Ordination of Women
The General Synod of the Church of England has now decided that there are no fundamental objections to women being ordained to the ministry of that Church. At the same time it does not intend to proceed at present with the ordination of women to the ministry.
The Scriptural barrier to the ordination of women to the ministry of the Gospel weighs little with the professed Christian Church today. The criterion by which the beliefs and practices of the Church are judged is no longer, “what saith the Scriptures,” but, “what is acceptable to men.” This leaves the door open to all kinds of heresies and unscriptural practices.
Moderator and the Sabbath
When the Free Church Monthly criticised the Queen for handing out prizes at horse trials in Ingliston on a Sabbath the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev. James Matheson, Portree, is reported to have said: “It seems to be quite irrelevant. I can’t understand their obsession. There are more important things to be concerned about.” Also when a Skye crofter was accused of flagrant desecration of the Sabbath by our own Church and the Free Church for opening his museum and restaurant on the Sabbath, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland came to his defence.
It is sad to think that men in high places in the visible Church are so indifferent to the claims of the Divine law. Surely it can be truly said of them that they are blind leaders of the blind. What could be more relevant to this backsliding age than the claims of the Divine law? And what could be more beneficial to the Church of Scotland than that the Moderator would lead the Church back to the Word of God?
Helsinki
At Helsinki leaders of the nations of Europe met at a European security summit conference. Mr Wilson, the Prime Minister, declared concerning the agreements signed at the Conference that they “are a moral commitment to be ignored at our mutual peril.”
The Western European leaders are exposing their nations to the utmost danger if they place any reliance whatsoever on agreements with the Russian Communists. The aim of the Russians is the enslavement of the whole of Europe by fair means or foul. Let our leaders beware of trusting men whose promises are wholly unreliable and whose aim is to rob our nation of its dearly bought civil and religious liberties.
Northern Ireland
The situation in Northern Ireland appears to be deteriorating again. The policy of gradually releasing detainees from internment appears to have paid little dividend while at the same time it has progressively strengthened the I.R.A. cause. What the ultimate outcome will be it is hard to tell but it is clear that the I.R.A. will not easily give up its struggle for the unification of Ireland. It is strange that our Government while very sympathetic towards the aspirations of the Roman Catholic minority in Northern Ireland shows so little sympathy towards the desires of the Protestant majority.
Crime in Scotland
The Scottish Home and Health Department has revealed figures for crime in Scotland which show that crime has increased by 14 per cent. In the face of this and the increasing prison population the only answer that the authorities seem to have for the situation is to show further leniency to offenders. The Home Secretary, Mr Roy Jenkins, recently announced an easier parole plan. By it even those serving life sentences for murder may find it easier to qualify for parole. Having tried over the last few years to alleviate matters by a soft approach to crime without any success surely the time has come to take a more firm approach and make prison sufficiently unpleasant so that offenders would not wish to return. The return of the death penalty for cases of deliberate murder is also an urgent necessity.