THE LEAKAGE

Newman Association Study
Sta,-Your correspondent Miss Cahill hits the nail on the head when she calls for a thorough investigation Of the root causes of lapsing. But she misunderstands the nature of the enquiry into lapsing which the Newman Demographic Survey is undertaking when she infers that the survey is concentrating its influence, resources and energy on mere numbers. The effort that is being put into the work of the survey is not inspired by idle curiosity to know "how many" (Catholics, lapsed Catholics, etc.), but by the injunction of His Holiness to see clearly in order to act effectively.
There arc three pre-requisites to a succgssful effort to remedy the evil of Missing. First, we must get the measure of the problem. Having given a meaning to "lapsing," we must get a fairly accurate idea of the numbers of Catholics lapsing and discover the incidence of this lapsing in tcrms of sex, age, social, economic and national origins and background, and of the different parts of the country. The reconciliation of lapsed Catholics to the Church must similarly be measured. To consider lapsing in isolation is inevitably to exaggerate it. The correspondence in your columns shows how essential this preliminary measuring up is. One correspondent tells us that priests who know, estimate the lapsing of children from Catholic schools in the poorerparts of London at 75 to 90 per cent.; another quotes "official statistics" (undefined) to prove that lapsing is negligible.
Second, we must discover what are the causes of lapsing. In the absence of a comprehensive sociological enquiry, everyone has his own pet theory. Some of your correspondents point to lack of youth clubs and boys' hostels, some to broken homes and indifferent families, others to lack of community centres, segregation of children at Holy Mass, bad adult example, lack of charity to neighbours, the emphasis on "don'ts" instead of "do's," the conviction of "most Catholic educationists that once children are admitted to Catholic schools their complete Catholic education is assured." lack of appreciation of the social nature of the Mass, etc. They may well all be right, or I I he wrong. Flirt a comprehensive, painstaking and prolonged study, using statistical, sociological and other relevant techniques, is needed if we are to ascertain the causes and conditions of lapsing in different situations and states of life. Such a study can only succeed if there is the closest collaboration between laity expert in the technical field and clergy expert in the pastoral field.
Having obtained the measure of the problem and determined its causes and conditions, we arrive at the third stage, the assessment of remedies. Though some idea of the possible remedies will be obtained from the study of causes, there will usually be many alternative ways of remedying a particular defect. Perhaps the most satisfactory way of discovering the most suitable remedies is to observe and measure the effectiveness of those policies applied, experiinentally as it were, by the Church. Careful study of these as they are put into practice may well indicate which are most efficacious in the circumstances of the time and place. At this stage, the competence of a lay organisation ends; the final choice of policy rests with the Church and the Church alone.
This, then, is the task that the Newman Association has taken up, not in a spirit of idle curiosity, but in the conviction that effective action will follow clarity and certainty of vision.
A. E. C. W. Spencer, Honorary Secretary, Newman Demographic Survey
3! Portman Square, W.I.
to compare. Your preachers seem often to be more competent as speakers than ours in Englishspeaking Canada-with interesting exceptions, of course.
Is one answer to the question I have posed in a general way answered in two parts? Is the problem greater in a highly industrialised land like yours, where home life may he less and families broken earlier? Is it that the general paganism of those outside the Catholic Church has grown faster and become more influential in England?
Toronto, I,
Giving Responsibility
SIR,-Those who are succeeding with youth seem to have one feature in common. As examples one might mention Scouts and Guides. Y.C.W., The Grail, St. Christopher Clubs. All these do not set out to entertain youth. They make demands and give responsibility; and it is precisely from them that young people find a full and enjoyable life and companionship. Also, they do not require elaborate equipment and premises to make a start.
Another point made by correspondents is that the problems of youth must be tackled before they have left school. The leakage takes place then; it is merely that after leaving school it becomes manifest as a problem.
I know of one apostolic body which can employ the young while they are still at school in an apostolate to their own equals. This is done by Junior Poesidia of the Legion of Ma ry.
Formation is imparted by an apprentice system, while actual apostolic work is being carried out. The S ame organisation of meetings, definite work and reports on work done, the same spiritual formation as in the Senior Legion, arc used. The results are similarly striking. I would like to recommend this work to Legionaries and to the prayers of the thousands of auxiliary members, and at the same time to offer it as a suggestion to those who are perturbed by the leakage and may not have realised the possibilities of the Legion in this con
nection.
Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham,
(Rev.) Thomas Duffy
CISCOU College,
The Fourth Form at Notre Dame
SIR-Form IV have been discussing the question of leakage in the Church, and hope that the following comments and suggestions on the subject may prove useful:
I. The home and the individual
Leakage, or non-leakage. primarily depends on the state of these. Catholic homes should he good Catholic homes, and if they are, the children will be good Catholics. Even if the homes are not good, the children learn their religion at school, and should have it firmly impressed upon them that they are responsible for the salvation of their own souls, be the way hard or easy. They must Continue the practice of religion in spite of difficulties, and this brings its own reward.
2. Join Catholic youth clubs
The necessity for these depends more or less on the state of the home. There are, however, two classes of peoplethose who are "clubminded" and those who are not, As regards the former, clubs 'enable Catholic boys and girls to meet and enjoy the society of those of their own age and standing.
3. Make an annual retreat
This is a very efficacious way of keeping firm in one's religion. It is necessary, therefore, for the individuals to find out where retreats suitable for them are being held. It is also necessary for those who hold these retreals to see that the information regarding them is spread to those who need them.
4. Join the Legion-if you have a vocation.
5. Join the Y.C.W.
This is a splendid and world-wide organisation.
6. Form "cells," or groups, in your place of work to encourage good, arid to discountenance evil, Unity is strength.
7. Choose good friends
Other friends, no matter how attractive, should be given up.
R. Read spiritual books and pamphlets Q. Read the Catholic Press
Papers such as THE CATHOLIC HERALD, the Universe and the Catholic Times keep one in touch with the present-day Catholic world and interests. This is most important.
10. Read good secular literature There is plenty of delightful reading, hut never buy or read vulgar and indecent hooks or periodicals, U. Other Catholics can help
If you see a friend becoming careless in the practice of her religious duties, invite her to come along to church with you.
12. Above an--ourselves
We should live up to the highest that is in us -"Fall in love with God," Form IV Convent School Girls
Mentally Sick Poles
SIR.Over 1,500 Polish subjects, many of them ex-Service men who contributed to the Allied victory, arc today in hospitals in England and Wales suffering from mental disorders. The eventual recovery of many of these patients may be hoped for, but all that science and clinical skill can bring to the Mental sufferer needs the reinforcement of relatives and friends who can surround the patient with affection and encouragement, For many of the Polish mentalls sick, such help is, alas, lacking. They have no near-by relatives, no friends who can speak their language. To provide them with all the services of friendship this Association has been formed, building on the admirable foundations laid by the Hospital Visiting Committee of the Polish Research Centre. We beg from your readers two kinds of help : First, that those who appreciate the continuing need of such work will enrol as a Friend (subscription Sc. per annum and upwards). Secondly-. and more urgently, we have committed ourselves to sending a small Christmas parcel to each of 1.500 patients. We need £500 to do this and we need it quickly. Contributions should be sent to me and will he acknowledged.
A. R. N. Roberts. Chairman. Association of Friends of Polish Patients (in Mental Hosqitals in
England and Wales) 1 Higham Lane.