his materialistic atmosphere and the absence of catholic traditions
and associations act also as a corrosive on the faith of Catholics,
particularly of our young people. Like a strong acid it eats away the
teachings of good Christian parents and the impressions of a Catholic
home. Only those who have seen at close range these sad soul
transformations can believe in their painful reality and explain their
frequency.

The _activities of non-Catholic bodies among the foreign element_ are
another obstacle to the work of the Church. Like the locusts of Egypt
a cloud of proselytizers have alighted on those parts of the Provinces
where the new Canadian is in the making. We have seen in another
chapter (_Pro aris, et focis_--or, the Ruthenian Problem) how under the
cover of Canadianization, the foreigner is being weaned away from the
Faith of his Fathers and what menace this is for the Church.

This systematic effort of the various denominations is being supported
by the combined action of their clergy and laity in the East. Men and
money are flowing into the West to Christianize (_sic_!) our Catholic
foreigners. The final result of this proselytizing effort is not a
permanent increased membership for these churches, but rather
indifference and irreligion among our foreign element. Facts and
figures prove it. And to re-establish these souls in the Faith of
their Baptism is no easy task, we all know. It is far easier to tear
down than to rebuild.

This united action of the different Churches stands out in sharp
contrast with the _lack of co-operation_ among Catholics throughout
Canada. The absence of co-operation of the East with the West affects
very seriously the welfare of the Church in the new Provinces. We all
willingly and gratefully acknowledge the contributions in men and money
that have come from the East through the channels of the Religious
Orders, of the Catholic Church Extension and from other sources. But
absorbed by parochial and diocesan interests the Catholic Church in
Eastern Canada has not as yet fully realized the seriousness of our
Western problems. With its co-operation only can the weight of the
Church as a whole be brought to bear in their solution.

This policy of unity of action is also most urgent for the Catholics of
the Western Provinces. We are a minority in each Province; concerted
action can alone press our legitimate claims and bring to us success in
these activities which neces