Evening star., 1927-09-15
POPE LAUDS WORK
TO AID MEX|CANS
Catholic Bishops, in Annual
Convention, Receive Praise
for Welfare Council.

Work for the past year of the Ma
tional Welfare Council, particularly
its efforts in Mexico, received high
praise today at the annual conven-
ton of the Catholic bishops of the
United States now being held in
Caldwell Hall Of Catholic University.
in a letter from Pope Plus, read
today.
"Again and again, $ casion of.
fered." the letter said. 1--WE have con-
graduated you on your splendid zeal
as you continually rendered meri-
torious service to the church both
nv assiduous administration of your
own dioceses. by generously coming
to the aid OF various people suffer-
ing from great disaster. and finally
by carrying to a happy issue under
takinEs of the greatest value to our
holy faith.
Harboring OF Mexicans.
"Just quite recently we have
learned with pleasure from our
apostolic delegate at Washington
how zealously the organiZa ton known
as the National Catholic Welfare
Council has hitherto striven to de-
fend and. in every possible way. sue
cor the church in Mexico. which has
been so soreiy tried. When the Mex
lean bishops in the first instance ap-
pealed to you. citizens of neigh
boring and most prosperous nation,
for help and comfort, you FASTENED
to provide both in generous measure.
You upheld the Mexican hierarchy
in their public protest against iniqui-
tous laws. and you yourselves issued a
splendid statement wherein you made
known to all. Catholic and non-Catho-
lie alike, the truth regarding the Mexi-
can situation. Surely every one knows
how effectually you have assisted
Catholics of all classes from the neigh
their native land to escape grievous
persecution. When OF late this perse-
cution went to the extreme of ba nish-
ing by force the bishops themselves
from their dioceses, it became forth
with your great concern both to harbor
the bishops as your own brothers and
show them every mark of considerate
kindness
School Systems Discussed.
The meeting this morning was con.
cerned principally with a discussion
of primary and higher Catholic educa
tional systems in the United States
1t was pointed out that every effort
N
and that every effort by publicity, in
struction through diocesan confer.
ences. and on the occasion of large
Catholic celebrations. the need Of voca
tions for the religious communities
should be shown
One of the greatest difficulties in
nearly every part of the country, il
was said, il to- supply teachers for
small schools in rural districts. As
the tendency is toward cities and large
centers Of population, the teachers
who will engage in this work should
he provided with every comfort and
convenience.
Right Rev. Pascual Diaz. Bishop of
Tabasco, Mexico, as secretary for the
bishops of Mexico. announced here
last night that the bishops deported
by Mexican authorities had not made
any concessions in order to return to
that country. Bishop Diaz said the
bishops of Mexico, the great ma joritv
of whom have been deported, stand
las they have stood from the begin
ming. for the principle of religious lib
erty. for the right of the Church of
Christ to live and function as the
church.
Wish to Return.
Naturally. as lovers of our native
land. we wish to return to her" he
added; 1--WE would do all we can to
return. except to make any sacrifice
of her honor and our own. or any
yielding of those principles which are
the security of her permanent WELL
being"
The mental test for immigrants con.
Quoted by the United States Public
Health Service doctors at American
consulates abroad were condemned by
the Bureau of immigration of the
National Catholic Welfare Association
in its annual report to the conven-
ton of bishops this morning.
The tests were branded as unfair
and without due regard for the
humane and moral consequences. 1t
was said that the diagnoses are based
largely on the subjects reaction to
ridiculous questions.
The meeting this morning was pre-.
sided over by Cardinal Mundefein.
Cardinal O'Connell having returned
home.
The convention. which ended this
was attended by 56 bishops
from all over the country. four arch
bishops and Cardinals Hayes of New
York, Mundein of Chicago and