GOOD CATHOLIC

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 9

GOOD CATHOLIC

AND TIIUE SOCIALIST

CONTRADICTORY TERMS

(Received 25th May, 9 a.m.) "EOME, 24th. May. Amplifying the reference to Catholict and Socialism, 'the Encyclical says: — "Christian doctino lays down that man's life is dedicated to God's glory, whereas Socialism places individual well-being first. The religious Socialist and the Christian Socialist are contradictory terms. No one can be a good Catholic and simultaneously a true Socialist. The truo apostle's only; course is to put Christian principles in the place of even a mitigated Socialism, which, while it contains an element ot truth, lacks the principles of Christian faith and charity." The Encyclical implores those deceived by Socialism to return to the Church, and declares that the heir of Socialism is Bolshevism. It deplores the attitude of those looking on, while .Communism carries on the work oi destruction. It condemns modern commercialism relegating employees to the function of being merely parts of n machine, a practice which results in young men and girls being exposed to grave perils in factories, while the division of families into working units destroys home life. Tinally making a call for Catholic action, the Encyclical appeals to men of goodwill to assist, and exhorts prelates throughout the world to form a lay workers' legion, including employers and employees, to fight existing evils, enabling' a return ttf Christ's precepts.