Politics, Art, Religion : Page 289

which have not yet had definitive pronouncements, and that even with regard to the denned articles there are many unsettled problems of application. "The Catholic view," writes Father Vincent J. Flynn, "is that truth has been found; not all truth, but a very considerable segment" (Prose Readings, p. 491). It is the unfound segments that should keep us humble and open-minded in discussion. Another writer, Sister Mariella, says in a few sentences that should be inscribed in the heart of every Catholic apologist, "The Catholics have the full answer. But let us be honest. Let us not claim to have given that answer as yet" (" 'Catholic' Fiction"). All those answers which still need to be given are powerful reasons, even if the precepts of courtesy and charity weren't sufficient, why a we-know-it-all approach is a poor one for promoting a worth-while religious discussion. In a religious conversation your tone and manner will show that whatever your denomination, you realize that much needs still to be settled and that you yourself are humbly conscious of St. Paul's complaint that we see but darkly as through a glass, and yearn for more light, wherever it may come from. A truly Christian conversationalist will be on the lookout for the right time, place, and persons to raise the topic of conversation to the level of religion. He will guide it in that direction unobtrusively, naturally. There are several natural openings. You can comment about religious news items which appeared in the paper or which you heard on the radio. A plausible opening is a reference to a church affair, a picnic or social. Better still are comments on sermons recently heard. When Coolidge came home from a particular Sunday service it was natural for Mrs. Coolidge to ask him what the minister had preached about. In this instance