THE CHURCH AND WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 16

THE CHURCH AND WAR

PROTECTION OF THE WEAK NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS VIEWS OF BISHOP FITCHETT [bt TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Tuesday "The international condition of the world to-day fills us with great anxiety," said Bishop Fitchett, in his address at the synod of the diocese of Dunedin. "We 'desire peace, our whole Empire desires peace, but our experienced statesmen, who understand these matters to an extent impossible to the bishop, clergy and laity of this synod, after trying the experiment of disarmament, have been forced to conclude that there is truth and wisdom in the old maxim, 'lf you want peace prepare for war.' "I find it impossible to adopt the attitude of the extreme pacifist in holding that under no circumstances should a nation engage in war, and that therefore it is wrong for our nation to rearm," Bishop Fitchett continued. "From the Christian standpoint, to engage in a war of aggression for material gain is undoubtedly sinful, but, on the other hand, to protect the weak against the aggression of the strong is surely in accord with the mind of Christ. Therefore, so far from being wrong, it is the Christian duty, both for the individual and tho nation, to make every effort to be prepared and sufficiently strong to be able to contend with an aggressor.

"It is not the special function of the Church, but rather that of the statesman and the magistrate, to deal with an evil once it has arisen. The function of the Church is to get down to the root principle from which the evil springs. When we look at the world to-day we find abundant evidence that there is in the hearts of very many a wrong and unchristian sense of values as between that which is physical, material and temporal and that which is spiritual and eternal. This constitutes a great challenge to the Church to apply herself more diligently, perseveringly and courageously to her special mission of changing men's hearts."