Italy and Vatican

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18343, 1 June 1931, Page 7

Italy and Vatican

TENSE SITUATION. OFFICIAL CIRCLES CONCERNED. FASCISTS' ALLEGATIONS. United Press Assn—Elec. Tel. copyright. ROME, May 30. The police entered the offices of all Catholic organisations, many of which were closed, after the police took documents. The Government explains that this step is merely a provisional one owing to the recent disturbances. The heads of the associations lmmedately oonferred with the Pope. "This Is the unhappiest day In my life," said the Pope, In the course of an audience with the Papal Delegate, Monsignor Borglgnoni Duca, this evening. The remark Is the sadder beoause Monday will be the Pontiff’s 71st birthday. A Grave Situation, Both Government and Vatican circles are profoundly concerned. There Is no attempt to conceal the fact that a grave situation exists. A high Vatican official said the Holy See was Informed a month ago of a plot to foment disturbances. Among the Roman Cathollo clubs closed Is one whloh had its headquarters at a palace which was formerly occupied by the Pope’s Vicar for Rome, which! enjoys extraterritorial privileges under the Lateran concordat. The Fascist newspaper Lavoro Fascista 1 again violently attaoks the members of the Catholic Actlonist Party, who, it alleges, are linked with the anti-Fasoists. Another aocusatlon in political circles is that the Actlonist organisation has chosen a period of world economic orises to Initiate political propaganda all over Italy with the object of demonstrating that the Cathollo Party is a possible successor to the present regime. Elsewhere it Is alleged that one of the original causes of the tension was the Vatican’s demand for a Government ban on Protestant prapaganda all over the country. The Government replied that It was unable to accede, pointing out that the constitution admitted the equality of all religions. Bishops Take Control. The Osservatore Romano, the Vatican organ, appeared in the streets four hours late with an official . announcement that in view of the violent forms of aotlvity against 'the Actlonist Party the Holy See has decided that the Italian bishops shall assume the protection and direction of the society. This means that leaders of the society must take their orders directly from the bishops. The Osservatore also announces that owing to the serious situation the celebration' of the Diocesan Eucharist Congress is suspended, and the departure of the Cardinal delegate to Padua, in connection with the St. Anthony’s anniversary celebrations, is also suspended " owing to the acts of irreverence against the very person of the Supreme Pontiff."

LATER. POPE AND THE PILGRIMS. VISIT A SOLACE. FEELING AGAINST ACTION SOCIETY United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 1, 10.30 a.m.) ROME, May 31. The Pope, receiving 300 pilgrims, said their visit was a solace, “ 'because it occurs on a day which has seen brutal violence against the Aotion Society (which is most dear to us), and especially against youth, its flower. We have the natural right and duty to recall the existence of the Concordat." POPE’S STRONG PROTEST. CAMPAIGN OF FALSEHOOD. CONFERENCE WITH CARDINALS. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 1, 12.30 p.m.) VATICAN CITY, May 31. Addressing Cardinals and others the Pope protesting against the Italian authorities’ attitude towards Catholic organisations, declared that the Italian press were left free to prepare a campaign based on falsehood, while the mob resorted to violence, often accompanied by bloodshed, against our unarme.d and outnumbered sons and daughters. The present Italian educational system was opposed to Christian education and was inducive to hatred, irreverence and violence. The Pope later conferred with the Cardinals concerning the dispute. A WIDENING BREACH. ACTION SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES. NEUTRAL OBSERVERS’ VIEWS. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 1, 12-30 p.m.) ROME, May 31. The breach between Italy and the Vatican has so widened that neutral observers are of opinion that the Government must cillier disband the Action Society or compel the Vatican to limit the Society’s activities to purely religious matters. Yesterday’s events, particularly the ordering of Fascist prefects throughout Italy to disband the Catholic Young Men’s Clubs at discretion, are taken to indicate that the superior powers of the Fascists are determined, once for all, to settle the Action Society’s status. The Fascists claim that the Society has placed itself in direct opposition to the State since political parties apart from Fascists are not allowed in Italy. The Vatican denies that the Action Society is meddling in politics.

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