The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-08-01

and worries for us. We see in
fact on the one hand that in
not a few countries Christian
precepts in the Catholic religion
are not given necessary consid-
Grafton.
Crowds Of citizens, psrficU.
larIy those Of fhe less edvest-
ed people, are easily attract
ed by widely pvbIicized err
rors. often vested with the sp-
pesrsnce Of truth. The flat
terry and incentives Of vice
which disturb minds with fa-
tai influences through publ.
CATIONS Of all kinds, through
cinema and ~television enter.
tainmenfs corrupt especially
ineautiovs youth.
Many write and spread their
works not to serve truth and
virtue or to give readers a true
diversion but to excite turbid
passions for the purpose of gain
or to offend and soil with lies,
calumnies and abuses all that is
sacred, noble and beautiful.
Very often - it is sad to state
truth is distorted and public
display is made of false and
shameful things. 1t is necessary
therefore to see how much dam
age is brought upon society it.
self and how much harm is done
to the Church.
On the other hand, We see
with supreme pain to Our fa-
fherly heart, that the Catholic
Church, whether Of Latin or
Oriental Rite, is in many
countries oppressed by seri.
Gus vexstions.
The faithful and clergy are, if
not in words, certainly in deed,
brought face to face with this
dilemma: either abstain from
processing and publicly spread
ing their Faith or suffer the
consequences, even grave conse-
quences.
Many bishops already have
been expelled from See cities
or prevented from freely exer-
cising their ministry, or impris-
oned Or exiled.
In short, one fearfully recalls
Il will strike the shepherd and
scatter the flock" Matt. 26, 81;
CTR. Zach. ID, y.
Furthermore, the newspa-
pers, the magazines, Catholic
publications are almost COM
pIetely siIenced, as If truth
were the exclusive dominion
and decision Of him who com.
msnds, and as IL divine and
human sciences and the lib.
ersl arts had not the right to
be free SO as to be able to
blossom to the advantage Of
the public welfare.
The schools once opened by
Catholics are forbidden and
abolished. Others have been Gre
ated in their place which either
do not teach notions of God and
religion at all, or which pro
claim and spread maxims of ath-
eism, as often happens.
Missionaries, who have aban.
doned their. homes and their
sweet native lands and who
have undergone serious and
numerous discomforts to give to
others the light and strength of
the Gospel, have been expelled
from so many places as harmful
and dangerous individuals.
Thus the remaining clergy.
numerically out of proportion to
the territorial extent facing
them and often hated and perse.
cuted, can no longer provide for
the demands of the faithful.
We see with sorrow that some.
times the rights of the Church
are trampled on, rights which
include, in the mandate of the
Holy See, the right to choose
and consecrate bishops des.
tined to govern l~egitimately the
Christian flock - and this caus'
es the greatest harm to the
faithful - as if the Catholic
Church were an internal matter
of but one nation alone, de-
pendent on the civil authority
and not a divine institution des.
tined to embrace all peoples.
Despite these serious and
painful anxiefies there is
however something which pro-
vides great comfort to Our
p%afernaI heart. We know in
fact that The greater part Of
the faithful Of the Latin and
the Oriental Rites remain at
tsched with ell. their strength
to the inherited Faith, though
they are deprived Of that spir.
itvai help which their pastors
could administer to. them,
were they not prevented.
They continue therefore with
courage and place their hope in
Him who knows the weeping