NEW CATHOLIC DECREES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1939, Page 4

NEW CATHOLIC DECREES

BAN ON GAMBLING

SYDNEY, June 19

New decrees, promulgated by the Plenary Council of the Roman Catholic Church, strictly forbid priests in all parts of Australia and New Zealand to attend horse and' greyhound race meetings and prize fights or to gamble with bookmakers. The ban, which comes into force on September 26, has applied to Melbourne and parts of New Zealand for several years.

'Hie Plenary Council was held in Sydney in 1937 under the presidency cl' the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Panico, who, for the occasion, acted' as Papal Legate. The decrees were sent to Rome, the procedure here accounting for the long delay between the conclusion of the council and the promulgation of its laws. The Book of Decrees, issued here on Thursday, contains 685 items, which deal with every phase of Roman Cai'miic life and practice; In an official statement, it was pointed out that, while much emphasis was placed on the need of protecting Catholics from the “poisonous penetration of Communism," no less emphasis was placed on the obligation of keeping the doctrines of free competition and social domination within just limits.

In addition to the gambling ban. priests are forbidden to go bail for ether persons and.' to hold secular office. They must avoid discussion of purely secular or political topics in church. Curates may possess motor

cars only with the approval of their bishon.

For lay persons the decrees cover a vast field. All participation in “spiritistic” experiments is forbidden. Roman Catholics are enjoined to shun unbecoming dances, to cultivate industry, and to pay debts. A special warning is issued against gambling as a possible source of family distress and discord. A notable mitigation has been introduced in the ancient laws of fast and' abstinence. Henceforth, the only days on which Roman Catholics may not eat meat are Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

In a pastoral letter accompanying the decrees signed by eight archbishops and 2-1 bishops, it is stated: “Of all the evils of our time atheistic communism is the most deadly.. As a fundamental remedy the Pope calls for a sincere renewal of private and public'life according to the principles of Hie Gospel.’ ” The pastoral also states: “The twin evils of race suicide and divorce have assumed' proportions so alarming as to threaten several countries with national decay through the decline both of population and the stability of family life.”