Infiltration Of Churches By Communists Seen

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 18

Infiltration Of Churches By Communists Seen

Agents of Marxist communism had infiltrated many of the member churches of the World Council of Churches and had got a grip on priests of the Roman Catholic Church, the president of the International Council of Christian Churches (the Rev. Carl Mclntire) said in Christchurch on Thursday. Communist agents had already sold the idea among leading members of the World Council of Churches that communism was a commandment of God. Pope John bad opened the door to communism, and the Roman Catholic Church was letting it in by starting a dialogue with the Communists.

Dr Mclntire is pastor of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Collingwood, New Jersey, and has been president of the International Council of Christian Churches since its inception in 1948. He will spend three days in New Zealand making plans for a national crusade by the I.C.C.C. next year and meeting member organisations here.

Dr Mclntire said the I.C.C.C. represented 122 Protestant groups throughout the world and had the support of between 12m and 14m. There were about 6000 supporters in New Zealand. He said he had travelled the world 10 times during his presidency. He last visited New Zealand in 1956 and before that in 1950.

His greatest cincems as leader of the LC.C.C. were the spread of communism within the Christian

churches and the widespread departure from the traditional teachings found in the Scriptures, he said. Communist infiltration was aimed at breaking down the resistance of Christianity to communism, obtaining support for communist ideals and convincing Christians that communism was morally acceptable. “In Protestant circles they speak of the half truth of communism. They don’t like its tyranny, but they accept its socialism,” he said. When the Church got away from the Bible and turned to Marxism and humanism people started saying there was no God or God was dead. Dr Mclntire said. Professor Geering was an example of the breakdown of traditional Christian beliefs.

“But you are going to have a revolution and a return to Christian doctrine. This has to come from the churches, if necessary by separation and the starting of new groups.” Dr Mclntire said he favoured unity of the churches and the ecumenical movement provided it denounced communism and followed the same attitude to Christian beliefs as members of his organisation did.

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