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nFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH, Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper. NO. 2,282.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1947.
ESTABLISHED 1874 450 Hay Street,
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SEVENTY-FOURTH YEAR.
Poland's Red Government Angles for Vatican Rapprochement Holy See's Demand for
Guarantees Makes Accord Unlikely
ing on the goodwill of Catholics. Cabinet of Stanislaw Mikolajczyk Boleslaw Bierut, also a ComThis, it will be recalled, was Hit- and two other members of the munist, was re-elected President ler's policy in 1933 when he ne-, Peasant Party, the only legal of Poland, and took the oath gotiated the Concordat with the party free from Communist dom- closing with the words, "so help Holy See-an agreement which ination. me, God." the Holy See at that time, as it "Democratic Bloc." 'The debate in the Sejm (Polish has since revealed, knew perfectThe new Cabinet, headed by Parliament) on the religious oath ly well would not be respected by Socialist Premier, Jan Cyrankie- formula presented the strange the Nazis, but which it could not wicz, is composed exclusively of spectacle of Communists voting refuse to accept because of the members ofothe so-called "Demo- for and socialists against the remisunderstanding that would cratic bloc.' ligious clause, which was adopted arise. Communists operating in Po- by 210 to 4 votes, with 122 abWhat gives support to this in- land as the "Polish Workers' stentions. terpretation is the similar policy Party" hold the five most imAt the opening session of the of the Italian Communists who portant posts, including the Min- Sejm, Mikolajczyk reaffirmed his recently voted for the inclusion of istry for Regained Western Ter- demand for new elections that the Lateran Pacts into the Com ritories, Foreign Affairs, Public would really be "free and un stitution, after they had bitterly Security (with control over the fettered" and predicted that the opposed them. This gesture, it secret police). Industry and Edu- life of the Sejm would be very should be noted, followed a bit- cation. short. ter campaign against the Church and the Pope, which even went to the lengths of agitating for the removal of the Holy See from
Failure of "National" Church French Reds Slander Clergy Prompts Marxist Hypocrisy Rome. President Blend's move may not be unconnected with the re-
to Divert Public Attention
An unexpected situation seems to be emerging in Poland, where port that the Warsaw Governthe Communist-dominated Government, according to reports which ment intends to introduce a new have just reached England, is cautiously exploring the possibility Constitution shortly. The Bisof resuming relations with the Holy See. "The prospect, how- hops, adds the report, determinever, of a Polish -Vatican accord seems, in the light of the present ed to defend the rights of the situation,' to be remote," writes a London correspondent, "for Church and the Catholic people The arrest of five priests on charges of sheltering and providing the Holy See would naturally demand guarantees which could not have presented the Premier, M. false papers for collaborationists has caused one of the biggest Cyrankiewicz, with a memoranbut be unacceptable to a Communist regime." dum laying down fundamental political sensations in France since the end of the war. An unexpected situation seems Bishops made it very plain imme- principles on the rights of the Coming close on the heels of the great Joanovici scandal, which to be emerging in Poland, where diately that loyalty to Rome was Church, the family and the in- deeply involved the Communist Party, the arrest of the priests was immediately seized by the Comunist press as a means of dithe Government, .according to re- the very touchstone of the Ca- dividual and on education. Should the regime have the verting public attention from the party's dealings with Joanovici. ports which have just reached tholic Faith and the Catholic this country, is cautiously, explor- body was warned very forcibly Holy See's recognition its moral (Joseph Joanovici, a Roman Jew, now being hunted by the Briting the possibility of resuming against the handful of interloping authority would be greatly ish and French police, is said to have made two milliard francs He is also said to have relations with the Holy See. ecclesiastics whose project to es- strengthened in the eyes of the by collecting metal for the Germans. Later he is reported to have protected himFor some months past there tablish a "national" Catholic Catholic population and there helped the Gestapo money of self by sums giving large to a Communist -founded Rehave been rumours of Polish en- Church had received the formal would be less difficulty in introsistance group.) ducing its programme. voys having been sent to Rome approval of the President. The prospect, however, of a Although a comparatively minor affair, the police searches of reto sound the attitude of the VatiRecently, M. Pruszynski had a Polish -Vatican accord seems, in ligious houses and the arrest of five priests, have been built up can. It appears now that the second interview with President the light of the present situation, by Communist newspapers into a fantastic "clerical plot" against task of making the first ap- Bierut. An official statement to be remote, for the Holy See the Republic. proaches towards reconciliation says that M. Pruszynski "made were entrusted to Profesor Kot, use of the occasion to supply the would naturally demand guaranIn an open letter to the Pre Reds Invent New ('ardinal. tees which could not but be unto the Polish Ambassador Italy. President with some first-class The facts of the "clerical plot" mier, M. Ramadier, he declared: acceptable to a Communist re- briefly are these: who has been engaged on the official information "When, after little effort to find concerning problemocL for a considerable per The Socialist Minister of the proof a Minister, of the Inthe attitude taken by Pope Pius gime. To help him, the Warsaw XII. during the war and after- Bishops Refuse Victory Mass for Interior, M. Depreux, told a terior) throws an opinion based New Polish Regime. Government sent to Rome M. wards as regards the peace-tepress conference that for sonic on isolated facts which, exploitVictor Grosz, the head of the weeks police have been making ed by a Press avid for scandal, Pruszynski, Polish Attache in formation not sufficiently Known Washington, who is considered in wide international circles. press department of the Polish enquiries at about 20 convents, attacks all the priests of France, Foreign confirmed to G. abbeys, and an expert in Catholic affairs. other religious that is called defamation. President Bierut has accepted the R. BrunstOffice, N.C.W.C. correspond- houses, seeking alleged collabora"For three days, in the Metro, Warsaw's Indication. information, expressing the hope ent in Warsaw, that the Governtors with the Germans or the in the workshop, in the street, While no information has been that it may contribute to the re- ment had asked that a Mass be Vichy Government. all have been speaking of the revealed from Rome, Warsaw has moval of misunderstandings marking the election of A Benedictine Abbey, and 'Plot of the Priests,' of the 'conitself given a very guarded indi- which the President believes to offered Communist Boleslaw Bierut as vents, Jeimit, Holy Ghost and Dominithe last refuge of assassins cation of its desires. It may be be most desirable." President of Poland, but that the can Houses were involved- Some and traitors.' recalled that last November, M. The implication of this statehad been ignored. "Thus we forget all that hapcollaborators who had already Pruszynaski had an interview- ment is that the President seems request It is taken for granted that been sentenced to death, said M. pened during four years when obviously stage -managed--with prepared to modify his previousGovernment was not inter- Depreux, were found in religious convents were the last refuge of President Bierut on the attitude ly expressed belief that the Pope, the ested in the Mass, but merely in houses, and some religious will Jews, Communists, men of the of the regime to the Church and during the war, showed himself the possibilities for propaganda, be charged with having helped Maquis and Resistance fighters. the Holy See. The President, friendly to Germany and tardy and that it lost all interest after them to get overseas. "To satisfy the hunger of the en that occasion, showed himself in his assistance to Poland, thus the Hierarchy refused to officiate What really happened soon be- French people and to hide scanvery critical of the Vatncan, indicating his willingness to reand give the Mass the character dals great and small . came evident. though he did not "slam the store good isolations with the of an official sanction by the People claiming they were throw them a priest to eat. With door" on the question of rap- Holy See. Church of the January 19 elec- being persecuted for political rea- all my strength I denounce to prochement. At the same time, The Difficulties. tion and resulting developments. sons and were fleeing from the French those who for two he made a bid for the good -will the difficulties in the way Bishop's Rebuke. ".Purge" tribunals had thrown years have thrived in an atmosof the Church in Poland, remind- of But a Polish -Vatican pact are When one of Warsaw's Bishops themselves on the mercy of cer- phere of hate, of deletion and ining it of the many "concessions" much greater than the removal refused the Government's request tain religious houses quiaition-sad heritage of the granted to it by the State and of the President's real or assum- to offer the Mass, the agent Out of sympathy for these Nazi occupation " expressing disappointment that ed antagonism. reThe Warsaw shouted, "This is a demonstra- hunted, desperate men some supThey had not been received in a has already left its Marxian tion against the Government!" eriors of religious houses gave nirit of gratitude. There was gime BUDDHISTS' DAUGHTERS hallmark on the country. DiThe Bishop is said to have re- them refuge. a crack of the whip when the vorce has been introduced, to- torted quietly, "Do you want BECOME CATHOLICS.. The full fury of the Commun President broadly hinted that the gether with civil marriage, and from us a demonstration for the 1st press was loosed upon the continuance of the "concessions" 0.mmunism being taught in Government !" whole Catholic Church e, France The conversion to the Catholic might well depend on a change of the schools is The Proceedings, ostentatiously stag- immediately news of the arrests faith of the daughters of two heart by the Church, but this led press has shownState-controlvio ed in strict conformity with was published. itself high Buddhist officials has creat meant little more than an admits lently anti-Catholic and, worse parliamentary routine and deIn their frantic efferts to di ed a sensation in the sion by the President of his con- than all, the country has been mocratic usage, marked the vest public attenth.ri from the at Kyoto, Japan, that newspapers has result cern to obtain the Church's bless feeeed to accept against its will change over from a "provisional" Joanovici in' idrnt. they printrTI ed in many people inquiring into ing-tacit or otherwise-on the a totalitarian government but to "duly -elected" government the wildest stones imaginable the teachings of the Catholic regime. tressed by the bayonets of Russia in Poland, but, In reality, nothing In an attempt ti, involve the faith. and truly representative of not has been changed; except per Vatican they even "invented" a "National" Church. The young women were re At that period there were sev- more than 10 per cent. of the haps, for the worse Cardinal, mentioning "Cardinal ceived into the Church by Rev, eral unmistakable signs that the While the code of political eti- tie Courtier's." No such per Harold 'Pletcher, a Maryknoll Warsaw Government wanted to perFurthermore, Furthermore. it i4 a moral quette was punctiliously fnllawoi, son, of course. exists. see in the country a "national" certainty that the Government's the rude fact remains that lite Titres Them a Priest to Eat. priest from Milwaukee, who instructed them The father of Church, severed from Rom", and readiness to resume relations legal pretext for the changes was al feeling was IOW ea* girl ranks high in the that they were willing to help with the Vatican is not dictated furnished by the elections, which, Nil Anti-clerii as many workers were dude. Buddhist hierarchy and the father this enterprise along by any by any real regard for Catholis in the view of the l'elted States ed by the lie.. and moms priests se leis other girl Is noted means short of precipitating a ism The move has, in fact, Government, were not free and were insulted in the streets r ci ne of the largest major crisis. This would ac- been interpreted as Communism's did not eve the Polish people an the Most eloquent reply schools in Japan. count for the President's eon new policy in strongly Cath,,11. opportunity to select a govern Comunist campaigt ws, g,en rather Feleocker says the pubdilatory attitude toward. the countries of giving an appear merit of their own chimilkt by rather Riquet, S.J noted licity helped form a wedge which Polish Church and his hostility once of cordiality towards the The net result of the change preacher and her, .4 int ran pierced the sge-old armour of towards the Vatican Rut the Church as the mesas of cephalic over is the elimination from the centration camp. the exclusive liuddhisits circle.
"Throw them a priest to eat"
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