But mark you, the severest critics are not its enemies, but representatives of the Church itself. And this is a healthy sign, for our "gti: demonstrate that the prophetic spirit, and the capacity for dreaming dreams and seeing visions has not left the Church. Self criticism is an indispensable life-necessity for such a body. They tell us that to a shameful degree the Church, in the confusion of the times, has become confounded as to its nature and mission, It has become a segment and reflect tion of modern society with all its respectabilities, entrenched interests, prejudices and hypocrites, only in s somewhat more dignified while more antiquated manner. They agree with our enemies in the criticism that the Church is losing vigour and freshness.
It appears to be growing old and decrepit. It is failing to be the clear witness and guide to the redemptive order of life for time and eternity that God has revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. In the attack that modern science and philosophy has made upon the Church during the last half century it has been frightened, and has sought to reconcile Christian ideas with the influential philosophies of the day. Some of our leaders have been ready to sacrifice cardinal doctrines of the faith for the sake of being in tune with the time. The Church has resigned itself to a defensive attitude, and almost lost its message of the Gospel, which is the proclamation of salvation and victory in the name of God, and not in the name of cultural purposes or ideals.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.