The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-29
Audiences With Pope Stir Speculation
Vatican Considers Many
Questions Growing Out OF
World War Complications


on Religious Front
|, confused with any idea. any school
institution. party or interest
Whose moral. social. political and
economic advantage consists in
endorsing one or another system
which IL TO arise from them"
The pope confirmed his neutral
ity In the course Of an address de-
livered last May on the occasion
Of the 75th anniversary OF his or
dination a. q bishop. He referred
TO ''our absolute impsrtislity to-
ward all the belhgerentx. and
tour) equal affection for all peo-
pies without exception"
The pope also told Of his lsbors
for peace. and called for a speedy
end Of the conflict. but expressed
regret that in the present state
Of Affairs. the formulation OF spe-
cific proposals for a just and
equitable peace would not have
any weii-founded probability OF
success-
Indeed" the pope continued.
every time that one speaks a
word Of peace one runs the risk
Of offending one OF the other side.
:. The present lineup of opposing
forces and Of gains and losses in
the political and military spheres.
does not show any immediate
practical possibility of . just
peace"
rhus the pope has indicated the
futility Of peace proposals at this
time. Expressing condemnation
Of national socialism. he has. how
ever. specified that the Vatican
intends to remain neural political
y.
Clash With Fascists
Another violent quarrel between
the fascist party In Italy and
Catholic action was reported this
week from Berne. The cause Of
the dispute was described in dis
patches ~ the award by an in
tegrally fascist jury of a first
prize In the Bergamo exhibition
TO a painting "caricaturing the
Christ" The attack Ia said to
have been led by the Milan Catho-
lie organ. Italia. and eliminated
in q request by the bishop of
Bergamo to his Clergy not to
visit the exhibition.
The development highlights the
growing conflict between Roman
Catholic leaders and the fascist
party. II was only recently that
the same Milan Catholic paper had
70 engage In q dispute with Rob-
erto Farinacci. fascist spokesman.
who launched a series OF attacks
against Catholic newspapers, car
dinals. the Vatican and the pope,
and charged that pamphlets were
being circulated among the stu
dents Of the Catholic university in
Milan urging them TO work for the
replacement OF fascism by some
form Of government more In keep
ing with Catholic ideas.
About a year ago. the Wander
er. a weil-informed Roman Cath
ole national weekly published in
st. Paul. which specislixes in for
eign coverage. stated that the
Italian bishops were largely crit
ical OF the war. The publication
based its conclusion on n study
OF the pastoral letters printed and
commented upon in the osserys-
tore Romano. Vatican City news
paper. Other observers familiar
with religious life in Italy report
that the Italian bishops have be-
come increasingly critical OF
fascism during the past few years.
British Church Council Formed
The British Council Of Churches
Was inaugurated in London this
week with q special service Mt st.
Paula cathedral. The archbishop
OF Canterbury. preaching the ser
mon. emphasized the need for a
clear and united testimony TO
Christianity AZ q time when Chris
usnity's basic principles are wide
ly challenged and. In many quar-
tiers. expressly repudisted.
The new council consolidstes the
work Of three aEencies-the Coun-
ell On Christian Faith and Com
mon Life. the Commission OF
Churches for International Friend
ship and Social Responsibility.
and the British Section Of the
World Conference on Faith and
Order.
Membership Of the council con-
sists Of more than 100 leaders rep
resenting the Church OF England
and Free Churches. the Church OF
Scotland and other religious
groups.
Religious Education Week
This week Sept. II to Oct ~
Ia Religious Education week. spon-