MISSIONARY METHODS IN NEW GUINEA

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 11

MISSIONARY METHODS IN NEW GUINEA

Bishop Baddeley’s Charge REPLY BY ARCHBISHOP O’SHEA 1 Commenting yesterday on the allega- •> tious made by the Bishop of Melanesia, the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley, before ’ the General Synod at Hamilton on ' Thursday, that German Roman Cath- ■ olic missionaries in the mandated territory of New Guinea were indulging in anti-British propaganda, his Grace ’ Archbishop O’Shea said it was extremely unfortunate that Bishop Baddeley should see fit to make such charges. 1 Archbishop O'Shea said that the reason given for thinking that the Roman ' Catholic missionaries were the source of the propaganda regarding the return of the territory to German control was merely negative. Apparently no positive evidence was brought forward to support the charge. As Englishmen, the Anglican clergy should follow the sound lines of English justice and prefer no charge that was not supported by positive evidence. Also, surely the whole world knew that Germany wanted her old colonies. Moreover, it was scarcely credible that the Catholic missionaries would be anxious to live under Nazi rule. The remark of the Bishop of Melanesia about the methods of Catholic missionaries was also much to he regretted. While the bishop could use his freedom of choice to adopt methods of his own, it did ont appear to be just to condemn in such a manner the missionaries who would have no opportunity to reply to accusations made against them. That was hardly British. “If the Catholic clergy of the Now Guinea Mission are adopting the orthodox and traditional methods of Catholic missionaries, they will be following the lines of Father Damien, who was and is so famous for his care of lepers and who is the most highlyhonoured precursor of those gallant men and women who to-day attend the lepers in the missions of the Pacific.” said the Archbishop. “We can recall that Father Damion was attacked by n non-Catholic clergyman. “While it is not surprising that an Anglican Bishop should not appreciate the methods used by Catholic missionaries, it is surprising that charges should be made suggesting that the ways and means adopted by Catholic missionaries are in some sense objectively objectionable.” In the absence of any specific information on the subject, he could only deplore the attack made on men who give their lives for the cause of ' their Faith. If the Catholic clergy of the New Guinea mission field were in ' any way acting against the mandate of the Australian Government, report : should be made to the Apostolic De- , legation in Sydney. The Australian ] Government was aware of the presence < of the Apostolic Delegate in Sydney and knew also the procedure to adopt in 1 any such case. (