Sias—May 1 say at ()lice how enormously important I think Mr. B. J. Prentis' idea—a Catechism of Social Doctrine. The fact is far too many of us have been indolent and selfish while enemy propaganda has entrenched itself in the very fields we ought to occupy. Nor is it enough merely to know where • Communist or Socialistic ideas conflict with our own teaching. We have got to produce a sensible, practicable alternative. We have also to make converts to our plans as busily as our opponents make converts to theirs. Opinion, therefore, must be instructed, mobilised and organised. It is no easy task, for the first step in our teaching must be this: no social theory that regards only the material well-being of man can satisfy us. Secondly, while we agree that there is "a need for bettering the conditions of workers and making a more equitable distribution of goods," we cannot agree to the " crude inhumanity and terrorism " that is veiled beneath the specious proposals of the " New Gospel." I am quoting, of course, from Pope Pius XT.
However, the issue is perfectly clear, and I will say no more, except that our tasks for 1947 should now be clear to everybody.
C. G. MORT1MF.R,
2, White Buildings, Lee-on-Solent.
SIR, -Mr. Bernard Prentis asks why we cannot have a simple Catechism of Christian Social Doctrine.
1 should like to call to his attention the excellent " Catholic Catechism of Social Questions," by the Rev. T. J. O'Kane, published at ninepence by the C.S.G. This little work, which one would like to see very much more widely known, fulfills practically all Mr. Wends' requirements.
H. W. E. RF.YNOLDS.
Apsley House, Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells.