Evening star., 1942-05-29
Churches Of Britain
Are Brought Closer
Together by War
Leaders Are PIonnine
To Expond Cooperation
On Meeting Problems
By Radio 10 The Star.

By Radio to The Star.
LONDON, May 29-From the SUI
ferings and misery Of this war has
emerged the closest cooperation
ever to exist between churches. which
it is the intention Of religious lead
ers to increase and expand In deal
ing with postwar problems.
A joint meeting in London yester-
day of the Commission of Churches
for International Friendship and So
cial Responsibility and of the Roman
Catholic Sword of the Spirit marked
the firSt step of the leaders to plan
a union of Uniformed and convinced
Christians all over the country IN
common action on the broad lines Of
social and international policy"
The Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Bishop Of London OF the
Anglican Church. Cardinal Hinsley
and Msgr. Godfrey Of the Catholic
Church and the Rev. S. M. Berry,
moderator Of the Free Church Fed
eral Council, were among the re-
ligious leaders who Joined in the
gesture.
Compelling Obligation.
A Joint statement issued on behalf
of the Anglican, Free Church tem-
bracing Presbyterians. Methodists
and Baptists) and Catholic churches
said that I'VE agree that a COM
pelling obligation rests upon all
Christian people in this country to
maintain the Christian tradition
and to act together to the utmost
possible extent to secure the effec-
tive influence Of Christian teaching
and witness in the handling OF
social, economical and civil prob
lens, now and in the critical post
war period.
I'VE agree that there is . large
area of common ground on which,
without raising the ultimate ques-
tions Of church order and doctrine
which divide us, full cooperation
Is possible and Is already taking
place"
1t is the view of the leaders of
all organized religion that the peo-
pies Of this country and Of occupied
Europe have become closer as q re-
suit of the war. Greater humane
ness is shown on every side. Indi-
viduals in Britain and in the victim
lied countries Of Europe do far more
to help each other than they have
ever done in their lives.
In Poland and CZechoslovakia, for
example. the majority Of the people
are banded together in a loose or
ganization called "Seh Help" Ir-
respective of whether they are
Catholics, Jews, or Protestants, they
are making every effort to alleviate
the sufferings of their neighbors.
The ordeal through which Britain
passed during the raids brought
much the same spirit to people here.
Common Bridge for Cooperation.
Religious leaders see this spirit as
q great bridge between all units OF
religion. The common desire to pro-
vide social relief is providing the
churches with a common base for
active cooperation. At present little
more in the way of practical form
ula can be worked out but cooper
alton in dealing with the immense
problems of social relief will, it is
hoped, provide the basis for even
closer alliance between the churches.
British leaders have been i'm
pressed by the extent to which re-
ligious tolerance and cooperation
has been achieved among the Amer
lean churches. The visit of three
leading American churchmen last
August Is recalled. Then Father
Donovan, the Rev. Henry van Dusen
and Rabbi LaZaron-of the Catholic,
Presbyterian and Jewish Churches
toured Britain, talking to the re-
ligious and political leaders of Brit
ain and the exiled governments
here. Recently all the American
churches were represented at the
coronation Of DR.. Temple as Arch
bishop of Canterbury.
(CopyriEht, 1912, By CHICAGO Daily News)