The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-10

BY THOMAS J. ,o'ELAHERr,

E'ROM Berlin by telegraph comes an
except from a catholic paper pre-
dieting that the Mexican governments
snti-clerical policy may cost Gales his
political head. Thus the international
and efficient propaganda machine of
the catholic church does its work.
Nearer home we have the knights of
Columbus convention assessing its
membership $1,OOO,0OO for anti-Mexi-
can propaganda and very likely more
lethal weapons.
TVHE immense power welded by the
4 Roman church in the United States
can be judged from the fact that
hardly single capitalist paper in
the country has the courage to come
out and tell the truth editorially of
the causes leading up to the present
imbroglio. OF course some naive rad
icals will attribute this cowardice to
subserviency to the bankers. But it
oftentimes pays publishers to beard
the Wall Street lion and play up to
the masses. The explanation is not
there. It is in the power and dis
cipline OF the church machine, with
following of some fifteen millions that
has hidden goodbye to its brains.
THE church keeps its hands on its
subjects from the cradle to the
grave. It is unequalled for organiza-
tional efficiency. 1t taxes the mem
bers Of the flock when they are bap-
tized, when tsley get married and ex-
act toll when they die. There are So
cieties and solidalities for practically
every one OF the innumerabIe saints,
virgins, ghosts and saviors that the
pope and his aids have dug out OF
the graveyard of mythology. Not only
DOES this system give the church a
highly disciplined body Of faithful adj
herents, but 1t trains functionaries for
leadership. OF course, the hierarchy
has tho final say in matters of policy
and direction.
TUE only reward offered to the rank
and file Of the church is promise
Of heaven beyond the grave, provided
they give the priest all that is coming
to him. chiefly in money. The more
intelligent and better educated of the
catholics find the support of organiza-
tons, whose members obey the priests
without question, extremely useful in
politics and business. This system IS
used effectively by the Knights of
Columbus as well as by the ku klux
khan. In fact, the former organize
ton rarely canvasses for membership,
on the basis of spiritual advantages,
hut for business reasons.
MANY of the leaders of the Knights
4t1 OF Columbus are not particularly
devoted to religion. Many of them do
not go to church. But they are hon.
ored by the pope, because the organi-
gation puts money in his pocket. Re
ligion to the upper strata of the cath
olics is largely matter of business.
II is no secret that there is big fac
tional fight inside the Knights of Co
lumbus. The present leadership is
charged with being inclined towards
Ngnosticism. 1t is charged with being
disloyal to the American hierarchy to
which Ii is supposed to owe allegiance.
BISHOP GALLAGHER of Detroit
- only few years ago threatened
the organization with papal displeas-
ure II Us leaders continued their atti-
tude OF independence towards the
hierarchy. The bishop pointed out
that a similar organization in France
was once accommodated by the
pope because Of rebelious conduct.
As the Mexican viceconsul In New
York pointed out few days ago, a
pope sanctioned the expulsion of the
Jesuits from Mexico in 1903.
ONE OF the most amusing charges
" made by the valiant Knights of
Columbus against Mexico Is that the
family is myth and marriage a
degradation to the leaders of the gov
eminent II is standing Joke in
Mexico and In every country from
there to Cape Horn that the priests
honor celigacy more In the breach
han in observance. The X. Of c.
appeal to the A. +. of L. to cooperate
IN the war against the Mexican gov
eminent in behalf OF labor Is also
laughter promoting. This protest
should be referred to the Mexican
poems. The Mexican workers shed
their blood to break the power of the
church. It Is not likely that they will
now shed more to restore IL.