Evening star., 1937-10-14
CATHOLIC REPLY
DEFENDS REBELS
Cleric Layman Group Says
Spanish insurgents Fight
for Humanity.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, October 14-A group
N prominent American Catholic cler-
les and laymen last night issued a
manifesto saying the Spanish insur-
gents we're fighting for justice and
humanity, and challenging American
Protestants to say whether they were
willing to indorse the Spanish gov
ernments ruthless persecution Of
the Christian religion"
This statement was in answer to
one published on October by $50
Protestants who sharply attacked q
pastoral letter on the Spanish situa-
ton which had been issued by the
hierarchy Of Spain.
The Protestant pronunciamento, said
lAst nights statement by the Catho-
hcs. had mot only misrepresented the
facts and the issues in Spain, but 1t
has tended also to create species of
religious war in the United States"
Though the signatories of this
present reply to the open letter are
accepting the challenge contained in
the letter signed by the $50 Protestant
elergymen and laymen," it added,
"the challenge in reality is to Ameri-
can Professionalism"
State Challenge.
specifically, the challenge is this:
Do American Protestants accept and
lndorse governmental regime that
has carried on ruthless persecution
Of the Christian religion since Feb
Fuary, 1882"
Does American Professionalism in
6orse regime that is composed pre-
domnantly of radical Socialists, Com
nunists, syndicalists and anarchists"
"Does American Professionalism
champion regime that has con-
Sistently violated in theory and in
practice the fundamental principles
of liberty and democracy guaranteed
BY the Constitution Of the United
Htates?"
The Spanish bishops, the manifesto
went on, "are the men who should
be championed by the ministers of
religion, whether these be Catholic,
Protestant or Jewish. They are not
the men who should be illuminated
and attacked by Protestant clergy
men,"
Protest Destruction.
~The Spanish bishops have pro-
tested, as men, as citizens, as Chris
eians. against world propaganda that
would aid and abet the destroyers of
their social, religious and national life.
Their cause is not the cause OF
Catholics alone, nor yet of Christians
alone, but Of all men who believe in
social and international peace and
the moral law. The least we can do
" to afford them a respectful hear
ing, and not heap them with abuse"
The statement, given out through
the Rev. John La Fargo, associate edi-
tor OF America, national Catholic
weekly, took up in detail the history
Of the Spanish revolt.
It said the Spanish republic was
sgloriously established" and that the
Catholic clergy and laity of Spain
"loyally threw into it all of their
ability and enthusiasm" But. 1t
added, Communist and radical ele-
eents" progressively seized control.
The popular majority in the Span
hh election Of February, 1896, went
70 the rightists, 1t said, but by pre-
vious manipulation" by the leftists in
the Cortes (Parliament) majority rep
seeentation went to leftist deputies.
The insurgents, 1t added, did not
resort TO arms until all Legitimate.
peaceful, parliamentary and electoral
methods Of changing the government
o. securing justice from the govern
naent had failed
Cite q. s. Is Parallel.
They were justified by the same
logic, said the manifesto that 1usti-
ded the American revolutionaries in
l77e.
"Propagandistic Misrepresentation"
oaid the statement, had emphasized
the help given to the nationalist Gn-
gurgent) cause by the Moors, Italians
and Germans, and has been strangely
silent about the help given to the 10y
alist cause by the Russians, the
French, the dissident Germans, Ital-
lans. Czechoslovakians and even
Americans"
The Moors, 1t added, were as much
Spanish citizens as are American Ne
groes citizens of this country.
1t said the Loyalist government had
executed $4,000 priests and religious
1n territory held by it, and that there
had been instances of authenticated
murder of families, including women
and children" in reprisal against Ma
tionalists.
Refuse Atrocity Defense.
The signers emphasized they did not
eondone atrocities - whatever they
may be"-by Nationalists, saying
murder is always murder, no matter
who commits it,
But" they added, sin this Spanish
edvl war, as In all wars, the record
Of both sides must in honesty be drawn
up. That record is lengthier and more
nhuman on the side of the Loyalists