Evening star., 1937-10-22
COMMUNISM WAR
URGED BY CHURCH
Archbishop Calls on Catholic
Missionaries for Posi-
tive Action.
Nv the Associated Press.

CelS0 C0StanJlnl, secretary Oh tne
CONGREGATION for the Propagation of
the Faith yesterday called on Cath
olic missionaries to wage relentless
combat against communism and not
to limit themselves to prayers and
devotions in that struggle.
The archbishop, whose position
makes him one of the leaders of the
church's far-fiung missionary activi-
ties, spoke in the Gregorian Univer-
sity before large audience of cardi-
mails, other prelates and missionaries
His 5000-word address was published
In last nights edition of the OSserva-
tore Romano semi-ofiicial Vatican
organ.
Of the conflict between Catholic
missions and communism, the arch
bishop said:
"A religious viewpoint that repre-
sents not only denial of faith but is
the antithesis of Chris is engaged
today in an implacable war against
the church throughout the world by
written and spoken propaganda and
by armed persecution more horrible
than that of Diocletian.
Penetrates Through World.
From Europe bolshivism pene-
trates to mission fields. using methods
of the most clever astuteness and
efficacy"
Archbishop costantini declared that
~in China, where communism already
has shown itself, the good sense of the
Chinese people has revolved, and a
movement toward conversion to Ca
tholicism is in progress as it never was
In <ne past"
The archbishop assailed commu-
nism as anti-Christ in the mission
and its propagandists as missionaries
of satan" He urged missionaries o
stress that all thst is good and prac-
ticable in Communist doctrine has
been already found in the gospels. "
He said:
"A missionary in China was cap
tured by Communists and taken be-
fore a so-called tribunal. The judge
said to him:
"'You missionaries delude your
selves. There is no God. There is no
future life. Therefore you are danger
Gus and infamous, Our greatest enemy
Is the Pope"
Gives 5-Point Program.
Telling of other instances of Com
fnunist attacks on the church in
Spain. India, Indo-China and Africa
Archbishop Costantini outlined q
flve-point program. based on the
papal encyclical for missionaries
which he said missionaries should
adopt before this storm" He listed
the five points as:
Il. Revival Of the 'Sensus Christii
('The mind of Christi in private and
public life
20. Preaching.
"3. Dynamic vigor of missionary
action.
"a. Native clergy
as Social assistance"
The archbishop said the "Sensus
Christi" could be revived by the mis-
sionaries giving "a luminous example
of humble, poor and disinherited
life"
Discussing preaching, he said:
Take the sword of the word. The
head of the Bolshevist Hydra must
be cut off. But it is necessary to be
able to handle this sword. 1t is neces-
sary to learn perfectly the language
Of the natives.
China's New Language Used.
"Bolshevism in China has aban-
doned the old language of literature
and used the spoken language, con-
tributing a new literature, alive and
accessible to all. Preaching can be
carried on by word of mouth, by the
press, the school and the university"
Explaining dynamic vigor of mis-
sionary action" the archbishop said:
THE missionary knows he is not
an ordinary administrative official.
He ought to have Christianism, not
only the liturgical and devotional
concept, but the dynamic concept
which st. Paul had.
Heed me WE'LL Liturgy is neces-
sary 1t is the expression of external
worship. 1t is holy, magnificent,
without substitute. But Christianity
Is not only liturgy"
He continued:
"The tremendous crisis which besets
noble and generous Spain teaches us
that pompous professions and gor-
geous ceremonies are not sufficient to
combat bolshecism. To meet the
bolshevist peril one must go deeper,
impressing and radiating in souls the
ii"ing Christ, that is to say, a cog
infant ardor of faith and charity
which renders the spirit invincible in
the face of death and in the face of
torments more horrible than death"
Sees Expulsion Remedy.
On the need for more native priests,
the speaker said:
"If the storm of bolshevism or mad
ness should break upon our mission
or II foreign missionaries should be
r1assacred or expelled, what could
save Christianity? The native clergy
would save it. They may be similarly
prosecuted, but they cannot be ex-
PEELED as foreigners"
He said there already were % ma
tive missions and 1900 native priests
In China.
Missionary action to combat COM
munism, he said, calls for respect of
different peoples and acceptance of
their customs and laws, provided they
are not contrary to the laws of God"
He said that social assistance by
missions. "based on collaboration of
capital and labor and more equal dis
tribution of riches and better condi-
tions of life for the poor" already had
shown its efficacy in preventing the
"infection of communism" especially
In South Africa and Kenya.
Farm Prices Rise.