Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-21

1919. TO authorize the Catholic church |
10 participate In world conference
OF religions which had been proposed
TO him by a group Of bishops OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church IN the
United States. Cardinal Gasparri told
tho bishops: Rather than a reunion
OF the Christian churches. the Holy
SEQ aims at the unity OF the church
which in the oplIIon OF Rome, can
only occur by Nil returning 70 the
Catholic church."
In December, 1920. tho vatican is
sued decree requesting the Catholic
bishops 10 pay vigilant attention to
such societies as the Young Mems
Christian Association on the ground
that they corrupted the faith OF Cath
olc youths. The Pope urged the
Knights OF Columbus TO combat pro-
ps ganda against the Catholic faith.
The Pope took occasion on numcr-
ous Insta noes TO express his views
thoroughly on some political and So
cial questions. Early in 1920 he sent
n letter TO an Italian bishop urging
the Catholic priests To protests intelli-
gently and energetically against what
the Pope characterized as the dan
gerous doctrine OF the socialists"
Denounced Immodest Dressing,
He repeatedly denounced immodesty
in women's drees and what he termed
the indency OF fashion. On another
occasion a circular was issued by his
direction to diplomats accredited ia
the Holy See, asking them 70 add to
| al ,4ennrs4 lfna a
note requesting women TO avoid ex-
cessiveIy decollete gowns.
The Pope declared in an address
TO the Sacred College that the world
was afflicted with FIVE great plaques
which he enumerated as the negatior
OF authority. hatred among brothers
thirst for pleasure, disgust for work
and forgetfulness OF the supernatura
objects Of life. These evils, he assert
ed, could be overcome only by the aic
Of the gospel.
In a secret consistory in December
he declared that the Catholic church
would never abolish or mitigate tn
law imposing celibacy on the clergl
nor introduce Democratic forms whici
had been asked by prieste in Czecho
Slovakla where secession rnovennen
has been based on that appeal.
Was wise Diplomat.
The resumption Of diplomatic rela
Fl tions between the vatican and Franc
and Germany was attributed to tn
D diplomacy OF Pope Benedict. The heal
Ing OF the breach between the vatica
2 and France which resulted from IN
e separation OF the church and state 9
that country was crowned by tn
canonization OF Joan Of Arc as
r saint.
In comment on these new relation.
y IL was pointed out in many quarter
e that during the years when Benedit
XIV had directed the policy Of II
church there had bean an increasin
,. influence by the vatican on the publ
y opinion OF the world.
HIS voice was raised In approval
+ the aims OF the Washington confer
= ence on the Limitation Of Arnnarnei
i and in letter TO President Hardin
e the Pope commended his initiative
u calling Il. His efforts on behalf
:. war prisoners were unremitting ar
p he personally appealed TO the DR.,
e iates Of the church TO promote amt
II among the nations and deplored m
L. unrest In Europe which had foliowe
a the war.
Gave Generously To Poor.
He issued numerous appeals for N
n poor children OF Central Europe an
n for the famine sufferers Of Russia an
n through his efforts a huge fund VIZ
"A collected and distributed 10 the chi
dren of Germany. Austria, Polan
Hungary and Czecho-Slovakia r
also made large contributions TO fun,
Va for the relief OF the Russians al
n Chinese and TO the international r,
n Cross.
q The Pope's brother. Marquis Jol