LOSING SYMPATHY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20624, 27 May 1935, Page 13

LOSING SYMPATHY.

Fate of Christianity Discussed. The doubt in which the fate of Christianity rests to-day was the subject of a sermon delivered at St Mary’s, Manchester Street. last night by the Very Rev Father D. H. Hurley. S.M., Provincial of the Marist Fathers. “We Christians are feeling very safe in our own lives,” said Father Hurley, “but we are becoming insensible to the world around us. We are each in danger of losing sympathy with the minds around us waiting to be taught. “The catacombs may again be the fate of Christians, but they will this time be the catacombs of spiritual isolation. Worship of the State. “There are political movements today, such as Bolshevism in Russia. Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy which are very powerful and have many adherents. Vet the very basis of these movements is religious. The first idea in Bolshevism.” said l ather Hurley, “is redemption—to redeem the people from oppression, misrule and poverty. There is the idea of sacrifice, where each man is an individual whose life and powers are * forfeit to his fellow-beings, symbolised

in the State. And there is the idea of good things to come. “All these movements show unity in the worship of the State. They preach liberty and love of fellows. They are fundamentally religious. “Justice and charity are also religious ideas which have their place in our society. Man’s heritage is labour, and he should be prepared to teach and preach the laws of the living wage, of property, and of stewardship. It is the neglect of these principles which has caused the present chaos. “The nations may question the authenticity of the Christian gospel, but they have never questioned its philo- [ sophical truth.”