Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-04
.POPE'S ENCYCL|CAL
FASC|STS'
INSULTS TO CHURCH
Attempts to ALLEVIATE Youth
Seen in Anti.CIub
Activities.
PARTY LOYALTY OATHS
BRANDED AS ILLICIT
Defends Societies Against Charges
of Political Interference-Says
State Needs Support.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, July A papa
attack on the Fascist party for It's
attitude toward the church and a de-
tense Of the Catholic Action Society
were before the Catholic world today
Pope Plus XI in an encyclical letter
made his first detailed explanation OF
the current controversy between the
church and state over the closing OF
youthful organizations affiliated with
Catholic Action.
Neither Premier Mussolini nor the
party itself was mentioned by name, but
the reference was plain in the Pope's
statement concerning ''irreverences and
ViolenceS which took place in the pres
ence of and with the participation OF
members OF political party"
Sought to ALLEVIATE Youth.
THAT which was desired and that
which was attempted was to tear
away from the Catholic Action Society
from the church the young, and all the
young" said the encyclical.
This confirmation Is made all the
more explicit and categorical, we were
almost about to say solemn and violent
by the one who not only represents all
but who can do all and who confirms
it in official or quasi-official publication
dedicated to the young"
The pontih opposed in vigorous terms
the allegedly anti-Catholic activities OF
Fascismo and its control over the young
I'VE cannot be grateful" he wrote at
another point, Ito one who after put
tinn nf aNicf 4
anti-religiouS organizations has
permitted them to be SO generally re-
admitted and has made them
even stronger and more dangerous in
asmuch as they are now hidden and
also protected by their new uniform.
Calls Oaths Illicit.
you ask us what is to be
thought about the formula of an oath
which even little boys and girls are
obliged to take about executing orders
without discussion from an authority
which can give orders against
all truth and justice. The answer from
the Catholic point Of view, and also
from a human point Of view, is in
evitably only that such an oath as 1t
stands is Illicit"
Charges that the Catholic Action So
ciety had political aims were untrue,
Tic 1OpS Sdlu, anu It's OlSUdIlOlIlS
throughout Italy was crime against
the church.
The closing Of the youth clubs, he
said, was carried out with tactics
which would give the impression that
action was being taken against dan
gerous organization of criminals"
Many officers Of the law rebelled
against this duty, he said, but in sad
contrast to the manner of these officials
there were many acts Of violence ex-
tending even to the striking of blows
and the drawing Of blood.
How many insults in the press, in
furious words and acts against things
and persons, not excluding ourself, pre-
coded, accompanied and followed the
carrying into effect Of this lightning
like police order.
Feels Speech Necessary.
"It Is easy to admit, and 1t was
equally easy to have foreSeen, that the
limits Of these directions for disband-
ing Catholic Action could and would
have almost necessarily been ex-
ceeded.
IF we should be silent : we would
be more unworthy than we already are
to occupy this august apostolic chair. "
The encyclical denies charges that
Catholic Action harbors many members
of the outlawed Popular party, assert
ing that such members Of that party
as have become AFFILIATED with Catholic
Action have pledged themselves to re-
frain from political activity.
I'VE find ourselves" the Pontif writes,
lin the presence Of facts which re-
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