POST-WAR SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 30 June 1943, Page 5

POST-WAR SOCIETY

INTEREST IN CHURCH STATEMENT Sydney, June 29. Widespread interest has been shown in the joint statement by the Church of England and Roman , Catholic Archbishops of Sydney, Dr. Mowl and Dr. Gilroy, on the problems of post-war reconstruction. The representatives of Protestant churches other than the Church of England will discuss the statement at a meeting of the Council of Churches. Some criticism is expected. This has been foreshadowed in comments by the Anglican Bishop of Goulburn, Dr. Burgmann, that the joint statement was not clear enough. “It is a pity,” he said, “that the archbishops did not make clear what they mean by ‘Communism,’ which they link with Nazism and Fascism as things to be condemned. If they meant atheist Communism, no Christian will object, but Communism is becoming a museum piece. As their statement stands, a condemnation of the Soviet Union is implied, and I am sure that will be strongly resented by many loyal Christians.” Wholehearted approval for the statement has been voiced by the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Fadden. “The joint statement is welcome as an influential approach to problems which must be solved if we are to save mankind from the evils which have afflicted recent generations,” said Mr Curtin. “We can never be rid of wars unless we are assured of justice in the relationships of man to man. If these relations are to be conditioned by purely economic standards, then conflicts will inevitably arise.” “These churchmen in condemning Nazism, Fascism and Communism do a grand service to Australia,” commented Mr Fadden. Saying that only on the basis of Christianity can a better world be built, the Sydney “Sun” editorially says that the archbishops’ statement is an appeal to the basic commonsense of humanity. “It is of tremendous importance to Australia that these two archbishops have linked the great powers which both Churches wield in support of fundamental truths,” adds the paper.—P.A. Special Australian Cor-