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LUCKY ESCAPE FOR MISSION PILOT A pilot of the Franciscan Mission at Aitape, New Guinea, spent nearly six hours in the sea before being rescued by natives from Tumleo Island. The pilot is Mark Dignam, son of Judge Dignam of Sydney, and a lay-missionary who has been flying with the Franciscan Mission for the last six months. He took off from Aitape on an emergency flight early on New Year's morning, to fly to the mission station at Sissane, where a native murder was reported. He had almost arrived back at Aitape on his return flight when an engine failure forced him to ditch in the water between Aitape and Tumleo Island. Although badly dazed he was able to open the door and escape just before the plane sank. No one witnessed the early morning crash. Department of Civil Aviation officials organised an intense search as soon as it was realised the plane, a brand-new Cessna 180 purchased by the Franciscan Mission only one month ago, was overdue.
Search A twin-engined Piaggio operated by Ansett-MAL took part in the search, and also three Cessnas, owned by the Franciscan Mission, the Wewak Catholic Mission, and by a visiting private pilot. The search was radio - controlled by a D.C.A. Search-Master at Madang. The search was fruitless until late in the afternoon, when Father Urban Reid, 0.F.M., flying the Franciscan Mission's other Cessna, spotted the missing pilot on board a native canoe sailing between Tumleo Island and Aitape. The natives had found Mr. Dignam floating in the surf on the northwest point of Tumleo, where he had been swept by the strong currents. He was only semiconscious and badly affected by exposure and shock. The natives revived him by washing him with hot water, massaging him and giving him hot water to drink. As soon as he was fit to travel they placed him on their outrigger-canoe and set sail for Aitape where he was treated by Doctors Peter and Nancy Fitt, the
husband-wife medical team of the Franciscan Mission. Mr. Dig,nam's escape from serious injury and death seems almost miraculous. The loss of the new plane is a very serious blow to the Franciscan Mission, which has many stations in the Torricelli Mountains which can be supplied only by air. It had been hoped that the new plane would permit an intensification of missionary activity in the Aitape Vicariate.
Vital Bishop Ignatius Doggett, 0.F.M., has just returned to Australia from Rome where he was elected a member of the General Commission of the Missions. He said he would be eternally grateful t o God for protecting Mr. Dignam in the dangerous work of mission-flying. But, he said, the aeroplane was vital to the mission in New Guinea, and he would begin immediately to raise funds for the purchase of a new Cessna.
BISHOP CHANGES VIEWS
SAN FRANCISCO: The last five years has brought a change of view about church unity for Episcopal Bishop James A. Pike of San Francisco. "I feel reunion with Rome is not outside the realm of possibility," said Bishop Pike. who left the Catholic religion for the Protestant Episcopal Church during his college days. "I didn't feel that way five years ago," he added. If reunion does come, it will be with the Pope as head of the church, he declared. "History would argue for papal primacy. As for papal infallibility, we may find a way around that," Bishop Pike said in an interview here with the Los Angeles Times.
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ATTACKS ON 1/IETN41\I CATHOLICS SLOWLY DECREASING QUI NHON, Vietnam. CATHOLICS IN PARTS OF CENTRAL VIETNAM ARE STILL BEING INTIMIDATED, BUT ATTACKS ON THEM BY BUDDHISTS AND OTHERS HAVE DECREASED.
By FATHER PATRICK O'CONNOR, S.S.C.
Questioned In another village catechumens (persons preparing for Baptism) were seized and blindfolded and their hands were tied behind their backs. They were brought to the edge of a river and made to kneel down. Their captors asked them: "Who were the assassins of the bonzes? Where are the nails and sacks for killing bonzes?" When they could not answer, they were kicked into the river, still with their hands bound, according to reports. Half drowned, they were pulled out and questioned again to make them accuse themselves or others. In general the "old" Catholics stand their ground. From half to three-fourths of the new converts in these provinces also hold fast, it is estimated. The others are scared into hiding their religious objects and staying away from Mass and night prayers in the church. "Actual apostasies are very few," according to a Vietnamese priest who has been in touch with most parts of the Qui Nhon diocese.
That is the gist of reports brought by Catholics arriving here from outlying areas of this province ( Binh Dinh) and the adjoining coastal provinces of Phu Yen and Quang Ngai. The attacks depend largely on the attitude of the chief of the district, who is usually a military officer, according to reports. If he is just and firm, they do not happen. If a good district chief is changed, the anti-Christian elements are ready to take advantage of the new man. If the province chief is anti-Catholic, it is all the worse. Catholics have been attacked in two of the 10 administrative districts of Binh Dinh province and one of the two now seems t o be calm. In Phu Yen province one district, a large one, has been the scene of attacks on Catholics. They have been victimised in about half of the districts of Quang Ngai province, according to reports. In Son Tinh district, Quang Ngai, Catholic Rumours houses have been burned. In one parish an old sacrisHere in Qui Nhon town tan was beaten four times, there were the beginnings according to reports. Cath- of an anti-Catholic drive in olics complain they are not November. with wild rumallowed to leave their vilours of bonzes buried in lage to go to Mass without the cathedral or bishop's a special permit from those house. Priests handled the in control. situation calmly, and the
people quickly realised the rumours were false. Now there is no trouble in town. On Christmas, Catholics flocked to midnight Mass. celebrated in the open in the cathedral yard with the brightly illuminated and decorated cathedral as the back^round. Meanwhile Saigon. in Prime Minister Nguyen Ngoc Tho declared on Christmas Eve: "The Military Revolutionary Council and I have given our personal assurances to all archbishops and bishops of complete equality of religion." He admitted, however, that some cases of religious persecution (of Catholics) had occurred and that the government was very concerned about it.
Assurance According to the official Vietnam Press news agency. the Prime Minister said he had discussed the situation with Archbishop Nguyen van Binh of Saigon and assured him that the government was investigating reports that "some Catholic churches had been damaged and some priests had left their parishes because of the intimidation by communist-led Buddhists in the central section." The Prime Minister reported that tension remained high in the central highlands but he hoped no further violence would erupt. Taking issue with statements made by Father Robert Willichs, the Prime Minister said "It is not true that any local officials of this government have encouraged or permitted terrorism against Catholics.Maj. Gen. Tran van Don, Minister of Defence and chief of the joint general staff, issued an order of the day saying in part: "All
During the Catholic Universities Federation of A ustralia Convention, lectures were followed by group discussions in the grounds of the University. Here a group discussion is led by Dr. Eduard von Perger, Ph.D., of Claremont.
of the world's five continents will greet Christmas with overflowing joy. Although Christmas is a festival of the Christians, the message of the Nativity is widely considered worthy of meditation . . . I wish all of you and your families a joyful Christmas."
Cathedral Robbed BOMBAY, India: Police have arrested a man suspected of ransacking the Bon Jesus Basilica of Goa, major Cathclic shrine in Ind'a and resting place of the remains of St. Francis Xavier. The suspect, Patrocinio Sergio de Souze, 35, was charged with stealing many priceless possessions of the shrine, including four silver crowns, two ciboriums, a communion plate and three silver strips from the casket containing the saint's relics. Police said the suspect entered the basilica in the evening, hid behind an altar and then ransacked the shrine in early morning hours. He was arrested by an off-duty policeman who was attracted by a bulging bag the man was carrying.