April 17.
The letter appearing in yesterday's correspondence columns urging that Pope Pius XII should employ the church's most power-fut weapon,—that of excommunication,—inst the leaders of aggression raises all sorts of interesting questions. The correspondent in question does not appear to sug-west that aggressor nations should be laid under an interdict, but that those responsible for committing them to warfare should be placed under the heavy displeasure of the Roman Catholic Church. 'The passing of the sentence of excommunication upon in~ dividuals, for which there is Biblical authority, was eventually under the Popes extended to whole nations, so that precedent would Suggest that the' moderate step which the correspondent suggests could in the circumstances be amply justified. In 908 Pope very V placed an interdict upon France Because of the contumacy of King Robert the Wise, in 1102 Gregory VII treated Ger many the same way, England was placed under a similar ban by Innocent III in 1206, hile Adrian IV disciplined even Rome itself by the same means in 1155. The excommunication of individuals is consequently small thing as compared with the exclusion of whole nations from the services of the! Holy Church, and on the face of it there appears to be no reason why His Holiness should not avail himself of this weapon.in attempt to avert the holocaust which modern widespread war must necessary bring about, Excommunication of the leaders ndieated would relieve the masses of adhere cence to city oaths of loyalty sworn to them personally. The fact that the Roman Catholic Church had so emphatically condemned any breach of the world's peace would be brought home to, those millions of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.