“PAGAN MOVEMENT”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22197, 26 February 1934, Page 9

“PAGAN MOVEMENT”

AIMS OF HITLERISM THE POPE’S DENUNCIATION. • VATICAN CITY, February; 24. {Received Feb. 25, at 9 p.m.) The Pope, apropos of the canonisation of three pietists, one of whom was a German, sternly denounces Hitlerism, saying: “The lives of these saints is a warning against a movement which wishes the world to return to paganism, with its ancient horrors.” He adds: “ The great and noble German people i? at a tragic moment in its history, tragic because the menace of great evils is always terrible. It is a moment of exaltation of thoughts, ideas, and practices which are neither Christian nor human, and of pride of race, producing a pride of life far removed from the spirit of Christianity and humanity.” The Pope denounced Protestant propaganda in Italy, as causing grevious , spiritual harm and offence to the Divine Redeemer, who suffered much through it." ’ ' 1 TROUBLE SIMMERING LONDON, February 16. The fact that Catholic newspapers have been compelled by the Nazi administration to publish sterilisation propaganda, and that young Catholics in youth organisations have been forced to attend interdenominational ' services, which Catholicism forbids, is causing the Vatican concern. Although the-Pope declares that he is still optimistic that differences will be settled, he admits openly that the Church is experiencing a most difficult time, says the Rome correspondent of The Times. ,« One of the greatest grievances is the Reich’s failure to accept or modify the Vatican’s list of recognised Catholic or- . ganisations, which was an important point of the Concordat. There is also a wide divergence of view on matters of doctrine and law on which the Church is not prepared to consent or remain silent," such as sterilisation, the Vatican holding that the Concordat, in preventing priests from joining political parties, does not imply limitation on their explanation of the Church’s dogmatical and moral doctrines, which is believed responsible for frequent arrests. Herr Hitler has dismissed Catholic teachers belonging to the Centre. Party, " and has substituted Nazis, to whose organisation Catholics previously had uot, been allowed to belong. The result has been that Catholic requirements are uot being sufficiently understood, leading to severe restrictions. 5 ' Another complaint is that members of youth organisations are not allowed sufficient time for religious duties. It is believed that Herr Hitler does not wish to destroy the Concordat, which he regards as one of his successes, but > that his colleagues are working against it. ~ There is also fundamental conflict upon racial distinctions, and the Vatican is bitterly opposed to the Nazi rejection of the Old Testament and modification of the New Testament, points upon which the Pope will not yield an inch.