CHURCH AND SOCIALISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21358, 11 June 1931, Page 7

CHURCH AND SOCIALISM

10 Hilt EDITOR Sir,— Are the following methods of the theologian true or honest? In this morning’s issue you . publish an -alleged castigation by a priest named the Rev. Father Davoren, ostensibly of the Communists —but not of them alone, I submit. Like all other theologians whose strength lies in the use of undefined and indefinable terms, it is not surprising that he does not trouble to explain what he means when be uses the terms Communist and Socialist. Therefore, he is tree to have a fling at us all iround in bis desperate effort to account for the present state of things after nearly 2000 years of his church’s teaching. I am not a Communist, as I understand the meaning of the terms, but I am a Socialist in the sense in which King Edward used the word. Therefore I resent the implications drawn from the . premises' as stated by Father Davoren. Let me quote him: “Hence these voracious monsters with the low cunning of the, rodent strive to gnaw into the very vitals of the workers’ religious belief, that, thus haying robbed him, he shall be as clay in the potter’s hands.” Let me apply the rev father’s revolting and uncalled for metaphor to his own church’s position “ Having robbed the worker of his liberty to think for himself by the doctrine of the Pope’s infallibility in faith and morals he shall be as clay in the potter’s hands. ; It is here. I think, that we will find tbe nigger in the wood pile, but he must be liidden at all costs, and so Father Davoren premises that “ a personal God who, will reward the good and punish the wicked does not exist.” This view is, now regarded universally by ordinary educated people who think for themselves, but it is quoted as if it were the viejw of Communists only, and. Father Davoren proceeds, therefore, that so far as he— i.e„ the personal God —is concerned, why should the worker worry about the performance of good work, or why should he refrain .from the perpetration of evil deeds? I reply that the doing of good oq evil does not depend upon gods at all, and it is begging a very debatable question to assume that it does. There is a great deal more in Father Davoren s castigation in a similar strain, but I have written enough to draw the attention ot those who may not have analysed it, and, God or no God, I regard the method ox attack, on free thinking people as neither true nor honest. —I am, etc., f A Worshipper of Science. June 9. 'Z.-'.t ;