ANTI-GOD CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1930, Page 5

ANTI-GOD CAMPAIGN

ATHEISTIC DICTATORSHIP

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, Feb. 7. -‘Foreigners are often amazed at the passivity with which the Russians heat the Soviet’s outrageous insults on religi m; but, to judge fairly, one must remember the constant requisitions, the espionage, and the terrorism including the executions, averaging five each day, to which the Russian people are being subjected, said the ex-Prime Minister of Russia, M. Kerensky, in a speech at Oxford. M. Kerensky stated that everyone in Russia was solely dependent on tlie Soviet Government, which is the only employer. . Any expressions of religious convictions meant unemployment,

also the withdrawal of one’s ration

card and a speedy death from starva- \ ,tion. The Red Army’s officers and C ■*’ soldiers, lie said, were in even a more i unenviable position. .In pursuance of f a policy of making the Red Army the nursery of atheism, the men were subjected continually to spying, both openly and secretly. These persecutions were tending to unite the population of Russia in a common hatred of the dictatorship.

: . ROME, Feb. 0. .. The letter of the Pope, denounced the ’ hprning of hundreds of ‘churches and the suppression of Sunday, ' also public acts of sacrilege, such as a mock 'religious procession, spitting on , the- Cross. • ... POLITICAL LEANINGS.' There was a surprising end to the Karnnidge trial. The three defendants were acquitted. The Court ordered the proceedings against the remanded be abandoned, and declared '. the defendants were actuated by unselfish political motives and entitled I to the amesty granted to politcal prisoners on the occasion of Linden- ' burgh’s eightieth birthday. The public prosequtor is asking for i a retrial. ! The newspapers express amazement afid contemplate, no-fc easily the conclusions to be drawn from the verdict, and ask whether the political elements in Germany liberty are counterfeit currency for the purpose of overturning the Government. lile^eiveil tills day at S a.m.) ROAIE, Feb. 8. The Pope, in a letter to Cardinal Pompili, condemns what he terms the sacrilegious wickedness that is being perpetrated in. Russia against God and against the, souls of men. The Pope invites the Bishops and Catholics throughout the world to pray for ithe cessation of this moral and material destruction of the religion of people wlio constitute one-sixth of those on the globe. The Pope also announces tha the will celebrate a Mass of atonement, propitiation, and freparation at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on March 19tli. . The Pope deplores the action of the Soviet in the perverting of youth and { contaminating souls with all- sorts of ' vices, and also in destroying the intelligence of human nature. He adds that, had the nations assembled at the Genoa Conference in the year 1922, acceded. to his request for them to agree to insist upon religious freedom in Russia, it would have spared many evils. The material interests which then prevented such a. response to the request,, would have themselves been better served if the Governmnts had respected the interests of God.