LABOUR SILENT

on Bishops' Social" Charter
From Our Own Correspondent NEW YORK.
CATHOLIC Americans are taking the keenest interest in the recently published Bishops' Pastoral on the social question. The Pastoral has been published in full in every diocesan weekly, and pamphlet copies are now being rushed out for popular distribution.
A sampling of non-Catholic opinion on the Pastoral brought sympathetic responses, although it appeared that few, if any of those whose opinion was sought had read the lengthy document. However., what is of note is the eilence with which the Labour Press greeted the Pastoral. At the time of leriting, almost two weeks after the Pastoral was published, the Labour Press has made no comment.
Among Catholics in the Labour movement the Pastoral was received with rejoicing. Many of its passages give renewed and more explicit support for the cause of Labour unionism, and oorusequently Catholic unionists, led by the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists, are doing their utmost to spread knowledge of the statement. A resolution of thanks for the Pastoral has been addressed to the Bishops by A.C.T.U.
President Under Protestant Fire
News from Rome that the President's personal ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Myron V. Taylor, is named in the Vatican diplomats' list has brought newer and sharper attacks on the President from Protestant opponents of the appointment
With Baptiets and Lutherans in the van of the attack, critics of the appointment have been hammering at the President, accusing him of soliciting the Catholic vote, of attempting to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Holy See through a subterfuge, and of attempting a union of Church and State. The only large Protestant body which has approved the appointment, the Federal Council of Churches, has also been under Are for what is regarded as a betrayal of the Protestant position.
After several attempts to mollify this opposition, the President has lately ignored it and apparently the administration now hopes that the opposition Will quiet down in time, or recede in favour of the peaceful objectives of the appointment.
The Catholic Press has in the main treated this criticism calmly, offering explanations of the good purpose in the President's mind, and also reminding its readers that the United States once had diplomatic representatives at the Holy See, with no ill effects to this country.
Catholic Scepticism on Poland
The significance of the European war In its effect on Catholic life claimed extensive apace in Catholic papers as a result of wide publicity of Cardinal 1-Bond's report, The secular Press gave the report prominent place, while Catholic papers published complete copies of the Cardinal's statement. Collections for Polish relief have been taken up in many of the largest sees, and everywhere one finds the deepest sympathy expressed by American Catholics for the people of Poland.
The only jarring note in this wide spread sympathy is the question raised by some of the apprehensive Catholics who suspect that the Polish situation may have been exaggerated, or even if not exaggerated exploited, for the purpose of exciting American Catholics into support of the Allied cause. However, these suspicions are symptomatic of the rather jittery state of the absolute isolationists, who regard most news from Europe as propaganda of one sort or another.
The First Lady and the Communists
Within the national orbit, Catholic eyes were focused on the doings of the American Youth Congress, gathered in Washington for a special session on citizenship. President Roosevelt's address to the Youth Congress, in which the President denounced the Soviet Union as an absolute dictatorship, and gave the opinion that 98 per cent, of the American people supported the Finns in their struggle, was reported gleefully in the Catholic Press. Every literate Catholic knows that any sympathy for Finland is contrary to the Communist party line, and Catholics are convinced that the Youth Congress is dominated by Communist influence.
Catholics noted with special interest that when the President spoke of attempts " to exile God" in a direct attack on the Militant Godless of Russia, Youth Congress delegates stood by silently. God, it appeared, could be exiled with the Youth Congress not at all perturbed
But while President Roosevelt got a good Press among Catholics, the President's wife came off a very poor second best—at least unofficially, since the Catholic Press, probably out of charity, refrained fimn pointing out the inconsistencies of the First Lady's remarks to the Youth Congress. Mrs Roosevelt, it seemed, wanted to please both the Youth delegates and her critics, and did a bad Job in both efforts. She expressed sympathy for the Finns, but told the delegates there was no reason why they should feel forced to adopt a resolution supporting the Finns. Further, she found no reason why the Congress should not welcome Communists to its sessions.
Something of a fillip was given the Congress's session when John L. Lewis, head of the C.I.O. (Congress of Industrial Organisations) criticised President Roosevelt for advising the young people not to expect panaceas through certain legislation. Mr Lewis went out of his way to carry on his feud with the President, and this in the presence of the President's wife. As if to indicate that his criticism was directed only to the male side of the house of Roosevelt, Mr Lewis beamingly greeted Mrs Roosevelt after his scathing attack on her husband's opinions.