by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
While TFP members and volunteers walked the streets of Brazil’s major cities, alerting the public to the dire consequences of the Marxist victory in Chile, a loud uproar was unleashed against our organization. We expected this as the usual result of our campaigns—a violent counterattack by those who oppose our efforts for the good of the country and Christian civilization.
Leftists, “toads,” and sensationalist journalists coordinated their attacks against us perfectly. This did not prevent the remarkable release of TFP’s manifesto and the book, Frei, the Chilean Kerensky, along with subtle signs of comforting sympathy that the vast majority of people have shown us.
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In 1966, something unusual happened during our campaign against divorce: the CNBB issued a statement against us. Surprised, we responded with a long and public message to the Episcopate, reflecting that striking the standard-bearer in the middle of battle implicitly favors the adversary. This reflection directly applies to the recent episode.
Indeed, a new attack has been launched against us as we try to counter the harmful effects of Allende’s victory in Chile. His Eminence Cardinal Eugênio Sales issued a statement against the TFP to discredit it with Brazilians.
Historians analyzing this episode in the future will not fail to notice, with surprise, that this attempt to destroy Allende’s enemies could only benefit Allende. They will observe the joy and enthusiasm of all leftists at this fact and wonder why His Eminence chose this specific moment not only to sharply criticize the TFP but also to deliver a passionate apology for Dom Helder.
In his document, Cardinal Sales generously praises the Red Archbishop and even claims that the nation’s distrust of Dom Helder is an attack on the Church itself. This clearly demonstrates an effort by the cardinal to suppress any backlash against the Archbishop of Olinda and Recife’s excesses in thought and language.
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Even greater will be historians’ embarrassment when they have to explain why Most Rev. Geraldo Sigaud, Archbishop of Diamantina—who has contributed significantly to Brazil’s fight against communism—has chosen this exact moment to criticize the TFP.
Couldn’t His Excellency have waited at least a few days until the campaign was over? And if he was in such a rush to attack us, why didn’t he at least offer a word of understanding, support, or applause for the campaign we were running?
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Nevertheless, under attack once again, the TFP responded bravely with our communiqué dated the 7th of this month concerning Dom Sigaud’s statements, along with our respectful yet firm message to Cardinal Sales (“Analysis, Defense, and Request for Dialogue—TFP’s Open Letter to Cardinal Eugênio Sales”). Readers interested in obtaining either document, both widely circulated by the press, can request them at our headquarters.
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As these painful events unfolded, one of the country’s most brilliant and respected prelates, Most Rev. Antônio de Castro Mayer, Bishop of Campos, sent me a letter that has been published in the press, but which I feel compelled to reproduce here.
I am writing to congratulate the Brazilian Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property, safely and effectively led by Your Excellency, on its successful campaign to enlighten public opinion, rightly concerned by the victory of the Marxist candidate in the Chilean presidential elections. The people need to understand what it would mean for a South American nation to fall under the communist yoke. People need to see that the Marxist candidate’s victory does not mean that Marxism has gained ground in our friendly neighbor. Both of these points highlight the importance of the current TFP campaign.
In his doctrinal Encyclical Divinis Redemptoris, addressed to the entire Catholic world as the supreme Teacher and Shepherd of Christ’s flock, Pius XI declared communism to be intrinsically evil and demonstrated the absolute incompatibility between the natural and Christian conception of man and social life in its religious, cultural, and even economic aspects.
Unfortunately, these basic principles of Christian Civilization, or civilization ‘tout court,’ are being forgotten, causing significant harm to humanity, which loses the standards needed to evaluate political and social events correctly. For this reason, TFP’s current effort to revive the memory of Catholic teachings on communism and Christian society is particularly commendable.
We must also lament the censorship imposed on the TFP precisely when it is providing an invaluable service to the nation. Censorship without justification is always disturbing. It is especially painful when it seeks to silence the only voice warning the nation about the danger at its doorstep. All the more so when there is widespread silence about the Encyclical Divini Redemptoris’ explanation of the foundations of Christian civilization: social inequality with a harmonious and just hierarchy, family, private property, education, and private initiative, all of which communists aim to destroy.
Under these circumstances, I could not in good conscience fail to express my praise, admiration, and best wishes for the TFP campaign. May Our Lady Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, deign to grant it victory in every sense and extend her special protection to its planners and implementers.
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What will the situation in Bolivia be like when these reflections are published? Will the communist bonfire erupt right on our doorstep? Or can we say the danger has been temporarily averted on the verge of that situation?
It is not so easy to answer. In any case, we will have felt the flames much closer to us and may have understood that the communist danger is much greater today than before Allende’s victory.
Indeed, consider how much less significant Bolivia’s communization would be. In fact, Bolivian communism could threaten us because Chile’s tragic communization is on the verge of becoming irretrievably Marxist.
Thus, in a single leap, the communist threat has crossed the Andes and the River Plate and is knocking on our doors. And so, I ask: was the Allende problem solely Chilean?