Views of Fr. ea, Fr. ernar oode
and Mr. Eric Gill
"VERY SLIPPERY GROUND"
Writing in the CATHOLIC HERALD about the Coal Bill, the Bishop of Pella asked last week how far the degree of Nationalisation and Expropriation involved in this and other recent similar measures " squares with Catholic teaching on the rights of private property?"
The answers of Catholic leaders on the social question are given below.
FR. O'HEA, Secretary of the Catholic Social Guild and Head of the Catholic Workers' College, holds that the question in the form " How Far May We Go?" is a false one.
FR. BERNARD GOODE, a specialised student in social questions, and Professor at Old Hall, Ware, states that it is admitted in certain works that " so far as ownership of the means of industrial production are concerned, the traditional arguments are of less weight."
MR. ERIC GILL expounds his own views as to why the public ownership of mines is right, but, as a layman, asks again whether his views are or are not consonant with Catholic teaching?