CATHOLICS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT

SIR,—May 1 heartily endorse the remarks of your correspond ent re the need for saints. It seems to me that the greatest failing of the average intelligent Catholic, is the desire to show how ordinary he is. In other words, one can be a Catholic. accepting a divinely revealed set of truths, and yet an observer coeld go for months without ever suspecting the difference between such a person and one who has perhaps po knowledge whatever of the teachings of Christ. Surely to-day. more than ever before, the aim of the true Catholic must be to show to a cynical and disbelieving world that Christianity as truly portrayed by Catholicism is different. If we are afraid to beer religion mentioned because we dislike being drawn into controversial topics. the non-Catholic is going to suspect one of two things; either that there is something suspicious and secretive about Catholicism or else it can not stand up to the searching test of truth and must needs be whispered about. These people for the most part, never come into contact with a Catholic priest or read a Catholic book, and the only way in which they can hear anything about the Church is through their personal contact with Catholics.
One hears non-Catholics discussing the merits and demerits of divorce, euthanasia, birth-control, nationalism, etc., openly and without any attempt at secrecy, but it is very rarely that one hears a sane, constructive Catholic remark offered in such a conversation, unless the Catholic Church has been specifically mentioned first. Instead of concentrating on the constructive teaching of the Church, we are apt to waste our energies (when we are forced to do so) on half-hearted defence tactics.
Unless the Catholic who has some knowledge, or who by dint of a little personal effort could easily obtain an intelligent grasp of the truths of the Church to which he belongs, is willing and ready to discuss these truths with his contemporaries and show that they arc part of his daily life, and not just an occasional thought, then the conversion of England would seem to be a long way off. I do not suggest that every Catholic (however praiseworthy and sincere) would be wise to enter into such discussion, hut there are many who do possess the necessary qualifications, who hang back and hope that no one will discover that they are Catholics. Of course, if challenged, these people would defend the Church, but the pity is that they always have to be challenged rst.
If we are to be Catholics in the real sense of the word we must be prepared to be recognised as being different; we must also be prepared to explain to those who are interested just why we are different, If we are going to be content with avoiding mortal sin and then being as good a fellow as the next. perhaps privately holding different views on certain things, but being most careful to keep our views to ourselves, then our very " ordinariness " may prove the stumbling block to many who would gladly accept, or at least think about, that divinely revealed truth which Christ intended for all men.
Rim SAMPEY (Miss).
51. West Wynford Street, Weaste, Salford, 5.
SiR,-In one column of the Cl/. before me, the leading article is headed "Can you make war on Communism 7 " It appears to me that the clue to the answer is supplied by the compiler of " Catholic Workers' Notebook." He reports that the young Communists discussed everything from Communism to tea and buns. Call it loaves and fishes, or shekels and dollars. the answer is much the same; in oteer words, self-centred materialion. Can we hope to organise united defence against `Communism unless we attack this materialism in ourselves, and subsequently by our example, in those of our acquaintances who are neither Catholic nor Communist
E. A. Ernoutens.
CAUSES OF COMMUNISM SIR, May I, through your columns, correct a fallacy about the causes of Communism, which seems to have gained considerable acceptance?
It is, that if poverty, slums, insecurity, etc.. etc., are removed, ipso facto we should see the decline of Communism.
Queensland, with little unemployment and excellent social services. has recently experienced the full force of a Communist-inspired railway strike.
Czechoslovakia, the " model democracy," has succumbed to a Communist coup d'etat.
But in the industrial Ruhr, after three grim years, Communism is declining. Further comment is unnecessary.
ERNEST A. loxes.
426 Coy., G.C.L.O.,
98 Royal Pioneer Group, B.A.O.R. (3).
CATHOLIC INTRODUCTIONS BUREAU SIR, We should be extremely grateful if you would publish in your columns our thanks and deep appreciation of the way in which so many parish priests are responding to bur personal appeals for their co-operation in the dioceses we have so far circularised with the approval of their Bishops. we are very gratified to hear that so many priests are publicly recommending the Bureau to their parishioners, both from the pulpit and in parish magazines, and are displaying our notices in their churches.
A. C, GOLDIE, Secretary.
78, South Croxted Road, London, S.E.21.
PARTITION
Snt.—I was much interested by Mr. Gerard Sweeney's letter in THE CATHOLIC HERALD of April 2. I find myself in agreement with him, but would point out that this argument, while constantly brought forward by the Repealers, never altered the status quo. If the Northern Government should vote partition away, it is unlikely that the constitutional lawyers will be allowed to turn back the tide.
Yotre IRISH CORRESPONDENT.