Liam de Róiste Papers Descriptive List Ref. U271

373

Scope and Content: Refers to manifesto 'The League for Social Justice' to draw up a co-ordinated plan to implement in the Irish Free State the social principles of the Papal Encyclicals.

Reference:

U271/L/1/I/3

Date:

26 Oct 1936

Title: TS. letter from F. O'Reilly, Executive Secretary, Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin to Professor Alfred O'Rahilly, University College, Cork. Enclosed is a memorandum. Level: Item Extent: 1p plus 8pp Part of: U271/L/1/I Scope and Content: Memorandum is intended for Liam de Róiste concerning the 'new plan'. Asks him to review the draft, which will be submitted to Sir Joseph Glynn, Archdeacon Lyons, Professor Tierney and others. He will then send it to try to get additional names. Refers to Mr Belton drifting further into politics with every speech. The 5pp memorandum is a statement entitled 'National Appeal for Catholic Social Action'.

Reference:

U271/L/1/I/4

Date:

26 Oct 1936

Title: TS. letter from F. O'Reilly, Executive Secretary, Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin to Professor Alfred O'Rahilly, University College, Cork. Marked 'Private and Confidential'. Level: Item Extent: 4pp Part of: U271/L/1/I Scope and Content: Refers to 'the Catholic Hour on the broadcasting station', offered by Pres. De Valera provided some non-Catholics were on the committee. De Valera had been consulting the Bishops 'as regards the dissemination of heresy i.e. Protestant broadcasts'. Refers to the costs of broadcasts. He told the Bishops that he had been trying to get a Government Commission to draw up a plan for Catholic Action, and pointed out some dangers in the Irish Christian Front, lead by politicians who 'were cranks'. Some of the Bishops frankly 'did not fancy the ICF movement'. He has been told that 'Mr. Belton asked the Cardinal for some of the money from the Church collections, and was refused'. Priests he spoke to are of the opinion that the ICF will 'just fade out' when the 'Spanish War' is over. Andy McDonnell says Fine Gael and the independents want to get on the bandwagon, but Labour will keep apart, and Fianna Fail will keep aloof, though some of their TDs have appeared on the ICF platform. Bell thought that there could be a split in the Catholic forces. In the (ICF) press releases they state that they are opposing communism in every village and that they ' '...are not in favour of the exercise of physical force'; now this is pure Fascist technique and is impliedly incitement.' Asks him to burn the letter once read by himself and de Róiste. Refers to his proposed lectures at the University.

373