Attitude of Churches to Communism

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1948, Page 3

Attitude of Churches to Communism

TIIE HAGUE, August 29. Dr. Rheinhold Neibukr (UuitO'l Htates), (lefining Cliristiaiiity 's attitude towards Communism at the World Couiicil of Churches, deelared that Christians could not alford tOe take a negative attitude, because the Communist revolt expressed - the diseontenf of the vast masses of insecure people. Dr. Neibuhr suggested the couneil should regard Communism as bota better and worse than Faseism, on tlitbasis that Communism was Cliristian hercsy and Faseism and Nazism wero anti-Christian paganism. ' ' Communism inevitably results in a dilemma, because it believes that the abolition of property \vill automatically solve society !s problems, " he added. i'rofessor Konneth T. Li ( ALanchuria) saifl he did not believe the young people of China a»d lndia wero syinpathetie towards Communisiu because they liked it, but because they felt their own (iovernments were corrupt; so they rau tlie risk o,f turning Left to save tlieir countries. Dr. J. Ilutchison Coekburn, the director of the couucil's department of ro construction, appealed to the couneil to start a long-term plan to check 'tlie inroads of the Htate upon liumaii rights which, if anti-Christian, are the most (langerous colossus of the day, will re: duce mankind to servile obedience, and rob him oi all rights and privileges. Everv Homan Catholic Churcli in IIolland celeltrated a special Muss for tli.World Couneil of Churches, by order oi Monsignor de Jong, Cardinal Arclibishoj) of ITrecht, although the Cathoiic Churcli refused to participate in the couneil. The Archbishop said the b'oman Catholic Churcli could not carelesslv iguore the "great and sincere desiiv for unily, '' out of which the world rouncil liad boen born.