3. THE ROMAN QUESTION

If reconciliation between "labor and capital, freedom and authority, equality and order" is possible, it must then be possible also between Church and State.

Human beings have the right and duty to love their religion and their country.  The conflict between these two sentiments causes terrible harm to religion and unsettling problems of conscience.  The "disastrous conflict" must cease as soon as possible, "especially for the good of souls."

The illegal seizure of legitimate rights must be condemned; the usurper must make reparation; and the Pope's freedom must be restored in full.  But in a parliamentary system, people cannot expect reparation and validation from the State if honest and upright men and women do not enter Parliament, men and women who truly care about their people and represent them in their identity as people traditionally and culturally Catholic.  To dream about a miraculous restoration is antihistorical; to call for it from outsiders would be fatal.

Only the participation of Catholics in the public life of the country can prepare the reconciliation between the Holy See and Italy and remove the political obstacles to freedom of evangelization.  Regaining society to Christianity was uppermost in Bishop Scalabrini's mind when dealing with the political and social questions of his time.