The deplorable lack of unity in the Church of Canada is obvious and can be traced to many causes.  Racial and language conflicts particularly, have divided our forces, absorbed our activities, narrowed our views and made us forget the Catholic view-point of greater problems.  But times and ideas are changing.  Never, we believe has the feeling of our divisions and dissensions been so acute; never has the demand for united action been so imperative as now.  The distressing times through which the world is passing have forced upon us issues which will require the united strength of Catholic forces.

United action, so much desired and so desperately needed, requires a uniform plan and an authoritative leadership.  A Congress will give us these two elements of a much desired unity.

Too long, we believe, have Catholic social activities been directed along purely parochial and diocesan lines.  The isolated action of parishes, especially in our cities, is no longer able to grapple with and solve our modern complex problems.  Parochialism is conducive to the enjoyment of the Church’s beneficial influences, but often leads us to forget our responsibilities to the Church Universal.  “Parochialism is the clog on the wheel of united Catholic Action in Canada.”  (Canadian Freeman, Nov. 13, 1919.) And even on a broader field have we not seen conflicting directions and abstinence of necessary interference, precisely because the issues were seen in different quarters from different angles.  So, a united plan of action which is so absolutely necessary for efficient work cannot be obtained without consultation and exchange of ideas.

This unity of plan will bring the Catholic consciousness to a focus.  It will create an intelligent interest in Catholic social work, and lead to the gradual formation of various specific social organizations.  When luminous rays are brought to a focus their light and heat are most intense.

The best concerted plans, the greatest enthusiasm to execute them, will be of no avail without leadership.  For the secret of the success and usefulness of an organization is to be found in the ability, character and ideals of its leader.  Never perhaps in Canada, has the absence of authoritative leadership, especially among the Catholic laity, been felt so keenly as at the present trying period.  Let us hear an authoritative writer on the matter: 

“When the great buzz and stir of rebuilding comes and the interchange and counterchange of ideas begin, the newly awakened folk will begin to enquire what the Church has to say and to suggest on every ethical and religious problem that comes up in the course of planning and discussion.  But they will wish to know, not in the terms in which great minds of the past have formulated Catholic teaching, but in the speech and with the illustrations of contemporary life.  What we need is Catholic intellectual leadership to interpret in a way they can understand,