MORALE AND SOCIAL ORDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 4

MORALE AND SOCIAL ORDER

POPE’S APPEAL TO AVORLD.

(Roc. 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 24. Broadcasting from the Vatican, the Pope said that the Church cannot bo deaf to the present world situation. The Church cannot take sides, but the Church cannot refrain from proclaiming the fundamental principle of humanity. Therefore, it must ask for observance of the rules on which human life was based and on which any new order must he built up. The Church many times since the outbreak of war had denounced aerial warfare. His Holiness said he could not conceal his deep and impartial love for the Italian people. The whole world desired peace. This peace must he not only an external peace among nations, but peace inside each nation. A new danger had arisen—subordination of everything to politics and the heresy of a national state which subordinated all to human law. 3he Church had always condemned Marxism and Socialism and to-day reaffirmed that condemnation. FIGIIT FOR FREEDOM.

“Those who desire to build a new world,” the Pope said, “must Cglit for the right of free choice of government and free choice of religion. They must refuse to allow the Slate to make them into a herd, which the State disposes of as if it were a lifeless thing. Those who aim at peace must aim at reintegration of lawful order which is now being altered by the positivism and utilitarianism of various political and social movements. Whoever wants peace must put himself at the service of society and fight for peace. “What about the numerous violations of international agreements? What about the disregard of agreements regarding the fighting man in the battle areas and regarding war prisoners and also the occupation of territories ? All these rules have been disregarded, sometimes with the utmost brutality. What are the peoples of the world going to do about this ? Cannot those who desire peace and respect do something to create a better world on the wreckage of the present social order, which lias shown itself unable to give peace, respect and dignity? “The greater part of humanity to-day is responsible for the errors and damage done. We owe it to the dead, to the victims of air attack, and to all who havo suffered and are suffering, to vow to achieve a now social and moral order. “The Church cannot ignore the fact that the worker is still fighting against some obstacles which are not natural, but are erected by other human beings. The worker must be assured of some private property, specially the father of a big family.”