The Betrayal of Northern Ireland
The Green Paper on Northern Ireland, though acclaimed in many quarters as offering hope to the troubled Northern Province, has in effect betrayed the interests of the Protestant majority by conceding to Eire a say in any final settlement. According to the Green Paper any final settlement must be acceptable to Eire. The foolishness of conceding this important role in Northern Ireland’s future to her inveterate enemy Eire will no doubt be seen in the disadvantageous terms (that is, from a Protestant point of view) arrived at in the final settlement.
Though our Government had been a Romanist one they could hardly have done more to conciliate Roman Catholic opinion in Northern and Southern Ireland. What fruit this will bear has yet to be seen but we can be sure that its effects will be detrimental to the Protestant Cause in Northern Ireland.
Drink at 17 years of age
The Report just published on Drink Laws in England and Wales suggest, among other relaxations, that the age limit for drinking in public houses should be reduced from 18 years to 17 years. In view of the well-known disrupting influences of drink on family and social life, the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and the increasing incidence of alcoholism in the nation, it is sad that any Committee would advocate lowering the age limit to 17 years.
If it is said that it is merely a case of legalising what is already taking place this is still no justification for it. If 17 year olds are able already to drink undetected because it is difficult to distinguish them from 18 year olds, the proposed new laws would make it possible for 16 year olds to do so also. Where is it all to end?
Moderator and Cardinal
During an official visit to London, Dr Selby Wright, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, was to call on Cardinal Heenan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. Lately Dr Selby Wright said in an address to Blairgowrie and Rattray Town Council that he was what the Daily Express would call an ecumeniac, and went on to declare “If I am an ecumeniac I am an unrepentant one”. Certainly the present Moderator of the Church of Scotland is living up to his unenviable reputation as an ecumenist. How blind Church leaders are in our day to the true character of the Church of Rome. This, however, is not altogether to be wondered at when they are so blind to the true nature of the Church of Christ.
Penalties for Murder Bill
Mr Edward Taylor, M.P., who drew first place in the ballot for Private Members’ Bills, intended to introduce a Penalties for Murder Bill in the House of Commons. Alarmed by the increase of murder and other crimes of violence in Britain and conscious of the fact that murderers released during the last ten years had served less than ten years in prison, Mr Taylor hopes to ensure that murderers will serve a very long sentence.
We understand that Mr Taylor supports the re-introduction of capital punishment but is aware that a Bill on these lines would not be passed by Parliament. However commendable Mr Taylor’s efforts are to get a meaningful deterrent re-introduced we are convinced that little improvement can be expected in the figures for murder until the death penalty is restored.
The Pope and Satan
Pope Paul is wont to pronounce on many topics and when he speaks the world is expected to listen. He recently spoke about Satan’s infiltration of mankind. “One of the great needs of our time” he declared, “is a defence against that evil which we call the devil”. He further stated: “We all are under an obscure domination. It is Satan, the prince of this world, the number one enemy”.
How vain it is for the Pope, the Antichrist, the man of sin and son of perdition, to make pronouncements about combating Satan’s influence in the world when the Church of Rome and he, himself, at its head is actively engaged in promoting the interests of Satan’s kingdom.