Quebec’s Status
The people of Quebec voted by a convincing majority against separation from the rest of Canada. While this is a very satisfactory result yet the separatist leader and Quebec Premier, Mr Rene Levesque has won the concession from the Federal Prime Minister, Mr Pierre Trudeau, of changes in the constitution. These proposals are likely to be discussed at a meeting of Premiers of the ten provinces called by Mr Trudeau. Roman Catholic and French-speaking Quebec has proved a thorn in the side of Canada for many years and has already won many concessions for her allegiance to the federal dominion. It is likely that she will demand many more for remaining part of Canada, the other provinces being forced to concede these special privileges for the sake of unity. Only a day of the Gospel in Quebec and throughout all the provinces of Canada will truly unite the hearts of the people into one nation.
The Police
The Chairman of the Police Federation, Mr James Jardine, gave a warning about those who were attempting to blacken the police service and brand policemen as brutal bullies who terrorise innocent people. The picture that is painted, he said, is an absurd distortion of the truth.
It is clear that there are those in our country who are deliberately attempting to discredit the police. This has always been standard practice with Communists as loss of confidence by the public in the forces of law and order will make a Communist takeover more likely. While it is true that there are sad lapses in some instances in the case of police officers who have let down the service, the great majority of policemen have remained steadfast and to them, in large measure, we owe the peace and liberty which we still enjoy. The police need our support and encouragement in the difficult and unenviable task they have to do on our behalf.
Death Penalty
The Prison Officers’ Association voted to press the Government to hold a referendum on re-introducing capital punishment. One delegate in supporting the move said: “When a person goes out with a loaded gun with criminal intent, then to me it is premeditated and that person should, I believe, be made to pay with his life.”
At the same time news has come of moves to ban the death penalty as an inhuman punishment under the European Convention on Human Rights. The British representative argued against this claiming that retention or abolition should be left to individual member states.
For those who refuse to accept the biblical requirement of the death penalty for deliberate premeditated murder, the increase in the number of murders in this country since the abolition of the death penalty should be convincing. It is not capital punishment which is inhuman but its removal, which has caused the deaths of so many innocent lives.
Concern for the Kirk
A group known as “Concern for the Kirk” has been formed on the initiative of six societies including the Scottish Reformation Society and the Lord’s Day Observance Society of Scotland to protest against what they see as dangerous trends in the Church of Scotland. A Rally was held in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh in May. The issues to which the group are opposed are matters such as ecumenical parishes, the admission of children to communion, last year’s appointment of a Roman Catholic, Professor James Mackey to the Thomas Chalmers Chair of Theology at Edinburgh University, and to young men being taken into the ministry mainly on academic grounds rather than on grounds of devotion.
The need for firm opposition to the trends within the Church of Scotland is only too evident. Whether this particular group will be able to promote a real concern for the Church of Scotland has yet to be seen but their choice as Chairman of Dr Andrew Herron, who as Moderator of Assembly visited the Pope, was not a happy one. May the Lord be pleased graciously to raise up within the National Church faithful men who will resolutely oppose the evils which have permeated that body and rid the Church of them root and branch.
Common Market
An attempt by a Labour Member of Parliament to introduce a Bill for another referendum on continued United Kingdom membership of the Common Market was defeated by 219 votes to 125. In speaking on the issue Mr Canavan said that the majority of people now realise that membership of the Common Market has been an unmitigated disaster. He also stated that while we cannot blame the Common Market for all our economic ills, yet membership has made things significantly worse.
Britain has paid dearly for membership of the Common Market. How much better she would have been had she continued her close association with the nations of the Commonwealth and looked for Divine protection from her enemies instead of relying upon the strength of the nations of Western Europe.