MOTHING has been said by " competent authorities about the conspicuous absence of any flag on the Catholic cathedral in Athens during the State visit of Marshal Tito.
Orders had been given for flags to be flown from public and private buildings.
As soon as the radio broadcast the flag-flying order, the telephone at the cathedral rectory became busy for hours. Scores of parishioners called, begging the rector not to raise the flag in honour of a man whose N.gime has persistently persecuted the Church.
Here are some of the pleas made by the parishioners : "Fattier, don't raise the flag even if you'll have to pay a fine. We arc ready to pay it for you."
'Never forget . .
"Don't forget (Cardinal) Stepinac! Don't raise the flag! Remember the thousands of Catholic and Orthodox priests and Christian laymen who are imprisoned in Yugoslavia."
"Don't forget that our honourable Greek flag bears the same Cross that is denied and persecuted by the Red dictator of the Yugoslavia people."
"If you are forced to raise the flag, raise it half-mast."
"Rather than raise the flag, ring the bells of the cathedral in meurning."
"Rather than raise the flag in honour of Tito. let's pray for him." During the days of Tito's stay in the capital, many hundreds of people went to the cathedral and other churches and chapels to pray for his conversion and a halt to the persecutions.
The Confraternity of the Rosary of Greece will have its next monthly Mass on June 22. Offered for the suffering Church in Yugoslavia and frar the enlightenment of her persecutors.
Catholic papers and radio broadcasts have been urging the people to join on this day in a crusade of prayer for the same intention.