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Tope Openly Accuses Russia of Tersecutin6 Religion Soviet's "Trumped -Up" Political Charges Exposed PATRIARCH ALEXIUS AIDS SUPPRESSION IN RUTHENIA At a time when the United Nations
' are settling down to their pledged task
giving the world its fundamental Four Freedoms-which include freedom of religion-the Holy Father, barred from the conference through the prejudice of anti-Christian elements, has broken his patient silence of years and openly and unequivocally accused Russia of persecuting religion. The accusation is contained in an Encyclical, "Orientales Omnes Ecclecias," issued to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the reunion of the Ruthenian Church with the Holy See. The Holy Father's charges deal with the Soviet campaign designed to force the Ruthenian Catholics to separate themselves from the Catholic Church and enter the Orthodox fold. No Encyclical of modern times is so emphatic and concise in its arraignment of the persecutors, or so strong in its terms.- The persecution is described as a "fierce storm," a "dreadful tempest" and a ''terrible trial." His Holiness confesses that events have weakened and almost destroyed" his hope and faith for the Ruthenian peoHe warns them that, as well as ple. the "terrible snares" laid already for them, even worse troubles may assail them if they refuse to betray their religion. Patriarch Alexius Named. 13ut what is even more unusual in a Papal document of this kind is the mention by name of the Patriarch Alexius of .oscow as one who has notably contr buted to the persecution. Such mention of an individual in cir. cumstances like these is not in the tradition of Vatican policy and the fact that the Pope names this abettor of Soviet designs is an index of the bitterness that, on his own confession, the Supreme Pontiff feels. The Encyclical is divided into three parts, the first two of which recount the history of the Ruthenian Church and the vicissitudes it has endured. The third part is devoted exclusively with the present persecution. Fierce Storm Brewing. "We have seen," says the Holy Father, "how our beloved Ruthenian people have been obliged to endure many stresses. hazards and vexations in order valiantly to defend their Catholic unity. From these, however, an all -seeing -God has more than once liberated them and restored them to of
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The Atlantic Charter's promise of religious freedom filled the Pope with hope which the Soviet has quenched. peace. But again in these times, with great distress to our paternal heart, we see a new fierce storm overhanging the Reports reachChurch in Ruthenia. ing us, though infrequent, suffice to fill us with concern and anxiety.
"Three hundred and fifty years have elapsed since this very ancient Christian community was happily united to the Supreme Pastor, the successor of St. Peter, but the anniversary has been turned for us into a 'day of tribulation and distress, of calamity and misery, a day of darkness and obscurity, of cloud and whirlwind.' For with grief we learn that in the regions which lately passed under Russian authority our dear brethren and children of the Ruthenian nation are afflicted with great distress because of their fidelity to the Apostolic See.
faith as regards the Ruthenian people All Bishops Arrested. Nothing remains, "There is no lack of persons who are and their land. working with every means to entice Venerable Brethren, save to implore God-Who, words of the psalmMother in the of them from the bosom ist, gives justice to the weak and Church and induce them to enter the community of the dissidents against avenges the poor-mercifully to calm their own desire, their conscience and this dreadful tempest and finally to But we exhort their sacred duty. The clergy of the calm it altogether. Ruthenian rite have complained in let- you and the flocks committed to your to join us in supthe again and again in care ters to the civil authorities plication, prayers ,and penances in Western Ukraine-as it is called to -day that the Church there is in the most order to obtain from Him Who enlightens men's minds and bends their difficult situation, since all Bishops and many priests have been arrested, and, wills, that the Church in Ruthenia may emerge free from this terrible trial. Parat the same time, it is forbidden for anyone to assume the governance of ticularly in these afflictions and turmoils does Our mind turn to those the Church in Ruthenia. who are thus so harshly and bitterly Old Political Excuse. "Venerable Brethren, We are not un- oppressed. Neves Permissible to Deny Christ. aware of the political excuse that is "First and foremost we turn to you, given for this bitterness and harshness, Bishops of the Ruthenian nation, who, but that is no novelty freshly invented to-day. Frequently during the though tormented with such severity, think more for the well-being of your course of the centuries the Church's enemies, without daring publicly to ad- flock than for the injuries and ills you mit that they were hostile to the Ca- are yourselves suffering, following the tholic Faith and were persecuting it, precept of the Gospel: 'The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His cleverly trumped-up charges against Catholics of plotting against the State, sheep.' Though things are at present much in the same way as the Jew's dark and the future is uncertain and once accused our Divine Redeemer be- full of anxiety, We do not lose heart. fore the Roman judge, saying: 'We Though you are in chains and separated from your children and thus debarfound this Man perverting our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to red from instructing them in the precepts of holy religion, these very Caesar.' "But circumstances and events chains proclaim and preach Christ throw a clear light upon what is the more fully and deeply. Who real cause of these cruelties. "And you, beloved sons, Ruthenian does not know that the Patriarch priests, instruct when necessary the Alexiu.s, recently elected by the dissifaithful committed to your care that it dent Russian Bishops in a letter ad- is never permissible, even externally or openChurch dressed to the Ruthenian merely orally, to deny or desert Christ ly preaches its defection from the Caor His Church. Uncover the wiles of tholic Church-a letter which has not- those who promise men worldly comably contributed to the development forts and increased felicity in this life of this sort of persecution? while destroying their souls, Violation of Solemn Decision, "Stand Fast in Faith." "These injuries hurt us all the more "And you, laity of the Church in bitterly because when the nations sent Ruthenia, We are not unaware that representatives to an international con- terrible snares are laid for your Faith. ference while the cruel war still con- It seems even to be feared that still tinued, among other decisions solemn- worse troubles may soon assail those ly taken was one that persecution who are unwilling to betray their holy must never again be set in motion duties to religion. We know no betagainst religion. This filled Us with ter way to confirm and conclude our hope that peace and true liberty would exhortation than by the words of the be allowed also to the Catholic Church, Apostle Paul to the Corinthians: especially since the Church has always 'Watch ye, stand fast in faith, do mantaught and still teaches the duty of fully and be strengthened.'" conscientious obedience to legitimateOne unusual feature of this Encyclily constituted authority in matters cal is that it is addressed primarily to pertaining to its jurisdiction. Bishops who are in prison. "But, alas, events have weakened and almost destroyed our hope and (Continued on Page 10.) .
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