Evening star., 1943-06-19

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Naziism rejected as conducive only
to regimentation and subordination
Of the individual, the Pope, accord
ing to some Catholics here, also
frowned upon participation Of the
faithful in underground activities, on
the score, 1t was felt, that certain
anti-clerical and Communist influ-
ences are involved.
TT seems to me-" one spokesman
said, that the Holy Father was
counseling, not so much against un-
disguised movements as against cer-
tain hidden forces in Europe. There
Is fear on the part of many people
that the underground Is largely Com
munist-inspired and controlled
Perhaps the Pope is disturbed over
the anti-Facist movement in Italy,
which has much Catholic support,
but which, he fears, may overthrow
the present regime there only to
facilitate the return to power Of ex-
treme anti-clerical and anti-religious
elements which once supported Mus
solini but are now anxious to oust
him."
A particularly we'll informed Cath
olic authority inferred that the
Pope was keenly disturbed over the
danger of Communist revolution
after the war and Considered 1t
opportune to recapitulate in some
detail the Catholic concept Of a
just social order.
This informant pointed out that
one remarkable feature of the Pope s
speech was the emphasis on social
security" an issue which previously
has only been touched upon super
flcially in papal statements, but
which recently has been rather
thoroughly discussed by United Ma
tlonS spokesmen and has been con-
cretely approached in the Bev-
eridge plan projected In England.
The same authority characterized
the Popes address as "a remark
ably clear proclamation" adding
that one extraordinary fact was
that the Pope had ventured boldly
into a field in which the Fascists
have been unwilling to permit the
church to express itself.
The Fascists," he said, would
much prefer to have the church
remain absolutely silent on the
social question. They have felt all
along that they have a reserved
right to speak on this matter in
their political addresses and to have
the Pope come along and talk to an
audience of $4,000 Italian workers
on a program of social reconstruc-
ton must be very disturbing to
them
The papal address. according to
other observers, was clearly In
tended to affect opinion outside
Italy. Although open to divergent
Interpretation in some parts, the
speech. 1t was agreed, was sound
and progressive. A number of
spokesmen said that 1t was one of
the finest utterances by the pres
ent pontiff and gave an extremely
lucid summation of the church's
social pronouncements from the
time OF Leo XIII to the present.
Another informant said:
L think it Is an appeal to the
peoples Of the world OF all faiths
to cling more closely to their
spiritual standards. particularly in
the postwar period, which might
easily be accompanied by catastro-
phic upheavals unless they are kent
on guard"
The Pope's warning against revo-
lutlonary tactics after the war NAV
also have reference to future rela-
lions between church and state in
Italy. Relations are at present reg
ulated by the Lateran Treaty Of
1929. which recognizes the interna-
tlonal sovereignty of the HOLY See
with its absolute sole Jurisdiction
over the independent city OF the
Vatican. The treaty includes a
concordat regulating relations be-
tween the Italian state and the
church, which gives the Roman
Catholic church a favored position
In the event the Fascist party is
overthrown the question OF the
church-state relationship may be
submitted to close scrutiny by the
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