CHRISTIANITY CAN APPLY TO TO-DAY’S PROBLEMS, CLAIMS BISHOP OWEN

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 4

CHRISTIANITY CAN APPLY TO TO-DAY’S PROBLEMS, CLAIMS BISHOP OWEN

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 15. “ Our cathedral will not be only for the diocese, but for New Zealand. It wili stand as a reminder to all men and women, whether they belong to the Anglican communion or not, that it is God who spreads out the heavens and protects those who go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in the great waters,” said Bishop Owen in his address at the opening of the Diocesan Synod to-day.. Bishop Owen said the djocese would be gravely handicapped if it had not a great and glorious building reminding everyone that the worship of God was the first duty of man, and calling them nil to fulfil that duty. The country would be too gravely handicapped if there were not such a building in the capital city, one in which great national services could be held, a building which proclaimed to all men the overruling authority of God. Bishop Owen said the cathedral, however, could not be built immediately. At a time when many people were without homes. it would be wrong even to ask permission to begin that work. “ In the meantime there is work which can wait for. no man. The Church has an urgent responsibility in the new housing areas, and that responsibiity must be faced, and those demands must be met,” he said. He added that he saw little sign of hostility to Christianity, but in many quarters he found doubt whether Christianity was relevant to. the problems of the age. Christianity, while it could not solve post-war problems, could create the atmosphere > for the solution. There would always be need of able statesmanship, clear thinking, and wise planning. The greatest .need of-mll was for an inspired spirit which coiild melt the barriers of suspicion, between men and create a sense of brotherhood among mankind. “ The Christian knows that that spirit can only come from Christ and in obedience to His laws. If we Christians can show more clearly and more boldly what Christ means to us in our daily lives, and the transforming effect he has on us in our dealings with our fellow men, the world will be more ready to revise its judgment about the relevance of Christianity to the problems of to-day,” said Bishop Owen.