IV: Catholic Action: Education, Media and Apostolate

As the code of canon law states,

Can. 794 §1. The duty and right of educating belongs in a special way to the Church, to which has been divinely entrusted the mission of assisting persons so that they are able to reach the fullness of the Christian life.

Can. 796 §1. Among the means to foster education, the Christian faithful are to hold schools in esteem; schools are the principal assistance to parents in fulfilling the function of education.

Can. 800 §1. The Church has the right to establish and direct schools of any discipline, type, and level.

§2. The Christian faithful are to foster Catholic schools, assisting in their establishment and maintenance according to their means.

There are two aspects to this educational apostolate. First, Catholic Schools ought to be founded and maintained. Second, other schools ought to be Christianized.

There is, of course, a material duty to provide the financial needs of these Catholic Schools, but there is an even more important duty of ensuring that the Catholic Schools are living up to the ideals of the Church. As Pius XI teaches,

A school does not become conformable to the rights of the Church and of the Christian family and worthy to be attended by Catholic children, simply because religious instruction is given there…That a school may be such, all its teaching, all its arrangements, teachers, program, and books, at all levels, must be inspired by the Christian spirit, under the direction and maternal vigilance of the Church, so that religion be truly both foundation and  crown of all instruction, in all grades, not only primary, but also intermediate and higher.

Sixth, there must be an Apostolate of the press. There is both a negative and positive aspect to the Apostolate of the press. Negatively, the press does not contradict Catholic Dogma or offend morals. Positively, the press diffuses and defends such dogma and morals. At the same time, it considers itself an enemy to the press that it at enmity with the Church.

This diffusion and defense is not to be done in a merely general or theoretical manner, but also in an eminently practical manner. As Bishop Civardi points out, we cannot merely have a Catholic Press, we must also have a Catholic Action press. Therefore, the Press will communicate the ideas and counsels most relevant to the problems faced by Catholics at that time and in that place.

Seventh, there must be an Apostolate of Good Morals. This Apostolate is both positive and negative, although the positive takes a great precedence as there is moral decay in the nation.

The positive aspect of this apostolate concerns the formation of Christian Consciences especially in those areas where there is the greatest departures from the moral law. Negatively, it also involves the opposition to public violations of good morals and the removal of various different occasions to bad morals.

Bishop Civardi gives an overview of the various possible directions that this apostolate can take,

This is done by getting rid of scandals, easy abuses, the many focuses of infection, like pornography, immoral spectacles, indecent fashions, prostitution, blasphemy and degraded speech, alcoholism, gambling, and so forth. In this field Catholic Action wishes to collaborate not only with the Church, but also with State authority and institutions, to the principal effect that the legislature, which is the guardian of behavior, should respond better and better to its own end, and be applied in all and by all…But for the defense of public morals, the trenches and bastions of the laws and public institutions are insufficient. We need also private works of assistance and prevention, like clubs for young men…works with which the apostolic zeal of the clergy and militant laity has long since covered our countryside.

Eighth, the Apostolate of the Social Question. The social question refers to the proposed solution to the problems caused by the rise of capitalism, especially the oppression of workers. Many sought the false solution of socialism in order to resolve these problems, but the Church gave more prudent counsel in line with the moral law. Thus, the defense and promotion of the rights of workers is a genuine expression of the lay apostolate.

Ninth, the Apostolate of Social Life, which we can also refer to as the political apostolate. Here, the goal is to inspire within laws and public institutions a Catholic spirit. There is both an indirect and a direct way that this is carried out.

Indirectly, this happens through the Christian education of consciences, which occurs at practically every level of the Apostolate, in everything from education to the domestic apostolate to the press and intellectual apostolate.

Directly, this happens through the actual participation in these institutions and creation of these laws.

Beyond those intermediate ends of Catholic Action, there are also what are called auxiliaries to Catholic Action, which are expressions of the Lay Apostolate and can be referred to as Catholic Action in the broad sense.

These are familiar to all, but take on a slightly different character. These are those pious associations of Catholics who dedicate themselves to prayer or good works. These are not Catholic Action in the proper sense because their end slightly differs from that of Catholic Action. Catholic Action directly and immediately tends to the christianization of society by the formation of consciences. Pious associations and charitable organizations may indirectly have this effect, but this is not their proper end

Now that we have went over these nine intermediate ends and auxiliaries, let’s consider the proximate or immediate ends of the Apostolate.

The most immediate end of Catholic Action is the formation of Christian consciences. As Benedict XV stated: “Christ must be formed in the conscience of each Catholic, before Catholics can be apt to fight for Christ.” (Accepimus)

Therefore, it is the universal end of all Lay Apostolates to form Catholic Consciences. For, while we ultimately seek the social kingship of Christ, this can only happen through the transformation of hearts.