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Show Urge Vatician I lo Take Stand H Belgian and French Cardinals Appeal H to Pope to Abandon Attitude H of Neutrality fl Ronie, April 29. Belgian and 1 French cardinals, archbishops and aiH bishops have united In an appeal to "r-M Pope Benedict tor the vatician to flLfl abandon the attltudo of neutrality It H has maintained since Uio bogtnnlng fl of the war. They say they cannot fl understand how tho head of a church fl which Is founded on principles of fl right and justice can remain neutral fl without protesting at tho satno ttmo B against those who violate written or m unwritten laws. The pontiff is urged rAffl to assume an attltudo which would H be epoch making In tho history of H the papacy. B Cardinal Merclcr, archbishop of M Mallnes; Cardinal Amettc, archbishop M of Paris and other members of the B sacred college, havo sent memoran 1 dums to the pope Insisting that such m nu opportunity may never occur B again for tho church to show that It m stands above political considerations caring only for tho moral and religious religi-ous Interests of Its people. The memorandums presented to tho popo say: "Injustice Is no more morally right for a nation than for tin Individual and Its perpetrator Is condemned by all Christian principles. Theologians denounto as a pagan error the assertion asser-tion that might Is right or that Uio right to wago war depends on force of arms. It Is worse still when a stronger country, fights from a deslro for conquest or domands a great Indemnity. In-demnity. This, alter the killing of thousands, Is called by St. Augustln brigandage, necessitating a league of honest peace loving nations. "Christian theologians call such wars thefts and also teach that the Injustice which war seeks to redress must be certain and evident. War Is morally wrong when In vindication of probable or doubtful rights." After citing authorities who condemn con-demn tho unnecessary destruction of Hfo and property, recommending of lovo even botween enemies and ordering or-dering that noncombatants bo spared, spar-ed, tho memorandums closo with this statement: "International laws and conventions conven-tions aro expressions of lcglttmato consideration. The Hague convention ot 1907 gives expression to moral principles binding on tho consciences conscienc-es of all Christians." |