The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-11
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
THE CZECHO-SLOvAkS,
Lankin, North Dakota.
To the Editor:

In the last number you have little
item, Priest to Conference This item
is inexact.
To give you an idea Of the facts, l
beg to call your attention to this: The
Bohemians in this country are divided
into two main bodies, Catholics and
F'ree-thinkers. These two bodies at
present are cooperating to obtain lib
erty for the Czecho-Slovak State. The
Catholic party is organized in the Ma
tional Alliance of Bohemian Catholics,
the address is: Lawndale State Bank
Bldg, 22nd St, Chicago, Ill.
When the Czecho-Slovak State was
recognized by the Allies, and especi-
ally by America, the provisional gov
eminent decided, that, to prevent the
misuse of religion, as was the case
during the regime of the Hapsburgs,
it will be best to separate the Church
and State as we have it in this coun.
try. But there was question as to
how the Catholics will arrange condi-
tons; and after the promise by the
III CoCuC pA Co1uClly Il lol lHdI
there will be no confiscation, but only
Encouragement of the property, there
was another question as to how they
will arrange the management of the
property. The headquarters of the
Alliance decided, after consultation
with the dignitaries of the Church and
encouragement received from them, to
send a delegate, Father Zlamal of
Cleveland, Ohio, to Bohemia. The
Slovaks have done that already, to
give the Church some information on
the manner of the management of the
Church in this Country, and if neces-
sary to help them in reorganization.
But some limited that it would be a
good idea to send some one besides
Father Zlamal, and they selected Mon
signore Bouska of Tabor, S. D. He
was not appointed by Masaryk, for this
simple reason; there will be a free
| Church in a free state. These two
| priests will not be delegates to the
| peace conference. They may stop in
Paris for some reason, and even in
Rome, but their mission will take them
to Bohemia, and probably Moravia, to
help the Church there in rearranging
| matters.
| l believe that you may get better
| information from our headquarters, be-
cause our movement of Bohemian
Catholics will be important in church
life in Bohemia, or the Czecho-Slovak
State. We want to be free, but we
want to save all church property from
confiscation, which was promised
would not be done. 1t is said that the
population is Catholic. In the govern
ment we Catholics have one repre-
sentative of the Catholic party, one
Catholic priest is in the Agrarian, OF
Farmers party, and that Is all | know
of. They may be Catholics on paper
but they are Social Democrats, Lib
erals, Socialists, Agrarians, but never
heard of any one, that he professet
publicly to be a Catholic. And 1 car
say that, because was there in active
service for three years as assistan
priest. Therefore, the sending of thu
delegates by the Alliance is yer.
important, because the heat
officers received, as understand
the written declaration from Presiden
, Masaryk, who, by the way, is fallel
Catholic, that the property will not b.
: confscated, but rearranged. And t
| teach the Church how to rearrange tn
! matters is the duty of these two dele
, gates. Father Zlamal Is a member o
the head committee.
Trusting that this will explain tn
matter, / am,
. Yours sincerely in Christ,
> Crew V. F. MIKOLASEK.