Historical Context of "Radio Replies"

By markomalley

If one recalls the time frame from which Radio Replies emerged, it can explain some of the frankness and lack of tact in the nature of the responses provided.
It was during this timeframe that a considerable amount of anti-Catholic rhetoric came to the forefront, particularly in this country. Much of this developed during the Presidential campaign of Al Smith in 1928, but had its roots in the publication of Alexander Hislop's The Two Babylons, originally published in book form in 1919 and also published in pamphlet form in 1853.
While in Britain (and consequently Australia), the other fellow would surely have experienced the effects of the Popery Act, the Act of Settlement, the Disenfranchising Act, the Ecclesiastical Titles Act, and many others since the reformation (that basically boiled down to saying, "We won't kill you if you just be good, quiet little Catholics"). Even the so-called Catholic Relief Acts (1778, 1791, 1829, 1851, 1871) still had huge barriers placed in the way.
And of course, they'd both remember the American Protective Association, "Guy Fawkes Days" (which included burning the Pontiff in effigy), the positions of the Whigs and Ultra-Torries, and so on.
A strong degree of "in your face" from people in the position of authoritativeness was required back in the 1930s, as there was a large contingent of the populations of both the US and the British Empire who were not at all shy about being "in your face" toward Catholics in the first place (in other words, a particularly contentious day on Free Republic would be considered a mild day in some circles back then). Sure, in polite, educated circles, contention was avoided (thus the little ditty about it not being polite to discuss religion in public, along with sex and politics), but it would be naive to assume that we all got along, or anything resembling that, back in the day.
Having said all of the above, reading the articles from the modern mindset and without the historical context that I tried to briefly summarize above, they make challenging reading, due to their bluntness.
The reader should also keep in mind that the official teaching of the Church takes a completely different tone, best summed up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ's Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:
Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271

818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers .... All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272
819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276
838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist."324

269 UR 3 § 1.
270 Cf. CIC, can. 751.
271 Origen, Hom. in Ezech. 9,1:PG 13,732.
272 UR 3 § 1.
273 LG 8 § 2.
274 UR 3 § 2; cf. LG 15.
275 Cf. UR 3.
276 Cf. LG 8.
322 LG 15.
323 UR 3.
324 Paul VI, Discourse, December 14, 1975; cf. UR 13-18.

1 posted on 07/11/2009 6:11:47 AM PDT by GonzoII

Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C.

"I was brought up as a Protestant, probably with more inherited prejudices than most non-Catholics of these days. My parents were Anglican and taught me the Angelican faith. My 'broad-minded' protestant teachers taught me to dislike the Catholic Church intensely. I later tried Protestantism in various other forms, and it is some thirty years since, in God's providence, I became a Catholic. As for the 'open, free, sincere worship' of a Protestant Church, I tasted it, but for me it proved in the end to be not only open, but empty; it was altogether too free from God's prescriptions."

Eventually, Leslie became a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

In 1928, Fr. Rumble began a one-hour 'Question Box' program on 2SM Sydney, N.S.W. radio on Sunday evenings that was heard all over Australia and New Zealand. For five years he answered questions on every subject imaginable that had been written to him from all over that part of the globe. His first show began with a classic introduction:

"Good evening, listeners all. For some time I have been promising to give a session dealing with questions of religion and morality, in which the listeners themselves should decide what is of interest to them. Such a session will commence next Sunday evening, and I invite you to send in any questions you wish on these subjects . . . So now I invite you, non-Catholics above all, to send in any questions you wish on religion, or morality, or the Catholic Church, and I shall explain exactly the Catholic position, and give the reasons for it. In fact I almost demand those questions. Many hard things have been said, and are still being said, about the Catholic Church, though no criminal, has been so abused, that she has a right to be heard. I do not ask that you give your name and address. A nom de plume will do. Call yourself Voltaire, Confucius, X.Y.Z., what you like, so long as you give indication enough to recognize your answer."

"By the summer of 1937, the first edition of Radio Replies was already in print in Australia, financed by Rt. Rev. Monsignor James Meany, P.P. - the director of Station 2SM of whom I am greatly indebted."

"I have often been mistaken, as most men at times. And it is precisely to make sure that I will not be mistaken in the supremely important matter of religion that I cling to a Church which cannot be mistaken, but must be right where I might be wrong. God knew that so many sincere men would make mistakes that He deliberately established an infallible Church to preserve them from error where it was most important that they should not go wrong."

Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty

I broadcast my radio program, the Catholic Radio Hour, from St. Paul, Minnesota.

I was also carrying on as a Catholic Campaigner for Christ, the Apostolate to the man in the street through the medium of my trailer and loud-speaking system. In the distribution of pamphlets and books on the Catholic Faith, Radio Replies proved the most talked of book carried in my trailer display of Catholic literature. As many of us street preachers have learned, it is not so much what you say over the microphone in answer to questions from open air listeners, but what you get into their hands to read. The questions Fr. Rumble had to answer on the other side of the planet are same the questions I had to answer before friendly and hostile audiences throughout my summer campaign."

I realized that this priest in Australia was doing exactly the same work I was doing here in St. Paul. Because of the success of his book, plus the delay in getting copies from Sydney and the prohibitive cost of the book on this side of the universe, I got in contact with him to publish a cheap American edition.

It doesn't take long for the imagination to start thinking about how much we could actually do. We began the Radio Replies Press Society Publishing Company, finished the American edition of what was to be the first volume of Radio Replies, recieved the necessary imprimatur, and Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen agreed to write a preface. About a year after the publication of the first edition in Australia, we had the American edition out and in people's hands.

The book turned into a phenomena. Letters began pouring into my office from every corner of the United States; Protestant Publishing Houses are requesting copies for distribution to Protestant Seminaries; a few Catholic Seminaries have adopted it as an official textbook - and I had still never met Dr. Rumble in person.

To keep a long story short, we finally got a chance to meet, published volumes two and three of Radio Replies, printed a set of ten booklets on subjects people most often asked about, and a few other pamphlets on subjects of interest to us.

Fr. Carty died on May 22, 1964 in Connecticut.

"Firstly, since God is the Author of all truth, nothing that is definitely true can every really contradict anything else that is definitely true. Secondly, the Catholic Church is definitely true. It therefore follows that no objection or difficulty, whether drawn from history, Scripture, science, or philosophy, can provide a valid argument against the truth of the Catholic religion."

Biographies compiled from the introductions to Radio Replies, volumes 1, 2 and 3.

Source: www.catholicauthors.com

2 posted on 07/11/2009 6:12:06 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")

To: fidelis; Atomic Vomit; MI; Sir_Humphrey

Radio Replies Ping

FReep-mail me to get on or off

“The Radio Replies Ping-List”

ON / OFF

3 posted on 07/11/2009 6:12:47 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")

4 posted on 07/11/2009 6:13:46 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")

While I sincerely appreciate EACH and EVERY person’s faith and completely agree that ONLY GOD knows what HE wants, I would like to make a humble request to you.

On FR we should refrain from posting about our churches and why they are the One True Path.

I truly and genuinely respect that you believe it but maybe other FReepers dont.

Thus, we should, in my opinion, stay away from such discussions as they will lead to heartburn INSIDE FR.

Not advocating self censorship by any means. Just advocating the “agree to disagree” principle

5 posted on 07/11/2009 6:16:31 AM PDT by SoftwareEngineer

To: SoftwareEngineer

Thanks for your very appropriate remark. I have recently seen an increase in this type of posting or comments.

A couple of times I have been drawn into a “discussion” that I felt inappropriate for an open forum and moved the comments off to freep mail.

Best regards,

6 posted on 07/11/2009 6:24:00 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (The last time I looked, this is still Texas where I live.)

To: GonzoII; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

7 posted on 07/11/2009 6:24:33 AM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)

To: SoftwareEngineer

I disagree. In the RELIGION forum on FR, the open and frank debate of religion is the purpose. Trying to separate the supernatural out of the political is part of the modernist malaise that has led us to the corrupt, even decadent place we find our culture at today. This is a particularly good piece in my opinion for that purpose.

8 posted on 07/11/2009 6:27:12 AM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)

To: SoftwareEngineer

"On FR we should refrain from posting about our churches and why they are the One True Path.

I simply post the info about the Catholic Church for those who may be interested and for Catholics who like to stay informed about their faith.

I believe if no one wants to know about the Catholic Faith they can just scroll to the next thread. I don't think it should be any problem.

Regards, Gonzo

9 posted on 07/11/2009 6:31:02 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")

To: SoftwareEngineer

I get tired of all the silly entertainment threads - so I don’t open them.

I’m not sure why FR decided to offer religious threads, but FR has both open and closed threads on religion. And while some of these threads are primarily name-calling, some have genuine thought and discussion.

10 posted on 07/11/2009 6:31:56 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)

While I”m glad to see that I shouldn’t become a Catholic, I’m a bit surprised by this: “Secondly, it is easier to live up to Protestant requirements than to live up to Catholic requirements. Non-Catholic Churches do not exact so high a standard of their followers as does the Catholic Church of hers.”

I’ve met plenty of Catholics who felt free to get smashed, commit adultery, etc, provided they went to Mass a couple of times a year. And Pelosi & Kerry & Kennedy don’t seem too restrained by their faith...

Comparing beliefs is one thing. Claiming Catholics live more spiritual lives is silly.

11 posted on 07/11/2009 6:39:32 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)

"Claiming Catholics live more spiritual lives is silly."

The claim had to do with "standards".

12 posted on 07/11/2009 6:50:15 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")

The point of that sentence was clearly, ‘Look at how good the Catholic Church is - we have higher standards!’

Kind of pointless to have standards that are not applied. And kind of wrong to look down your nose at other denominations, claiming their standards are lower, if your adherents don’t meet the ones you set for yourselves.

13 posted on 07/11/2009 7:03:40 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)

“Outside the Church no salvation,”

Wow, this statement is wrong on so many levels. There is no salvation without a knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ. The church, be it Catholic or Protestant are created by man to honor God but are fallible by their very nature. I didn’t read much more because it started off on such a dumb premise that the rest of the article should be considered religious fecal matter.

14 posted on 07/11/2009 7:12:51 AM PDT by Dmitry Vukicevich (Well at least I am smarter than 63,250,000 Americans)

You were disagreeing with:

“Secondly, it is easier to live up to Protestant requirements than to live up to Catholic requirements. Non-Catholic Churches do not exact so high a standard of their followers as does the Catholic Church of hers.”

And then, incredibly, you wrote:

“I’ve met plenty of Catholics who felt free to get smashed, commit adultery, etc, provided they went to Mass a couple of times a year. And Pelosi & Kerry & Kennedy don’t seem too restrained by their faith...”

And you think those things - drunkeness, adultery, etc. - are Catholic standards? You’ve got to be kidding. The original point, “it is easier to live up to Protestant requirements than to live up to Catholic requirements” is absolutely true and in fact undeniable. We do not allow divorce and remrriage. Most Protestants do without many qualms. We don’t allow birth control. How many Protestant sects can claim that?

Comparing beliefs is one thing. Claiming Catholics live more spiritual lives is silly.

15 posted on 07/11/2009 7:13:38 AM PDT by vladimir998

Jesus said He is the way,so what’s with all these Hail Mary’s?

16 posted on 07/11/2009 7:26:08 AM PDT by kickonly88

The posted article claims Catholics have a higher standard - “Non-Catholic Churches do not exact so high a standard of their followers as does the Catholic Church of hers.”

So I pointed out that many Catholics feel very free to ignore that standard, whatever it is, and a standard that followers are not held to is not a standard you can boast about.

If I started a school, and boasted that OUR students had to be rocket scientists, you’d be well within your rights to point out that 45% failed to meet grade standards set by the state.

You don’t allow divorce - but you allow annulments. You rather oddly don’t allow birth control, but very few Catholics pay any attention to that restriction. Shoot - Catholics are more likely to accept abortion than Evangelicals.

I did not write nor post the article. I’m only commenting that it is unfair to boast of having such high standards if your adherents don’t pay attention to them.

“We don’t allow birth control. How many Protestant sects can claim that?”

Hopefully, NO Protestant ‘sects’ claim that. Protestants use the Scripture for a guide, and I don’t remember any verses about condoms in the Bible.

So - how many Catholics OBEY your no birth control standard?

17 posted on 07/11/2009 7:31:09 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)

If a Catholic takes his faith seriously and is informed about it, it is a very strict and spiritual life.

18 posted on 07/11/2009 7:41:06 AM PDT by Melian ("Now, Y'all without sin can cast the first stone." ~H.I. McDunnough)

To: Dmitry Vukicevich

Actually, the Catholic Church was started by Christ.

19 posted on 07/11/2009 7:41:58 AM PDT by Melian ("Now, Y'all without sin can cast the first stone." ~H.I. McDunnough)

Catholics believe Christ is the way- the only way. We say the Hail Mary to honor Christ’s mother, repeat the words an angel said to her as recorded in the Gospels, and ask her to strengthen us and help us (especially at the hour of our death). We believe she is special to Christ and that He pays special attention to her requests (as He did at the wedding feast at Cana). We say the Hail Mary to ask her to join her prayers with ours as we bring them before her Son.

20 posted on 07/11/2009 7:46:55 AM PDT by Melian ("Now, Y'all without sin can cast the first stone." ~H.I. McDunnough)

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Historical Context of "Radio Replies"

Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C.

Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty

Radio Replies Ping

FReep-mail me to get on or off

“The Radio Replies Ping-List”

The Radio Replies Series: Volume One

Chapter One: God

Chapter Two: Man

Chapter Three: Religion

Chapter Four: The Religion of the Bible

Chapter Five: The Christian Faith

Chapter Six: A Definite Christian Faith

Chapter Seven: The Failure of Protestantism

Chapter Eight: The Truth of Catholicism