The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-23
Spain's Martyrdom Awakening
 Americans, Says Father DOnnelly

 not a future danger. It is a pres ent danger. For the past two years churches in our own country have been attacked and desecrat- ed. A year ago two fo our nuns sui fered the insult of having their veils torn of on the streets of Providence. A week before last Lady of Guadaloupe in New York Christmas the Church of Our Lady of Guadaloupe in New York City was desecrated and smeared with painted symbols of Com munistic hate. Not in Barcelona in New York City.
 My dear friends, today the blood of Spain is being poured out on dozen fronts. Spain is fighting the world battle of Communism. Once before Spain was commissioned by God to save Christianity in Eu- rope. Today God seems to have given 1t the same mission. The battle must be won-if 1t is lost the future is in Gods hands. Spain in a very literal sense is be- ing allowed to share in the Pas sion of Christ. But the cruciflXion of Spain will have Q glorious res- surrection with the help of God And we may well pray for all, both Rebel and Red who have fallen in this great tragedy. May God have mercy on their souls. This is the spirit of Christianity this is the spirit of those Chris tian Martyrs.
 Inhuman Brutes
 This is the spirit of the Spanish priest whose death a Bishop of Gibraltar dedicates--to priest who stood before his firing squad-the priest who stood before the Loyal ists. As they raised their rifles, he made Q last request--that they would loosen his bound arms so that he could bless them before he died. Scornfully they granted his request. They loosened the ropes that bound his arms-and then the inhuman brutes chop ped off his hands and answered sarcastically Now bless us If you can" And he blessed them wav- ing his bleeding stumps cra2ily in the air and answering their hate with the words that first fell from the lips of His Master on Cal- vary: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,"
 Copies of e petition of the na- tional Keep the Embargo on Spain" committee, asking con- gross not to alter the Neutrality Act and keep the United States out of European Wars, were dis- tributed at all the masses yester- day by members of the Holy Name Society of St. Thomas church. As c result on estimated 5000 peti- tons have been sent to congress and President Roosevelt. The petition reads as follows:
 During the week the Society sent the following letter to Pres ident Roosevelt, Senators Maloney and Danaher, and Congressman J. Joseph Smith.
 His Excellency
 The President of the
 United States
 Mir. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House
 Washington, D. c.
 Dear MT. Roosevelt:
 The members of the Holy Name Society of St. Thomas Church through their undersigned officers express the earnest hope that you will oppose the un-Christian movement to alter the Neutrality Act and lift the arms embargo in favor of the Communists of Spain.
 May God forbid that the world will ever see again c repetition of the horrors, the slaughter, the desecrations and the blashphemies of Red Spain during 1886 and 1887.
 The United States is e Christian and a Democratic nation. LET US KEEP IT THATii
 Respectfully yours.
 THOMAS A. FOLEY. President CHRISTOPHER J. GRIFFIN,
 Vice-President EDWARD J. CoU0HLrN,
 Secretary BERNARD J. BURNS,
 Treasurer REV. JOSEPH P. DoNNELLY,
 Chaplain The Holy Name Society will supply copies of the above peti- ton to any persons or organiza- tons in the city. They may be procured at the clubrooms on Beacon street. or by contacting any member of the Society.