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| COILIUITISL; AID CATHOLICISM The Priest in Social Action, The trained priest, assigned or per- mitted by his Bishop to work in social action, will concentrate upon the objective' of Christianizing social life* 'Ee will work with labor and em- ployer groups to promote justice, charity, harmony^ and industrial democracy. His work will be primarily educationaj.,teaching Catholic laymen, and any others who wish to come to his schools, sound principles of social life, the basic facts of labor and industrial problems, and such techniques as will aid these pupils in expressing their opinions effectively and in accord with parliamentary rules. The priest can moderate industrial dis- putes, often serve as mediator or arbitrator at the request of the affect- ed parties, and try to infuse a sense of social responsibility in both ' capital and labor. As Pope Pius XI remarked in Quadratesimo Anno ($142), he must be "possessed of the keenest sense of justice, who will resist with true manly courage the dishonest demands or the unjust acts of anyone, who Trill excel in the prudence and judgment which avoids every extreme and, above all, who will be deeply permeated by the charity of Christ," In winning the workers and their unions, he deprives the Communists of their basic source for membership and funds. There is considerable controversy over the extent to which priests should go in regard to internal union politics. The discussion was oc- casioned by the action of several 'priests who personally led struggles against Communism or dishonesty in labor'unions. Specifically, Fr. Drolet in Hew Orleans, Fr. Donnelly in Hartford, and the present v;riter in Baltimore were asked by workers to help then in struggles against dicta- torial Communist unions. The workers argued-that they did not have the training nor the informed leadership to oust the Communist groups, who were not only skilled in organizational methods, but who had expert out- side advice from high Communist officials. Thus in Baltimore, the shipyard unions were not only advised by the Baltimore Communist leaders, they also had the benefit of monthly meetings in Hew York with top Communist officials for the purpose of planning strategy. At critical times, Roy "Horseface" Hudson, then czar of labor matters for the Party, v/ould come down to take charge. In view of this, the workers wanted not only training, but outside guidance. Nevertheless, the furnishing of such direct aid in an organ- izational struggle and the open championing of the anti-Communist faction lias been criticized by other priests who are interested in'the social question. They assert that these activities are imprudent, and that for an immediate gain they lay the Church open to the charge of seeking to dominate labor. The priests who took part in these activities do not question the view that is would be more desirable to have trained laymen guide such acticities. The difficulty was that at the time, there v/ere no such lead- ers in sight. The workers —— of all religious faiths, incidentally —— wanted immediate help from the known enemy of Communism. In Baltimore, for example, they did not directly approach the priest who subsequently took charge. Rather they went to the Archbishop for aid, and were referr- ed to this priest for help. Yrtiile it is known that some top union officials resented this incursioft into their domain, thousands of workers, Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant, were apparently grateful to the Church for the aid given in this struggle. Elsewhere, it is felt that the Church will sur- vive Dan Tobin's blast at Fr. Drolet and RedJd Robinson's attack upon Fr. Donnelly, |