Blasphemy Charge Laid Against Student Editor

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 11

Blasphemy Charge Laid Against Student Editor

CV.Z.F.A.-Reut«r— Copyright) CAPE TOWN, May 2. A defence counsel said in court in Cape Town today that the trial for blasphemy of a student newspaper editor was “bizarre, a throwback to medieval times, and like Alice in Wonderland." Christopher Morgan Pritchard, aged 21, editor of the Cape Town University newspaper, “Varsity," is charged with blasphemy after publishing a report on an “Is God Dead?” symposium. The report quoted a speaker at the symposium as saying: “Wo must write God off entirely because His existence doesn’t relate to scientific matter. God is not dead, it is only that He is beginning to stink.” Defence counsel (Mr Sam Aaron) submitted that blasphemy was not an offence against the law, but against the religious feelings of a community.

“The law does not act to protect God,” he said. “He

can look after Himself. He does not need to invoke the assistance of Mr Lategan (prosecution counsel) or of this court.”

Mr Aaron said the symposium was held by the Young Men’s Christian Association and by the Students’ Christian Association. “These are responsible, religious people concerned with religious affairs. They are not scoffers and they are not blasphemers,” be added. Mr Aaron submitted that the prosecution had called no witnesses to say they were offended by the article, and the charge had not been laid by a private individual but by the Attorney-General. Mr Lategan said the article slandered God and denied His existence. He cited an Appeal Court decision of 1934 which defined blasphemy as “a denial of the existence of the Supreme Being and the slandering of the Supreme Being himself.” Judgment is to be given on May 21.