Nun Impressed By Film

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32273, 16 April 1970, Page 2

Nun Impressed By Film

The film “Easy Rider,” 'which has been showing iin Christchurch, has a (very powerful and imi portant message, perhaps more for older people than for youth, according to Sister Mary Jerome, the superior of Villa Maria Convent.

It gave a lesson in understanding and dealing with others, and this seemed best directed at “people like us.” she told women attending an inter-chureh school in Christchurch yesterday. The twoday school was organised by the women’s committee of the National Council of Churches

“I think the film’s message is as powerful as any we are receiving at this gathering this afternoon." said Sister Jerome, who was taking part in a panel discussion. “1 cannot condone the peddling of heroin by the two young men in ‘Easy Rider.’ But the ordinary people in the film, the town dwellers, did not know these young men were involved with drugs, and yet they reacted strongly against them, simply because of their appearance. These people did not make one move of understanding,” she said. “The average citizen was not a violent type, but there was no love shown. They showed a complete absence

iof warmth and did not make any attempt to understand (the way of life of the young Inien." The Rev, R. F. N. Thompson, vicar of the Church of the Open Door, St John’s, Latimer Square, said he had been impressed by the film, and had often seen people who reminded him of the characters in it. The panel was discussing how to give “joy in the Lord" (the theme of the school) to those who had not known love. “Joy is a by-product of love, and getting a response to God in these people would result in joy," said Mr Thompson. Discussing ways of en-

couraging youth to Christianity, Sister Jerome said: “Young people are not so ready to separate the singer from the song. They are not prepared to accept blindly what is taught to them, even if it does come from the Scriptures. “They look to the person who is preaching. They are not buying the idea of parents: ‘Do not do as 1 do. but do as I say.’ To them, the Christian message will be what we are, not what we say.” Mr Thompson said he wondered if the Church were really communicating with the younger generation. “I feel we could move a little quicker with the times There is a great mass of young people growing up outside the Church and we should be considering ways of making services more in formal and up-to-date." be said. “You should see some of: the services we have at the Open Door. They are quite riotous at times, but we are getting through to the young and we are doing it in a joyous way " An appalling amount of Church time was concen , trated on administration Sister Jerome said. “Big Business” “The Church has become: big business. I do not like to see all this good energy used in this way. So often, pastorsl are too busy worrying about! the next building that tsj going up. It is people that are the thing, not buildings.’ Other members of the panel! were Mrs Barbara' Cocks.i wife of an Anglican minister! and mother of four children, i and the Rev. M. Wynne Smith, minister of lona Presbyterian Church. Aranui. The panel, which discussed! questions from the floor, was headed by the Rev. R. A. Blampied.