CATHOLICS AND LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 9

CATHOLICS AND LABOUR

POPE’S RECENT ENCYCLICAL SOCIALISM CONDEMNED TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June 17. “It will be generally admitted that very few British Labour people —certainly not the Roman Catholic Labour people —would deny the right of private ownership or preach class war, which the Pope’s encyclical strongly condemned,” said Cardinal Bourne, in an address at Edinburgh when answering questions from Catholics regarding the British parties to which they might belong. The Cardinal added: “ Doubtless there are some Labour people who are technically Socialists, which a true Catholic cannot be. A Catholic must walk warily. While accepting a party’s policy he must guard against a theory of action which is in conflict with the teaching of the church or that is contrary to the dictates of his conscience, which he must assert frankly and courageously.” The Cardinal emphasised that a Catholic could not ally himself wholly with any party which was largely composed of non-Catholics. —Times Cable.