Evangelist Criticised

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 10

Evangelist Criticised

“The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, Feb. 24.

Dr Billy Graham was the symbol of everything that Christ came to reject—he was the apostle of the Establishment, as represented by his unofficial chaplaincy to the White House, an Anglican priest, the Rev. P. Oestreicher, said in Dunedin.

Mr Oestreicher, who' returned to Dunedin after an absence of 14 years, has just retired from the position as secretary of international affairs to the British Council of Churches. Born in Germany in. 1931, Mr Oestreicher emigrated to New Zealand with his parents in 1939.

He is regarded in international church circles as an authority on Marxism as seen through the eyes of Christianity. Mr Oestreicher left Dunedin in 1955 to study in Germany, and he was ordained a' priest of the Anglican Church in England in 1959. Before his appointment to the British Council of Churches he was a producer of religous broadcasts for the 8.8. C. Mr Oestreicher writes a regular column under his own name for “The Times” in London. He said his column covers all topics that have a direct bearing on the day-to-day lives of man.

“I do not doubt Billy Graham's integrity. What he has to say may be religion, but it is bad Christianity. “His promises of 'pie in the sky when you die’ are not practical. He gives no priorities to suffering man.

He lulls people into thinking that salvation will come by some simple religious act of acceptance. He calls them away from real life. “Christianity is a vital, living force—not some opiate for the masses to be taken in doses to escape from reality. “Billy Graham’s version of religion is thoroughly antisocial. His gospel is not the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth.” Mr Oestreicher said the complete contrast to Dr Graham was represented by Martin Luther King. “He represented what we might call realistic Christianity—he saw it as the hope of the future; in practical terms, a living force allied to the true nature of man on earth—not some woolly headed theories out of touch with the secular values

I that the church should have.” ' Mr Oestreicher said the E world churches are realising i the increasing importance of lay participation in their , affairs. i “After all, 98 per cent of i the church are lay people. i “It is up to the other 2 per cent to do what the lay : party wants. The task of the • church is to humanise i society, by always being a ' thorn in the side of the i Establishment and to do this ■ needs the fullest possible ’ participation of the laity.” Mr Oestreicher said he saw > the particular denomination of Christians of “no consei quence.” “All churches are in need ■ of reformation. It is our relationship of learning together for the new age of the 1970 s that is important,” he said.