Evening star., 1936-07-20

in line with the
teachings Of Pope
Plus XI and Pope Leo XIII.
This word, given to reporters as
Bishop Gallagher left for Rome over
the week end, will revive interest in
the famous encyclical letter Of Pope
Plus XII, in which he brought up to
date In 1885 the teachings of his pre-
decessor, Pope Leo XIII, first issued
in 1891.
That document is far from conser-
vative in its tone and far from COM
mitment for any particular form of
economic society. 1t expresses good
deal Of sympathy with the efforts to
attain social justice and examines va
rious plans with a critical eye. Thus
ruthless competition or the law of
the survival of the fi!ttest is con-
demned because it too often is carried
on without dictate of conscience by
the so-called individualistic school.
Class Conflict Denounced.
The declaration, however, shows the
fallacies of both communism and So
cialism and endeavors to show how
they are both antagonistic to true
Christianity. Most interesting Is the
denunciation Of class warfare as In
the following passage:
Now this is the primary duty OF
che state and of all good citizens to
abolish conflict between classes with
divergent interests and thus foster end
promote harmony between the various
ranks of society"
The encyelical Letter gives due rec
egnition to the aspirations OF labor
and the right to form associations or
vocational groups" as natural and
spontaneous development
While the sentiment against ruth
less competition or, to use phrase
embodied In American law for many
years-unfair competition-is recog-
nized, the cure is not to be found,
according to the papal pronounce
ment, in any form of state monopoly.
Present-day Fascism, for instance, is
viewed with considerable doubt in this
comment:
eve feel bound to add that to our
knowledge there are some who fear
that the state Is substituting itself In
the place of private initiative, instead
of limiting iself to necessary end suf-
flcient help and assistance. It Is feared
that the new syndical and cooperative
institution possesses an excessively
bureaucratic and political character,
and that, notwithstanding the general
advantages, it risks serving particular
political aims rather than contribute
ing to the initia ton of a better social
order"
Socialism Views.
In paving its respects to socialism,
the famous encyclical letter says:
IT, like all errors, Socialism con-
kains a certain element Of truth (and
this the sovereign pontiffs have never
denied, it is, nevertheless, 1ounoeo
lpon a doctrine of human society
peculiarly its own, which is opposed
to true Christianity. Religious So
cialism' and Christian Socialism are
expressions implying contradiction
in terms. No one can be at the same
time a sincere Catholic and true
Socialist"
The question then arises to what
extent the New Deal is truly Social
istic experiment. In some parts OF
the same encyclical letter will be found
a statement to the effect that Ger
tain forms Of property must be re-
served for the state, since they carry
with them an opportunity for dom
ination too great to be left to private
individuals without injury to the COM
munity at large" But further ex-
ploration of the same document will
find that class warfare, which is so
fundamental in New Deal philosophy,
together with its emphasis of political
bureaucracy, Is looked upon as funda-
mentally wrong.
The essence of the papal declara-
ton Is that social justice and social
charity come from enlightened ad-
ministration and nobility of indi-
vidual purpose.
Bishop Gives Answer.
1t would appear that Bishop Gal
iagher's statement that Catholic
priest has duty as a citizen to ex-
pound his views on current problems
is the answer that is given to those
who object to the prominent part in
present-day affairs taken by Father
Coughlin. Inasmuch as the radio
priest Is directly responsible to Bishop
Gallagher in the Detroit Diocese, the
comment by the bishop may be said
to dispose Of the matter Of Father
Coughlin's proper relationship to his
church superiors.
Now it happens, Of course, that
many members Of the Catholic clergy
are emphaticany In disagreement with
Father Coughlin, and wish he were
not making himself so conspicuous
in the political arena, but the clerical
custom is that as long as the bishop
of the local diocese approves, there
can be no censure.
1t goes without saying that Father
Coughlin's speeches will undergo Sc
we're scrutiny during the campaign,
but it also may be remarked that
careful reading of the encychcal let
ter will disclose that the document is
broad enough to encompass the Ma
tional Union for Social Justice. The
problem Of whether it is wise to in
troduce in American politics an issue
involving the clergy is entirely, Of
course, one of opinion wholly discon-
nected from the merits Of Father
Coughlin's preachings.
Inasmuch as Father Coughlin has
come out against the reelection Of
President Roosevelt, it Is probable
that during the campaign he will un-
fold his argument for believing that
the New Deal in various pieces Of
legislation and acts has violated some
of the basic principles of social jus
tice.
Copyright, 1880
I