The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-12-17
New Laws Are Needed

We don't envy the Army Courts and Review
Boards their jobs of trying the cases OF the young
men who spent months and years prisoners of
the Communists and were brainwashed into aiding
them These are unique in the annals OF
"crimen-if crime is the correct term to be applied
10 them.
Brainwashing with IFS counterpart of physical
torture Is comparatively new, diaboftcai tech
nique that could only be used by Goddess men.
II is intended and ~ effective in breaking man
morally and physically to the place where he can
no longer perform human act. He is no longer
responsible for what he does
We know this from many sources. Heartirendng
examples of the Communist ability to degrade
and reform mems minds and personalities to con
form TO the Communist will have been daily
diet in the press. We need think only of Cardinal
Mindszentys complete and utter change before
and during his trumpedup farce of trial to realize
Just how effective this Communist technique can be-
And since this is just such new disbolieal prae-
tce how can these men be tried and convicted by
laws and procedures whose trainers never envision-
ed such possibilities.
We have had the expert testimony of partici-
pants in these horrible acts the actual perpetrators
of the branwashng) say that their method Is effec-
tive They brag how defenseeSs an ordinary tand
we know, even extraordinary, man is against
such treatment.
Only Sympathy was felt at the shocking treatment
and subsequent admissions of Cardinal Mindszenty.
Should any less be the lot of these unfortunate
now IN question:
In testimony given before the House Select
Committee on Communist Aggression in Washington
last week n priest former prisoner of the Reds
told Of his brainwashing and torture that exacted
= confession of guilt from him. After detailing his
treatment he ended his testimony before the House
Group by saying that he Finally signed contes
sion had no idea what 1t was about" And so
il goes in ease after case.
We think that It is just as possible to do other
things demanded by the Communist torturers
As TO sign confession admitting to do something
that you did not do and would not do. We can see
apparently intelligent quotes being given to news
men radio broadcasts being made persuasion OF
friends To defect and all of reasonable
acts being commtted---all being done by someone
who is not morally responsible.
We think that the present trials should be con
Quoted first 10 see If the person accused was actual
~ acting willfully without the previous and endur-
ing cat least for time) effects of branwashing
and torture.
To condemn and convict youngsters for something
they were driven to do nhumanly by psychological
and physical torture is a travesty Present laws
and procedures are forcing this miscarriage OF JUS
fce If upon investigation, il can be proved
that anv OF these young men trial were subjected
ia hranwaghinp and torture then ii is shameful TO
hiring them to trial convict and punish them.
nf course this investigation Is easier said than
made Just how such investigation could be made
With results complete and substantial enough to
exoneratc The accused is tremendous problem. But
If is problem that in the interest OF justice and
humanity should be solved.