—FR. AGNELLUS ANDREW
From Our Own Correspondent The essence of totalitarianism, the deprivation by the State of the human rights of the people, is to be seen " in monstrous shape all over Europe to-day," said Fr. Agnellus Andrew, 0.F.M., speaking at Our Lady and the Apostles, Edgeley, Stockport, on Sunday.
With Professor B. A. Wortley, Professor of International Law at Manchester University, Fr. Agnellus was addressing a public meeting organised by the Shrewsbury Diocesan Council of the St. Joseph's Guild of Catholic Workers, in connection with the Sword of the Spirit campaign on the International Bill of Human Rights drawn up by the United Nations Commission.
" Human rights," said Fr. Agnellus, " derive straight from the natural law which has God as its author, and, in the broadest statement, the campaign depends on our being able to convince people throughout the world that that is so.
We believe that just because we are human persons we have rights that nobody gave to us excepting Almighty God, and that no one can take away, from us, except
by punishment. We do not get them from any organisation of united nations, nor as the result of a bargain or a contract; we have them because we are human beings."
Catholics. said Fr. Agnellus, had a clear lead in this matter of Rights from the 1937 Encyclical letters of the late Pope Pius XI. The Pope had written then against Nazism and Communism, and had laid down the fundamental rights of man. The right to life and bodily integrity: the right to marry and rear and maintain a family in frugal comfort and security; the right of men to bind together for lawful purposes in associations, cultural groups and trades unions. and the right to private property—to retain and use that which had been justly acquired.
Persons and Places
Over 2,000 people attended the Lourdes Rally in the grounds of Craiglockhart Convent, Edinburgh, on Sunday last. Mgr. McDonald, 0.S.B., Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, was also present.
A flag day at Banbury, organised by the Catholic Women's League, in aid of Father Hudson's Homes (the Birmingham Archdiocesan Rescue Homes) realised £83 4s. 9d., which included a generous donation of £39 14s. 2d. from the Banbury A uto-Club.
The Rev. P. J. Soar, parish priest of Our Lady and St. Patrick's, Nottingham, has been appointed Diocesan Organiser for the Young Christian Workers in the Nottingham Diocese.
Mr. George Baker, A.R.C.M., a former B.B.C. director, has been received into the Church. Born in Birkenhead 63 years ago, Mr. Baker was organist and choirmaster to a local church at the age of 16.
Two priests at St. Wilfrid's, Preston, this week celebrated the golden jubilee of their entering the Society of Jesus—Fr. Hugh O'Farrell, S.J. and Fr. John L. Turner. S.J.