Rhodesian Church Warning

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32253, 23 March 1970, Page 17

Rhodesian Church Warning

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, March 22. Roman Catholic bishops of Rhodesia warned in a pastoral message today that the whole future of the Church in Rhodesia was at stake.

Commenting on Rhodesia’s new apartheid-style republican constitution, the message said that the Church might well be forced to do things in violation of its conscience,

such as refuse hospital beds to those not racially approved. “Discriminatory laws have now been enacted which are contrary to the Christian faith. This we cannot accept,” the bishops said. The message has widened the split between Church and State in Rhodesia.

The message said: “New legislation is bringing to a close the honourable and fruitful tradition of understanding and co-operation which has hitherto existed between Church and State in Rhodesia. “It may well be that we shall also be denied, in violation of our conscience, the right to educate in our schools whomsoever we will.

“We may even be forced by regulation to refuse hospital beds to anyone not of the race approved in that area.

“Priests and nuns and teaching brothers may have to be segregated in their communities according to their racial origins,” the message said.

“The whole future of the Church in Rhodesia is thus at stake.” The Church would in future only be permitted to carry out its mission as Government ministers saw fit to determine, the bishops commented.

The right of freedom of association for the purpose of worship—as a principle—had

been set aside, people of one race could now be forbidden to frequent churches of their faith outside their own prescribed racial area. “The Church is not committed to any particular form of Government or to any political party,” the message stressed. But it added: “This fundamental freedom is now endangered. Our liberty to perform our mission of service to all sections of the community, to carry out our work of reconciliation has been grievously restricted.” The message concluded: “We cannot in conscience and will not in practice accept any limitation of our freedom to deal with ail people, irrespective of race.”