THE POPE AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1915, Page 3

THE POPE AND THE WAR.

To the Editor. iSir,+-Permii me to make a few remark* U[.oll to-day's editorial. \\ e may prudently surmise that the Pope's . 1.11.il . .i.paiilii';.. ;tIV 'l'i'lljl uiislue Oil UiiK'Jl his mother, Aumir.il ileiia Uiic.ia, is lighting. As Head and ruler of llu: I. ni'.ersai Church, however, lie. is of nc-ce.-.sixy neutral. I'liis js jiuL a war of the vathoiic UillMi against aiiU-Cauiio--Ins or nou-Utholics. 1 know, indeed, that a most eminent writer and historian of world-wide fame would hold [hat Prussian Protestantism is the common enemy; )jut as a inatyer of tact, despite iu.-, contention, the* contending arniies are neither associated nor divided in lines of religion. It is better for the Allied Powers that tliey should not be, and those who arc appealing to her to take sides are talking without ill inki'l.U'. It is quite true, as you say, that the heads of the Anglican (Jliureu have taken a diliereiit eour.se, but the 'Anglican Church is the' Church of England, and Kng'lanil is not neutral. Tlieru is, 110 doubt, a strong feeling that the Pope should have voiced his sentiments coneerning the outrages committed by tile Germans; but theie is an equally strong fet-ling that he should have voiced his sentiments concerning the outrages committed by the other side. Hut the tune is quieklv. changed when he is now reported, no doubt untruthfully, to have condemned atrocities on both sides. It wouid be a fatal error, said an -illustrious English priest, to suppose that we had a monopoly of all the virtues and the Germans all the vices. You live wrong in holding that the claim of t'hc Germans to have ample food for all requirements would remove the ground of the 'Pope's condemnation of the blockade condemning millions of 'German, innocents to starvation; for thg Pope, as Vicar of Christ, condemns intentions, not j results, it is not for the result of our a.tiona we shall Ibe rewarded or con- j demned on the last day, but by the intention with which we perform them. "If thy eye bo single," ''Out of'the heart proceed." "He that looketh upon," and a thousand other texts piove this. Again, it » held that pontifical condemnation of German barbarities could not possi'blv be regarded as outside the pale, of the duty of the head of the Church or as inconsonant with neutrality. Whatever may for the moment be argued against this contention, and much has be;m well said agajnst it in editorials in the English Catholic press, we may surely hold that any such condemnation would show but little tact or prudence. We in New Zealand have formed certain definite judgments about barbarities, but we arc not the l'ope, nor have we the Pope's responsibility. Judgments are easily formed and declarations readily made where responabilities are slight. If you. Sir. will ! point out tin' particular atrocities whiph ! Vt-.11 think the l'ope should condemn, I I shall point out the reasons why in my j opinion he is not in a position to condemn them. 'Meantime 1 give it as my I own conviction that, while we in Hie j British Empire. Catholic and mm-Catho-lie. alike, should put forth onr whole strength against. Germany, it .would I>s the. wiser, the more prudent, and the more valiant course not to invite the head of the Catholic Church to hreat | the Church's neutrality in our favor. 1 It is our duty to take' sides; it is tho | duty of the Pope to hold the balance 'between liis own subjects who are in a large majority in each camp.—l am, etc., P. J. POWER. |

Hawera, Juno 2(1.