The Pope and the Communists
Archbishop Lefebvre, the rebel traditionalist Roman Catholic Archbishop, has alleged that Rome has for years been playing an unsavoury role in holding secret consultations with leaders of the Euro-Communist movement from Italy, Spain and France. Besides this the Pope has been receiving Communist leaders from Eastern Europe. A month or two ago Janos Kadar, the Hungarian Communist leader was received by the Pope. In view of these comings and goings it would be no surprise to see the Vatican coming to terms with the Communists. A system which found little difficulty in establishing Concordats with Fascist dictatorships not so very long ago should not find it beyond its power to come to a mutual understanding with Communist regimes today. The danger of such a link-up for the Protestant Church hardly needs to be stated.
‘Bigotry’
A Scottish-Canadian left £1,400 to help poor children in Edinburgh with their schooling, stipulating that the money should be used to help Protestant children. Because of this stipulation Edinburgh councillors refused to accept the bequest and referred to it as a ‘bigoted bequest’. Roman Catholic Cardinal Gray welcomed the councillors decision to turn it down because of discrimination. The same Cardinal announced the previous day that in future Roman Catholic teachers in Scotland will normally have to gain their teaching qualification at one of the Roman Catholic Colleges of Education if they are to be accepted for posts in Roman Catholic schools. We have no doubt that the Cardinal would see no bigotry in the whole Roman Catholic separate educational set-up. ‘Bigotry’ only applies to Protestant discrimination. It is sad that the councillors of the capital city of Scotland should show such bias against Protestantism.
Blasphemous Poem
A private prosecution by Mrs Mary Whitehouse, was successful in having the editor and publisher convicted for publishing a blasphemous libel against the Christian religion. Fines and a suspended sentence were imposed. The judge in passing sentence said: “This poem is quite appalling in its content and one of the most scurrilous profanity. I hope never to see the like of it again.” While there may be an appeal against this decision, it is gratifying to know that a jury today felt duty bound to convict on a matter of this kind. It is to be hoped that it may result in the prevention of such daring assaults on the Christian Faith.
Divorce
The divorce figures in Scotland are alarming. It is said that the divorce rate has reached 23 a day. The misery and sorrow for families involved in this tragic situation cannot be estimated. What need there is for a day of the Lord’s power so that the causes which produce this state of affairs may be removed. The causes are not simple or easy of solution but it is clear that the permissiveness of the age is one main contributory factor. Only a day of Gospel blessing can resolve this situation.