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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AR CHDIOCESE OF PERTH. Registered at the G.P.O., Perth,
EST ABLISHED 1874.
for transmission by post as a newspaper.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY,
NO. 2,268.
JANUARY 29, 1947.
'PHONE B8950 450 Hay Street,
Perth, Box A35, G.P.O., Perth.
PRICE THREEPENCE.
SEVENTY-FOURTH YEAR.
Js the Corporative Scheme of the Popes Practical? How it May be Furthered by use of 'Existing Organisations An Alternative to Increased Government Control A Twofold Duty. First of all, we must study and teach the principles under-
lying the Pope's broad proposal for the re-establishment and restoration of vocational groups within the framework of a corporative organisation of society. In "Quadragesimo Anno" the treatment of vocational groups is necessarily brief, covering but a few pages in the English By GERALD J. SCHNEPP, S.M. Despite these difficulties, we still tars which intelligent co-opera- .ranslation, for it is not the have an obligation in this mat- tive action could readily settle. work of the Church to draw up Whenever we are exposed to ter, to which I will allude in a I know that the high pressure a detailed blueprint of the ecoa discussion of the encyclicals, moment. agencies of capitalistic interests nomic and social organisation of The Holy Father rewe are prone to take the view of Let us assume, then, that none are continually harping on this society. the man who propounded that of these have anything adverse theme, but we must recognise lies on economists and sociologists the world over to study the well-known fadstious definition to say, and proceed to the mat - that it is a bad American habit of a philosopher. He said: "A er in hand. The fact remains that can never be the ultimate principles of the plan, to exphilosopher is one who dives that on May 15, 1946, we com- solution of our social ills, even pand them, and to apply them to they down deeper, stays under long- memorated the fifteenth anni- though it may be a useful means local conditions such as er and comes up drier than any- versary of the publication of ti secure quick and effective meet in their respective localities. one else." When we see some- Pope Pius 1 XI.'s encyclical, action in. a particular case. one rise to his feet to discuss "Quadragesimo Anno." It is use this taxicab illustration soleIt might be well to recall here these matters, we are inclined flitting at this time to review ly because it demonstrates two the words of Father Ares that to say to ourselves: "He's going what has been done in theory of the defects of our present the corporative institution is down pretty deep, he'll stay un- and practice by Catholic socio- system-the waste of time and presented to us by the Pope "not der pretty long and he'll probab- logists and others, to implement effort due to inadequate or no as a dogma of Faith," and ly come up dry as a bone." the teachings and enlarge on organisation, and the tendency hence, we cannot condemn as heretical suggestions contained the in to seek the solution those who good of our proin One of the reasons for this is the fact that no translator has that far-reaching and revolu- blems jn terms of government faith judge that there can be tionary document. other means and hence do not action. as yet come up with a product Defects in Our System. We are all familiar with the support the corporative idea. His that has sufficiently shaken off POPE PIUS Xl. next question, whether the papal "But why talk long list of about the enother defects which, the heaviness of Latin construcOur present taken cumulatively, present a declaration obliges Catholics, he wrote a revolutionary and fartion and yet retained the mean- cyclical at all? stem, answers while is s tong case for not perfect, a complete rein the negative. But, reaching document. How far ing of the Holy Father to be "That has it got us? called a popular translation. I functioning in fairly satisfactory construction of the present so- he significantly adds: Certainly we'll get cial and economic organisation- does not authorise Catholics to doubt whether that can ever be fashion. with done, because the emphasis will along much better if we try to or, more properly, disorganisa- consider the declaration rather tion. Any such list would in- mere curiosity, with mute or pendently of man's will, grantalwas have to be on accuracy improve what we have rather than on popular compre- ban impose an entirely new sys- clude the concentration of sullen respect, much less to ig- ing the further fact, of course, vocational groups." wealth in the hand- of a few; nore it. On the other hand, that many vocational group, hension. But we could use tem of now exist in a very unorganised paraphrased, stream -lined vermanner. The very thing called sions of the vocational group for in "Quadragesimo Anno" is plan, written in everyday languthe organisation of these groups. age and enlivened by underAnother point to emphasise is standable charts and drawings that the vocational group takes with a popular appeal. ir, all men in a given trade or Another reason, related to the profession, i.e., both employers first, is the fact that most of the and employees. One of the diflitehature commenting on the ficulties in this, as in many encyclicals is written in techniother areas of sociological rewith search, is that of terminology, cal language for experts. Such Those few sentences contain a the domination of many aspects they ought to receive it material invariably has a for- series of criticisms sometimes of our political, social and eco- loyalty and gratitude, and work and Father Trehey points out biding aspect for the layman expressed, more often implied, nomic life by the capitalistic sincerely to put it into prac- that the term "vocational recurring tice." and even if, out of a feeling of in sociological circles. We shall class; periodically group" is used synonymously in good will or the compulsion of try to answer them here to -day. periods of exaggerated prosperAmerica with the terms "occuBesides this of obligation ity and depression; oppression of duty, he picks up such a publicaAn immediate answer to one the labouring classes, particu- studying and teaching the the- pational group," "guild," "intion and reads it, he is more dustries and professions" and likely than not to confess at the of them comes to mind in an larly the seventy-five to eighty ory, we also have the duty to "guild system," all of which are end that he knows little more event which was labelled emin- per cent. who are not organised do our utmost to foster and de- synonymous, in turn, with the Amerithe newsworthy by ently velop sothose agencies in our into unions; the necessity of about the plan than before he European terms "corporation" I am sure you all costly strikes if labour is to ciety which have been called and "corporative regime." It is read it. Or, if he does manage can press. the "precorporative," that is, which important that more study be to grasp the meaning of the cor- have read something about it. secure its just demands; porate system, he will return the When 200 taxicab drivers have large numbers who are forced to already embody some of the devoted to this so all will use publication with a shake of the to make a spectacular gesture live under substandard conditions principles and are more or less the same terms. even in a country as .rich and in accord with the system prohead and the cryptic comment: that reaches half-way across the Holy Father. "A beautiful plan. But, impos- country to secure a hearing on powerful as the United States in posed by the Regarding reconsider a just grievwhat they this atomic age; and the ever- Under proper guidance and di- gime, there istheno corporative :Ode!" standard patance, It is certain that there is present international they will ultimately rection, tensions, tern set down by sociologists. k final reason for our lack of more than one thing wrong with many of which stem from the blossom forth into a true guild Rather, the insistence is that enthusiasm is to be found, I the system that makes such tac- economic insecurity of indivi- system. each vocational group should The "taxicab duals and groups. think, in the challenging nature tics necessary. Turning now to the vocational have its own corporative forIn caravan" which rolled from Chi of the encyclical doctrine. group system itself, it is inter- mula. Further, that corthe ,:ago to Washington weeks But there is to a few no need many respects, we are charting esting to review some of the intremendous lengthen the list. No one can terpretations of "Quadragesimo poration for each occupation or new ago represents a new pathways, creating profession need not be organised thought patterns and developing waste of time and effort in a look objectively at society to- Anno" which have come from in the same way in every counnew concepts if we make any purely propaganda campaign, to day and say that it even ap- the pens of various authorities However, where necessary, attempt at all to go beyond the say nothing of the waste of proximates a harmonious func- in the past fifteen years, and to try. is suggested that the vocalanguage of the Popes. And such tyres, gas, brakes and horns, and tioning for the common good of note a certain agreement cry- it Further, it hardly seems stallising and taking shape in tional groups be organised into activity comes under the classi- the frayed nerves of drivers and all. and national If Pope Pius XI. probable that the defects of the the process of exchange of opin- local, regional fication of hard work, to which pedestrians. most of mankind is allergic. had had his way, all the taxi system will remedy themselves ion and thought on the question. councils. The local council will serve to unite several similar inFurther than this, everyone will owners and operators in Chicago in time, as some would contend. always feel a certain under- would be organised in one vo- It is almost axiomatic that conTo start with a definition, one dustries into one group. In Destandable respect and caution in cational group. As such, they scious and planned organisation that is universally accepted is troit, for example, all the autodealing with such august ma- would have been in a co-opera- directed to root out the worst this: A vocational group "is a mobile workers and all the automanufacturers would terial. As one priest put it: tive situation which would have evils must be undertaken by men natural association of men inter- mobile "We have to be careful for fear made impossible the develop- and women of good will, that is, mediate between the family and unite to elect a local council which would study and promote of what the chancery office will ment of their troubles. people who are not animated by state, embracing all men in the the furtherance of their own sel- same type of labour, trade or 'he interests of the automobile say." A religious would add: Another defect in our system fish interests, but by a true profession." The emphasis here industry in that area and serve "What will my provincial say ?" A lay teacher chimes in: "What exposed by the taxi trek is the spirit of justice and charity with should be placed on the fact that as a permanent contact between will the president of the college American tendency to appeal to the common good of all as their the vocational group is natural the workers and management. or the board of trustees say?" the Federal Government in mat - ultimate aim. (Continued on Page 12.) and necessary, existing inde-
How Far Has Quadragesimo Anno Advanced?
z
In widely scattered parts of the world the Guild System 'or an approximation to it is actually in operation