Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-16

30 t*Es SfAk
The Catholic hierarchy Of TIL,
United States has pledged itself IL
full harmony with the high purpose.
of the United Nations in this wal
and has expressed its hopes for 9
lasting and Christian peace"
This attitude Of the Catholic
Church was given In a statement
issued here in the name of 10s
members of the American hierarchy
and was approved by the arch
bishops and bishops at their annual
general meeting held in Washing
ton last Wednesday and Thursday
The statement asks that Deem
Der 8, the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Mother
patroness of this country "be set
aside as a special day of prayerful
supplication that she intercede with
her Divine Son for mercy on a war;
blighted world"
Moral Issue at Stake.
The text follows:
"Our country has been forced into
the most devastating war of all time
This war, which is the absorbing in
Aerest of all the world, involves un-
questionably the most important
moral issue of today. Some nations
are united in waging war to bring
about slave world-a world that
would deprive man of his divinely
conferred dignity, reject human
freedom and permit no religious
liberty. We are associated with
other powers in a deadly conflict
against these nations to maintain a
free world. This conflict of prin-
ciples makes compromise impossible.
while war is the last means to
which a nation should resort, cir
cumstances arise when it is impos-
sible to avoid it, At times it is the
positive duty of a nation to wage
war in the defense of life and right
Our country now finds itself in such
circumstances.
Even while we meet here, the
exigencies of war have driven our
armed forces into unexpected areas
of conflict in Africa. Our President
in letters addressed to the rulers of
all the friendly nations concerned
has given solemn assurance that the
United States has no designs of
permanent conquest or sordid in
terest. Our aim, he pledged, is to
guarantee to countries under tenn
porary occupation as well as to our
own the right to live in security and
peace. We bishops are confident
that the pledge of our Chief Elk
ecutive, not lightly made, faithfully
mirrors the mind and conscience of
the American people.
THAT pledge is in full harmony
with the expression of high purpose
which the President made to the
Catholic bishops of the United
States when our own country was
plunged into war: We shall win
this war and in victory we shall
seek not vengeance, but the estab-
lishment of an international order
in which the spirit of Christ shall
rule the hearts of men and of ma
tons
Prayers Offered.
From the moment that our coun-
try declared war we have called
upon our people to make the sacri-
fees which. in Catholic doctrine,
the virtues of patriotism, justice and
charity impose. In every section
of this Nation the voices of our
bishops have been heard. Their in
structions, their pastorals, their
counsels, their appeals for prayers
are an encouragement and an in
SEPARATION to their flocks Our priests
as chaplains on the war front have
inspired confidence in the men
whom they so zealously serve. Our
men in the armed forces deserve
unstinted gratitude for their heroic
services to our country and high
commentator for the faithful prac-
tice of their religion
In every diocese prayers have
been necessarily offered, asking
Gods pardon for the sins of indi-
viduals and nations, begging Divine
mercy for all. pleading for a victory
which will have the sanction of
infinite justice and for an enduring
peace founded on the love of God
and the love of all men. Priests
and people have earnestly prayed
that the Holy Spirit may guide our
President and all who share with
him the heavy responsibilities of
directing the war efforts and of
winning the victory from which all
peoples will derive just and lasting
peace.
World of Tomorrow.
In the discharge of our pastoral
responsibility we are gravely con-
cerned about the world peace of to-
morrow
'Seculiarism cannot write real
and lasting peace. Its narrow vision
does not Encompass the whole man,
1t cannot evaluate the spirituality
of the human soul and the supreme
good of all mankind.
Exploitation cannot write a real
and lasting peace. Where greedy
might and selfish expediency are
made the Substitutes of justice there
can be no securely ordered world.
"Totalitarianism. whether Nazi.
Communist or Fascist, cannot write
a real and lasting peace. The state
that usurps total powers, by that
very fact becomes a despot to its
own people and a menace to the
family of nations.
The spirit of Christianity can
write a real and lasting peace in
justice and charity to all nations,
even to those not Christian.
Epochal Revolution.
I'm the epochal revolution through
which the world is passing. it is
very necessary for us to realize that
every man is our brother in Christ.
All should be convinced that every
man is endowed with the dignity of
human personality, and that he is
entitled by the laws of nature to
l,4 Ia, <~