Given from the Catholic Broadcasting Station 2SM Sydney Australia
Choose a topic from Vol 4:
They were either insufficiently informed concerning the nature of the social system at which Communism aimed, or else concerning the the nature of Christianity. Failing that, then they allowed their hearts to run away with their heads under the pressure of social and political sympathies which made them fail to advert to the supreme demand of loyalty to Christ.
I think you are understating your case. Surely Protestants think the teachings of their Protestant ministers, not merely as sound as those of the Catholic priest, but as superior and more in accordance with the truth. If not, why would they remain Protestants? In reality, the point you raise here is without value until the question is settled as to whether any given Protestant view of Christianity is, in itself, more reliable than the Catholic explanation of it. I might add that, in any case, not all Protestant ministers agreed with their fellow Protestant ministers who idealized everything Russian, including Communism.
Nor does Catholicism. But Communism does. And if Protestantism objects to the cornering of power, why should you object to the Catholic hurch doing all it can by moral persuasion to prevent Communism from attaining its goal? Do you hold that Protestants and Communists should become friends, as Herod and Pilate became friends at the cost of the death of Christ? A Protestant clergyman, the Rev. Emil Brunner, in his book "Communism, Capitalism and Christianity," says that some Protestants think that because the Roman Church has taken up the struggle against Communism, Protestants ought not to do so. But why, he asks should Protestants leave to the Roman Church the honor of having fought the greatest deviltry of our era, neglecting to do what as Christians they are in duty bound to do - resist the enemies of Christ?
What kind of a champion of any cause is one who does not even recognize the enemy of that cause, and is not prepared to do anything to check the activities of that enemy? You speak of understanding and obeying the Will of God. Then read, in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation our Lord's messages to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, each saying: "I know thy works . . . but I have somewhat against thee." Take the message to the Church at Thyatira: "These things sayeth the Son of God . . .I have against thee that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants." Do you think you are doing the Will of God by suffering Communism to teach and to seduce Christians, proclaiming that there is no God but the proletariat and no prophet but Karl Marx?
Yes. Already in 1937, in his Encyclical Letter "Atheistic Communism," Pope Pius XI had warned Catholics: "Without receding an inch from their subversive principles, Communists invite Catholics to collaborate with them in the realm of so-called humanitarianism and charity; and at times even make proposals that are in perfect harmony with the Christian spirit and the doctrine of the Church. They encourage the belief that Communism will assume another and much milder form. It will not interfere with religion or its practice. It will respect liberty of conscience. But the faithful must not be deceived. Communism is intrinsically wrong, and no one who would save Christian civilization may collaborate with it in any undertaking whatsoever." In July, 1949, Pope Pius XII expressly declared any Catholics who would join the Communist Party do incur excommunication, absolution from which is reserved to the Holy See.
"THAT CATHOLIC CHURCH
A Radio Analysis"
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