FOUNDATIONS FOR NEW PAGANISM

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 8

FOUNDATIONS FOR NEW PAGANISM

Russia’s Anti-God Campaign

ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLES CONCERNED

Dominion Special Service. *

Auckland, January 7

“I was there for the deluge,” was the humorous comment of Cardinal Macßory, Papal Legate to the Melbourne Eucharistic Congress, who arrived by the Niagara this morning from Sydney, and was asked his impressions of Australia. His Eminence is on his return journey to the eternal city. He will spend the remainder of the week in New Zealand, and sail by the Mariposa on Saturday. He intends spending at least two days in the Rotorua district. •

“I was pleased with Australia,” said Cardinal Macßory. “The only things that I have perhaps taken exception to were the rain and storms which prevailed during my visit.” Asked to comment on Ireland, he said: “It is still the same dear laud.” Then, speaking of unrest and unbelief, his Eminence said: “The campaign against Christianity and against God, begun in Russia, is fast becoming world-wide. It is laying solid foundations for a new paganism, which is far worse than the old paganism of Greece and Rome. “The ancients had at least some belief in the supernatural, and they had their gods, such as -they were, whereas this new paganism is anti-God and can be counteracted successfully only by organised and concerted action on the part of all Christian peoples. It is for that reason that his Holiness Pope Pius XI is calling so urgently uponthe Catholic laity to engage in Catholic action. This attempt to overthrow religion is not a haphazard thing, but an organised campalgu which must be met by organised forces.” Cardinal Macßory is accompanied by Monsignor Tohall and Monsignor O’Callagban, both of his own diocese. Included in the party is Monsignor Terzariol, Papal Master of Ceremonies, from the Vatican. Dr. Liston, Bishop of Auckland, met his Eminence on board the Niagara. Cardinal Macßory, accompanied by Monsignor Tohall and Father McKeefy, of Auckland, will motor to Rotorua tomorrow. On Friday afternoon he will give his blessing to the new Mater Misericordlae Hospital.