Criminology Today
A report appeared in the Daily Telegraph at the beginning of October of the Eighth World Congress of the International Society of Criminology which met in Lisbon and was attended by 600 people from 50 countries. A former Assistant Governor of Holloway prison gave her impressions of the Congress. After hearing the criminologists giving their views she came back with the impression that the global crime-wave would expand — and little wonder when among the theories propounded was one that argued that victims of crime are largely responsible for the offences committed against them, and another that maintained that societies create the crimes to which they are prone. So far as combating crime was concerned most of the theorists believed that this could only be achieved by improving political and social conditions. The idea that offenders are, and should be made to feel personally responsible for their actions was unpopular with these theorists, she reported. Some of the experts regarded all criminals without exception as victims of the law.
The report makes sad reading and is an indication of the serious state of affairs which has arisen through the abandonment of the concept of guilt which once was recognised on all sides. So long as place is given to the views of present day criminologists and sociologists little improvement can be expected in combating crime but rather the reverse. It is clear from all this that abandonment of Biblical teaching by those in positions of authority and trust has far-reaching effects, not only in the religious life of the land, but in almost every other aspect of the nation’s life as well.
A New Pope
A new Pope was elected to succeed Pope John Paul whose tenure of office was so brief. The election of a Polish Cardinal to be Pope is not without significance, and is in line with the movement within the Vatican for an accommodation with the Communists. It will surprise us greatly if moves in that direction will not take place before too long.
In accordance with the ecumenical outlook of the Church of Scotland, and her favourable attitude to the Church of Rome, we find the Moderator of the General Assembly stating on behalf of his Church: “The Church of Scotland rejoices to know that the Roman Catholic Communion has found a leader. Our prayer is that he and thee (the R.C. Church) may now enjoy a long and much blessed pontificate.” So we see that the Moderator blesses whom the Lord has cursed.
The Queen and Prime Minister also sent messages of goodwill to the new Pope. Such action is hardly in keeping with Her Majesty’s Protestant declaration on coming to the Throne. If she is to be in any way excused it is only on the ground that her spiritual advisers are blind leaders of the blind and would not have the spiritual discernment to advise her otherwise. May she and they be speedily delivered from their thrallism and their eyes opened to see the malignity of that wicked system before our land falls a prey to it once more. What a comfort it is to know that the day is coming when all the baseness of Anti-christ will be revealed and men will wonder then that they were so long duped by it.
Liverpool Cathedral
A ceremony, attended by Her Majesty the Queen, marked the completion of the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral. The building had been started 74 years ago and only now has been completed. By all reports the Cathedral is a magnificent building and no doubt will attract people from all over the world to view it. For all that, one cannot but ask, Is this all the Church of England has to offer the people of Liverpool — a magnificent Gothic Cathedral? Of what benefit was the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem to the Jewish Nation, when in their spiritual blindness they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. And of what use will the great Liverpool Cathedral be to the people of that city when to a large degree the Church of England has ceased to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? It is the living Bread that came down from heaven that the people of Liverpool need, not the stones of the new Cathedral.