Room for all honest men in the T.U.'s

Dr. Heenan
Catholic Herald Reporter
ARCH BISHOP Heenan of Liverpool last week stressed that there was no such thing as a " Catholic trade union movement " in this country. "And," he continued, "1 hope there never will be."
The Archbishop, who was addressing 800 Catholic trade unionists in a sermon at Liverpool Cathedral on the feast of St. Joseph the Workman, said that there was no reason why all honest men should not be active in the same unions.
"The situation is different in certain countries abroad," the Archbishop went on. "Christians have had to form their own trade union movements as a defence against anti-clericals. It would be necessary for Christians to form their own trade unions here only if workers were foolish enough to allow all unions to be controlled by atheists."
BE ACTIVE'
In his speech Archbishop Heenan WELCOMED the Papal encyclical Pacem in Terris: DENIED that Pope John had "become soft on Communism" or proclaimed a truce between the Vatican and the Kremlin; EMPHASISED the need for all men to make a "genuine effort" for peace; and URGED Catholic trade unionists to be active in their unions.
Commenting on Communist reaction to Pacem in Terris, Archbishop Heenan said that there was no reason to doubt Communists' sincerity in their campaign for peace. One did not need to be a Christian to appreciate the stupidity and malice of any who would provoke a third war with its unimaginable horrors.
It had been widely suggested in the Press that Pope John had proposed a truce between the Vatican and the Kremlin, but no Christian leader could relax vigilance in the face of an enemy pledged to destroy religion. Millions of believers were still suffering persecution under Communist regimes.
Co-operate
"The Pope does not say that Communism itself has become less evil, but only that we ought to recognise any good there may be in the system. Where we can cooperate for the common good we must do so."
Christians and Communists, Archbishop Herman added, could both be sincere in their struggle for peace. Unless men talked together they "brood and plot each other's destruction". This was the situation which the Pope sought to remedy.
It is a good thing." Archbishop Heenan concluded, "for Catholic trade unionists to come together and to pray together. But your primary duty as trade unionists is to be active in your unions.
"As the Pope's encyclical has proved, the fundamental social principles of the Faith commend themselves to all men of good will. It is your duty, as Catholics and as trade unionists, to go into public life to proclaim those principles and thus to foster industrial peace and the wellbeing of the whole human family."