To the Editor of the "Nonmu-Cmmxa Dany News"
SwRI do not know what impresgion Father Lipman's "sermon "Must We Have War?" as reported Im your columns on Monday, left fon the mind of the average reader, Bout st caused at least one to rub his eyes and scratch his head. Surely it ig an outrage to the intelligence of Shanghai people to. ask us to) believe that "The Catholic Church, speaking through—the Supreme Pontiff, has always been the most potent factor in the preservation of ence" The. preacher referred to the 1th and 12th centuries. Were the Crusades, "blessed" as they were by the so-called "Vicars of Christ," some of the "notable contributions Townrds world peace?" What does scene atria a cola code Rigen so one capture of sereaiom. " murder Ses irl ae oners Biindete Bio mare nusertion of SEEM den Giusy Ser Bhat ec i oars byeaal Best Me Boon Bins, wee tortured sons ted Bylo Must we forget and forgive the awful massacres of the Albigense And what about the 13th and 140 centuries, before the "so-called Re formation... split Europe?" Is it not the case that rival "Vicars of Christ" scandalized and excommunicated each other, tortured or murdered their own cardinals and employed, Drigands and pirates to enforce their holy () claims? Is it not true that their doings, both private and public, were so revolting and sham ful that unbiassed readers of history ore justified in reaching the _con= clusion that, the primary qualification for a "Vicar" of Christ" is astuteness in political intrigue?
Now, Sir, there is no need to delve too deeply into ancient history which our friend of the "Society of Jesus" would doubtless like us. to ergot,. Why, modern history actually being made before our eyes, and, as of yore, the "Vicer of Christ" and his satellites have their part in it. How are they shaping? Did they not "bless" the armies that took part in the rape of Abyssinia? 'What about Spain, a country unintuenced by) the so-called Reformation"? Who "blessed" times thal, anyone" siughtered the Basques, who' themselves were Catholics Ju religion, owning allegiance to. the same" Father?" What is the attitude of the "Vicar of Christ" and his followers towards the cruel war of aggression that is being waged right now in China? They seem to be peculiarly silent ieyarding the hor ible atrociles being perpetrated civilian men, women and children occupied by endorse Japan's actions? Is their attitude towards "China similar to what they adopted towards Abyssinia? Knowing the Papacy's past history we tean but expect that its sympathies fare with Japan. What about the Chinese Caiholies? Where do they stand?
No, Sir there is no reason for believing or hoping that that aged {allan priest who calls himself the Vicar of Christ" is capable of doing anything to heat the wounds of the modern world any more than his arly predecessors healed those of the ancient world. What would he: them is a revival of Christianity in form emphasizing obedience to the teaching and example of Jesus! Christ far more than Rome has ever done or ever will do. The moral passion of a Savonarola would be more to one's taste than this academic discussion on "Must We Have War?" One wonders what will happen when God deals in. judgment with those who "call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for fight, and' tight for darkness."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.