The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-01
Members Gathered In
 Secret Conclave
(Continued rom Page 1.)

->---.s------~---- 1 See and the government, however, have grown worse, after an era dur ing which Mussolinis administration l transformed the erstwhile semi-an- tagonistic attitude against the church into one of cooperation. The church authorities after Sat- urday's action Suspended all religious processions in Rome, including one scheduled outside the Mexican na- tional church in connection with the three day celebration of the fourth centenary of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The process sion will be held inside the church. The government, it was explained cannot actually disband the Azione Cattolica, Catholic lay organization without breaking the Lateran treaty with the Holy See. The closing of branches in Rome has not yet con- stituted disbandment, 1t was empha- sized.
 The permission to one Catholic club to reopen was interpreted as an indication that the government is relenti&g. Hope was held among | Catholics that the attitude of the fascist authorities would soon change toward the Azione Cattolica and the present orders be revoked.
 The Pope, commenting on the tension told high church officials at the sacred congregation rites yes. lterday the world should be informed of the. terrible things which had happened and of the efforts of the church to prevent them.
 "This is a sad and sorrowful birth day." he said in his address. We did not fail to take the necessary steps and the world should be in- formed of the protest of the bishop of Rome. against what has hap. pened as well as the methods em- ployed in causing 1t to happen.
 "The last few days have seen sad events and show terrible things which the people must fear"
 The, Pope made direct charges against the government. He said the present educational situation in Italy was opposed to Christian edu- cation because ''it is inducive to hatred, irreverence and violence" l We did not wait a day to show our appreciation of the restoration of religious teachings in the schools destroy with the left hand what had been built with the right"
 l In connection with charges in the Iavora Fascista, fascist newspaper | that the Azione Cattolica had in- fringed on the governments auth ority in labor matters and that priests had opposed fascism openly the Pope said:
 l "The press has been left free to carry on a campaign based or falisehood. The mob has been permitted to resort to violence, of ten times accompanied by bloodshed against our unarmed and outnum' bered sons and daughters.
 Through such preparations the | storm finally broke by surprise through seizures and confiscations 1T legal form. Our youth can be proud of having been stricken while suf' fering in the cause of the church and Christ. 'Molite timere' (do no fear) but pray that a day of en- lightenment and peace will come sooner"
 The governments action was saii to have been taken because of in timations that the Az.one Cattolica taking advantage of the economic crisis, was seeking to spread propa' ganda in favor of a possible Catho' lic political party Wnlcn mlBnt re place fascism. The government wal expected either to proceed with it intention to force the disbandmeni of the Azione Cattollca or demand that the Vatican limit the Azione'i activities to purely religious matters Members of the government. wht also regretted the break, said they believed the present tension largel, has arisen out of the vatican's in sistence that the government sup press all Protestant propaganda ir Italy. This the government Is un' able to do. 1t was stressed. because before signing the Lateran aceort in 1929, the fascists altered article of the constitution, granting re ligious freedom.
 The governments side alss stressed. that the Azione Cattolica' alleged political activities violated article 43 of the agreement. limit
 ing the Aziones' functions to the re
 IIgious field. The Vatican, however denied the AzIone had now or at an, timo ''meddied in poiitics'.