THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW

With this issue The American Catholic Sociological Society inaugurates its quarterly journal. The REVIEW is intended to further the exchange of knowledge and to promote research among Catholic sociologists.

Sociology has grown rapidly in the past twenty-five years and its standing as an independent science is now established. It is particularly important that Catholics undertake a leadership in the further development of this science. Society today is in dire need of help both from students of society and its organization and from trained persons who can apply this knowledge to the practical problems of our civilization.

Catholics have a body of truths to serve as guides in the study of social theory and, because of this, society for them can never be a goal-less or purposeless organism, nor can society be an end or purpose in itself.

Catholics will not be poorer scientists, but rather better scientists for knowing that man has a supernatural destiny and that society has as its goal the organization of social life in such manner as to help man attain this destiny. But, this organization of social life must be thoroughly studied. Indeed, this study is the subject of theoretical sociology. Sociology is not a catch-all attempt to apply to practical life problems the knowledge of history, economics, political science, biology, psychology, and ethics. It is true that applied sociology will make use of these sciences in formulating ameliorative and curative programs, but theoretical sociology those branches of which give our subject its standing as a science is the study of the organization of society.

There is no need to press this point. Three years ago the American Catholic Sociological Society was founded upon the express principle that sociology was more than a conglomerate of the social sciences and the Society was to offer a medium to scholars to aid in the development of a sociology consistent with fundamental truth. Elsewhere in the REVIEW are the names of the members of the Editorial Board who will guide its policies. It is expected that the REVIEW will not only publish the papers of the annual conventions, but will serve also in publishing research articles and book reviews. Thus, we launch the quarterly in high hopes for its success as a scholarly and scientific contribution to sociology.

PAUL J. MUNDIE

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