STATE AND CHURCH

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 32

STATE AND CHURCH

PROTEST BY THE POPE VIOLATION OF CONCORDAT. ROME, June 2. The Pope has protested'diplomatically to the Italian Government, alleging a violation of the Concordat. A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED. ROME, June 3. Following a meeting of the directorate of the Fascist Party, presided over by Signor Mussolini, a communique has been issued stating that the party, while re affirming its deep, unchanged respect for the Roman Catholic faith, feels bound to declare that it will not tolerate anti Fascist elements in Italy under any flag whatever. Signor Mussolini has in structed Fascists to note this principle and remember that at any price tlm regime must be inflexibly defended. It is disclosed that many leaders of the Catholic Action Society have been summoned and cross-examined, and nt least one has received a political warning which usually precedes banishment. BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL GUIDES. ROME, June 3. In reference to the Government’s clo.< ing down of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide organisations, the Pope declared sorrowfully that it was ridiculous even to suspect the Girl Guides of antiFascism. ROMAN CATHOLIS YOUTH. ROME, June 5. What is regarded as a direct blow to Roman Catholic youth organisations is the instruction issued by Signor Mussolini to the directorate of the Fascisti Party to issue a ruling forbidding all students under 18 years of age to belong to any organsation other than those connected with Fascism. communists' ON TRIAL. ' ROME, June 6. The Communists who'were concerned in the bomb outrage in April, 1928, at Milan, as the King drove .into the public square, when 20 . bystanders were killed were also charged with attempting the life of Signor Mussolini in the same week by dynamiting a railway line. They received sentences ranging from three years and a-half to twelve years. A CONFERENCE. DEADLOCK. ROME, July 5. The Italo-Vatican situation resulted in a deadlock, neither side showing the slightest indication of surrender.