The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-05
Catholic Thought And Opinion
By REV. JOSEPH E. DONNELLY

the sweeping victory of Mir. De vale- ra amazed all of Fire. But the Can- adian Register suggests that most of the amazement was in the news paper offices, for the popularity of MT. de Valera in Ireland "is not to be estimated by the abusive attitude adopted toward him by the moulders of public opinion"
 Mir. de Valera winning 76 seats as against 30 for the official opposition disposes of the abusive charges hurled wildly and violently in our country to the effect that he has forced neutrality upon the people of Fire. The people have spoken and have expressed their will. Furth- CT they have said that the man who has been their Prime Minister for the past twelve years shall continue there for five years more.
 INVASION EVE
 The NCWC reports that 95 per cent of the Catholic men who took part in the invasion of France received Holy Communion on the eve of their departure from England. During the months of preparation missions, retreats and other spiritual exercises had been held. Arrangements had been made so that in each camp a special tent housed the Blessed Sac- rament and Confessional. So ev- cry opportunity was given to the men to prepare themselves spirit ually for the ordeal ahead and the response was unparalleled in mili- tary history. Mothers and fathers at home can find much consolation In the knowledge that their sons were prepared to go to God If such had been Gods Will.
 THE SEAL OF THE
 CONFESSIONAL
 Dorothy Thompson. the radio commentator, was praising the Pope and his efforts on behalf of peace when she made her unfortunate statement to the effect that the Holy Father knows better what Is going on in the mind of the Eu- ropean common man than any pow CT on earth, because he has access to the masses of the people through the Confessional"
 Hearing the statements Catholics were shocked and protested. The following Sunday Mrs. Thompson referred to her statement and said that she did not doubt the sanctity of the Confessional. She said that she recognized 1t and respected it and that what she meant the pre-. vious week was that the Holy Father had access to the universal doubts and sufferings of the human soul and knowledge through intimate contact with the state of mind of ordinary men,"
 The explanation and the apology are sincere but they do not suffi- ciently explain why she made the statement in the first place.
 GUARDED BY THE
 HOLY SPIRIT
 Catholics recognize the extreme sa- crednesS of the seal of the Confess sional and priests have died be- cause they have refused to violate the secrets of the Confessional. In- deed the Holy Spirit Himself seems the guard of the seal for history does not hold an account of even the most haplesS apostate priest vio- lating the seal. There have been ap- postate priests who have fallen from the Church, written against it, de" nounced it and misrepresented it. but never has one of them betrayed the seal of the Confessional or even represented himself as making known information which he alleged was given him in the Confessional. Some months ago in the Western part of the country @ woman who was Catholic, but not practicing one, was held on suspicion of mur- der. While she was awaiting trial a detective dressed himself as priest and visited her in her cell. Later he claimed that she had ad- mitted in her Confession" to him that she was guilty of the murder.
 When the woman was brought to trial 8 non-Catholic judge was so outraged at this deceit of the officer that he denounced him, denounced his superiorS and dismissed the charges against the woman.