Crusade for a Christian Civilization, March-April 1977 (www.tfp.org)

 

Declaration signed by 1000 Spanish Priests supports thesis of the book The Church of Silence in Chile; praises Introduction by the Cultural Society of Covadonga on "Analogies” to Spain

 

The publication in Spain of the history-making book The Church of Si­lence in Chile has aroused great interest in that European country, not only in the cultural and civic spheres but also in ecclesiastical milieus.

The Cultural Society of Cova­donga, in collaboration with the pub­lishing house, Fernando III el Santo of Madrid, took the initiative in spreading the book in Spain. For this purpose, the Covadonga Society prepared an "Introductory Analysis," which was published in the book; this introduction presents impressive "analogies between the Chilean situation and the Spanish situation of the past few years." Thus, the process now being carried out in Spain is shown to be analogous to the one carried out in Chile by the Chilean Christian Democracy, with support from the Chilean Episcopate and clergy, in order to lead the Marxist Allende to victory in that country.

The publication of the book led to a declaration signed by more than 1000 Spanish priests who support the thesis of the book and the "Introductory Analysis" of the Cultural Society of Covadonga. This declaration has been published in major Spanish newspapers, along with a statement by the Covadonga Society addressed to the people of Spain. These documents are published below.

 

 

DECLARATION OF THE SPANISH PRIESTS

 

The signers of the present declara­tion view as highly opportune the launch­ing of the first edition published in Spain of the book The Church of Silence in Chile—The TFP Proclaims the Whole Truth. This edition, which was publish­ed by the Cultural Society of Covadonga in collaboration with the publishing house, Fernando III el Santo, has, be­sides the main title, a subtitle which reads: "A Theme for Meditation by Catholic Spaniards."

 

 

COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNISTS DIVIDES CATHOLIC CITADEL

 

We shall abstain from making any pronouncement in this document about the political situation of Spain. We rec­ognize that Communism with its habi­tual apparatus of crypto-communists, useful innocents, "fellow travelers," and others, is attempting to take advan­tage of the present situation in order to subjugate our country once again.

From 1936 to 1939, the Reds were defeated in this Hispanic land by means of a glorious national Crusade, being obliged to contend with a clergy in which the immense majority closed ranks behind the Church and the most precious traditions of our country. However, today the Reds find the Cath­olic citadel divided, a fact of the utmost gravity.

 

 

IN CHILE, BISHOPS AND PRIESTS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR MARXISM TO COME TO POWER

 

This division in the Catholic cita­del is occurring over the goals of the Communists, or at least over their methods. There are many who believe that a collaboration with these enemies is possible, either in the short or in the long run.

In the case of Chile, a similar division in the ranks of the Catholic Church brought as a consequence the ascension to power of the Communist Party allied to the Socialist Party of Allende. It also resulted in the Marxist regime of the Popular Unity being main­tained in power for three years. And today that division is still a continuous source of disquiet in that Latin Ameri­can country.

 

 

A SOLID DOCUMENTATION

 

These facts about Chile have been demonstrated solidly and with many documents by the work The Church of Silence in Chile — The TFP Proclaims the Whole Truth. This book proves that many Chilean bishops and priests collaborated with the Marxist regime in order to bring it to power and keep it there. Moreover, they have now trans­formed themselves into the most power­ful and effective bulwark of the opposi­tion elements which are working to re­store Marxism in Chile. This destructive action of these bishops and priests has developed to such a point that the good priests and faithful Catholics have been reduced to the situation of a Church of Silence.

 

 

"COVADONGA" WANTS TO PREVENT A SIMILAR TRAGEDY FROM OCCURRING IN SPAIN

 

The Cultural Society of Covadonga, desiring to make a meritorious contri­bution that would prevent an analogous tragedy from occurring in Spain, has un­dertaken the task of publishing the Span­ish edition of the above-mentioned work, adding to it a lucid and coura­geous "Introductory Analysis." By this analysis, it tries to bring the attention of Spanish public opinion to the danger re­presented by a repetition of the Chilean drama among ourselves.

We consider it timely to stress as an example, a very characteristic fact cited in the "Introductory Analysis," which describes "analogies with the Spanish situation." This fact, which is the source of perplexity, is the immunity enjoyed by a current which calls itself Catholic. In Spain, this current has adopted an openly Marxist position for many years, yet it has not been officially condemned by the Spanish Bishop's Conference. We refer to the movement "Christians for Socialism" which has already held several meetings in our country and which continues to spread dangerously in certain ambiences which are presented as Catholic.

 

 

LUC1DITY, OBJECTIVITY, AND TIMELINESS OF THE INTRODUCTORY STUDY

 

We therefore congratulate the Cul­tural Society of Covadonga for the lucidity, objectivity, and timeliness of this introductory document. And we be­seech Divine Providence to help spread the book The Church of Silence in Chile — A Theme of Meditation for Catholic Spaniards in these lands which were blessed by the virtues of Saints such as Saint Ferdinand of Castille and Saint Theresa of Jesus.

 

(Note to the reader: The subtitles do not appear in the original declaration.)

 

 

THE CULTURAL SOCIETY OF COVADONGA TO THE PUBLIC

 

Despite the fact that Communism is the worst enemy of the Church in our days, the Spanish Episcopate has, in the last few years, become inhibited about defending the Church with full effec­tiveness. In short, it has not shown itself to be ready to make integral use of the triple power that Our Lord Jesus Christ has bestowed upon the Episcopate, that is, the powers of Magisterium, govern­ment, and the sanctification of souls.

In fact, the various declarations coming from episcopal sources which provide a rejection of Communism generally contain omissions, ambigui­ties, or attenuations. These have the effect of tranquilizing the anti-com­munist fiber of our people instead of stimulating it to indispensable combat. Therefore, such declarations do not constitute a proportional and effective defense against an adversary which attacks the Church and Christian Civilization continuously and by all imaginable means, both direct and indirect.

Moreover, this is all the more so, since at the national and inter­national levels this adversary is a­ble to count on the enormous help (either open or concealed) of multiple means of social communica­tion.

 

 

II

 

Besides the external attack of Communism against the Church and Christian Civilization, we also notice, against one and the other, the treach­erous and much more destructive attack being conducted by Communist infil­tration in Catholic milieus.

It is reasonable to expect that, since such infiltration is occurring all over the Catholic world, we should also find it in Spain. And indeed it is oc­curring here also. It most commonly manifests itself by promoting para­communist, crypto-communist move­ments or ideologies under a socialist la­bel, or also, as is natural, under a Cath­olic-Communist, Catholic-Socialist, or vaguely Catholic-leftist label.

 

 

III

 

Finally, it is necessary to add to the declarations of the Episcopate con­taining grave omissions a considerable number of declarations and attitudes of the Catholic Episcopate, clergy, and la­ity, which are positively in agreement with leftist or leftist-tending doctrines and activities.

 

 

IV

 

When we consider what happened in Chile and in other countries in which Communist infiltration in Catholic cir­cles reached a zenith, we note that in each case the phenomenon methodi­cally started with a framework identi­cal to the one described above.

Therefore, it is impossible not to suspect that Communism is begin‑

 

 

V

 

Now more than ever, it is timely to utter a vigorous word to alert Catho­lic Spaniards.

Having seen so many other associ­ations remain silent, the Cultural Society of Covadonga, a civic society of Catholic inspiration which dedicates itself to the combat against Communism and socialism, considers that it has the duty to address — with due respect for their Lordships the Bishops and for the reverend secular and regular clergy —with fraternal love the great multitude of Catholics, of whom we have the honor to form a part.

For this, we could not choose a better moment than the present one, in which the Cultural Society of Cova­donga is releasing to the public the pressive declaration of support of more than 1000 priests from all regions of Spain. We received this support be­cause of the publication of the book The Church of Silence in Chile and most especially because of the words of the "Introductory Analysis — Analogies with the Spanish Situation."

The important declaration by these one thousand priests shows that broad sectors of the clergy of our country are deeply worried about the Communist infiltration in Catholic circles, the omissions of the Spanish Episcopate, and the leftist or leftist­ tending tone of certain declarations by ecclesiastical personalities and the Catholic laity.

*

Among the 1061 signers of this declaration, who come from all regions of Spain, are 125 Canons, 198 parish priests, and 40 assistant priests. Among the signers belonging to religious orders are 10 Benedictines, 1 Cistercian, 6 Augustinians, 4 Carmelites, 5 Domini­cans, 13 Franciscans, 14 Capuchins, 1 Servite, 31 Jesuits, 20 Paulines, 21 Claretians, 2 Salesians, 1 Passionist, 3 Redemptorists, and 17 religious from other congregations.

*

The originals of this declaration are in the possession of the Cultural Society of Covadonga. Notarized photo­copies of the signatures may be seen at the main headquarters of the Soci­ety from Monday to Friday at the following hours: from 10 to 12 A.M., from 5 to 7 P.M. The first edition of The Church of Silence in Chile having been sold out, the Cultural Society of Covadonga announces the publication soon of the book Leftism in the Church: Fellow Traveler of Communism in its Long Adventure of Failures and Metamorphoses, which was recently published in Uruguay and which is certain to have the same or even greater repercussions than the one on Chile.

 

THE CULTURAL SOCIETY OF COVADONGA

 

Lagasca 127, no. 1 derecha  

Madrid 6, Spain

 

Jose Maria Rivoir Gomez,                          

President

 

Jose Luis de Zayas y Arancibia,

Secretary