Evening star., 1941-11-18
Adequate Defense
For j. ). |ndorsed
By Catholic Bishops
Statement Urges Respect
For Authority Of
Civil Officials

The Catholic bishops of the United
States yesterday announced their
wholehearted support of the ade-
quate defense of our country" in a
statement which also urged respect
and reverence for the authority of
our civil officials which has its source
In God"
The Administrative Board of the
National Catholic Welfare Confer
ence, deputed by the bishops OF the
country to express their minds on
the crisis in Christianity" issued the
pronouncement following the an
nual meeting of the bishops here
The statement opened with the
declaration that christianity faces
today Its most serious crisis since
the church came out of the cata-
combs"
I'VE find two subversive forces;
both in control OF powerful govern
ments. both bent on world domi-
nance" the pronouncement said,
They are NaziiSm and Communism.
EncyClicalS Recalled.
However plausible their constitu-
tions and their propaganda, the
alarming reality is that neither sys-
tenn understands nor permits free
dom in its true Christian sense.
Both systems uSurp arbitrary power
over the lives and destinies Of men;
their dictators assume power
which belongs to God alone.
The statement pointed out that
the late Pope Plus XII issued his
epochal encyclicals on Nazi-ism and
Communism within five days of
each other while expressing his
warm affection for the people OF
Germany and Russia.
AT no time" the statement de-
clared, "can there be any possibility
OF compromising with an ideolosy
that proclaims and acts upon the
denial OF a personal and omnipotent
God. rejects contemptuouSly the
Divine Saviour of the world. all
Christian principles and Christian
culture; ruthlesSly perSecutes re-
ligion and brutally murders its min
listers. The leaders of athestic Com
munism have done this nefarious
work. Under them only anti-God
and anti-Christian propaganda can
have liberty of action"
Condemns Oppression.
Expressing sympathy for all upon
whom war has imposed so heavy a
burden of suffering and sacrifice, the
statement said:
I'VE cannot too strongly condemn
the inhuman treatment to which the
Jewish people have been subjected
IN many countries"
The pronouncement asked the
faithful to unite in offering daily
prayers and sacrifices in behalf OF
the victims Of war, ,-as we'll as to con-
tinue their prayers that the violence
OF the war tempest may soon be
spent and that just peace and an
ordered prosperity may be restored
to a distracted world
Citing the three fundamental
values" referred to by Pope Plus XII,
the statement declared that domestic
progress and peace depend on secur-
ing vital space for the rural family
as world progress and peace depend
on securing living space for all the
nations of the world.
Sympathy for Labor.
The statement condemed disre-
spect for authority. both ecclesiast1-
cal and civil and deplored "the pre-
sumption of those who, lacking au-
thority, strive to determine the
course of action that the church
should take within her clearly de-
fined field. Recognizing the liberty
OF discussion, and even Of criticism,
which our democratic form OF Gov
eminent guarantees, we urge and
command respect and reverence 1or
the authority Of our civil officials
which has its source in God"
Considering the position OF labor
the statement expressed sympathy
for labor and appreciation OF the
difficulties of maintaining family
life with the mounting cost OF liv-
Inc but. at the same time, held that
"our first and most fundamental
principle, when we undertake to al
ieviate the condition of the masses,
must be inviolability OF private
property"
The religious leaders expressed
hope that labor officials will keep
before them the common good Of
the country" and refrain from do
ing anything that Is harmful to the
general welfare"