Evening star., 1953-10-27
Bishop Dun
Assdi|s Bogus
AmeriCanism
Warns Churchmen
Against Efforts to
StifIe Opinions
By Cospor Names
Star Staff Correspondent

bishop of Washington, today
warned against political dema-
goguery" that seeks to stif1e diff
ferences of opinion "in the name
of Americanism.
There is serious danger that
in an anxious quest for security
in a dangerous world, our people
shall fail to distinguish between
a legitimate security from eS-
pionage and SubverSion and
bogus security from dissent" the
church leader told the opening
session of the fourth National
Study Conference on the
Churches and World Order.
"The political demagoguery
which, in the name of American
ism, seeks to exploit fear, TO-
ment suspicion, bypass due
process of law, and stif1e differ
enceS of opinion is the most gre
viouS type of unAmericaniSm,
Bishop Dun declared. "Only by
guarding our freedom-includ-
ing the freedom of dissent from
the majority-can America have
an Informed and courageous pub
lie opinion"
Stand on Foreign Policy.
The four-day meeting, spon-
sored by the Department of In
ternational Justice and Good
Will, National Council of
Churches, opened here today
with more than 400 delegates,
representing 80 Protestant and
Eastern Orthodox denomina-
tions present. The conference,
divided into five study sections,
will express it's views on the ma
jor would issues facing our coun-
try. 1t will issue a message of
general principles for United
States foreign policy at the end
of the meeting.
Bishop Dun told the gathering
that the revolutionary upheaval
among peoples lin less tech
nically developed areas of the
world" and the conflict between
Russia and the free nations are
the two massive and disturbing
realities" facing us.
The revolutionary upheaval"
is in Asia. the Middle East and
Africa with many forces COM
bining Ito produce the violent
eruptionS which are breaking the
patterns of human societies in
those areas" he pointed out.
Cites Christian Obligation.
"As Christians in a technically
advanced society we have a spe-
cial obligation to recognize both
the creative and the destructive
possibilities in this widespread
ferment
With regard to Russia, the
speaker asserted that while we
must use "every means to resist
the extension of Soviet totali-
tarianism, our Christian commit
ment requires us to insist upon
continuing exploration of the
possibilities and limitations of
co-existence between the Soviet
and the free societies"
A recognition by both sides
that peace is better than armed
conflict when war means mutual
annihilation" is the minimum
requirement for this condition,
the bishop pointed out.
"Co-existence with the Soviet
power system does not mean
moral acquieSSence in its tyran-
nous cruelty nor indifference to
the fate of peoples living under
its rule" he insisted. "On the
other hand, co-eXistence in a
form which could conceivably re-
suit in any significant reduction
of the present tensions quite Ger
tainly would bar this country
from directly melting revolts
within the Soviet dominion"
The same thesis was voiced
yesterday by other delegates.
Condemn Gag Rule.
They condemned what they
called attempts to silence pas
tors on social questions, and to
inhibit churches from interpret
ing the Christian message as
they see it.
Baptist Pastor John F. Will
liams of Newport News, Va, said
congressional investigating pro-
cedures, such as those used by
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
of Wisconsin, threaten "intimi-
dation of the pulpit"
DR.. Reuben Nelson, general
secretary of the American Bap-
tist Convention, criticized what
he called attempts to impose
formulas of thinking" that
would restrict religion to a COM
partment remote from everyday
problems.
He said he was deeply con-
cerned" that Francis Cardinal
Spellman, Archbishop of New
York, should advocate McCar-
thyiSm."
On visit in Brussels, the car
dinal recently rebuked European
critics of "McCarthyism," de-
Tended the Senator's work and
said "anguished cries of pro-
tests" wouldn't stop Americans
from fighting to get rid of Com
muniStS.
Mrs. Douglas Horton, wartime
director of the WAVES, who is
conference chairman, in opening
the meeting today said its aim
is "to help Christian citizens
formulate informed opinions in
a variety of matters related to
world order.
DR.. Arthur Flemming of Wash
ington, director of the Office of
Defense Mobilization. told
luncheon meeting today that
Christ must become the in