ANGLICAN CHURCH ASSEMBLY OPPOSES SEPARATION FROM STATE

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 7

ANGLICAN CHURCH ASSEMBLY OPPOSES SEPARATION FROM STATE

LONDON, Feb. 24

The Assembly ot the Church of England rejected a resolution tor tne disestablishment of the Church. 'Die Assemoiy adopted an amendment lor the appointment of a commisi.sn to draw up resolutions on tne changes desirable in the relationship between the Cnurch and the State. There was a long discussion on the motion lor the separation of the Cnurch from tne State.

The resolution calling for disestablishment said the existing relationship was an infringement of spiritual freedom. It added that the Church had been long tailing under the chronic subordination of civil power. Disestablishment would mean that the Church would no longer have to submit its measures for approval bv Parliament, but it would also cease to be the official Church of the State. The Archbishop of York, Dr Garbett said the Church had not got the whole control which a spiritual body should have. Bishops were appointed bv the Prime Minister, who need not Tie a Church of England member. Totalitarianism was at the moment in the ascendancy and it would be possible for a Government hostile to the Church to use its great powers to use the Church for propagating its own opinions. Dr Garbett said there were fundamental reasons for church reform and for some change in the relationship between the Church and the State, but he was not prepared to support disestablishment. That would be regarded as national repudiation of religion at a time when many churches in Europe were fighting for their lives. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Fisher, supporting Dr Garbett. emphasised the necessity for putting the matter before the dioceses, so that when the Church went to the State it would go with a unified mind. Then, he said, he did not doubt that the State would not hesitate to give them all reasonable spiritual freedom. Finally, the Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a committee to draw up resolutions on the changes desirable in the relationship between the Church and the State.