U.S. BISHOPS' WAR STATEMENT

"Concern" for Women in War Work
The full text of a statement on Victory and Peace issued on November 15 in the name of the American Hierarchy by the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, Washington, and reported briefly in our issue of last week, has now reached us. It calls all Catholics to observe a special day of prayer on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, National Patroness. We give excerpts below: " The exigencies of war," reads the statement, " have driven our armed forces into unexpected areas of conflict in Africa. Our President in letters addressed to the rulers of all the friendly nations concerned has given solemn assurance that the United States has no designs of permanent conquest or Sordid interest.
" We Bishops are confident that the pledge of our Chief Executive, not lightly made, faithfully mirrors the mind and conscience of the American people. That pledge is in full harmony with the expression of high purpose which the President made to the Catholic Bishops of the United States when our own country was plunged into war.
" From the moment that our country declared war we have called upon our people to make the sacrifices which, in Catholic doctrine, the virtues of patriotism, justice and charity impose.
"Our men in the armed forces deserve unstinted gratitude for their heroic services to our country, and high commendation for the faithful practice of their religion.
" Priests and people have earnestly prayed that the Holy Spirit may guide our President and all who share with him the heavy responsibilities of directing the war efforts and of winning the victory from which all peoples will derive a just and tasting peace.
THESE THREE PREVENT REAL PEACE
In the discharge of their pastoral responsibility the Bishops are gravely concerned about the world peace of to morrow. " Secularism," they say, " cannot write a real and lasting peace. Its narrow vision does not encompass the whole man, it cannot evaluate the spirituality of the human soul and the supreme good of all mankind.
" Exploitation cannot write a real and lasting peace. Where greedy might and selfish expediency are made the substitutes of justice there can be no securely ordered world.
" Totalitarianism, whether Nazi, Communist or Fascist cannot write a real and lasting peace. The State that usurps total powers by that fact becomes a despot to its own people and a menace to the family of nations..
" Our Government," continues the statement, " has announced that the war emergency makes it necessary to employ an unprecedented number of womert in industry. While we are wholeheartedly co-operating with our Government in the prosecution of the war, we must, as shepherds of souls, express our grave concern about the Christian home in our beloved country in these crucial days.
" When mothers are engaged in industry a scribus child care problem
necessarily arises. Every effort must be made to limit, as far as necessity permits, the employment of mothers in industry, particularly young mothers.
" Due provision in conformance with American traditions should be made for the day care of • the children of working mothers. The health and moral welfare of mothers employed in industry should be thoroughly safeguarded.
" We know that patriotic mothers are generous in giving their sons to the defence of our country. We express their concern, and ours, about youths of eighteen years of age who are now to be called to the armed forces. We hope that special moral safeguards will shield them, to that they may serve their country without moral blemish."