CONDITIONS IN SPAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 19, 24 January 1939, Page 6

CONDITIONS IN SPAIN.

Th# Jettfir signed "Ex-Catholic" betokens such an obvious mental muddle that it would be a tedious Job to start the process of education. Whilst not desiring to "waste time h tilling barren soil, however, I would like ta remove a little of-your correspondent's coafUs ion. /■ It Is -elementary that in the early stages of the Spanish conflict hundreds of churchcs were burned and thousands of people slaughtered for no other reasoft than that of religion. It, is also elementary that priests and nuns were driven out' of Government territory, although enjoying a certain immunity in Basque provinces which retained strong Catholic sympathies. These conditions obtained until recent months, but have since been relaxed because the Valencia Government seeing the beginning of the end, wanted to conciliate world opinion. The facts of the persecution, however, are too numerous and too strong to be denied, but if your correspondent has any doubts on the subject ha should consult the flies of the "Illustrated London News" for the past two years for evidence of church burning. He will find plenty of photographs. The persecution, therefore, is a fact. When, therefore, Miss Dodds says | "there is a definite revulsion against the part the Church has played," she is trying to gloss over that fact. However, as I previously stated, a much more competent authority denies her assertion, whereas she for months has been subject to propaganda. With regard to the "Red" Government in Spain and the Labour Government in New Zealand, I see no basis of comparison, but if it is of any interest to your correspondent, I> am a Labour supporter, and for this reason: The Labour Government was properly elected, it governs constitutionally, and it respects the religious rights of all sections of the community. The Spanish Government, on the other hand, faked the elections, violated the Constitution, allowed anarchy to develop, and persecuted the Church. They have, therefore, no legal or moral right to support. So much for that. With regard to Miss Sharpies, 1 must apologise for having inadvertently used her name. I was. of course, referring to Miss Dodds and Miss Shadbolt. DON.

I «ee nothing wrong with Spanish Loyalist# i»ing imported guns. Their Government was elected by the people of Spain, and they have every right to protect their homes against General Franco's Moorish, Italian and German soldiers. I know that if our own New Zealand Was threatened by shiploads of imported troops the people here would be right in defending themselves with whatever weapons they could get. no matter which country the arms came from. The Spanish citizens were unarmed and unprepared for the invasion and were thankful for any assistance they were able to find. The war in Spain is not ail anti-religious one. It is an effort by the vast majority of Spaniards to establish a democracy along the lines of France, England and America. This "policy does not suit the landowners and generals of the old regime, so they fight the elected Government of Spain, spilling blood right and left, in the attempt to stop the people from having what they voted for. The fact that the Republican Government wishes to separate the Church from the State and from politics does not mean that the Spanish Government is anti-religious. It is I possible to-oppose the activities of the Spanish : clergy without destroying religion in Spain. J Ruby E. Watson must understand that while ' religious organisations own huge businesses like the Banco Espiritu Santo (Bank of the Holy Ghost) in Spain, the Government and the clergy will always quarrel. The Reformation in Englahd destroyed the influence of the Church in the State centuries ago, and to-day the S|»"ish Government is trying to do the eame thing in Spain. Whether they are going to succeed or not depends upon their ability to hold Franco off long enough and then beat him. STAN. ANDREWS. I [These two letters have been chosen M I fairly representing the views expressed in a ; number of other letters which cannot lv pub--1 lished. The correspondence is now closed.—Ed.]