In fascism (the European variety) traditional religion was encouraged as a building block of society (so long as it supported the political purposes of the state); in communism it was subject to utter extermination; in fascism free enterprise and private ownership was allowed and encouraged (so long as it served the political purposes of the state); in communism it was, like religion, subject to extermination and confiscation.
I am no fan of fascism (having had family members murdered under fascist occupation and others who fought it in WW2). But if I had to choose between living under one of these two systems (and I HAVE lived under communism in my youth), its a "no-brainer".
These measures (leading to communism) of course will be different in different countries.So fascism is merely a rebranding of communism, with the use of the aforementioned “different measures” to establish control. Mussolini’s “fascistic” goals of “true equality”, “social justice” and evident worldwide wealth redistribution are pure Marxist communism, along with his open belief in the nonexistence of God.
— Manifesto, chapter 2
It is impossible, of course, to carry out all these measures at once, but one will always bring others in its wake. Once the first radical attack on private property has been launched, the proletariat will find itself forced to go ever further, to concentrate increasingly in the hands of the state all capital, all agriculture, all transport, all trade. All the foregoing measures are directed to this end; and they will become practicable and feasible, capable of producing their centralizing effects to precisely the degree that the proletariat, through its labor, multiplies the country’s productive forces.
— The Principles of Communism