BOLSHEVISM & RELIGION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1925, Page 4

BOLSHEVISM & RELIGION

TO THE ESITOB.

Sir, —The thanks of our community aro due tp the Catholic University Students' Guild fof the opportunity of hearing Captain Francis M'Cullagh, the American fleet journalist, on ''Bolshevik ißussia.*' We road in your report that the captain '' gave it as his deliberate i opinion that the Soviet Government I is bent on utterly extirpating reli- i gion in Russia.'' People of all religions must be concerned in regard to stlch a statement because we havo those in our midst who arc prepared i to see the same -state of affairs brought about in New Zealand as have been established in Soviet Russia. There are apologists for the Soviet Government, who contend that it has not attacked teligion but has simply disestablished and disendowed- tho .Eussian Orthodox Church, . ' Thil is the contention of the British trade union delegation which visited Russia in November and December of l&et year. .On page 105 of their report they say of the Orthodox Church and its property has been nationalised." How would the adherents of' the churches in New Zealand regard such a step? The report says "there appears to have been no actual persecution of the clergy as such,'' the truth of which statement is strongly, disputed, j However,"there is this further statement in the report: ''A very sti'ong propaganda in the tress, the schools, colleges, and trade union clubs is, however, carried on against religion generally. As the Press, schools, colleges, and clubs named are all under control of tho Soviet Government, it is ridiculous to argue that said Government is not against religion.

From the study we have made of this question we have come to the conclusion that what is taking place in Eusaia 'is that officially the Soviet Government, does not ban any religion, but the Communist Party, Which is the power behind the Government, attacks all religions find carries on a campaign of atheism and blasphemy of tho vilest possible character. The Government holds up a seemingly clean' hand, but the party which makes the Government does the foul and dastardly Work. j Such is tho damnable hypocrisy being practised. It is well that our people should, know, what is meant by the Bolshevik movement which unfortunately some are disposed to triflo with.—\V>> are, etc., N,3. LlSAti.Uii. I S£>tli August. . '