The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-06
Thought And Opinion
By REV. JOSEPH E. DoNNELLY


 better world. But Q ahoFt-slghted oe Che world t1ae now world Q grab for eelnsh security will find lla Worghipplng again before tho solden calf with feet oe clay. PKUa XIII AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
 Though lt hes been elnphaslned repeatedly since. it was Plus XII who first brought before the world kho necessity Of Q permanent tn- ternatlonAl ogganinatlon co essential Co the aims of the var and che terms oe the peace. m le3o after the outbreak oe the var he iAid down the only principles upon which . permanent peace could be built: one of these was the establishment of an international examination to or- der the international relationships of Q world family of United Nations.
 The Peace Points of Plus XII carry the only permanent solution for the present worldwide struggle. They must be recognized and ln. corporAted into the new pattern of society or again we shall build . tower that will topple and crush the builders.
 Hrieiiy these points are:
 The right to life and independ- ence Of oil nations, large, small, strong and weak.
 The mutual acceptance of dis. armament SO that the nations can become free from the danger of being overcome by force.
 International institutions for the loyal fulhllment of the terms of the peace and when necessary for the revision of treaties.
 Recognition of the needs and just demands of racial Ininorities as well as nations and peoples.
 Good will between rulers and peo. pleS, Q practical justice and charity. A COMPLETE PROGRAM
 A careful study of this peace pro. gram of the Holy Father will reveal the surprising truth that 1t covers all the points of our own Bill of Rights, the pronouncement of the -Four Freedoms'' of the President of the United States. the scheme as set forth in the Atlantic Charter, the Declaration of the Twenty. .Six United Nations and the peace pro. gram jointly drawn up by all tho churches of England.
 It is the foundation of c just and lasting peace. Again the Shep- herd of Christendom is pointing the way. But we can remember sadly that twenty-five years ago when e predecessor, Benedict XIV. laid down the conditions for Q permanent peace he was assailed, criticized and condemned. fie was not list- ened to then but history has estab. llshed him aS the one public man of his day who was of impeachabIe sincerity and impartial wisdom. OUR OBLIGATION AND DUTY
 What Is our obligation to the peace9 We fought the last war on the beach head of Wilson's Inagni- tlcent Fourteen Points but the aver- age American Of 1918 was little in. terested in those Fourteen Points. When the war was over most of these Americans were interested only in getting back to their com- fortable and accustomed ways while over in Versailles the peace dele- gates, who knew that the majority of the people did not give Q boot about the Fourteen Points, dropped them gently into the scrap basket and built Q peace that was c patch. quilt of the hate, 0odlessness and greed that we had fought to de- stroy.
 VIII 1t happen again? We must be determined that 1t won't. But only a strong, enlightened and con. vinced public opinion will insure our second chance. It Is not Q matter of choice but of stern obligation that we have today an interest in the foundation of the world we hope to build tomorrow.