—author, A. C. F. Beales, the man behind Christian Co-operation
The publication of a sixpenny " Penguin Special " on The Catholic Church and World Order means that thousands of our countrymen will have the opportunity of getting at last first hand and authentic information on the position of the Church and the Pope in regard to t lc war.
The author of the new " Penguin Special " which should now be universally obtainable is Mr. A. C. F. Reales, the Secretary of the Sword of the Spirit and the organiser of the Stoll Theatre
meetings.
Mr. Beales's success in obtaining this popular publication of 'a Catholic work is in keeping with the remarkable patience, persistency and success which have marked the campaign for Christian co-operation in the country on the basis of the Pope's " Peace Points " and the Bishops' Manifesto of last December.
We print below a note by our contributor Hieronymus on the contents of the new Penguin."
MINIATURE SOURCE-BOOK By Hieronymus
When Pius XI died and Pius XII was elected, there was one very noticeable world phenomena. It is perfectly true to say that the world mourned the death of one Pope and eagerly welcomed and acclaimed his successor.
Quite without knowing, or perhaps without being yet fully prepared to admit it, the world has silently accepted the universal fatherhood of the Vicar of Christ. Looking back on it now, we can dimly perceive that this acceptance of the fatherhood of the Pope may be a providential preparation for the good, which may be yet reached out of the world " hurricane." At least we did welcome one great fruit of it: the joint
Times letter of 'December 21, 1940, accepting the " Pope's Five Peace Points," and adding the five standards of social betterment. There can he no doubt of the existence of a sympathetic attitude towards what the Church has to say on the real big events of our time. And just at the right time and in the right atmosphere comes Mr. Beales's book.
Here we have a scholarly, well-written, carefully documented book of nearly 200 pages at the price of sixpence, and a Catholic book which will have all the advantages of the widest possible distribution and advertisement.
PAPAL PRONOUNCEMENTS ARE PRACTICAL Mr. Beaks has done his work well. He has collected and presented a most valuable collection of texts—a miniature source-book. The words of the Popes and Catholic theologians have been most skilfully set out, so that they convince people of the reasonableness of the Church's position. The principle of this presentation is revealed by Mr. Beales in one passage.
" All the great Papal pronouncements of modern times . . . are, in the first place, thoroughly practical. In the second
place. all that they say to the world at large is doubly deepened for the Catholic by the theological precepts that he knows to have been in the Holy Father's nand in drafting the advice. But world peace is a matter for pagan as well as Christian; for baud as well as free; for the uncircumcised as well as the eireumased. The international message of the Catholic Church. therefore, has always stood solidly on that which unites ALL these diversities; not. that is, on Christian theology immediately. but on two irreducible minimum bases (which Christian theology indeed has perfected. but which were there before the coming of Christ): namely, the solidarity of the human race, and the dependence of man's laws upon a source of law outside man."
To the actual technique of winning the war there is no specifically Catholic contribution. We can do our share as citizens and make our best efforts to help our country. But to win the peace that follows we have a definite Catholic contribution to make. Mr. Beales has made us conscious of it and provided us with the means which even the humblest can use. We can deepen the knowledge in ourselves and we cart impart the knowledge to others.
Therefore to be practical : So good is this book that every Catholic should buy two copies: retain one for himself and hand in the other at any post office, which will deliver it to the Forces.