BISHOP CONDEMNS PACIFISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1936, Page 3

BISHOP CONDEMNS PACIFISM

ANTI ■CI IRI ST 1A N I’>l - AS Pl lEMOU S. LONDON, May 5. J)r. A. C. Hcadlam, Bishop of Gloucester. writing in the “Gloucester Diocesan Magazine,” declares pacifism to be anti-Christian and as blasphemous as Christian Science. “As I notice that pacifism has been put forward in some quarters as if it were a religious duty.” he says, ‘‘l feel 1 ought to give some advice on the matter.” He continues: “There is no hint in the Bible that while human nature remains as it is .wars are likely to cease. Our Dord Himself said, T am not come io bring peace but a sword,’ because when good is brought in contact with evil it will always arouse opposition, and cfreii violent opposition.

■•When St. Paul* says of the civil authority, ‘He beareth not the sword in vain,’ he is recognising the right by the civil authority of the employment of force either for the protection of law or order, or the protection of the country. “But I would go further. It seems to me that the pacifist creed is directly anti-Christian in its character, for it means:

“(1) The encouragement of people to neglect their duty in defence of their country. ' “(2) That we should pray for the safety of our count! y without taking the necessary means to secure it. It seems to me as blasphemous as is Christian Science, which prajys for bodily health without having recourse to the means God has given us for the cure of the body. “(3) Neglecting our duty to those countries which are dependent upon ms. . . .- I am quite su.ro that the best Way of preventing war is that this country should be Strang and should attempt a just and fair policy.”