Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-04
ROME BAN COVERS
|. PROTESTANT WORK
Text of Pope's Decree ReIat-
ing to Y. M. c. A., Baptists
and Other Bodies Awaited.

An Official text OF the papaI ban on
the Y. NJ. c. A, Baptists and other
non Catholic bodies, promulgated in
Rome in November, was awaited here
today by the press bureau of the
send translations to it's service papers
So far as is known, no American
prelate has received copy of the
decree, though a translation of it is
published in the current issue of the
Catholic News under date February 5
1t is issued in the name of the Sa-
cred Congregation of the holy office
and signed by Cardinal Merry Del VAL
once papal secretary of state.
While apparently inspired by the
activities of the Y. NJ. c. A. in Rome
it is directed against othek organiza-
tions as well. and 1direets the bishops
to give their attention to hy organi-
cations promoting. under the pretext
facilities, religious indifferentism
among young people.
Explains Criticism.
Rev. John ]. Burke. c. S. p. general
secretary of the National Catholic
Welfare Council. in statement ex-
planning the criticism Of the Y. NJ. G.
A.. said the pronouncement of the
holy see came as no surprise to those
who have been in touch with the
character and effect of, much of the
Y. NJ. c. A. work in the countries OF
Europe.
THE condemnation of the Y. NJ. c.
A. is not a condemnation of it's well
fare and humanitarian work." he
said. 1T is a condemnation of it's at
tempt to undermine Catholic faith by
claiming to be non-sectarian or super
Sectarian.
Though William Knowles Cooper. gen.
eral secretary of the Y. NJ. c. "A, in
Washington, had heard Indirectly of the
the association. it was not until today
that he saw the full text of the message
of Cardinal Merry Del Val.
Denies Proselyting.
"It would seem to me that the Pope
has been misinformed as to the pur-
poses and methods Of the Young Mems
Christian Association, both in America
and in European countries said Mr..
Cooper, after he had read the article.
1.-The Young Mems Christian Association
has avoided prosecuting. 1t is.in affilia-
ton, of course. with the Protestant
Church, but it has always had in its
membership a very large proportion of
young men of the Catholic faith. who
will testify that they have received help
cal. social and intellectual activities
1.-THE association believes that in
building the mans moral and intel
lectual character it established a back
ground for his religious life and the mat
ter of the choice of a church is always
young man who comes under the in
fluence of the association"
Drastic Fenture Of Decree.
A drastic feature of the decree, ac-
cording to the translation published in
the Catholic News. is the suggestion
that the prelates put under ban by
an official act "all the daily organs.
periodicals and other publications of
these socities of which the pernicious
character is manifest and which are
profusely distributed with A view to
sowing in the souls Of Catholics the
errors of rationalism and religious
indifferentism."
The general indictment set forth in
the document is that certain organi-
cations "on the pretense of bringing
light to young folk turn them away
from the teaching of the church es-
tablished by God. the light of truth.
from their own consciences and with
in the narrow circuit of human reason
the light which should guide them"
Mention of Y: M. c. A.
The Y. NJ. c. A. is mentioned specifi-
cally as follows:
Among these societies it will suf-
flee to mention that which, having
given birth to many others. is the
most widespread (by reason especially
of the important services which it
rendered to a large number of un-
happy people in the course of the ter
rible war; and disposes of the most
considerable resources; We mean the
society called the Young Mems Chris
tian Association and in abbreviation
form the Y. NJ. C. A.
"Non-Catholics of good faith give it
their support inadvertently. consider
ing it an organization of advantage
to all, or. at least. inoffensive to
every one, and it is also supported by
certain Catholics who are too conf
dent and are ignorant of what it is in
reality; for this society processes
sincere love of young folk, as if moth
ing was dearer to it than the promo
ton of their corporal and spiritual
interests; but at the same time it
shakes their faith. since. by it's own
confession. 1t proposes to purify 1t
and to impart a more perfect knowl-
edge of real life by placing itself
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