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POPE PAUL'S FIRST ENCYCLICAL
UNIQUE Ilat Of C11111101 STRESSED JAMES C. O'NEILL reports from CASTELGANDOLF0
The unique role of the Church as God's means of saving all 'mankind and the importance of man's recognition of this role formed the core of the first encyclical of Pope Paul VI's reign. The encyclical, called Ecclesiam Suam from the opening Latin words of the almost 15,000-word document, was released to the world on August 10, but was dated August, 6, the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ.
Papal Primacy Cannot Be Sacrificed
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N addition to a detailed study of the nature of the Church as God's means of saving mankind, the encyclical also contained a denunciation of atheism that called it "the most serious problem of our time." Moreover, the Pope explicitly renewed his predecessor's condemnation of "ideological systems which deny God and oppress the Church, systems which are often identified with economic, social and political regimes, among which atheistic communism is the chief." The document hailed the ecumenical movements towards unity to be found among Christian churches today, but made it clear that the primacy of the Pope cannot be sacrificed.
Noting that many non-Catholic Christians regard the primacy of the Pope as a "stumbling-block" and maintain that if it were abandoned the reunion of churches would be easier, Pope Paul declared: "We beg the separated brethren to consider the inconsistency of this position, not only in that, without the Pope, the Catholic Church would no longer be Catholic, but also because, without the supreme, efficacious and decisive pastoral office of Peter, the unity of the Church of Christ would utterly collapse." The encyclical is divided into three main parts with a short introduction: • The need for the Church to be more aware of its divine nature and its r ole in the salvation of mankind; • The need for renewal and reform within the Church so that it can continue to carry out its mission more effectively; • The relation of the Church to all mankind and with "the world in which it exists and labours." "The Church has something to say. The Church has a message to deliver," the Pope said. Pope Paul summed up the aim of his first encyclical very early in the document when he wrote: "We propose to ourself in this encyclical the task of showing more clearly to
all men the Church's importance for the salvation of mankind and her heartfelt desire that the Church and mankind should meet each other and should come to know and love each other." • Detailed account of the encyclical—Page Six.
Red Radio Says Problems Neglected • In the first comment from Eastern European communist countries on Ecclesiam Suam, Radio Prague has declared that the document neglects the most urgent problems of the world. The official voice of communist Czechoslovakia, it was reported in Bonn, West Germany, made no comment on the Pope's views on communism that are contained in the encyclical.
first encyclicals THEof Popes Paul VI,
John XXIII and Pius XII show marked similarities. three All pontiffs spoke of the need for peace, condemned communism, either implicitly or by name, and denounced modern errors that have led men away from religion. Popes Paul and John also stressed the need for Christian reunion and spoke of the task of the Ecumenical Council. Popes Paul and Pius noted that their first encyclicals were not doctrinal in nature, while Popes John and Pius discussed the role of the family, a topic not dealt with by Pope Paul. Pope Paul's 15,000word first encyclical, Ecclesiam Suam, is considerably longer than the 12,000-word documents of John XXIII and Pius XII, Ad Petri Cathedram and Summi Pontificatus respectively.
POPE PAUL VI.
United States Action In North Vietnam Better Relations Considered Justified
FRANKFURT, Germany: REPORT presented to the general assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches has hailed "a new climate" in r elations between Catholic and Protestant Churches. The report, dated August 10, said this climate has developed in areas where co - operation previously would have been unthinkable, particularly with regard to religious freedom, peace and race relations. It urged member churches to exchange "in the interest of social betterment" mutually acceptable experiences in worship with Catholic churches. "We believe that both Roman Catholic and Reformed Churches are prepared to re-assess and alter traditions in the light of deeper ilnderstanding of the Scriptures, and we urge the Roman Catholic Church to continue with us the study and selfexamination," the report stated.
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WASHINGTON: SAMPLE polling of Catholic moralists and polit:cal scientists has revealed a unanimous belief that the United States was justified in its decision to strike back at communist naval bases in North Vietnam.
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A cross-section of moral cularly since China and theologians and political North Vietnam had some experts were asked by question about our comN.C.W.C. News Service mitment in South-East whether Christian mora- Asia." lity governing warfare permits retaliatory attacks NO "PAPER TIGER" and whether the air strikes "It isn't a question of on North Vietnamese PT boat installations were ex- retaliation," he said. "The cessive, especially in view United States had to make it perfectly sharp and of the danger of their clear to the other side that sparking a wider conflict. this country is not a 'paper Most of those contacted tiger.' It was necessary to agreed that the American take appropriate action decision could not proper- quickly so they will not ly be called "retaliatory." continue to be deceived. In this respect I can see William E. Moran, Jr., positive moral action dean of the School of For- here." eign Service at GeorgeMoran said the U.S. may town University and president of the Catholic As- have been faced with a sociation for International "choice of evils." but dePeace, said he thought the clared that country cannot U.S. response was "a refuse to take action merely because of the threat of reasonable one given the nuclear war. circumstances, and parti-If you take that line,
you have to ask what this means to our freedom and our religion." he said. "Do we have to give all of that up just to protect our hides?" Father Edward Conway, S.J., research professor of political science at Creighton University, in Nebraska, and director of Creighton's Centre for Peace Research, deplored what he called "the widespread use cf the word 'retaliation' to characterise our response to this aggression." COUNTER MEASURE He saids the word connotes an "irrational and non-military motivation" on the part of the United States. The air strikes, he said, were a "defensive counter measure which I don't consider excessive in the light nf the situation."