School Text-books in America
In Charleston, West Virginia, a dispute has broken out between parents and school authorities over anti-christian text-books used in classes. The parents, mostly members of Fundamentalist Churches have protested against the use of books by revolutionary and anti-God authors, as well as to offensive references to sex, drugs and violence, according to a Daily Telegraph report. The situation so far as education in our own country is concerned is following a similar trend and the time may be at hand when only strong protest action by parents will recall school authorities to their responsibilities in this matter. How sad it would be in a country still nominally Protestant if children were to imbibe from School text books views which were wholly anti-christian. There is need for parents in this country to be alive to the danger of anti-christian literature just as parents in America appear to be on the alert against influences of this kind.
Rise in Scottish Divorce Rate
The Statistics just released by the Scottish Home and Health Department show that there were 7,475 divorces in Scotland in 1973 — 30 per cent more than in 1972. These figures make sad reading and are indicative of the low moral state of the nation. What need there is of a day of the Lord’s power throughout the nation. Only this will restore our land to a state of moral purity in national and in family life.
Television
The Independent Broadcasting Authority has come out strongly against many of today’s cinema films which, with their emphasis on sex and violence, are unsuitable for family viewing. It is encouraging to know that the Independent Broadcasting Authority is adopting this line. It is a wholly responsible attitude and is to be commended. We hope that the B.B.C. will act in a similar way and decline to show such films also. What an influence for good the medium of television might become if it was purged of much of the filth which is presently screened. What a benefit it would be to the nation if it was directed to elevating the moral and spiritual life of the nation instead of debasing it.
Honduran Hurricane
In September a hurricane struck the Honduras causing disastrous flooding and high loss of life along much of the country’s northern coast, while other parts of the world, too, have experienced disasters of one kind or another. On hearing of calamities such as these, we may be ready to ask the question, Suppose ye that they were sinners above all men because they suffered such things? What has the Saviour to say in reply to this? “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” We ought on the one hand to have a fellow-feeling with those who suffer in this way — whose homes are ravaged and their loved ones killed or drowned; while, on the other hand we ought to take warning from these calamities and flee from the wrath to come.
Lord Chancellorship
Early in July a Bill making it possible for a Roman Catholic to hold the office of Lord Chancellor passed through its final stages in the House of Commons in the space of two minutes — this was the time taken for the second reading, committee stage and third reading, following which the Bill received Royal Assent.
This fact clearly indicates that there was no opposition to the move from any quarter, a fact upon which Roman Catholic MP Mr Norman St. John Stevas commented: “Without the faintest cheep of protest the Bill to remove the alleged bar of a Catholic becoming Lord Chancellor having passed all its stages in the Lords received the approval of the Commons.” Thus history was made, without anyone apparently realising it! Great issues sometimes turn upon the tiniest of hinges, and this may well prove to be such an instance. Few seem to realise the possible implications of decisions lightly taken, inside the House of Commons and outside it. The legalising of abortion is surely a case in point, and the same would be true if ever euthanasia was made legal.
Some will argue that placing legal disabilities upon men and women of the Roman Catholic faith belongs to bygone centuries, rather than to the 1970’s. If Rome had long ago ceased to meddle in political matters and now contented herself with being a purely religious body this would probably be true.
But from time to time evidence springs to light which suggests that Rome is still at work, seeking to further her own interests and extend her influence by pulling strings behind the scenes, and by employing many methods which have nothing to do with ordinary church life and worship! From Protestant Truth Society paper, “British Citizen.”