Mr.  Bentley.  JNIonsigiior,  from  your  testimony  and  that  of  the
other  gentlemen  who  have  appeared  before  this  committee  this  morn-
ing it  seems  pretty  evident  what  the  Communists'  theory  of  religion
is  and  how  they  treat  religion  and  leaders  of  religion  whenever  they
have  the  power.  Would  you  be  able  to  give  us  an  idea  as  to  why
many  people  in  countries  that  are  supposedly  free  from  commu-
nism are  Communist  Party  members  and  also  members  of  churches?
I  am  thinking  specifically,  for  example,  of  a  country  like  Italy  that
is  99  percent  plus  Catholic  and  yet  has  a  very  large  number  of  Com-
munist Party  members.  Can  you  explain  the  reasons  behind  the
thinking  of  those  people  ?

Monsignor  Stukelis.  I  think  it  is  the  poverty  of  the  country.
Mr.  Bextley.  Do  you  think  poverty  breeds  Communism  ?

Monsignor  Stukelis.  JNIaybe  not  the  first  reason.  The  first  reason
might  be  the  power  of  the  Communists  there.  They  are  organized
there.
Mr.  Bentley.  VChy  do  you  think,  then,  in  certain  cases  we  have
found  evidence  of  actually  ministers  and  religious  leaders  of  one  type
or  another  collaborating  with  the  Communists?

Monsignor  Stukelis.    I  do  not  follow  you.
Mr.  Bentley.  In  view  of  the  known  persecution  by  the  Communists
of  all  forms  of  religion,  how  can  you  explain  the  fact  that  in  so  many
cases  we  do  find  religious  leaders  that  seem  to  be  collaborating  with  the
Communists  ?

]Monsignor  Stukelis.  I  think  they  do  not  know  communism.
]Mr.  Bentley.  They  are  ignorant  of  communism?

Monsignor  Stukelis.  That  is  right.
