THE POPE AND BELGIUM

New Zealand Tablet, 17 June 1915, Page 49

THE POPE AND BELGIUM

The letter which the Holy Father addressed to Mgr. lleylen, Bishop of Namur, after having read his report on the German outrages in that diocese, is another noteworthy proof of the profound sympathy his Holiness feels for the Belgian people (says the Catholic Times). He shares the trials and calamities under which- they have suffered at the hands of the Kaiser legions, and his heart goes out to them in a special manner in consideration of the* services they have rendered to the Catholic religion. If it be said: ‘lt is well that'the Pope’s sympathy with Belgium should be so unmistakably expressed, but why has his Holiness not condemned German aggression in violating the treaty with that country?’ The reply is that the teaching of the Catholic Church is the most forcible protest that could be made against it. The proposition that The violation of any jsacred oath or any evil and wicked action repugnant to the eternal law is not only not to be condemned, but is cpiite lawful and worthy of the highest praise when committed through love of country,’stands specifically condemned in the .Syllabus of Pius IX. German attempts to justify what is intrinsically unjust and immoral are, it is scarcely necessary to say, entirely contrary to Catholic doctrine.