PAPAL REPLY TO MUSSOLINI.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18285, 7 June 1929, Page 9

PAPAL REPLY TO MUSSOLINI.

Recent Speeches Deprecated SET-BACK TO RECENT REJOICING (United Preae Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ROME, June 5. “Together they stand and together they fall, even If the Vatican City State should fall with them," declared the Pope in a letter to Cardinal Oasparri, answering Signor Mussolini'* speeches. The letter especially refers to Signor Mussolini's hint that the fate of the Lateran Treaty and Concordant may be the same. The Pope characterises Signor Mussolini’s speeches as sinful, and a setback to the rejoicing throughout Italy and the world following the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Referring to Signor Mussolini's declaration that if the Christian religion had not been transferred to Rome it would have flickered out like any other Palestine sect, the Pope adds: "Least of all would His Holiness have expected this heretical, or worse than heretical, expression regarding the very essence of Christianity and Catholicism.” The ietf-r continues: "It was neither fitting nor generous to recall laws and regulations, which must be most painful, offensive, and damaging to the Holy See, the Pontiff and Catholics throughout the world.” The letter declares that Signor Mussolini’s statement that the Church is subject to the Italian State is tantamount to saying that the Supreme Pontiff is subject to Italy, and adds that Signor Mussolini’s frequent declarations that the State preserved all means of vigilance over the Church clearly suggests that the clergy are suspicious characters and that the Church has attempted usurpation and spoliation of the State, while the contrary Is historically and notoriously true, both in Italy and abroad.