church. It was an appointment opposed by Protestants during the ten years its incumbent held office. Many saw in it deference to the political influence of and pressure of the Roman hierarchy in Ameri ca. There is no separation of church and state in Rome. The two are interlocked. The pope is supreme in the Vatican. It is administered by the same kind of machinery as administers of the church. The Vatican's significance can be gauged by its size. In 1859 the Papal States extended over 16,000 square miles and their population comprised over three million subjects. Today Vatican City has an area of one-sixth of a square mile and a population of some 1,000 persons. At the time of Myron Taylor's appointment Cardinal Spellman stated: "The Holy Father is not alone the supreme head of the Catholic church. He is also head of a sovereign state." (The New York Times, March 13, 1940.) The Roman Catholic Church is fighting for its very existence in Europe and needs the support of nations predominantly Protestant if, as an institution, it is to survive. Protestants should strive so far as possible, so far as is compatible with principle, to work with Roman Catholics in order that national unity in countries challenging communism may be preserved. But the question that arises is this: Has the cooperation of the Vatican with the United States in combatting communism depended on the appointment of an ambassador? The Vatican is spoken of as one of the world's great listening posts. If it has matters of social and political urgency to communicate to the United States it should not be difficult without backstairs diplomacy, to find means of passing them on. Would what either party might gain from an embassy compensate for the cleavage which would undoubtedly follow its establishment? con What of the Protestant tribution to the struggle against communism? After all, it is in the predominantly Protestant nations of the world, not in the Catholic nations, that strength for democratic freedom centers. Protestants no less than Catholics are engaged in the battle against communism. If it is free cooperation in the struggle against communism Protestants are ready to offer it. If it is political status and preferential official recognition American Protestants will have none of it for it would be a violation of their interpretation of the Constitution and of their conception of the true nature, of the spiritual non-political character of the church. NEW OUTLOOK We speak of a "united front" against communism, but there has got to be a clarification of the issues which divide Protestants and Catholics. It is the anti-democratic character of Romanism that is preventing a really united front. What makes Catholicism's hatred of communism such a tragic irony is that at point after point its policies and methods are just as autocratic and totalitarian. It has always had a hankering after authoritarian regimes. It dislikes a free press, free churches, free schools. It has never repudiated belief in persecution and has no patience with the concept of tolerance. This is a free country. We are proud of it as such and intend to keep it a free country. Roman Catholicism has no use for the presuppositions of civil and religious liberty or for democratic procedures. The hierarchy rules the church. It is self-perpetuating and autonomous. There are no elections or referendums permitting lay participation. It is a monarchical and feudal institution, an incarnation of the principle of fascism, and as such incompatible with both Christianity and democracy. If communism makes us fearful for American liberties what of Catholicism on its hierarchical side? It is a sorry business to have to speak as plainly and as controversially as this, but if the democratic way of life and the prin ciples of the Reformation are to be safeguarded and advanced there will have to be some plain speaking. For Protestants and those concerned about traditional American democracy there is no alternative but to build up a resistance movement against the encroachments of the Roman hierarchy, of which the proposed nomination of an ambassador to the Papal See was only a recent example. This must not mean attacking our fellow-Christians of the Catholic church; it cannot but mean standing by our national tradition and our Protestant heritage. Said Dr. Russell Bowie, without mincing words: "We do not want political dictatorship, and we do not want ecclesiastical dictatorship either. As we do not propose to be ruled from any communist Red Square, neither do we propose to be ruled from any cardinal's red hat." ("Protestant Concern over Catholicism," American Mercury, September, 1949.) On Reformation Sundays let us remind ourselves that religious freedom is the fundamental freedom. The fight for it has been a perpetual battle. If its defeats are never permanent, its victories are never final. The conflict our fathers thought finished has broken out all over again. They paid a great price for soul freedom. We must not sell it cheap, not the least grain of it. Nor shall we if we "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free" and refuse to be "entangled again with the yoke of bondage." The Churchman A Voice From India Dear Dr. Lischner: A friend gave a copy of your "New Outlook" this evening. I feel very happy to read "New Outlook". It may interest you and your readers to know that in 1920 I wrote a note on 100,000 Scientists Behind Humanity when I was at Bonn on Rhine, Germany. The main points in my letter were and are: food, clothing, shelter, education, work, medical treatment are the primary needs of all human beings and that Nature has been good enough to provide the necessary material for the general welfare of humanity as a whole. I know there is nothing very original in what I have been thinking since 1909 when I was sent to the Manchester Grammar School, England, from Baroda in India. The voyage to Marseilles, the railway journey through France, the crossing from Calais to Dover, journey to London, a few days in London and then the great and famous High Master, J. L. Paton, of the M. G. S. I went with the scouts to France in 1912 for six weeks during the summer holidays. It was during this trek that I wrote notes on Science Clubs of India, Health Museums, World-Minded Education, World Citizenship, World Defence Forces, World Government and other related subjects. There was only one science club in India in 1944. With the help and cooperation of Science Clubs of America, Ministers of Education and Governors in India I have been able to organize about five hundred science clubs all over India. 500 is a small number for a big country like India. All great things have a small beginning. I like the aims and objects of New Century Foundation. I will mention them in Science Clubs of India Bulletin. Those who are on the same wavelength will cooperate. I read with great interest A Voice From Germany. I have very happy recollections of my school days and college days in England, France and Germany. I believe that world peace is possible. I will NEW OUTLOOK contact the Pasadena "Magazine for Friendship." I will mention this magazine also in Science Clubs of India Bulletin. "The wishes of youth are garnered in age." Goethe. I did not know in 1911 that in 1952 I would have the pleasure of reading "New Outlook" and get to know people who are on the same wavelength: who share the same thoughts and ideals. I believe that it is possible to see the shape of things to come. Our thoughts are shaping the future. I believe in telepathy. This is a subject which deserves careful thought and attention. International education and understanding can be encouraged with the help of good educational films. With the help and cooperation of H. H. Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad of Baroda and Dr. Venilal Modi, President of Baroda Municipality, I have been showing Panorama, Grain That Built A Hemisphere, Blue Ribbon and Foreign Sports to the people of Baroda free of charge at night. The films are loaned by the United States Information Service, Bombay. This kind of education has already become popular in Baroda. The Voice of Germany and the spirit of New Outlook induced me to write these lines. I hope some of your readers will write to me. The film Panorama ends with a view of Niagara Falls. Nearly two thousand people have seen these films. When they see Niagara Falls and the rainbow they say: Wonderful. Wonderful. World peace is possible. World friendship is possible. The workers, artisans, poor people, rich people, doctors, and other professional men and women say the same thing. G. M. Jadhav 40 EDUCATION CAN NEVER BE A purely autonomous process, in- -George S. Counts in "Education and American Civilization" When I sent you my melons you cried out with scorn, "They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow." When I offer'd myself, whom those graces adorn, You flouted, and call'd me an ugly old fellow. -An Old Oriental Verse The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it. -H. L. Mencken At a Georgia rural camp-meeting, the preacher who was leading the services touched on the war, and, stopping suddenly in the sermon, called to an old colored brother in the congregation: "Br'er Williams, I'm gwine to ax you ter git right down on yo' knees en pray fer de success er de American arms." Br'er Williams got "down" immediately, and in the course of his petition he said: "Oh, Lawd, he'p de American arms; an' Lawd, whilst you lookin' atter de arms, take keer er de legs, too! Don't fergit de legs, good Lawd, 'kase we gwine need 'em ter run wid! Take de arms, ef you must, but-spare de legs, Lawd, spare de legs!" The proprietor of a big shoe store was a canny judge of salesmen. He was hiring a clerk. "Suppose," he said, a lady customer asked, "Don't you think one of my feet is bigger than the other?' What would you say?" The clerk promptly replied, "I'd say, 'On the contrary, Madam, one is smaller than the other." Needless to say, the clerk was hired. * * * Orthodxy is my doxy-heterodoxy is another man's doxy. -William Warburton There are times when success in our profession depends upon our tact and our ability to stretch a point in our favor. A millionaire lay dying. He had lived a life of which he felt none too proud. To the minister at his bedside he muttered weakly: "If I leave a hundred thousand or so to the church, will my salvation be assured?" The minister, wishing, of course, to comfort the man's last hours, answered cautiously, "Well, I'm not in a position to make any guarantees, but it would certainly be worth trying.” If absence makes the heart grow fonder, a lot of people ought to love their church. NEW OUTLOOK |