The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-27
INTERDEPENDENCE FOR
 AMERICANS

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 By MT. Justice Frank Murphy oi
 the U. s. Supreme Court < Moral epidernics tend to spread as physical epidemics do. Even now we Americans have to defend our selves against contamination by Nazi theology and emotion. Nazi and Fascist agents have united with American fanatics in planting and spreading the germs of racial, cul- tural and religious hatred. It be- comes our duty to be fore-warned None of us wants to embrace the cult of Nazis and axis slogans and phrases. Our boys have not offered up their lives to provide safe haven at home to intolerance and persecu- ton.
 When an anti-Christ like Hitler arises, we are reawakened to our common religious ideals. Not only are Catholic and Protestant joined in a defense of their common Chris tianity; they are recalled to re- newed awareness of their incalcul- able debt to Judaism and the Jews. When Hitler was making anti-Seml- tism an instrument of international power politics by raising his cry of "AryanS and anti-SemiteS of all na- tons united in the struggle against the Jewish race" the Pope declared --"Anti-Semitism is a move ment in which we Christians can have no part whatsoever Anti-Semitism is unacceptable. Spiritually we are Semites."
 Yet there are still some among us, ealing themselves Christians who follow the Nazi line of anti Semitism and fail to see that in attacking the Jews, they undermine the basic tenets of Christianity, that they are attacking all that is fine and decent in all men of all creeds, and that they are waging war against the civilized life which has been built up so painfully from the slime of prehistoric hates through thousands of years.
 Some modern philosophers do not subscribe to the doctrines Of any established church or religion. But they and the great American icono- clasts share with the great rellgi- ous leaders 8 faith in the potentiall- ties of all human beings to achieve the full dignity of mature, self respecting individual who respects the rights of others. They share in the Christian faith that every human being, irrespective of color, creed or class, is entitled to lead his own life free from coercion and oppression by others and is capable of socially beneficial action If only given the proper opportunities. They too, believe in democracy as that way of life in which people Of all kinAs can live together through friendly cooperation and free con- petition in ideas and values.
 When the Germans took over di- rect rule of Northern Italy and Rome and began to imprison and depart Jews to Poland for exter- mination, the Catholic church and the Italian people went into action. An underground organization un- der the leadership of the Capuchln monk, Pater Benedetto, provided the legal facilities, the food, and shelter and protection needed to save some 10000 Jews from deporta- ton and death. ae
 After the American troops finally liberated Rome, the main synagogue was reopened with solemn thanks giving service. The place of honor was occupied by Pater Benedetto. And when the Rabbi, member os the English army and in uniform, deeply moved, thanked the Catholic Church for all she had done in the deepest fulfilment of the command, Love Thy Neighbor,' and when he, while saying this, pointed to Pater Renedetto, the silence of the House of God was broken by a storm of applause, which threatened never to cease"
 Other examples of aid given by members of one faith to another Catholics, Protestants and Jews can be given from our own nls.oly' uast and present. Every American community can supply it's own dra- nnatic confirmation of the teamwork and sacrifices our American servlce- men of different faiths display m action against the enemies Of all religions and all tolerance.
 But the interdependence of all Americans is not confined to re- ligion, which I have chosen to em- phasize. The Nazis called themselves The Master Race, and scorned the so-called inferior races, the Slavs, Jews, Negroes, Mongolians and all other groups that their fraudulent NaM trace scientists could usefuiiy label and libel. Actually they ol. vided humanity into two races: the Nordic race and the Human race with themselves as the masters ana ah the rest of us as their slaves.