Stranica 2 [2]
OCR
Kalb — page two = unchallenged stay in power, and its to absolute control of the governement, The fact is, inet there are the gravest accusation of corruption levelled against the D.C, leadership, In many instances these charges are fairly close to reality, and thus give a magnificent opening to the opposotion propaganda, So far the party has done little to answer these accusations, has chosen the policy of ignoring them 3; this, unfortunately for them, has spread the impression that they are simply unable to meet the challenges : Finally the universal anti-republican reactionwhich is today like a ground-wave, is also affecting the political sis tuetion profoundly. It especially reflects very much upon the person of Premier Alcide de Gasperi, He is completely identified with the establishment of the Republic, and the unsavoury details which led to the change of regime, What heafré de Gasperi most is a little slogan, never printed byt widely circulated by word of mouth : How can you trust aman, the slogan says, who first as Austrian betrayed his Emperor 3 then as Italian betrayed his Kine. With such a record, is it not probable that as a Cas tholie, he will one day betray his Church ? Rightly or wrongly, the confidence in de Gasperi is gone, not only among the masses, but also among many leaders of the Church, It is these factors which have widely affected the electoral situation, The Demoeracia Christiana would have been fully beaten, had it not been for the strong intervention of the This help was forcefule In sermons, private talks, visits etés menduous spiritmal pressure brought to bear\in favour of the partye Powerful men, iike Father Lombardi of\ the Jesuits left their lofty religious position to campaign for the D.C, This pressure, as we said, saved the day, Sut, this is important, it tors of Rome and other great towns seriously warned against this ection, and demanded. that the Church shpuid not\come out for one party. there were numerous cases in which priests refused to take a stand. They argued that the Monarchists, the Liberals had just as much right to the Church support than the D.C, And their oppo~ sition was so violent, that while at present they finally submitted to orders, like orders are unlikely to be given next time since thet might arouse public protest by good \Catholics. This was then the setting of the campaign. The result, than those given by the propaganda, a a | ; i AVN hs L ; t awe Aa i ‘ 1 a KA
