ITALY AND THE CHURCH

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18347, 5 June 1931, Page 7

ITALY AND THE CHURCH

A MUSSOLINI MANIFESTO. FASCISM MUST BE SUPREME. YOUTH SOCIETIES DISBANDED. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. ROME, June 3. Following on a meeting of the Directorate of the Fasoist. Party, over which the Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, presided, a communique has been issued saying the party, while reaffirming its deep and unchanged respect for the Roman Catholic faith, feels bound to declare that it will not tolerate antiFascist elements in Italy, under any flag whatever. Signor Mussolini instructed the Fascists to note tills principle and to remember that at any price the Fascist regime must be inflexibly defended. It is disclosed that many of the leaders of the Catholic Actlonlst Society have been summoned and cross-examined, and that at least one received the political warning which usually precedes banishment. Speaking with reference to the Government’s ban on* the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides’ organisations, Pope Pius said it was sorrowfully ridiculous even to suspect the Girl Guides of anti-Fascism.

The newspapers report that the dissolution of the youth associations not connected with the Fascists passed off without incident, but said the indecencies, destruction of property, sequestrations and vandalism throughout Italy, and also the offences against the Pontiff, would long be remembered.