The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-22

t So. Troy Street, Chicago" The ilterA ature received is remailed to all parts of the United States, Russia China and Japan. His work is be- heved to be leading to one conver- sion day. However, to many the work has brought their first know Hedge of the Church and, besides the tangible results of which MT Estis has learned, we may judge that tremendous good will and tol- eraIlce has been built by this dis- pensing of Catholic truth.
 WE SHALL NOT SHAKE
 THE CRINTSON-STAINED HAND l What is the attitude of American Catholics toward American aid to Russia? All over the country the Catholic press stands as one in re- fusing to compromise moral prin- ciples for selfish reasons. Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany are foes of God, prosecutors of Christianity and enemies of our country. Be- cause one murderer fights another murderer must one be called holy? Shall we sharpen the red sword for our own destruction. And let us not be so simple as to swallow the ex- planation that we are to aid the Communist State though we detest communism. An evil tree bears evil fruit.
 THE BALTIMORE CLERGY
 TAKE A STAND
 Under the title Don't Let Any, one Confuse You" twenty prorni- nent Catholic clergyinen of Balti- more, some of them professors at Catholic university and St. Mary's seminary, have allowed the America First Committee of Baltimore to use their names in an uncomprom- isingly Catholic stand on aid to Russia and the feared American entrance into war. The statement we quote in full.
 Profoundly disturbed by many statements on help to Red Russia made by public authorities and even by some members of the Catholic Church, Clergy and laity, we the undersigned feel 1t our duty to make our position crystal clear.
 Two chief open enemies of the Catholic religion exist in the world today. One of them is German Ma tional Socialism The other is Rus- sian Communism.
 Now both these systems are fight ing each other. When two beings, acting each on his own diabolical principals, are locked in mortal combat, we do not believe we have duty to help either side. Recent Popes have been outspoken in their opposition of Communism. Arch bishop Curley of Baltimore has fearlessly condemned 1t.
 Since there is no possibility of America ever joining Nazi Germany, we must envisage only the question of help to Soviet Russia. That ques- tion involves the whole matter of moral obligation and war.
 We make our own the words of an editorial in Ave Maria" (2a June, 1941):
 "OBLIGED" TO ENTER THIS WARP"
 When Catholic clergyman tells Catholic audience that the United States has a moral obligation" to enter this European war he shoulc indicate the morality and the ob- ligation. Every theologian that we have read or heard quoted upholdS the position that Q war of defense against invasion or oppression is a war of duty to be undertaken for the sake of the homeland.
 will any clergyman with much or little theology in his background show the Catholics of the United States how their country is in- vaded or oppressed by any foreign enemy at this moment? The state ment that Hitler may invade us is an assumption that may call for home defense but not for war ef- fort in foreign country.
 "As a liberty loving, strong pa- triotic people of untold resources, let us make ready to meet Hitler unitedly should Hitler be foolish enough to invade us. He then be- comes an aggressor and we shall treat him as such. We have no moral obligation to attack Hitler in Europe. No theologian of any weight will attempt to sustain such Q thesis.
 we do not, we will not, we can- not grasp the crimson stained hand of Josef Stalin in his present plight. Our sympathy for one side must not blind us to the murderous deeds of the worst butcher of Christians"
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