The Prime Minister and the Pope
The visit by Mr Edward Heath, the Prime Minister, to the Pope of Rome early in October is to be deplored. Political leaders vie with one another in paying deference to the “Man of sin and Son of perdition”. Little good can be expected as the outcome of this visit either for Northern Ireland or for this country but rather the contrary.
The Pope of Rome poses as the representative on earth of the Prince of Peace and yet is Head of the most diabolical system on the face of the earth. What effrontery it is for the leader of a system which has been responsible for more bloodshed in the earth than any other system to address others on the need for the rejection and condemnation of violence in whatever form it may manifest itself. Let Mr Heath lay to heart that the Pope of Rome is no friend of Great Britain, nor of righteousness and truth.
Prison Discipline
The very relaxed attitude of Prison Authorities to indiscipline in prisons throughout the country has forced itself on the attention of the public recently through a series of prison strikes. The disclosure, also, of the outing in a London park granted by Mrs Dorothy Wing, Governor of Holloway Prison, to Myra Hindley, the Moors murderess, caused much public disquiet. In the latter case it was reassuring that Mr Carr, the Home Secretary, rebuked Mrs Wing for an error of judgment and called for a review of arrangements under which women prisoners were allowed out under escort at the discretion of the governor. It is indeed time that new attitudes appeared in connection with crime and its punishment. If punishment is not seen to be punishment and felt to be punishment the administration of justice becomes a hollow farce. We hope that the Home Secretary will continue to adopt a firm line.
Sabbath Drinking in Stornoway
The decision of Mr James Maclellan, a County Councillor and owner of the Acres Hotel to open his bar on Sabbath led to a storm of protest from residents. After several attempts had failed to make Mr Maclellan change his mind, the Lewis branch of the Lord’s Day Observance Society took steps to apply for a veto poll which, if carried, would prevent the sale of alcohol in the area. We understand that after an assurance being given that other licensed premises would not be opened on Sabbath the Society Branch decided not to proceed with the veto poll.
Religion in Russia
A demand by the Communist party newspaper, Pravda, that a more militant campaign to stamp out religion in the Soviet Union be mounted, suggests that all the attempts by the Communists to destroy religion and religious belief have failed. How blind the fanatical Russian rulers are to the discovery made by Nebuchadnezzar long ago concerning the Most High—that His “dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation”. It cannot be destroyed.