Proud Vaunt

To the 130-odd Roman Catholic bishops and archbishops of the U. S., who this week hold their annual policy-making meeting in Washington, D. C., Pope Pius XII sent a surprise message, the second encyclical of his reign. It celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the U. S. hierarchy.* His prime views:

On U. S. schools: "Christ is often despised or ignored, the explanation of the universe and mankind is forced within the narrow limits of materialism or of rationalism."

U. S. evils (due to "refusal to recognize the divine majesty") : ". . . immoderate and blind egoism, the thirst for pleasure, immodest and costly styles in dress . . . the lust for power, neglect of the poor, the flight from the land, levity in entering into marriage, divorce . . . birth control . . . neglect of duty to one's country."

On radio preaching: "The Marconi radio . . . is frequently and advantageously put to use in order to insure the widest possible promulgation of all that concerns the church. . . . But let those who fulfill this ministry be careful to adhere to the directives of the teaching church, even when they explain and promote what pertains to the social problem; forgetful of personal gain, despising popularity, impartial, let them speak 'as from God. . . .' "

On unions: "It is not possible without injustice to deny or limit either to the producers or to the laboring and farming classes the free faculty of uniting in associations by means of which they may defend their proper rights. . . ."

On the social question: "What a proud vaunt it will be for the American people, by nature inclined to grandiose undertakings and to liberality, if they untie the knotty and difficult social question by following the sure paths illuminated by the light of the Gospel and thus lay the basis for a happier age!"

Over Catholic Spain Pius XII was not so happy last week. He had heard that Generalissimo Francisco Franco wished to expel, as hostile to his regime, Tarragona's Francisco Cardinal Vidal y Barraquer, who during the Spanish War was as near to being neutral as any ranking prelate (TIME, Dec. 26). Moreover, Franco wished to re-establish the 1851 concordat, which would enable him to appoint Spanish bishops, whereas the Vatican favored something more up-to-date. Franco appeared to be dunning the Church for payment for having protected it.

* By Most Rev. John Carroll, bishop of Baltimore.

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