RADIO PRIEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1942, Page 3

RADIO PRIEST

MAGAZINE BANNED ACTION BY AMERICAN POST OFFICE. DISSEMINATION OF NAZI PROPAGANDA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 14. The Post Office Department has revoked the mailing privileges of Father Coughlin’s “Social Justice” magazine, banning it from the mails and also ordering the radio priest to appear in Washington on April 29, to show cause why the revocation should not be made permanent. The Attorney-General, Mr Biddle, sent a letter to the Post Office Department, citing instances in which “Social Justice” violated the Espionage Act, 1917, under which Father Coughlin is liable to. a fine and imprisonment. Mr Biddle stated that the magazine made a substantial contribution to the systematic and unscrupulous attack against the war effort of the United States, both civilian and military, since December. He added that the matter contained in the magazine since then showed a close relation to the 10 major themes which had been broadcast by the Axis enemies. Mr Biddle said there was striking similarity in the “Social Justice” issue of December, 1938, to a speech made by the German propaganda minister, Dr. Geobbels three years previously. He alleged that whole portions of Goebbels’s speech had been published in “Social Justice” as an original article. / CHALLENGE INVITED STATEMENT BY FATHER COUGHLIN.

(Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 15.

Father Coughlin, interviewed tonight at his home in Detroit, said: “I am neither the editor, owner nor publisher of “Social Justice.” However, if the Attorney-General wishes to summon me to Washington to defend the propriety of “Social Justice,” I will not only be happy to do so, but I challenge him to issue the invitation. The reason why I make this statement is due to the persistent fact that the Communists and New Dealers of America have been characterising me as a pro-Nazi and a disgrace to the priesthood. Therefore I will gladly meet their challenge if the Attorney-General has the intestinal fortitude to issue it.”