THE POPE’S ENCYCLICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1931, Page 3

THE POPE’S ENCYCLICAL

LABOUR MEMBERS’ VIEWS. THE THEORY OF MARX. The Pope’s Encyclical declaring against Socialism has naturally given rise to much interest amongst members of the New Zealand Labour Party, the policy of which is Socialistic. The opinion is generally held that the Pope’s attack was not directed against the form of Socialism adopted by the Labour Party but against the more extreme forms.

The matter was discussed by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.),- who is a prominent member of the New Zealand Labour Party. “The subject is so,wide that it would be impossible to discuss it adequately in a five-minute interview,” said Mr Sullivan. “Everything turns upon the interpretation of the term Socialist. The Christian Church may be, and is, interested in ethical principles, and so I can understand its hostility to what is known as Marxian Socialism, which involves acceptance of the materialistic interpretation of history, which in turn assumes that the progress of civilisation is exclusively conditioned by economic considerations.

“Marxian Socialism also postulates acceptance of the theory of the class war, and I have always understood that'any Christian hostility to Socialist principles was definitely confined to these things which it regards as giving. a disproportionate importance to the materialistic factors in our lives. “1 have never heard or read of any leader in the Christian Church or any of its denominations/ describing the Socialism of the Labour Party as antireligious or- anti-Christian. That my view of the matter is the one which is universally accepted is evidenced by the fact that in this country, and in every other country, the Labour Party contains within its ranks people of every religion, and of no religion. It .also includes very many Christian clergymen.

“Even those denominations which prohibit their clergy from taking part have publicly expressed approval of the ideals of the Labour Party. The Labour Party is Socialistic, hut that does not involve it in acceptance of the philosophical basis of Marxian Socialism. So I consider that no member of the Christian Church, or any section of it, would hesitate for a. moment about adhering to the principles of the Labour Party.”

TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS SOCIALISM. “1 claim to he a Christian, a Catholic and a Socialist,” said Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P. for Christchurch East, “and I cannot see that one is in conflict with any other. In fact, it is difficult to see how any man who claims to be a true Christian can be anything other than a Socialist.” The matter depended entirely on what type of Socialism was referred to, and to what particular part o. the world it was in. “There may be types of Socialism which even I would not associate myself with,” he said.

“THESE MAD MULLAHS.” PRIEST'S CASTIGATION. The Sydney “Daily Telegraph” of 18th May states that there is great interest in northern .»ew South Wales in the fight being put up by the various churches against the Communists in the Labour Movement. At thL Catholic Church at C'essnoclc the prev.ous o.i,y a, strong attack on what he termed ’Pagan Sectarians’’ in the Labour movemant was made by the Her. Lather ‘Davorai, many n o n-Cathol:cs attending to hear the address.

It is morally certain that the present and immediate objecti. e of Pagan •Sectarianism in Australia is the material impoverishment and utt.r moral degradation of the workers,” said Father Davoren. ‘The pagan sectarian will tell you that he has devoted h-;s life to the uplift of the worker. How do's he uphold his claim?

"He does* so by constantly fomenting strikes, irrespective of the justice or otherwise of the worker’s claim, irrespective of the probable success or failure of a strike, and irrespective of whether an abortive strike does not leave the- workers’ state more, impoverished than before.

“If 'such sectarian devotion to the workers’ cause be persisted in, it must, as a logical consequence, succeed in making the ’ worker materially and morally the poorer. “Moreover, how can the dignity of the worker, or respect for his just rights, be maintained by such a ruthless policy? It is impossible, for even his best friends must look askance at him. How long, therefore, will Labour men of spirit tolerate this studied pauperisation of their families, this degradation of their manhood, and this debasement of their just rights at the hands of these sectarians? Not for long I hope.”

“Who should believe or trust in these mad Mullahs, when even the school child is aware that w their intemperate and nauseating zeal for fife worker and his cause is but merely a veil to mask their innate -insincerity.

MORAL DEGRADATION

“Nowhere, perhaps, is the debased cunning of these ingrates displayed to such effect as in their shameless attempt to bring about the utter moral degradation of the worker. “To this end they dangle before Ivs eves .7 state of prosperitv. purely material, which begins and ends with the earth a state where the worker shall

live in the lap of luxury, and where but a modicum of labour shall suilice to maintain! it.

“They call it I think, the ■Millennium.' As you see, it is nothing more than a degrading appeal to the mere animal instincts in mail.

“Christianity, by the my essence of its message, must De ooiiipleUiy and thoroughly opposed to it. “Knowing this, the sectarians inform us that before the worker can even remotely appreciate this millennium of theirs, ent.cing as it is, it is imperative that his mind be thoroughly expurgated of what they term that ‘colossal and superstitut.ious fallacy’ known as Christianity.

“Hence these voracious monsters, with the low cunning of the rodent, strive to gnaw into the very vitals of the worker’s religious belief, that thus having robbed him, lie shall be as clay in the potter’s hands to he shaped in accordance with the desires of their purely animal instincts and outlook. Stripped of its camouflage, their attack on the worker’s religion may justly be expressed as follows: — “A personal God who will reward the good and punish the wicked simply does not exist, or if He does He is merely a jest, therefore, so far as He is concerned, why should the worker worry about the performance of good works, or why should he refrain from the perpetration of evil deeds? No need whatever, imply the sectarians.

“Again, these sectaries inform us that man does not possess an. immortal soul. His life, as is the case with the beast, ends with the grave. “Therefore, as God does not count, why, so far as ITc is concerned, may the worker not adopt the tactics of the criminal and indulge' in the moral ity of the fowlvard? No reason whatever why he may not again cunningly imply the sectarians. “Tt is self-evident that this iroligious teaching is pre-eminently calculated to beget the complete moral ruin of the worker. “Surely you will not take this debasing treatment lying down. Surely you will rid your great movement of this the most blighting curse that has overtaken the human family.”

ARCHBISHOP’S WARNING. Speaking at the annual Communion breakfast of the Catholic Daughters of Australia on Sunday, 17th. May, Archbishop Dubig, of Brisbane, said that Communism was a terrible menace, not only to the peace and order of society, but to their faith and principles of life. Before it was too late the Government should insist that Communism got no footing in Australia. That the days of persecution were not over had been shown by recent events in Mexico and Spain. If the occasion arose here there were people in Australia who would willingly persecute Catholics and drive the Church out of the country. He was

grateful to tTie Anglican community for its expression of sympathy about

the tragic events in Spain. The previous week lie received a letter from Archbishop Sharp, conveying regret from the Anglican Diocesan Synod.