POPE’S CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1931, Page 5

POPE’S CHARGE

CONCORDAT NOT KEPT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 17. “The Timcs’s ' Rome correspondent states:— "A great evil that is afiUeting Italy throughout the country, and espoci.l.y in Rome, is that of Pmtcr.tant Prosit*;,tihm which is being promoted witn a provocative persistency and is being permitted to continue with great Ilium to human souls,” said the Pope when addressing the Lenten preachers assembled at the Vatican City. flic Pope added that the Proselytism menaced the most precious thing of thought ami of souls, which always waa most efficacious in religious unity. Nevertheless, the authorities allowed it to continue, lie said, to an extent that was surprising to the Protestants themselves, who boasted of it and who were even talking of a Protestant pilgrimage to Italy for the (establishment of -a Protestant Synod. The Pope especially criticised the authorities for permitting Protestants to acquire land in the Holy City. He also declared that Rome was suffering from immoral books, periodicals, and films, and vUriety pcrrormatiees, also froui the profanation of the Sabbath, The young people attending these performances resembled “innocents taken to be slaughtered.” The Pope added that he protested and declared that these evils flagrantly contradict**!! the Italian concorcta which had acceptance “Rome’s sacred character.”

. The Pope’s hearers here hurst into applause. The Pope exclaimed: “This is no occasion for applause, but one for tears.”