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Thursday, July 28, 1949.
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What Lies Behind Vatican Ban On Marxism Many phases of Communism
are seriously in conflict with Church teaching, but two in particular stand out: its materialism and atheism. Karl Marx, the founder of Modern Communism, denied the existence of the spiritual. To him, the whole world was dead matter. The motion o fthis matter is what we call life, just as some machines seem to be alive. Man is but a ma-
War Against God As Basic As The Doctrines Of Class War And Armed Revolution
excuse that the irreligious phase of Communism no longer existed.
BASIC CONFLICT The authentic teachers-Marx, Lenin, and Stalin-repeatedly
insisted that the war against God was central in the theory of What they called scientific socialism. It was as basic as the doctrines of class warfare and chine, somewhat more complex armed revolution. nonethan a stone or a tree, but theless basically the same. Even if Communism had not been so explicit in its attacks on "PIE IN THE SKY" religion, its materialism would These writings, and many By REV. JOHN F. CRONIN, S.S. If men do not really differ others like them, were printed be contrary to Catholic teach(Written for N.C.W.C. News Service) ings. It would deny God indirfrom rocks, then there is no such and distributed her by the Man does not thing as a soul. Washington, July 15.-The declaration that Communists American Communist Party ectly. We could not even accept than views on man, with have free will, any more are excommunicated as apostates exploded like a bombshell prior to 1935. After that time Communist a leaf chooses to move in a hurthe current line called for soft- no thought for his immortal the into But a glance July 13. on was announced when it We cannot speak of ricane. ening down the attacks on re- soul, for free will and virtue, god or bad, sin or virtue. The background of the Holy Office decree removes some of the ligion, since Stalin wanted many and no idea of the dignity of murderer is as much subject to element of surprise. It has always been true that one could allies in his "united front" human nature. We consider unbreakable law as the rain not be a true Communist and remain a real Catholic. This against Hiller. But it is safe to man, as created in the image of or the tides. Of course, to the say that Communist teaching God, with free will and intelliCommunist, God does not exist. follows from both Communist theory and practice. It has has consistently, since the be- gence, not merely the slime of More than that, Communists been clear from repeated Church pronouncements. This ginning, declared all-out war the earth. hold that belief in God is dan- article examines the case from the aspect of Communist against God and the Church. From this it follows clearly: gerous, religion impels men to Against this background, it is Even if Communism were silent think of another world, instead theory. obvious that no Catholic could be on the matter of God and the in of bettering their lot in this. As the labouring man. Armed force Communist International,' adopted this programme: a true Communist at any time. Church; even if it never perselater Communists put it: Men and the threat of gaol are sup- 1928, Either he did not know the cuted a singje believer; even had tasks of important "One of the docile. make workers posed to seek pie in the sky instead of pie teachings of his Church or he the Popes never uttered a word on earth. Religious followers The main purpose of govern- the cultural revolution affecting did not understand Communism. on the subject, no true Catholic wide masses is the task of are taught humility, submission, ment is to protect property- Its the and unswervingly Nor could he take refuge in the could ever be a true Communist. and patience, instead of violent schools and other propaganda systematically combating religion, the opium of revolution against their oppres- devices fit in this pattern. Religion is also considered an the people." sors. God is the enemy of man. Lenin, in an address given on The very idea of God must be auxiliary of the property ownrooted out from the minds of ers. Its command: Thou shalt October 2, 1920, stated: "We not steal, gives an added incen- know perfectly well that the men.. Marx held that religion is of tive to workers to respect the clergy, the landlords, and the The Czech regime's aim of entirely dominating the CathoMoreover, bourgeoisie all claimed to speak necessity the ally of the exploit- rights of owners. Church came nearer completion this week as it prepared ing class of capitalists. He felt when it promises workers re- in the name of God, in order to lic a Bill which would give the Government complete control that property ownership is the wards in another life, it enables protect their own interests as ex source of abuses in economic life. them to forget that they are ploiters." The same view re - over church finances, property, and appointments of pastors Property is the ultimate bisis robbed of their due in this life. mained under Stalin. Stalin and Bishops. At the same time the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia of the necessities of life: food, Hence religion must be consid- authorised the writings and acclothing, and shelter. Those who ered as an essential part of the Lions of Yaroslaysky, former issued a manifesto calling the Catholic Church "our greatest control property can dictate to exploitive process. It must go president of the League of Mili- enemy" and announcing that it must be "liquidated." the workers the terms of em- when capitalism is swallowed tant Atheists of the Soviet Union. Announcement of the stranglehold Bill was made in Yaroslaysky, in his book, "Re- speech by Justice Minister Alexei Cepicka, son-in-law ofa ployment. Being greedy, they up by Communism. ligion in the U S.S.R.," devotes President Klement Gottwald, and one of the set wages at the lowest possible chief spokesmen many pages to a diatribe against level and pocket the difference. "ATHEISM Pope Pius XI. He goes on to in the Government's war on the Church. This creates a rebellious and dis- INSEPARABLE" He outlined the proposed law Cepicka also asserted that Arch state: contented proletariat. in a speech before the Central bishop Joseph Beran of Prague Such was the teaching of Action Committee of the Na- maintained "treacherous connecCAPITALISM -FORCE Marx. It has been accepted con- COMMUNIST tional Front in Prague. The tions with foreign enemies," and sistently by his followers. When CANNOT SUPPORT AND DECEIT Bill gives the Government con- that, with the help of Vatican Lenin wrote his treatise on re- RELIGION trol over all church finances and officials, he plotted "treacherous -Atheism is a To keep down the workers, ligion, he stated: "Every Leninist, every Comthe ruling class uses two main natural and inseparable part of munist, every class-conscious property, gives the Government and anti -State riots." The re the right to veto "because of glow's spokesman called this a They have created Marxism, of the theory and weapons. and peasant must be able political objections" any person "terrible indictment." the civil State, with its police practice of scientific socialism." worker to explain why a Communist That the Red regime plans to and military, to use force against The Sixth World Congress of the cannot support religion; why appointed to an ecclesiastical post, and makes it obligatory for take action against the Communists fight against reli- Church officials to register all chy on the grounds of Hierar"high gion. " He concludes the church property, all church in- treason" was corroborated by: book with the battle -cry: "Re- come and budgets with the Gov1. The party manifesto, which member that the struggle against ernment. said it is imperative to "liquireligion is a struggle for socialAt the same time, the Justice date the enemy," especially beism." Minister declared that any at- cause of what it termed the tempt on the part of Church Hierarchy's hold on the peasan0 authorities in Czechoslovakia to try. 2. A Communist circular outSCHOOL AT "enforce" the Vatican's blanket lining a plan to "isolate" priests excommunication of CommunBy M. MASSIANI ists would be charged with trea- and Bishops from the people arid (Radio, N.C.W.C. News Service) WORKS CAMP son. News of the excommunica- then prosecute them for "high PARIS, July 11.-Some 300,000 persons attended the closAUCKLAND (New Zealand), tion had been suppressed here treason." 3. Reported adoption by the ing sessions of the Nancy Eucharistic Congress. Minister of July 14.-(NC)-A parish school until this announcement by the Czech Communist Party's CenForeign Affairs Robert Schuman was present, along with M. has been opened by Bishop President's son-in-law. tral Committee of a six -point Granval, French High Commissioner of Alsace, and many James M. Liston, of Auckland, (Canon Law scholars viewed to destroy the at a public works camp at Man- Mr. Cepitka's threat as shadow- programme members of the national and local legislatures. During the open-air Mass in Leopold Square, the Papal gakino, where a State hydro- boxing, pointing out that the Church. The circular, fell into Legate, His Eminence Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, praised the electric project is in operation. type of excommunication in the hands of thewhich western press "This is the first time that a question requires no formal enmagnificent ceremonies in honour of the Eucharist given by in Prague. said: forcement, but acts upon the parochial school worthy of a city a country maintaining respect for freedom; recalled the per"We have the impression that has been set up in a pub- conscience of the excommunisecution raging against the Church in Eastern Europe, and parish works camp in New Zealand," cated person himself. Only ex- the priests and ecclesiastical asked for prayers for the Bishops, priests and faithful who lic Bishop Liston said at the formal communicated persons who are Hierarchy are courting punishare suffering for their faith. specifically designated as "to be ment in order to become national opening. One impressive ceremony of be sent to a priest in Bethlehem. "Establishment of a parish avoided" (vitandi) must be pub- martyrs. We shall handle them Another striking ceremony here, with a permanent church, licly refused the Sacraments, as we handled our own 'political' the Congress was the presentareaction in February, 1948. tion during the last Mass of of- was the Mass for the sick. About sch,o. rectory, and in due time they said.) "We shall isolate them from Calling the excommunication invalids had been brought a c....vent for the Sisters, is in ferings sent by all the dioceses of 3200 to the foot of the altar to attend keeping with the new and fitting order an "illegal and hostile act" the broad masses of the people France and the French Empire. the Mass celebrated by Bishop conception of a public works against the people's democracy, and then we shall accuse them Fifty-three delegations in pro- Gabriel Piquet of Clermont. camp as a place where men who Mr. Cepicka said: "Let no one of being in contact with traitors vincial costumes brought gifts to Particularly moving was the work hard have the proper con- have the slightest doubt that to the nation, and then we shall the altar. Wine -growing pro- arrival of many groups of blind ditions and amenities for them- anyone who in any way should accuse them directly of high vinces sent casks of wine which guided by boy scouts. The in- selves and their families." attempt to carry out this direc- treason." will be sent to Chinese missions. valids' confessions were heard The Church is dedicated to St. tive of the Vatican perpetrates Fruits from Algiers will be dis- in the street, and the radio had Joseph, the Bishop said, because treason. All acts violating Printed and Published by Keith tributed in the hospitals of Al- to broadcast an appeal for addi- he was a working man, a car- valid laws will be punished as Francis Spruhan, at "The Resace. An automobile brought tional priests to hear confessions penter of the village, and the such." cord" Office, 460 Hay Street, by eight workers from Paris will in foreign languages. In his speech Justice Minister Perth. guardian of ,the home.
Our Greatest Enemy
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All Of France In Mass
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