PERON MINISTER RESIGNS

All religious teaching banned
DRESIDENT Peron has accepted the resignation of Senor Antonio Cafiero, Minister of Commerce, a fervent Catholic and a member of Catholic Action, who has protested strenuously against the series of Government decrees directed against the Church in Argentina.
Later in the same day came the most drastic move so far in the Government's campaign when the Education Minister signed an order suspending all religious and moral teaching in all schools directly or indirectly dependent on the Education
In other words, it is now torhidden to teach the Catholic Faith in Catholic schools, as well as in State schools, even in those staffed
by priests or religious. All religious doctrine classes are to stop.
It is believed that other ministerial resignations were impending but that the President was reluctant to accept them in case they might he interpreted as a sign of the Church's influence.
The order forbidding religious teaching stated that the suspension would be temporary and would also apply to the teaching of ethics to non-Catholics.
A plebiscite
But it was issued on the very day that the Government-sponsored newspaper La Preasa urged a national plebiscite to decide whether the Church should he separated from the State. Catholic leaders believe it to he the first step towards complete re-organisation of the country's schools system.
The order suspends a decree of 1944 and an Act of Congress Of 1947 dealing with religious teaching. It is thought that the 1947 Act will be repealed altogether when Congress meets on May 1.
One reference in the text of last week's order is taken to mean that facilities may eventualle, be given for religious instruction in State schools after normal school hours. The classes would be given by priests teaching without remuneration.
In the Church's schools there would probably be freedom to teach religion as an extra subject —outside the minimum number of hours prescribed for compulsory subjects.
It is recalled that two years ago Peron said in a speech to religious
teachers; " As a servant of Christian doctrine. I feel immense satisfaction that we arc finalle. starling constructive work to realise that doctrine in our country." The Argentine Hierarchy conferred for more than four hours at their annual meeting in Buenos Aires last week under the presideacy of Cardinal Cemeilo. In a joint pastoral letter read in all the churches of the country on Sunday the Hierarchy made known their views on the threatened separation of Church and State.
" Not content with having expelled God from the schools and the family," they said, " the champions of laicism pretend now to erase from the Statute Book, and even from the Constitution, whatever vestige they can find of our elders' piety which fired the founders of our nation and the beliefs dear to the bulk of our country."
Moral separation
The Bishops state that they are prepared to accept economic, though not moral, separation, " provided it is done with equity and goodwill. returning. for instanee, the Church's assets nationalised in the past. and recognising the Church's right to retain and administer its property."
On the issue of moral separation of Church and State the Bishops wrote:— " Any issue affecting the rights of both sovereignties must be treated in common by both. Any other way would amount to a proclamation of discord, disorder and war between the (spiritual and temporal) powers."
Described as one of the greatest manifestations of Catholic devotion ever witnessed in the capital, the customary Maundy Thursday parade took place in Buenos Aires after the Government han on processions had been lifted for this and certain other festivals at the request of Cardinal Copello.
Thronging into the great plaza in front of Government House, some 150,000 Catholics sang hymns and the National Anthem. and sent up a chorus of "Argentina is Catholic. Cod save Argentina." They dispersed quietly at the direction of a priest addressing them through loudspeakers.
The Government's Press campaign agailiei the Church centinues, and two more priests have been rrested for " disrespect " to the regime in their sermons. Since November, 18 priests have been