inquire about once we
motivate them to use methods of birth
prevention which they themselves in con-
science may deem morally wrong the
streets of Seattle will b e c o m e free of
children but those who walk her side-
walks will not be free of consdence. This
is precisely why in the American system
we have been willing to die rather than
provide the government with blank
checks where personal liberties are
involved.
ver population is a grave problem
today. No one is more aware of it
or concerned about it than the Roman
Catholic Church. But the Church can
not accept the principle that methods
which degrade, dehumanize, and enslave
humanity can ever prove an effective
means to save humanity.
Hitler had the perfect answer for
a super-race. Unfortunately the Ger-
man people bought the end product
without carefully analyzing the impli-
cations of the proposed means. The
Planned Parenthood people have pro-
posed a better world for mankind
through birth control. Take a hard
look at their means. Any system for
improving the human race based upon
human control and manipulatian of
human life must ultimately end in
Dachau. Hitler p r o v e d this with a
force that put terror into the hearts
of the aged and "socially unfit" of a
generation ago. But people never learn.
History repeats itself. The tragedy of
our present situation is that no one
is forcing race suicide upon us. We
are voting it in.
To keep the record clear we want
it known that we do not oppose any or-
ganization as an organization. But we
do oppose any program regardless of its
name that promotes, motivates, endoc-
trinates or disseminates services without
regard for human rights and freedoms.
The people of Planned Parenthood and
groups like them are not even frightened
by the prevailing medical opinion that
the latest and most popular birth control
device now on the market which because
of its price and effectiveness will soon
displace all others, is c 1 e a r 1 y abortive
rather than truly contraceptive. Could it
be that abortion, sterilization, anything, at
this point, short of the gas chamber is
legitimate in order to achieve a desired
end?
N conclusion we make it clear that the
objections stated above are not leveled
at the marvelous work which ha been
accomplished by the Seatde-King County
Economic Opportunity Board. The pov-
erty program in the Seattle area is recog-
nized as one of the fastest moving and
efficiently organized in the United States.
We congratulate all t h o s e who have
helped ith its formation. But please do
not vitiate all your efforts by including
an organization concerning whose pu r-
poses, methods and policies the federal
government ought to remain neutral.
Dear Subscriber
' If your account with The Progress still is delinquent or soon will be, a
renewal this month is most appreciated. A one-year subscription to your
archdiocesan newspaper is $4---just a little more than seven cents a week.
By paying your subscription promptly, you eliminate unnecessary billing and
help to keep postage costs to a minimum.THE MANAGEMENT.
Thoughts for Christian
Living
"]K|OT BY controversy and discussion can I show
men what God means to a soul. Only through
struggli.ng against myself, through becoming, with His
help, more Christian an6 more valiant, shall I bear witness to
Him whose humble disciple I am." --Elizabeth Leseur.
O
"One act of pure love of God is worth more to God, to the
Church, and to the soul than any quantity of active works of
zeal." --St. John of the Cross.
"Our Lord saw beyond the Cross the joyous results for Him-
self and for the race which He had ccne to ransom."
--Bertrand Weaver CP.
"To those who resent God as an intruder on a self-sufficient
world, chance has seemed a much more appealing explanation
of nature's order than the omnipotent government of Divinity."
--Thomas Aquinas OP
Which Neither Can Afford
.,,:<.: .:..: ..:., ......... ........ ..... • .......... ...... -. "'''":"r'L:: ".:+'.'.''.:'.:.'.'.''' ":: :, .:.::: :r:: : "':" ":':":::"::'!
: :Z'
!
i!i: i!:.::i:iiiiii
: ....::
'Smooth Sailing'
Ahead for Council
, BY FATHER PLACID JORDAN, OSB
(NCWC News Service)
HE goal of an early successful conclusion of their
labors now being within reach, the Fathers of
the equmenical council appeared to have smooth sail-
ing from the very first day of the council's fourth session.
Virtually all the hesitations and trepidations which had been
noticeable during the interval between the sessions disappeared
as if the fog were clearing when Pope Paul VI, in his opening
speech, made the historic announcement of the creation of a
world synod of bishops to share with him the responsibility of
governing the Universal Church.
Pope Paul's announcement caught the council Fathers
entirely by surprise, although during the opening of the second
session he had reported on plans for some sort of "Church
senate." It was known, however, that there was opposition to
such a move, especially among the "traditionalists."
In 1870, the First Vatican Council had firmly established the
supreme authority,of the pontiffs as the infallible shepherds of
the Church. Now, the Second Vatican Council was to define more
clearly the authority of the bishops in their capacity as succes-
sors of the Apostles.
The issue at the Second Vatican Council was "collegiality"--
the sharing of power by the bishops with the pope who, while
vicar of Christ and successor of St. Peter, is also a bishop. The
burden of Church government he bears has been growing in
modern times to an extent no one had foreseen at the previous
council.
In the Second Vatican Council the breakthough has become
a reality. The principle of a single, absolute authority which
was in force for nearly 2,000 years has gained a new aspect by
the adoption of the formula "sub Petro et cum Petro" (under
Peter and with Peter).
What happens next will depend largely on whether the synod
will make itself a truly effective instrument and assert its auth-
ority by initiatives of its own in conjunction with the pope.
There is no doubt that this prospect is intimately related to
the reform of the Roman curia that Pope Paul himself .announced
on Sept. 21, 1963, as one of his prieipal concerns.
Obviously no pope or other ruler can dispense with the
services of administrative agencies, but theirs need not be powers
superceding the legitimate functions of the bishops. The new
synod will see to this, and the permanent Rome secretariat of
the synod will maintain the regular contacts needed for its
smooth operation. The excessive centralization prevailing until
now will thereby be avoided.
By trial and error the world synod will "make its own bed"
while the Roman curia, whose top officers will also make up
part of the synod, continues to serve as an administrative arm
for beth the Pontiff and the bishops. But it wil be more pliable
and less independent than heretofore.
In other words, the council, even after it has adjourned, will
still be able, together with the Pope, to keep a watchful eye
over the application of its decisions.
For all practical purposes the world synod will function as a
permanent "little council." From now on authority in the Church
will apply not only vertically but also horizontally. This will be
felt all the way down to the parish level.
It need not be stressed that this will have a bearing upon
inter-faith relations as well, for the charge of "absolutism" now
can be proven to be unfounded."
Outstanding speakers such as Francis Cardinal Spellman
of New York, Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston, Joseph
Cardinal Rifler of St. Louis and John Cardinal Heenan of
Westminster strongly upheld man's right to be free of every
coercion in matters of religion. The declaration drew special
support from those in Communist countries like Josyf Car-
dinal Slipyi of the U k r a in e and Franjo Cardinal Seper of
Yugoslavia.
The feeling now is widespread among the council Fathers
that they actually may be home by Christmas.
No Time
For Chit.Chat
By FATHER JOSEPH GUSTAFSON SS
OW do peOple live without Faith?
H The question has preoccupied us for
years.
Some do as much good as they can and leave
the rest as a big question mark. They deserve
immense credit for their good convictions. But
it must be difficult indeed; calling for real cour-
age and pure philosophy.
Some become cynics. For example, there is an
inscription on an early Roman tomb which reads
in colloquial Latin "Non fui, fui, non sum, non
cure." I think it is most accurately translated as
"once I didn't exist, then I did. Now I don't. Oh,
the Hell with it!" Not that the word Hell had
any meaning to this poor chap. But that's the
way it would be said in 1965 colloquial Ameri-
can.
And one can only pity the author of these
lines. He snatched a bit of joy here and there
or of gross pleasure but it was all only too
transitory to him--"Here today, gone tomor-
row." He probably thought that he was an
Epicurean (as that term is still misunder-
stood). He didn't know that Epicurus, ancient
Greek, left a letter behind him, marking as the
happiest day of his life the day he left it all.
We had a talk, brief but earnest and final, with
a wonderful youngster whom we had had the joy
of instructing in the Faith. This was a week ago.
He was dying of leukemia. We brought up the
fundamentals--it was no time for chit-chat. He
and I agreed that the one thing left was prayer
and the love of God. What else could possibly
matter? He had known for at least over a year
what leukemia means. He had lived with it daily.
His doctor had told us a year ago that he was
a young man a great courage and conviction.
And so he was, that night. There was no fear in
him. There was no anxiety. He was suffering,
indeed.
But he knew certain things far better than
you and I know them just new. He looked at
death and looked at it simply as another aspect
of life.
"Death is the ga|cway to life," ancient Chris-
tians put it. This is the way Bill felt. We are
all his debtors for his faith and for his example.
He has made it that much easier for all those
who came into contact with him in his last
months. Our deaths shall be far easier for those
of us who know and loved Bill.
He showed us how people die who have faith.
It was not his concern to answer the other ques-
tions of how people live without faith.
I thought that I was instructing him. He was
instructing me.
Pope Paul,
Bridge.Builder
By FATHER JOHN B. SHEERIN CSP
HE coming visit of Pope Paul raises
the question frequently a s k e d in
Catholic circles since he succeeded Pope
John: "What kind of person is Pope Paul?"
We can be sure that the daily press, in report-
ing his visit, will not be greatly concerned about
scriptural proofs for the papal primacy nor even
about the extent of papal jurisdiction. Nor will
the journalists give their primary attention to the
significance of his message to the United Na-
tions. Undoubtedly they will focus on his per-
sonality.
John Cogley attempts to give a picture of
the Pope as a person in his article in the New
York Times magazine September 12. He pin-
points a number of engaging facets in the
Pope's personality but admits that it is a per-
sonality that is elusive;
The favorite journalistic adjective for Pope
Paul is "enigmatic"--which usually means that
he is surrounded by an air of mystery and a
Hamlet-like quality that prevents anyone from
knowing just exactly where he stands on the
great issues facing the modern Church. Now it
seems to me that his visit to the UN of itself
gives us an insight into at least one important
facet of his personality. He is a bridge-builder,
building or at least trying to bridge the chasms
that divide the conflicting factions on the inter-
national scene.
The present Pope began to build a bridge of
understanding between Catholics and Orthodox
when he went to Jerusalem to meet the Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarch. Later, he went to India
to build up better understanding between Roman
Catholics and the great non-Christian religions
of the East. He does not enjoy the same respect
and affection from Protestants as Pope John did,
and yet he helped the cause immensely by acts
such as his "act of contrition" at the second
session of the council for Catholic faults in caus-
ing the Reformation.
John Cogley, in his Times' article, says that
Vatican observers and some bishops are asking
the question: "How far is the Pontiff willing
to go toward implementing John's aggiorna-
mento?" The bigots and cynics point to three
puzzling papal acts in the last week of last
fall's session of the Council and say that these
acts show that he is aggressively conservative
and determined to frustrate the progressive
majority.
True, these three developments, especially his
change of the Ecumenism text altering the state-
ment that Protestants "find" God in Scripture
to "seek" Him in Scripture, did seem to favor
the anti-reform forces in the Council but, again,
we have to remember that Paul is a bridge-
builder, attempting to unify the conflicting forces
in the council.
In an article in the Protestant magazine Chris-
tianity and Crisis, Dec. 28, 1964 a Methodist ob-
server at the Council, Dr. Albert Outler, remind.
ed Protestants that they should not be alarmed
by Pope Paul's actions because (I) he is a sym-
bol and bridge of unity in the Church and (2)
he is "leading a Reformation Roman style."
Outler recalls seeing in the council a noted ul-
traconservative, after one of Pope Paul con-
cessions'to the conservatives in the last exciting
week last fall, shouting for joy and embracing
his colleagues. "It crossed my unbelieving
mind," writes Outler, "that the Pope had gone
out of his way to give these people a small
triumph to celebrate on their tumbrel's journey
into yesterday."
Love Is
The Only Road
By FATHER LEO J. TRESE
NE OF the Scribes, a doctor of law,
asked Jesus, "Master, what must
I do to gain eternal .life?" The lawyer
expected to hear from Jesus of some new and
revolutionary method for saving his soul. He
was hoping, perhaps, to be told of some kind of
short-cut to heaven.
But Jesus did not answer, "Make the nine
First Fridays," or "Wear a brown scapular,"
or "Pray your Rosary every day." Jesus
countered with a question of His own: "What
is written in the Law?"
"Thou shal't love the Lord thy God with thy
whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with
thy whole strength, and with thy whole mind,"
the lawyer recited; "and thy neighbor as thy-
self." "You have answered rightly," Jesus ap-
proved; "do this and you shall live." Jesus then
went on in the parable, of the Good Samaritan, to
point out that our neighbor is Everyman.
Certainly Jesus was not condemning, by an-
ticipation, the private devotions which, through
the centuries, would become such a prominent
part of Catholic spirituality. The Jesus Whom
we adore under the title of His Sacred Heart is
the same Lord and Master Whose Heart was
broken for us on the cross. The Mary Whom
we honor with scapular and Rosary is still the
same beloved Mother whom Jesus confided to
St. John.
Our private devotions certainly can contri-
bute to the warmth and richness of our spirit-
ual life. We must make sure, however, that we
do not let our personal pieties overshadow our
most basic duty of all -- to love selflessly and to
manifest that love in the love we show our neigh-
bor.
The love which we have for our neighbor
must be much more than a passive love, much
more than a mere abstention from words and
actions which might hurt another. This is an es-
sential beginning, of course, but it is only a be-
ginning.
Our.love for our neighbor must be a posi-
tive drive -- a watchfulness for opportunities
to be of help to others, and a quickness of re-
sponse when opportunities are discovered. Our
love must be all-incluslve, too. There is not a
person on the face of the earth, be he friend,
stranger or enemy, who has not the right to
look to us for assistance if he is in need and
we are in a position to help.
Further, our love for neighbor must be a
selfless le, even as is our love for God,
If it is true that charity covers a multitude
of sins, it also is true that lack of charity can
negate a multitude of virtues.
