DANGER AHEAD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 200, 7 January 1942, Page 5

DANGER AHEAD

CLERICAL CRITICS "

RESPECT DUE TO CIVIL LAW!

"We find an attack on the even flow of justice made, I am sorry to say, by certain ministers of religion," said Dr O. C. Mazengarb when addressing Justices of the Peace at their association's luncheon. "It is becoming only too evident that there are same religionist's who are doing a real disservice both to their denominations and to the State by: fostering a spirit of antagonism to the civil law.

"But there is no real conflict between Divine law and civil law. The conflict arises only when people seek to interpret the unrevealed law of Gocl in a way which conflicts with our duties as citizens of the world. But even when such a conflict occurs, the- obvious course 1 surely is to ask the Legislature to amend the law so as to bring it into> harmony with the presumed will of God.

"One Church body recently adopted a resolution lauding conscientious objectors and criticising the Magistrates. Another praised -as 'moral courage' an attitude which might more appropriately be dubbed as public exhibitionism. A third assembly of churchmen recently affirmed its loyalty to the Constitution, by the narrow margin of two votes and at same time voted strongly i» favour of the pacifists.

Split Possible "I feel sure that these reverend gentlemen do not realise the dangers into which they are running. Unless churchmen confine , themselves to their true, province they