Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/31

 THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL-REFORM MOVEMENT I 7

controlled Belgium, the Rallit's in the French parliament, headed by the Count de Mun, and the Catholic party that in Italy takes so active a part in local politics, while still refraining scrupu- lously, in accordance with the request of the Roman pontiff, from any participation in the election of representatives to the national parliament.

It must not be supposed that the Catholic social-reform move- ment, even in those countries where it is most developed, is coterminous with the Catholic church. The majority of the Catholics of the world probably still adhere to political " liber- alism," either from conviction or force of circumstances, and a few are to be found in the socialist camp. Most of the Catho- lics of France are, or were until very recently, adherents either of the liberal republicanism now in power there, or of one or another of the old reactionary parties, monarchical or imperi- alistic. A large proportion of the Austro-Hungarian Catholics are liberals in politics, as are practically all of those in Spain, Portugal, the United States, and the British empire. In the last-named countries this arises from the necessities of the case, as the contemporary Catholic movement has never reached them, and all the existing political parties are of the liberal stripe, with the exception of the still small, but rapidly growing, socialist organizations found here and there. But in the coun- tries where powerful Catholic parties exist there are to be found in all the other parties a number of persons, sometimes small and sometimes very large, who in their personal religion are devoted Catholics. Chancellor Hohenlohe of the German empire is an example of this type. The only socialist mem- ber of the Reichstag who professes any religion claims to be a Catholic.

On the other hand, there are a great many Protestants who accept the principles of " Christian democracy," vote with the Catholic parties, and even occupy positions of honor and trust within their gift.

There are, for example, several members of the Reichstag, elected as members of the Center party, and thoroughly loyal to its principles, who have never been, or claimed to be. Catholics