Show PAPAL inconsistency the roman catholic journals and the public press as well have recently carried announcements that the pope fearing that the church in this country may become suspected of disloyalty and as a result suffer here as it has in some other lands has ordered the parochial schools of the united states to begin to train their pupils in the principles of democracy and citizenship the proposal is a most excellent one and it is is I 1 to be hoped that it will be carried out and made a permanent policy but the motive behind the proposal seems open to question and criticism the query may be raised as to whether the roman heir archy really believes in democracy or if on the te contrary this is only a strategic move to make the position of the church in the united states more secure some are contrasting this order of the vatican with its policy toward spain A republican form of government had been established there with a constitution similar to that of the united states and with officers and legislature duly elected by popular vote A revolt was organized b by y reactionary elements did the vatican give the lawfully organized democratic government its support it did not it did not even remain neutral in the conflict from the inception of the plot it has defended and supported the rebels and has blessed and prayed for the success of the military leader who plotted the overthrow of the government to which he had sworn allegiance and that had entrusted to him the command of an army which he by perfidy and deceit turned to aid that plot this insurgent leader has nazi germany and fascist italy for allies and has openly proclaimed that if victorious he will establish in spain not a democratic but a fascist and totalitarian state and yet the vatican stands behind him and has done its utmost and with a considerable measure of success to draw the roman catholics of america to his support in view of this record in spain the question has been raised whether the vatican is really sincere in its sudden concern for democracy in the united states it was the closely organized and self perpetuating group of italian cardinals usually referred to collectively as the vatican which elected the present italian pope and which will certainly elect an italian as his successor and this same group determines the policies and frames the pronouncements noun cements which are sent out to the world as emanating from the pope individually it would seem pertinent to inquire whether if this group is in a position to issue orders to teach democracy to the three million american youth who attend the roman catholic schools may it not some time when the situation seems favorable send out its edict to teach them instead the fascism and totalitarianism which rules today in their own italy and would rule in spain if franco should be successful roman catholics in the united states have no part or lot in shaping such policies or in framing such pronouncements many who follow faithfully the religious tenets of the roman church resent such attempted domination and refuse to yield obedience to the political dictation of this foreign group looked at in the light of history of the record of the vatican in the past and of the more recent record in spain the order of the roman curia to inculcate democracy in the parochial schools of the united states appears to be jesuitical in at least one sense |