SOCIALISM AND THE POPE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 231, 27 September 1905, Page 4

SOCIALISM AND THE POPE.

The Australian lady journalist who has just endeavoured to interview the Pope on the subject of Socialism has displayed a great deal more enthusiasm for her calling than respect for ecclesiastical dignity. That, however, is merely by the way. It is more to the point that Count Hagan has publicly expressed his opinion that the "Socialism" which is being so furiously denounced by the Conservative press of Australia is no more Socialism of the Continental type than Catholicism i 3 paganism. The Vice-Rector of the Irish College at Rome is supposed to stand nigh in the Pope' 9 favour, and he is probably quite sure of his facts when he says that the present Pope, like his predecessor, warmly approves of "Chris.ian Democracy." As a definition of the policy to which Mr Reid and his "Anti-Socialist" followers are opposed, "Christian Democracy" is a decidedly successful term. In any case, it is certainly much closer to the faet3 of the case than the lurid descriptions by which the "Sydney Morning Herald" and the "Argus" have so long endeavoured to rouse public prejudice and apprehension against the Labour party and its policy.

The controversy about Australian socialism, to which our cab'es refer, arose in Sydney some months ago over the attitude of the Boman Catholic elec tors toward the Labour party. The "Catholic' Press" had taken up the "Socialism" cry, and after pointing out that the Labour party owes its predominance in the colony largely to the suoport of the Roman Catho'ies, declared that now the mask was off and the "socialists" stood revealed, the Roman Catholics could follow Labour no longer. The late Pope Leo XIII. had always protested strongly against any alliance between the Church and So-na'ists, and the "Catholic Press" was quite content to identify the Labour party with the enemies of society so picturesquely described by Mr. G. H. Reid. However, Cardinal Moran rose to the occasion. He took an early opportunity of assuring the members of his church that the Australian Labour party does not profess the views whi<*h the Popes have condemned, and that they cannot be described as Socialists in the Continental sen.=e at all. On this point we are entirely at one with Cardinal Moran; and we think that he made out an unanswerable ease for Mr. Watson and his friends. The Cardinal urged his followers not to be misled by catchwords emp'oyed for party purposes, and not to be deluded into deserting their political leaders for fear of dangerous doctrines which those leaders had expressly repudiated. An additional interest was lent to the controversy two months ago by the publication of an Encyclical addressed by Pope Pius X. to the Italian bishops, urging them to participate in political life foi the special purpose of fighting Socialism, "the foe of society, civilisation, and Christianity." But it is obvious from the wording of the Encyclical that it refers to what Italy and Germany and Russia understand by Socialism —that is to say. Anarchism and "Revolution. The "Socialist" in the Euroncan countries to-day is usua 7 ly regarded as closely akin to the Nihilist, and is credited in many instances with employing the same weapons. But there is nothing in the Papal Encyclical that need cause any conscientious Roman Catholic in Australasia any hesitation about supporting the Labour party and voting for Mr. Watson against either Mr. Deakin or Mr. G. H. Reid.