National Catholic War Council

Handbook of the National Catholic War Council

"When the declaration of war was made by the United States against the German Empire every part of the organization of the Church immediately became solicitous to do its share in assisting the Government."




With the entry of the United States into World War I, members of the American Catholic Church met for the first time in more than thirty years. Representatives from nearly seventy dioceses and thirty Catholic societies met in Washington DC. From their work came the National Catholic War Council and its accompanying handbook of guidelines.




The Handbook of the National Catholic War Council contains the final collection of guidelines for the Catholic Church's role in America at the time of the First World War. A visit with this document can provide a look back at that historical moment and the values of the church, at that time, for their participation in the war efforts:




"First, that all Catholic war activities should be unified and coordinated for greater efficiency; secondly, that local boards should be established in the various dioceses; and thirdly, that the Knights of Columbus be recognized as the body representing the Church in the recreational welfare of the soldiers in the camps."