Russia Loses Her Monasteries
Radziwill, Catherine
ISO THE COMMONWEAL June 16, 1926 in Rome that there is a big problem and that the them such statements of...
...and but few among those of taking part in all their revels...
...its realize its value...
...In any Conditions have changed enormously since Leo XIII case, there and elsewhere, authoritative guidance in issued, in 1891, the Rerun Novarum, and the other principle, if possible with up-to-date interpretation in encyclicals, many of which, though popularly over- practice, is the first need...
...RUSSIA LOSES HER MONASTERIES By CATHERINE RADZIWILL NOT long ago, the newspapers published a cable among them real saints, and excellent priests, but also from Moscow, saying that the Soviet govern- (alas, more frequently the case) very ignorant men ment had decided to suppress monasteries in without any education whatsoever, prone to friendliRussia...
...which they were held...
...They were never who read it realized that it constituted one of the most esteemed, save in quite exceptional cases, and their abominable attempts ever made to destroy religion conduct generally justified the kind of ostracism in completely in poor unfortunate Russia...
...harm, moral and material, results...
...No good, nothing but immense for, the preliminary spade work of the competent...
...shadowed by the most famous document, should also It is a fact that the only ultimate resort that the be studied in connection...
...What is to be or principles to existing conditions...
...Similarly, in the occato speak on the urgent problem of the moment or on sional instances when the employed have, say, broken any other subject, but there is nothing to prevent, a pledged agreement, the only ultimate resort of the and the critical conditions of the times do seem to call employers is a lockout...
...Bishops, archimandrites, and metrohope of being able to rise to one of the high dignities politans could only be chosen from the ranks of the of the Church...
...It fell to England Much has been done and written on this subject, par- to be brought face to face suddenly, through the deticularly in the United States...
...ISO THE COMMONWEAL June 16, 1926 in Rome that there is a big problem and that the them such statements of principle and suggestions of thoughts of the world are exercised on it...
...That is why Mussolini's that those in authority, in governments, in the League plucky move is worth studying and why the world may of Nations and elsewhere, are glad to have put before well seek guidance...
...instructs its experts, historians, theologians, canonists, It so happens that conditions in Italy have produced to get to work on it, to tabulate all that has been a man of remarkably clear insight and determined thought and said on it from time immemorial, in action...
...These can never be raised to the the bulwark of the Orthodox Church, for many of rank of bishop, unless they lose their wives and, being them were remarkable prelates and enlightened and forbidden to remarry, enter a monastery with the independent men...
...It is not for the writer to employed have to protect themselves against what they judge whether Pius XI will think it wise or opportune feel to be injustice is a strike...
...Nine times out of ten, its representatives married before they were ordained, and who fulfill were faithful servants, and, let us say the word, spies, the duties of average clergymen-baptize, marry, and of the government, keeping it informed as to the politibury their parishioners, and instruct small children in cal opinions of the parishioners...
...Formerly in Russia one could find Black clergy, and the most brilliant theologians of the...
...The first are parish priests, who have of existence...
...It has expressed itself others of good will who are not too prejudiced to to meet the emergency of the moment in England...
...the parish schools (or, at least, did so when these On the other hand, the Black clergy in Russia were schools existed...
...Parish priests in large towns To understand the immense consequences of this were a little better, but this did not mean much, and in Bolshevik atrocity, one must realize the fact that the general the White clergy constituted a class without Greek Orthodox priests are divided into White and any energy, dependent on its parishioners for the means Black groups...
...But neither Mussolini, man, nor Fascism, matter of principle and in application of the principle regime, are "articles of exportation...
...Rome, then, application to existing problems...
...That good cyclical as guidance to the three hundred odd million sense must find expression suitable to particular counCatholics who look to him for guidance and to all try, people, place, conditions...
...Finally, the remembered is that neither the one nor the other mouthpiece of the Church, the Pope, embodies this could have done what they have done for the country teaching of principle and, as far as may be, its applica- if they had not had behind them the support of the tion to the existing conditions of the times in an en- good sense of practically the whole people...
...In general, too, there velopment of industrialism, with a crisis so serious as, is more than one association of experts in the Catholic surely, to have brought home to the shallowest thinker world-and, without doubt, also among non-Catholics the realization that such a condition of things is all -studying urgent problems of the day, and it is known wrong and must not continue...
...permanent expression there is yet to be seen...
...The report was given in a casual manner, as ness with the peasants of their parishes to the extent if it were a matter of course...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 6
