The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-17
Vatican Admits 1t Becomes
Serious Rival Of Catholic
Church.
ITS GROWTH is WIDESPREAD
Review OF Situation Made by
Semi-Official Rome"
i'll Italy.
ny HENRY WOOD.
ciai Cable to Tho T!mes-Dispatch. J


fast becoming a serious rival Of tho
Catholic Church Is the admission that
has practically been made by tho
Vatican Itself.
The rapid spread OF socialism dur
ing the past few years has forced tho
church to consider methods FOR rro-
venting socialism from encroacnins on
It's own field of influence.
The situation has really become so
serious that II has found its way into
the Catholic papera OF italy, ana
Rome" semi. official paper OF tho
Vatican. recently went into tn: subject
thoroughly. Because of its i,irn s,nud
IMP with the Vatocau. the sentiments
expressed by Rome may be regarded
az tho actual sentiment at ths prcscnt
zine OF The Popc ana the chuccl, in
General on the subject OF socialism.
The review OF tho situation by Rome''
is In part MS follows:
Socialism is increasing steadily all
over the world; In Germany nnd france
II has almost gained control Of ,,e
state; IN italy. under the new franz
ehise 1t viii become tho strongest
SomoKencous party in Tic countr.'; in
Austria and hungary II is spreading
rapidly: In tho United States and Eng
land the mass IS OF the working classes
are approaching more and mors close
ly to II; In Belgium ii is rapidly alb
sorbing liberalism. There is no coun-
try not even excepting Turkey witch
has not been affected by IL. Nor can
We gauge it's strength from It's forces
IN the various leEislaturcs-,nanv So
ctalists axe Indifferent about parl!u-
ments. Many hundreds or thousands OF
them scattered here and there IN all
countries have BEEN unable 10 obtain
Legislative representation.
According 10 several OF ats most
authoritative spokcsrien. socialism Is
Fundamentally opposed TO Christianity,
but since the birth OF Christianity st.
self no movement has g.awn so steadi-
~, has spread so widely. has taken so
deep hold on the people. has snown
such marked characteristics OF per-
mancncc.
In different countries it's followers
may diff: in dcinls--they may be more
or less revolutionary, they may adopt
different methods of propaganda. they
may be moro or less disposed 10 form
a temporary alliance with other par
, ties in the state, ,heyc may b. more
or less disturbed by factional slrife.
But tho great outstanding fact Is that
socialism, although /, possesses no
central authority and no universally
recognized international leaders is a
united movement, thoroughly intcrna-
, tionai. independent of conditions Of
race. climate. language or soe.ul de-
velopment.
Nor is i, eonnned to the prolc.aria,.
as many supposc--t is making con-
quests in all grades OF aocicty. We
nave come To this: in the modern
world to-day there arc two and only
Two forces that are homogeneous AID
international, and these arc the Cntho-
lie Church and socialism.
such IS the situation. That VIC arr
becoming more and more awake TO IL
I, Is evident from the cXtraordinasy at
iehtion which is being devoted 10 the
topic OF socialism by opponents of
Catholic thought.
Tn theology OF socialism is hone
lessiy wrong IL is easy enough 10
prove that But il may he found that
30 per cent. OF Socialists arc Socialists
not because, but in spite of the the
ology. Its philosophy Is absurd. All
riSht-hut the people do not vote for
" on account of its philosophy 1t
DESTROYS the natural and supernatural
conceptions OF family life. Very good
-nut the crude fact Is that Socialists,
In hesh and blood, taking them In tie
mass, have about as much (and as lii
tlc) respect for the marriage bond and
for tho ties of family as most peopi.
outside the Catholic Church who arc
not Socialists.
There can he no question that great
numbers Of Socialists arc anti-Chr
tian-but II is also well to remember
mat some Socialist lead ers proclaim that
Tho question OF religion does not en-
Ter essentially into socialism. ard It Is
highly doubtful If any large proper
ton or Socialists in Germany or in
English speaking countries have been
drawn into the movement by It's anti
religious principles.
What Is drawing them? Putting 1t
broadly, 1t seems TO us that .he null
titudes are being influenced chiefly by
Two sentiments ono OF Discount .nt with
the present economic structure OF So
nioty, the other of a desirc for a
practical recognition of the brother
mood OF man and for the abolition OF
barriers which prevent this rccogni-
ton"
In the closing part OF the review
which Is devoted to statement of the
manner IN which the church can best
triumph over socialism. 1t is suggested
that II would be far better instead OF
opposing socialism. for the church to
work more strongly for the same ends
mat are common both to the church
and the Socialists. BY this course. IL
was believed, the church would become
this stronger of the two.