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BOOK REVIEWS 111 You Can Change the World. By JAMEs KELLER. New York: Longmans, Green, 1948. Pp. 387. $3.00. Catholic Social Action. By JoHN F.,CRONIN, Ph. D. Milwaukee: Bruce, 1948. Pp. £65 with index. $3.50. The very title of Fr. Keller's book has a :ringing sound, an optimistic note, and a vigorous challenge. In content, the book has all the enthusiasm of a great crusade. The author is the founder of the Christopher Movement and this volume constitutes the definitive handbook for his followers. Although the purpose of the Christophers is the Christianization of society, the movement cannot be considered as Catholic. This fact is evidently in the book. The Maryknoll priest omits any mention of the central Catholic doctrine of the Trinity and of the role of Mary in Christian life. This he obviously does in order not to lose any non-Catholics who might find Catholic teaching too much to swallow in one gulp, but who are, nevertheless , ~xious for a high natural code of ethics in society. It is Fr. Keller's contention that only one percent of the American people are working to undermine our national security. Not all are Communists, he is quick to add. Against this militant minority, Fr. Keller thinks that only one percent of the decent element in our country is needed to safeguard our way of life. The author offers no new organization. He completely places his confidence in personal initiative. Thus against an organized force of the wicked minded·, Fr. Keller pits an unorganized and sporadic crusade of good people. This would be most unrealistic except for the fact that actually Fr. Keller is making an appeal for leaders. True, the Christophers as such are not organized, but if from the enthusiasm that this book and other works of the founder arouse they really hold their ground and if they do not die out after the first burst of energy, then some lasting results may accrue. Fr. Keller states the purpose of his undertaking as follows: "It is the Christopher thesis, therefore, that for the one percent bent on destruction, it should not be too difficult to find another one percent who will strive with even greater imagination and enterprise to show a devoted and continuing solicitude for our brothers of the one hundred million who are reached by no faith." (p. Q7) The central theme of Fr. Keller's book is the need for personal responsibility in all phases of life: domestic, social, even global. Fourteen chapters are dedicated to the " how " of changing the world in such fields as education, government, labor, and so through the list. The best is the one on woman's duties in the chapter entitled "Influencing from the Home." By the use of numerous and interesting anecdotes the author gives a degree of credibility to the lofty objectives he has in mind and at the same time stirs the reader to a desire for personal action. 11ft BOOK REVIEWS The general impression that remains after one has read Fr. Keller's book is that the goals he envisages are not too difficult of attainment. At times he 'drops hints and gives indication that genuine hard work and sacrifice are needed. However, since he mentions all the victories and none of the setbacks of individual Christophers, a veiy one-sided and rosy point of view is given. Also the fact that the author has no concrete plans for reform makes one wonder whether he is interested in changing the world or simply of holding on to the one we have minus the more obnoxious elements, especially the Communists. True, Fr. Keller speaks frequently of bringing Christ into the market place, but he always proceeds on the generalization that " most American people are decent-minded and decent living." (p. 148) If the American people measure up to the high standards that Fr. Keller implies they have, the United States will be a land of saints and scholars by the turn of the century. The author's constant repetition of the need for action is at least in harmony with recent papal pronouncements. The Holy Father has insisted that now is the...

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