New Britain herald., 1930-02-28
BY EDMUND <. WALSH, $, J,

athollc church in America.
 BY EDMUND \. WALSH, $. J.
 Washington, Feb. 2S UP)-Thc soviet has publicly declared as it's ,1cal what Gladstone so well de- scribed in his celebrated phrase, The negation of God erected into q system of government
 Defense Expected
 The defense Of the Soviet atti- Jude toward religion as expressed by president of the council of commits sars. Alexis Rykov, was to be ex- pected, as denial and counte charge have formed the order of the day in every attack on religion.
 MT. RykoV makes the customary sweeping denial and claims to know uf no case of persecution in Russia.
 The official announcements of responsible officials of the Soviet on numerous occasions render su- rcrfuous any labored demonstra- lions of their intention to extirpatc all religion in Russia and then in every other territory which falls un- der communistic influence.
 ] myself heard the prosecuting at oorney of the Soviet state, Mir. Kry- lenko, ask men on trial for their lives in Moscow in 1928:
 Will you stop teaching the Chris tian religion" 2"
 We cannot" came the answer. Tt is the law of God'
 That law does not exist on Soviet territory" replied Kyrlenko in the name of the Soviet state. As for \our religion, I spit on it. a5 I spit on all religion"
 In support of the official state Atheism, the Soviet in 1925 founded he Association of the Goddess" which has prepared 250,000 skilled propagandists who operate under the direction of the ministry of public instruction through the schools, trade unions, and the army and seek 0 penetrate into every home.
 On the occasion of the launching of this anti-relgious crusade, the ministers of public instruction, Lun- acharsky. blessed the enterprise in the following words:
 With al my heart, I wish the Goddess every success in its fight against the repugnant spectre of God which has caused such diaholic harm 10 all humanity throughout the world.'
 Broadcast Atheism
 Again at Christmas, 1928. Luna charsky, still minister of public in struction, sent out a thunderous nroadcast against the existence of God over the state controlled radio station. During recent years. 20,000,- zoo copies of the paper. "Thc God less" with it's unspeakable blas- phcmies have been deluged into ev- cry home, school and kindergarten.
 Nine universities have been organ izcd exclusively for the war on God and every teacher in every state, town and hamlet is obliged to coop crate in this hideous .ttack on the soul of the Russian people under pain Of party penalty.
 l have seen men go to their death because they could not submit 10 this violation of the most fundamen- tai of human rights.
 Mir. Rykov says the Soviet does not prosecute the clergy for the le- Sitimatc practice of their profession.
 Speaking only for the Catholic community in Russia of which l have some knowledge, l would like 70 know, then. what crime was conl- Inittcd by Father Joseph Bieloso- lovy. who disappeared in 1928, after refusing the offer of Soviet authori- ties to accept episcopal consecration at their hands in order to found an anti Catholic sect which would en- joy subsidized favor in order to la Dor at the undermining Of religion?
 Can Mir. Rykov produce the body Of Father Joseph Bielogolovy?
 What crime has been committed by that intrepid soul, Leonid Eco doroy, eXarch Of Russian Catholics of the oriental rite? Why is he freez- ing to death amid the horrors of Solovetsty island in the White Sea?
 Why are those other Catholic priests undergoing the agony of slow execution in that new Siberia? What was it that those IS prisoners who. as if by a miracle escaped from that prison few months ago, on reach ing the shores of Finland begged the astonished Finnish guards.
 Kill us here, but don't send us back where they will kill us by inches"
 Will Mir. Rykov tell the world where Bishop Slokan. apostolic ad ninistrator of Moholev. and Minsk can be found? Where is Bishop Skalsky and where is Mgr. Prison?
 Should these questions be answer cd satisfactorily, shall be prepared o submit another and longer list of innocent victims.
 Many of these martyrs and con- fessors to faith I knew personally and can testify that their only crime is the daily crime of Cardinal Hales of New York. of Bishop Manning, aud Rabbi stephen Wise. They be- lieved in God and taught his reve- lation and the moral law as God gave them the light to sec it.
 Peace to their soul and honor to their names which are safe from the cynical aspersions of avowed cne- mics of their God.