Must Use Education In The Service Of God
Bishop Of Leeds Addresses University Catholic Societies
A University. education is a privilege but with it go heavy responsibilities. Those who have been given this privilege are expected to use their talents and their education in the service of God, The Bishop of Leeds, Mgr. IL J. Poskitt, emphasised this point when he addressed the University Catholic Societies' Federation of Great Britain at their meeting last week-end in Sheffield.
The meeting was held in Sheffield by invitation of the Padley Society, the Catholic Society of Sheffield University. Mr. Bernard Carr, president of the Society, welcomed the 70 delegates and visitors from University Societies: Sixteen societies presented reports at the morning session, which was held after the delegates had heard Mass for the deceased members of the Society.
On Sunday, the Bishop of Leeds pontificated at High Mass which was attended by 175 members in Academic dress.
At a luncheon, held in honour of the Bishop of Leeds and Dr. A. Pickard-Cambridge (Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University), Mr. H. E. Collins, lecturer in Mining at Sheffield University, and chairman of the Society, presided.
Bishop's Speech
The Bishop of Leeds spoke at the lunch. He said we were living in times of crisis, The foundations of our civilisation were being attacked—especially morality. The world did not seem to know which way it was going to turn.
"Even in our own country people are beginning to ask what is going to happen to the world, but when I come here among people like you I feel that we have some hope for the future."
Because their education gave them a certain amount of influence, they could do something to save England and civilisation —everything they held dear.
It was a privilege to have a university education, but with that privilege came also responsibility. God expected them to use their talents and their education in His service. There was something higher than knowledge. It was charity. If they had not charity they were worth nothing. They must further the work of God by maintaining Christian principles.
Vice-Chancellor's Address
Dr. Pickard-Cambridge said he did not think there was any society, apart from the Church of England to which he belonged, in which he felt happier than in the-society of Catholics. He owed a great deal of the enrichment of his life to friends of his who were Catholics.
He was conscious of the great value, at the present time, of a body such as the Catholic students of this country were. It was a time when religious and ethical standards were being seriously threatened, and a body of students like the University Catholic Societies' Federation, who lived by definite principles and, to a great ex tent, also lived a disciplined life, were of incalculable value to the community, Mr. Bernard J. Carr, president of the Padley society, thanked the Bishop and Dr.
Pickard-Cambridge. They were grateful for the interest Dr. Pickard-Cambridge had shown in the efforts to consolidate Catholic thought and make it a force for the good of the country and for the upkeep of Christianity which is at the present time labouring under many handicaps.
The students were doing their best to stem the tide of Paganism that was coming to this country surely but slowly.
International Affairs
After luncheon the students and guests visited Mount St. Mary's College, Spinkhill, Eckington, where Fr. John Murray, S.J., lectured on A Catholic. Outlook on International Questions.
He said the Catholic attitude to Communism was fairly clear, and as regards Fascism, it was vitiated, front the Catholic point of view, by its absolute claims to the supremacy of the State.
Not Political
The Catholic attitude should not be political, as such, but was a question of insistence on the Catholic principles of peace, harmony, and justice.
Many people had seen certain affinities between Catholicism and Fascism, and had thought there was a possible danger that Catholics, by the sheer fact of opposing Communism, might be led to go over to the other side. The answer was " No." The inherent evils in the Fascist idealogy or thought had been pointed out clearly, by the Pope.
Justice and Peace
Catholics insisted on the obligation of cooperation between States to secure justice and peace. It was a constant teaching of Catholic theologists and Popes.
As regarded nationalism, there was a real and genuine force behind national feeling. Though nationalism in the strict sense was fairly modern. attachment to one's own folk, land and home was as old as the hills.
Nationalism could be good, but if it meant hatred and distrust of other people it was bad. It was good because it pointed to all the danger of too woolly a kind of internationalism, which talked vaguely of everyone being fellow men without recognising the fundamental differences which did exist—and if those were not recognised attempts at co-operation were useless.