The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-18


 God.
 At the present moment, In vary- ing degrees, in every part oS the world, the peaceful course of events Is disturbed. People are called upon to make sacrifices md to sufIler. Comparing our con- ditions in the United States with those of other lands, we must rec ognize that our country is singu- larly blessed. But VIC cannot avoid the repercussions Of . world cata- clysm.
 Our faith in Q Divine Providence ruling the universe should inspire us to have confidence in the ben- evolent designs of . loving God who permits suffering to correct evil and to bring forth the fruits of justice and charity and peace.
 Tn this solemn hour when fate- ful decisions are to be made, 1t Is evident that a spirit of exemplary restraint should characterize our priests and pecpls. In every na. tional crisis and every danger, our priests have been an inspirao ton, We are confident that their good example of strong faith and courage founded on the virtue of fortitude, will not he lacking now. As moral teachers, they show that freedom has its limitations. It is limited, first of all, by the rights of God, and next, by the rights of others and by the interests Of the common good.
 Religion Threatened
 As shepherds of souls we are gravely concerned with the future of supernatural religion in our country. Here, as elsewhere, 1t is seriously threatened by growing evils of which our Holy Father has but recently warned the world. These are the evils of false doctrine, immortality, dis. belief and reborn pasaniSSn."
 The threat Is to our youth, above all. Not only must we have thorough understanding of the thoughts of the youth of our day, of its urge for action, of Its fixed purpose to put teaching into prac. lice, but, preeminently, we must encourage youth to realize the constructive need of Christian doctrine and Christian discipline.
 We are hopeful that priegSs and leaders among the laity will show an ever-ln:reaEing interest in the cause of the multitudes who, in order to eke out mere existence, are so largely taken up with the material things Of life.
 We express again our sympathy for labor and we appreciate the difI1culties of maintaining family life with the mounting cost of living. Tn union with the Holy See, we have on many occasions condemned the evils of unre- strained capitalism. At the same time, in union with the Holy See, we hold that "ous first and most fundamental principle, when we undertake to alleviate the condi- ton of the masses must be the lnviolability of private property"
 Pope Leo XIII declared:
 Religion teaches the laboring man and the workman to carry out honestly and well all equitable arrangements freely made; never to injure capital nor to outrage the person of an employer; never to employ violence in represent. ing his own cause, nor to engage in riot and disorder: and to have nothing to do with men of evil principles, who work upon the people with artful promises, and raise foolish hopes which usually end in disaster and repentance, when too late.
 Religion teaches the rich man and the employer that their work. people are not their slaves; that they must respect in every man his dignity as a man and as Q Christian"
 Approve Unions
 Popes Leo XIII and Plus xT ex. pressed their approval of unions : for the workers. As we think of the present difi:ulties in labor and trade unioniEm, we express the hope that the leaders will be well advised for the welfare of the workers of the nation; that they will keep before them the common good of the country, that they will refrain from doing any. thing that is harmful to the gen. eral welfare, and that they will come forth from the emergency of national defense united in closer cooperation with all right minded employers and deserving the commendation of the general public.
 If we trust iT1 God we shall be constant in prayer. We shall pray for all the world, but especially for our own country: for the we'll. being of the church and for unity among our citizens. We shall pray that the Holy Spirit may en- tighten, guide and strengthen our chief executive. the Congress and all who bear the grave rexpon- abilities Of government In these