“SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”

Southland Times, Issue 24184, 22 July 1940, Page 6

“SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”

NEW CATHOLIC BODY FORMED CARDINAL KINSLEY’S MESSAGE (British Official Wireless) (Received July 21, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 20. An organization has been formed under the presidency of Cardinal Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster, and called at his suggestion the “Sword of the Spirit,” to co-ordinate and intensify the many efforts made by the Catholic bodies in England to fit themselves by prayer, work and study to contribute as much as they can to the national cause. Cardinal Hensley states in a message: “The fundamental rightness of our cause must be clearly kept before the gaze of all. We must insist that Nazism and its allied brand of absolutism are radically pagan. The god of radicalism, of rampant nationalism and of State supremacy can never cease to war against the peace of Christ. Violation of treaties, broken pledges and the avowed principle of self-interest as the only test of truth show that no part of the civilized world is safe from brute violence of aggression. “Britain is in this struggle on the side of truth, justice and freedom for all nations, great and small, weak and strong. The final aim of Nazism is the overthrow of Christianity. No specious excuses or pleas for foreign consumption can hide this purpose of the Nazi leaders. To this aim is directed the training of the children and youth in unhappy lands enslaved by the pagan clique of upstarts and tyrants responsible for the horrors of the occupation of Poland, mass murders, deportations and all the cruelties inflicted by radical persecution. “Most of us are already working actively for our country, but war activities do not exhaust our responsibility. By a sincere Catholic crusade of prayer and penance, by an intelligent study of events and facts, by the strenuous defence of our country’s cause, we shall do our share to secure the triumph of justice and charity.”