A Civic Mosaic - Compiled from the Pastorals of the American Hierarchy - By John A. Lapp, LL.D.

Sep 21, 2026

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A Civic Mosaic presents civic utterances compiled from the Pastoral Letters of the American Hierarchy, organized by thematic headings that connect church teaching to public life. The introductory statement explains the compilation scope from 1792 to 1919 and notes that quoted excerpts use only wording found in the pastorals. The text provides selected exhortations on the church’s role in American citizenship, civil authority, civic morality, state rights, education, women’s civic life, and international relations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time31 min

AccessFree to download

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

A Civic Mosaic

The Church and American Citizenship

97-84069-5Lapp,John Augustus A civic mosaic # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Roproductions may not be made without permision trom Columbia UniversityLibraries RESTRCTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mREDUCTION RATIO: 9:1 MAGE PLACEMENT:IA DATE FILMED: 1/0197 INITIALS: II TRACKING\#: 23438 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. | CIVIC MOSAIC | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | Compiled from the Pastorals
of the American Hierarchy
BY
JOHN A.LAPP,LL.D. | × | | NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE
1312 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
WASHINGTON,D.C. | | | 197 rcmd.13-14.26 ## INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT 个HE civic utterances set forth in this booklet1are compiled from the Pastoral Ietters of theare compiled from the Pastoral Letters of theAmerican Hierarchy dating from 1792 to 1919,the year being indicated at the end of each para-graph.No words are used excepting those usedin the pastorals.The excerpts quoted have beenarranged under the following headings: I.The Church and American Citizenship.II.The Church and the Civil Authority.III.The Church and Civic Morality.IV.The Rights of the State.V.Catholic Education and Citizenship.VI.Women and Civic Life.VII.International Relations. ## A Civic Mosaic Compiled from the Pastoralsof the American HierarchyBy John A.Lapp,LL.D. 工 ## The Church and American Citizenship WTE GREET youdear brethren,as children of theHoly Catholic Church and as citizens of theRepublic on whose preservation the future ofhumanity so largely depends.We exhort you,as of onemind and heart,to ponder well the significance of recentevents so that each of you,as circumstance requires,mayrightly fulfil his share of our common obligation."(1919.) “ATTAACHMENT to the civil institutions under whichyw.1e hne alunve marLedyour conduct·andifweyou live has always marked your conduct;and it weaddress you on this subject,it is not from any apprehensionthat you are likely to vary from the course which you havehitherto pursued.After the example of the apostle,StPatul,we cannot,however,deem it altogether unnecessaryto exhort you ever to discharge your civil duties from thehigher motives which religion suggests.Obey the publicauthorities,not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.Show your attachment to the institutions of our belovedcountry by prompt compliance with all their requirementsand by the cautious jealousy with which you guard againstthe least deviation from the rules which they prescribe forthe maintenance of public order and private rights Thuswill you refute the idle babbling of foolish men and willbest approve yourselves worthy of the privileges whichyou enjoy,and overcome,by the sure test ofpractical patriot-ism,all the prejudices which a misapprehension of yourprinciples but too often produces."(1852.) 3 "DESTINED as we are by our Maker to live togetherin social intercourse and mutual cooperation for thefulfilment of our duties,the proper development of ourfaculties and the adequate satisfaction of our wants,ourassociation can be orderly and prosperous only when thewills of the many are directed by that moral power whichwe call authority.This is the unifying and coordinatingprinciple of the social structure.It has its origin in Godalone.In whom it shall be vested and by whom exercisedis determined in various ways,sometimes by the outcomeof circumstances and providential events,sometimes by theexpress will of the people.But the right which it possessesto legislate,to execute and administer is derived from GodHimself."(1919.) "OUR country had its origin in a struggle for liberty.e etnhliched ne n indonendont Dashli。 itOnce established as an independent Republic,itbe

FAQs

What is A Civic Mosaic compiled from?

It is compiled from the Pastoral Letters of the American Hierarchy.

What time span do the selected pastorals cover?

The pastorals date from 1792 to 1919, with the year indicated at the end of each paragraph.

How are the excerpts organized in the booklet?

They are arranged under headings including the church’s relationship to American citizenship, civil authority, civic morality, state rights, education, women and civic life, and international relations.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Finn