Temporal Trials

As far as the Italian Communists are concerned, the Pope can stay. In the new Italy, the Italian Communist Party agreed last week, Pius XII can remain "if the people wish it--we have nothing against him." But, added the Communists, "many of the Cardinals are Fascists." They also proposed to "separate the Church from the State, admitting the Church only to the exercise of religious functions from its seat in Rome."

Less gracious was Count Sforza's liberal Partito d'Azione (Action Party), which charged that the Pope "has always been a reactionary favoring an absolute and paternal government, even after Mussolini's fall." Said the Action Party: "By means of a Parliament and the press we must discuss with the people ways of restricting the Church's influence. This might be done by encouraging other forms of religion."

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