LOYALTY OF CHURCH

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 4

LOYALTY OF CHURCH

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS PRESBYTERIAN RESOLUTION (By Tclegrapn.—Press Associating) OAMARU, Tuesday The Oamaru Presbytery today passed a resolution recording deep concern .that the publicity given the resolution of the General Assembly j about the rights of conscientious ob- j jectors had given the impression j that the Presbyterian Church con- j doned the attitude of the negligible i number of pacifists who refused service to the State as combatants. • “In pledging support to those who for conscience sake refused military service the Assembly merely reiterated its historic regard for liberty of conscience, apparently forgetting that it was quite gratuitous to do so at the present time, when the State was engaged in a desperate struggle for the defence of the fundamental principles of Christian conscience itself.” the resolution proceeded. “The Oamaru Presbytery calls on the Church authorities to give a clear, unequivocal statement of the Church's wholehearted adherence to the cause in which the Empire is engaged. and enjoins its members to make any sacrifices required to achieve victory over the enemies of . and democracy.”