The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-01-29

times the size Of Pennsylvania and
Almost the size of all India. The
Church is particularly concerned
about how rough and treacherous
the road might be for her if the
territory chooses independence.
The British have promised the peo-
pie choice of either independence
or incorporation into Egypt within
three years.
Catholic missionaries express
satisfaction with the relations ex-
isting between the Church and the
present government - limited
Sudanese administration with a
British governor general as chief
of state. They point out that the
government is cooperating with
large-scale Catholic building and
development programs. The
Church enjoys government recog-
milton for her leadership in educa-
tion and family welfare.
But the prospect Of an inde-
pendent Sudan brings lines Of
VERY 10 the missionaries faces.
They feel that an independent
state would be Moslsm-eontrelled
and would look with disfavor on
Christian missionary efforts.
The Sudan has . population of
some eight million people. About
six and quarter million of these
are Moslems. The rest are mainly
pagan, with a small minority of
Christians. Catholics number less
than 100000.
The Moslems are of Arab blood
and live mainly in the more pros
porous north, which is rich in ma
tural resources. The Christians are
converts from the Negro popula-
ton in the south. And the Ne
groes are a three-to-one minority
in the Sudan. Those of mixed Arab
and Negro blood are called Nubi-
ans.
Catholic investment Great
The Catholic Church has invest
ed a great amount of funds and
work in the Sudan. AS an example,
one parish in the Sudanese capital
here has a church. rectory, con-
vent, primary school. college, open
air theater, several Fairgrounds,
basketball court, soccer field,
swimming pool, a clubhouse for the
Catholic college graduates and an
other for Catholic families.
The missionaries feel that
such expansion would not be pos
sihls under . Moslem-eonfrolled
government. For this reason
most OF fhs Catholic missions
have undertaken 3 vast building
program 10 be completed within
ths next few years.
perhaps a Moslem government
would not place too many restrIc.
tons on us" one veteran mission.
airy said. But many of us feel that
such an idea is only wiShful think
ing. The Moslems here have no
love for Christianity They would
tolerate limited activity because OF
world opinion, but nothing more.
Converts Are Rare
The Missionaries frankly confess
that they are up against a stone
wall in their efforts to convert
the Moslems. One missionary re
lated that in 20 years he had sue
ceeded in making only one convert
from Mohammedanism - and this
one was on his deathbed. Another
priest has the same record. He said
that he had to baptize his one Mos
lem convert secretly. The convert
believed he would be killed by hi:
Moslem brethren if they learned
he had ''forsaken the prophet"
Analyzing the obstinate resist
ance of the Moslems to Christian
ity. the missionaries give these mo
tiveS:
Christianity has too many hare
teachings for the followers of Mo
hammed. From the Christian view
point. the Moslem leads an irnmor
al life. He is not interested in EN-
bracing teaching that would cur
tail his earthly pleasures.
The modern MosIem is the
product OF countless generations
OF hatred for the Christians. His
toriesIIY, the Moslems consider
Christians their natural enemies.
This attitude can be traced back
TO the erussdes and even 10 ths
]