The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-22
What is the relation of Socialism

lein recently wrote in America:
In drawing up their political plat
form for the recent campaign the
Socialists of New York defeated by
a vote of sixty-four to thirty-nine the
proposed resolution that, Purely re-
ligious schools are against the spirit
of the educational system.
1t would be absurd to imagine that
the rejection of this antl-Cathollc
plank from their platform, by a rather
narrow margin of votes, indicated a
new tendency towards religious tolera-
ton on the part of Socialism. Sew
eral speakers, it is said, Immediately
leaped to their feet and urged that
the acceptance of such clause would
ALLEVIATE Catholic voters. Where these
votes are not needed such considera-
ton is not thought of.
Witness the scenes enacted only a
short time previously in Mexico,
where a triumphant Socialism tore
down the confessionals and closed the
churches and Christian schools. while
the Socialist press applauded the
deeds of the new ''liberators."
Not by its platform, but by it's acts
and it's writings must the Socialist
movement be judged. The former are
for political purposes, the latter ex-
press its true nature. Away with
your creeds and bondage!" sang Zelda
Charters in the New York Call for
October Z, 1917, associating these two
ideas, and her watchword defines the
true spirit of Socialism at all times
and in all places.
Throughout practically the entire
range of Socialist literature dogmatic
religion, and in particular the Catho-
lie faith, is represented as conspira-
cy to keep the toiler in bondage. The
only deduction, therefore, that can in
diligently be drawn by the Socialist
laborer is that dogmatic religion must
be destroyed at all costs. In practice
Socialism has everywhere set itself
this task. Italy, Spain, Austria, Ger
many, Belgium, Portugal and Yucatan,
not to mention other instances within
our memory, became the scenes of
these outbreaks. When the suppress
sion of Religious Orders and the per-
secution of the Church was under con-
sideration in France, M. Combes and
his radical friends did not move fast
enough for the Socialist comrades.
But it is seldom prudent for Social
list leaders openly to include such
planks in their political platforms. AS
they have often repeated: they must
first make men Socialists, and all the
rest will follow of it's own accord.
Their anti-Christian literature and
principles will accomplish the work
Do the Holy Souls know who is
praying for them?
Very probably God reveals to the
holy souls in some way the charity
of their friends on earth who inter
cede for them. AS far as we know
the souls themselves have no means
of obtaining this knowledge; but we
cannot suppose that God is unable to
reveal the fact to them, either direct
ly or by communication through angels
or other souls who have attained the
beatific vision.
When Catholic priest enters the
service as a chaplain and is assigned
to one of the camps, does he 90
through the daily drilling to which the
recruits are subjected? Has he quar-.
ters of his own?
The chaplain is not expected to drill
like the privates. He is attached to
the staff of the Colonel in charge and
is treated as an officer. He has a tent
of his own located centrally, so that
he may be handy to the men when
they desire to seek his counsel. In
some camps the chaplains have been
making the best of the situation and
have been rooming with the officers
They endeavor to keep themselves in
good physical trim by exercise. Even
Protestant officers are one in pro
claiming the large amount of good
done by these wearers of the Roman
collar. The Bishops are at pains to
select those who will impress men
and who also can go through the hard
ships of the life without any danger to
their health. In the midst of the real
warfare the Catholic chaplains will in
sist on remaining with the men, and
will prove themselves ready to die be
fore they will abandon the men tc
whom they have pledged themselves
IT was a wise move for our nation to
give early attention to the chaplaincy
question, for of the Catholic soldiery
at least it can be asserted that they
will be the better fighters for the pres
cnce of the priest.
Why did God make distinction be-
tween the sacrifices of Cain and Abel!
Because He saw wickedness in the
heart of Cain, and therefor could not
take pleasure in his offering. God had
warned Cain. He knew that murder
was already in his heart. The heart
of murderer cannot be acceptable to
the most pure God.
ds it an obligation to bow our heads
whenever the Holy Name is pro
nounced?
The Apostle says that Every knee
should bow in heaven, on earth and II
he1l'' at the mention of the Sacred