The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-11
Religious News


aBy The Associated Pressi
From Hong Kong comes word
that the Chinese Communists
have officially outiawed the Ko-
man Catholic organization called
the Legion Of Mary This Is .
group Of laymen which seeks
converts to Catholicism. But II
has been publicly denounced by
the Communists in the usual
vituperative language ot Red
propaganda
II was even described as ter
roIistic. And the official news
paper Of the Communist party III
Peiping has called for the sup
preston OF the society
According to Catholic spokes-
men in Hong Kong, it IS only a
short step from outlawing sub
sidiary of the church to the out
having Of the church itself. But
IL is believed the Communists are
not yet ready for this final step.
The Peiping newspaper rs still
talking of pure and law abiding
Catholics. BY that, the Commun-
lists mean those Catholics who
have renowned Rome - some
thing the Chinese Communists
have been trying 10 get Chinese
Catholics to do,
The vatican has made 1t clear
that no Catholic can break with
Rome and remain Catholic This
stand has thrown the fight into
the open, and Catholics have re-
Gently been subject 70 increasing
persecution angling from mere
heckling To imprisonment and ex-
pulsion
One tactic by the Communists
has been the accusation of muir
der-~directed against sisters who
picked up orphan waits and took
care of them. Scores of bishops,
priests and nuns have gone TOT
jail
Most Of the Protestant missions
in China have ordered their peo-
pie out of the country. Ana the
rnapority os the Protestants still
in China are doctors and teachers
less vulneraoie to Communists
assault than outright religious
leaders
Most Catholics in Hong Kong
believe that if the Communist
regime continues in power. the
church Is doomed IN China There
gre thousands Of missionaries in
Catholic and Professionals.
But there is little doubt that in
time, they could all be expelled.
The National Council Of
Churches soon win begin con-
sidration Of the question of where
It's permanent headquarters will
be located. This has been a mat
ter Of considerable interest 10
several cities since the council
was organized last November Ii
represents % Protestant and
esssters Orthodox DENOMINATIONS
The largest religious body IN
the country. 1t IS, therefore, big
in ar administrative way, and
eleven cities have shown interest
in having this establishment
within their gates.
The council is now housed pro
TEN in buildings on fourth ave
nue.. in New York--a district Of
textile WHOLESALERS, insurance com |
panies. publishers and numerous
lay religious organizations. There
is also q midwest office In Chi /
cago.
The question OF a permanent
site viii be considered by spec
ial committee headed by DR. Har-
old Stassen. II will meet in New
York September 10Th
The only guide from the coun- /
cli's national assembly is loose
~ worded proposal that consider /
alton begiven 10 locating some |
where near the population cen
ter of the country
But ii is up TO the 25-member
special committee TO study the
question, and presumably its con
clusions viii have considerable
weight in the final decision.
The II cities which have re-
commended themselves are Chi
rago; Cincinnati, Cleveland and
Ohio. Evansville, Fort
Wayne and South Bend. Indiana;
Springfield, Illinois; Wyckotf'
New Jersey. and New York. 4