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DUAL CHALLENGE

RELIGION AND DEMOCRACY IN PERIL CHURCH PART AGAINST TOTALITARIANISM [Per United Press Association.] NELSON, February 15. The part the church had to play in meeting the’challenge of totalitarianism against religion and democracy was the subject discussed by Archibishop Mowll. The weapons of the church were not carnal, but spiritual, the preacher pointed out, ami its task was an international one in building bridges of goodwill, understanding, and co-opera-tion between the peoples of the world. ‘‘ln the realm of understanding and sympathy we still see countries as far as the poles asunder, and it is at-this moment there has come a great world rift engineered by the rise of totalitarianism and its ruthless attack upon religion and democracy. “We, New Zealand and Australia, inherit aiid share with the United States those democratic principles and freedom that were enshrined in our English Magna Carta. The circumstances of the day are forcing us to see more clearly than ever that in these great principles we have our most precious natural asset. This common inheritance ought to bind us more closely together in mutual understanding, sympathy, and co-operation for the cause of freedom, not only in the Pacific, hut in the whole world. The church has its part to plajf in bringing this about, and stands against the oppressor to-day.” The Governor of New South Wales, in a public speech recently, asked his audience to reflect why it was that in the latest utterance of Herr Hitler the words which called forth the most derision amongst those whom tho Fnlirer was immediately addressing were “ religion ” and democracy.” On the samo occasion Mr Hughes, a former Prime Minister of Australia, remarked ’ that the challenge of the German Government was a not to any. one of the Christian denominations, but to Christianity as a wjhole. and that it was at the same time a challenge to democracy. In taking up this challenge the weapons of tho church were not carnal,, hut spiritual, aud its task was to wrestle with spiritual wickedness'in high places in the spirit of the decision of the Word Missionary Conference at Tamharam. which committed itself to the Christian way of mutual conference, understanding, and goodwill in settling interracial, international, political, and economic problems. The Synod opens to-aav. when the Primate will deliver his charge. Important business later in the session will ho the election of a new archbishop.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19400215.2.64

Bibliographic details

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 10

Word Count
398

DUAL CHALLENGE Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 10

DUAL CHALLENGE Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 10