I
UNION 751 UNION
the necessity of prajrer for the success of the under- practically as their chief end the furtherance of taking. The continuation committee, stating that religious unity. This does not, however^mean that the first and by far the most important preparation is they pray directly for the success of the World Con- that of prayer, has requested the participating ference in the concrete. They pray indeed that this churches to offer regular and special prayers for this movement may serve at least to lead some back purpose. A "Manual of Prayers for Unity" has been into the bosom of the Church which their fathers de- issued, and an ootave of prayers has been appointed serted; they cannot, however, admit the competency for the week ending with Pentecost, 4 June, 1922. of such a tribunal to settle such questions as it has
What has been the concrete result of the twelve raised; for a Catholic, only the Catholic Church
years of work on the part of the movement? While through its leader, the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on
the preliminary Conference at Geneva (1920) was earth, can say what is necessary, what is useful, in
somewhat in the nature of an agape, especially in its matters of faith and order, and this the Church has
opening sessions, it discussed in a general way the indicated so clearly in times past that the question is
meaning of the church, and what is meant by imity, no longer an open one.
and the place of the Bible and a creed in relation to Hence on the second aspect of the attitude of the
reunion. The almost universal tendency of the Church the explanation is simple. The Church can
delegates seemed to indicate an inability on the part take no official part in the World Conference because
of their churches to yield any substantial point in the Church has oeen appointed by Jesus Christ as the
questions of faith or Older, the non-episcopal churches, custxxlian of the deposit of faith which He left with
for example, standing for the sufficiency of their it through His apostles. The Catholic Church is in
orders, and the non-creedal churches generally deny- the possession of the Truth and uncompromisingly,
ing any necessity of a creed in the strict sense. How- yet m all charity, it must decline any encroachment
ever, the meeting was not intended to be definitive on its Divine prerogatives. It is not then in a spirit
on tiiese points; and accordingly it instructed the of aloofness or of lack of sympathy or understanding
continuation committee to secure proper considera- that the Church acts as she does; for the Church all
tion and discussion of the topics mentioned above, the questions which the Conference raises as to the
This committee formulated the questions and sent necessity of a Creed, and the like, are definitely
them to the local churches in the following form: settled. It is hard mdeed for a non-Catholic to
(1) What degree of unity in Faith will be necessai^ appreciate this attitude. An analogy taken from the
in a reunited Church? (2) Is a statement of this field of science may help. If a non-scientific man
one Faith in the form of a Creed necessary or desir- shouldapproacha scientist, an astronomer for example,
able? (3) If so, what Creed should be used? or and request the latter for a conference with a view
what other formulary would be desirable? (4) What to a broader basis of unity of belief on astronomical
are the proper uses of a Creed and of a Confession of subjects; if he should intimate that in astronomy it
Faith? should be sufficient to hold that the earth does not
(c) The Catholic Church and the Movement. — Before revolve around the sun, and that the sun is only a
spesd^ing of the attitude of the Church it may be well few thousand miles away from the earth, and that
to indicate the attitude of the Movement toward the with ^ater freedom on the part of both to view the
Church. As stated previously the sponsors of the questions as they please, a truer unity would be at-
movement entertained the hope that they could pre- tained, the scientist could only reply that the ques-
vail upon Catholic delegates to enter into conference tions had already been decided against the petitioner;
with them: their idea of a reunited Church is one they are no longer open; if unity is desired it must be
that should include the Roman Church as well unity with the scientist on those points which have
as the various non-Catholic denominations. They been proved true.
have accordingly in pursuance of this idea always been In matters of faith and order the Catholic Church
courteous in their attitude toward the Church and is in a position analogous to that of the scientist in
her rulers; in their discussions there has not ap- regard to facts of nature. On the word of God the
peared any attack on the Church; even after receiving Church is certain that it is in possession of the Truth,
the definitive declination of the Pope to send dele- It cannot recede without going counter to the will of
^ates to Geneva they have not chan^d their attitude; God. If the non-Catholic would only try to undeiv
m their "Manual of Prayers" use is made of some stand this merely from the psychological point of
excerpts from the Roman Missal; and finally in this view he would probablv come nearer to a more sym-
Manual a courteous suggestion is made that Catholic pathetic realization of the fact that the Church's
priests should say, andlay people should have said, refusal to treat with him on a compromise basis is
votive Masses for the Reunion of Christendom, llie absolutely compatible with the charity and the good
general external attitude, in other words, is that of will she professes.
those who desire an entente cordidle with the Church. The two points of view outlined above are sub- It is quite clear, however, that they are unable to stantially those held by Benedict XV when approached understand why the Church cannot take any official by representatives of the World Conference. In part in the movement. 1914 and in 1916 he expressed his gratification at
The attitude of the Church toward the World leaminK of the movement, and his hope that it would
Conference presents a twofold aspect: toward the finally lead to the restoration of the unity of the
movement in itself, and toward the movement as mystical body of Christ. To the deputation of
seeking official Catholic representation in the Con- 1919 he accorded a cordial personal welcome, but as
ference. Toward the movement in itself, that is, the report of the deputation puts it <*the contrast
toward the movement as constituting a sincere and between the Pope's personal attitude towards us and
earnest attempt on the part of the non-Catholic his officiid attitude towards the Conference was very
denominationstoarriveatsomemethodof ending the sharp. One was irresistibly benevolent, the other
deplorable reliwous disunion which has divided a irresistibly rigid. The genuineness of the Pope's
great part of Christianitv into almost innumerable personal friendliness towards us was as outstanding
sects, the Church has only sympathy and approval, as the positiveness of his official declination of our
The end in itself, the Reunion of Christendom, is one invitation." In conclusion this final point may best
which appeals especially to all Catholics. Priests and be summed up by the official statement of Benedict
people pray daily for this end, Masses are said, XV, presented to the deputation by Archbishop
novenas are offered up, an octave of prayer is of- Cerretti: "The Holy Father, after having thanked
ficiajly'offered yearly, and some religious orders have them for their visit, stated that as successor of St,
4«
