PROTESTANTS IN ITALY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 February 1931, Page 5

PROTESTANTS IN ITALY

POPE DEPLORES CONVERTS. ‘GREAT HARM TO HUMAN SOULS’ (United Press Association—By Electric T elegrapb Copyright.; LONDON, Feb. 17. The Rome correspondent of "The Times” states: "The great evil afflicting Italy throughout the country, especially in Rome, is Protestant proselytism promoted with provocative persistence and permitted to continue with great harm to human souis,” said the Pope, addressing Lenten preachers assembled Jit Vatican City.

lie added that; the proselytism menaced the most precious thing in the nation’s life—namely unity of thought and souls, which always was most efficacious in religious unity. Nevertheless, the authorities allowed it to continue to an extent surprising to Protestants themselves, who boasted of it, even talking of a Protestant pilgrimage to Italy for the establishment of a Protestant synod. The Pope especially criticised the authorities for permitting Protestants to acquire land in the Holy City and also declared that Pome was suffering from immoral books, periodicals and films, variety performances and profanation of the Sabbath. Young people attending these proformances resembled “innocents being taken to the slaughter yard.” 'He added that his protests declared that these evils flagrantly contradicted the Italian Concordant’s acceptance of “Rome’s sacred character. ’ ’

His hearers here burst into applause but the Popc exclaimed, “This is no occasion for applause, but tears. ’ ’