MEANS END OF FREEDOM

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1948, Page 5

MEANS END OF FREEDOM

Prp.fm Association)

, Cafcolic Bishop D'sfflounces v Communism

. (Pur

WELLINGTON, March 18. Speakmg at Bc. jfatrick's coimert lasr night, Bishop Lyons referred to the menace of Communism. "We. would be a most uno»jsei'vanc ana aiSiixuei este'd people if we were not hcf rined these days at the , sad state of many nations in Europe'.' Stricken to the grouna by war, they are now bemg crushed to death in an.era of peace by a new , and even more terrible evii — the. plunder and destruction of their most funuamentai rights. The invasion of these wretched lands oy ruihiess hordes has swept away. their last vestige 'of freedom and human dignity for some ' years," aaded the Bishop. v . •- "We have seen" the strange ' speciacle of peopie, some of thenr m strategic piaces in New Zealand, toyihg with Communism. and making a'dvances to its policy of destiuction and disruption. However, even though it be at the eleventii hour, the terrible happenings iii Europe, together with the unrest and disorder eaused by the. Communists in Australia and, to a less usgiee, in our country, have made their mark. We have ail felt relitved that in the last few days our Parliamenuary representatives, wnether of .the Governmenp ;or of the Cppcsition, have pie'dged to us their aetermination to stay. the hand of the wreckers who would abuse the. freedom of this - Domin- : ion to destroy the liberty of its people, .and who have innltrated _ar into the trade unions and other institutions' of- oilr democrafe^ to propagate a policy of p.aganiem and slavery on a free an'dtGhkus'-1' tian country. , „ For many cohtin'ued Bishop Lyons, "the Bishops of the Catholic Church of New Zeal&nd, as in other countries, have followed the noble leadership of Supreme Pontiffs in issuing a " constant warning about the danger to "human rights and liberty from Communism. In so doing the Church has not been condemning a political ;;party, for Communism is no more -a political system than was Hitler a democrat. It is clear, whether examihed in theory or in the light of the practical examples it has given in countries brought behind its iron curtain, and crushed under its iron heel, that Communism means the end of all politics and all freedom. "Under ComrnuniMic rule where do- we find any real Parliament or free -elections, political parties or even politicians? Where do" we see a free judiciary or the right of an accuse'd to be def ended? Where is there freedom of speech, of- Press or elementary right ' of religious worship? "The Church denounces Com- ' muni'sm, not only because it is openly anti-Christiaiii but also because -it is cleaiTy the "enemy of pefsonal iib'erty and Of the' rights given to man by his Creator. "I am confident," concluded' Bishop Lyons, « "that our leaders can rely upon the fullest support of the New Zealand people in the measures they propose to use to protect our country from its greatest danger." "