Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-04-07
POSITION OF POPE
DURING GREAT WAR
TOLD BY REV. QU|NA|V
Protested Against Violation of
Belgian Neutrality-In Po-
sition to Give Aid to Bring
About Peace Desired.

Pope Benedict and the War; was
the subject of a lecture given by Rev
Guy +. Quinan, C. S. p, of the Paulist
Missionary Band of Portland, Ore.
at the 10:30 o'clock mass Sunday
morning at st. Johns cathedral. In
mastery and eloquent way Father
Quinan discussed the position of Pope
Benedict and his activities in anchor
ating conditions of those who suf-
fered through the war, his protest
against the violation of Belgian neu-
trality and the aid he can give in
bringing about the peace which the
world today desires.
In part he said:
Let us consider the relation of the
present pope, Benedict XIV, to this
world war which is being brought to
close. What has he really said
about the war, and what has he really
done? The answer to these questions
is of interest because no one can fail
to observe the position of authority
and influence almost universally con-
eded to Benedict XIV during the war.
Nations like England and Holland
sent ambassadors to the Vatican, a
thing they had not done since the re-
formation. Quoting Mr. Shane Leslee,
the Literary Digest of February, 1918,
said: One fact established by the war
IL that the pope still counts in the
minds of the world; what he thinks is
important; and what he says is even
more important still And the pope,
the bishop of Rome, stands out today
as the most exalted parsonage In
Christendom. The truth is that when
the pope spoke during the world war
his voice set hundreds of millions of
minds and tongues in motion and
myriads of hearts hoping that the end
of that abysmally hideous war might
not be far away.
uNJUsTLY CRITICIZED.
1--WE know that the pope has been
made the object of much unjust and
bitter criticism, has been accused of
pro -Gerrna and of being under
the influence of pro- ermanism, and
Of keeping silent when he ought to
have condemned the violation of Bel
gian neutrality and other crimes
against international law. I am sure
that when the bitterness and animosi-
ties Of the war have passed away, and
now that the calm reflection of peace
is returning to the world, it will be
generally conceded. among fair-mind-
ed Americans that the action of the !
Holy Father throughout the war has |
been wise, beneficent and correct
RULES BY LOVE.
when we consider the position of |
the pope we appreciate that he is the !
head of the greatest and largest re-
ligious society in the world whose
are found in every civilized |
country in the world and number
S5o, 100000 of people. Like his Mas
ter, he rules not by the sword, but by
love. He is a universal shepherd and |
as such could not become a partici-
pant in the war. And though he was
bound to condemn. as he actually did /
condemn, all violations of the laws of |
war, yet so far as was consistent
with morality and religion he was OBJ
liged to hold the balance of an equal
Judgment between the contending
parties. He was bound to remember,
and he prayed that all those who
might be critics would re-
that his attitude throughout
the war, as always, was that of +
spiritual father to vast millions scat
tered everywhere among the nations
Of the world and that he was OBJ
iiged to be impartial.
CATHOLICS PATRIOTIC.
"The war has made clear to every
honest observer that Catholics were
patriotic in their respective countries.
Whether right or wrong, whether citi-
lens of America, of Great Britain. of