The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-04-11
Faith In Thailand:
Conversions Not Quick
In Land Of Smiles

The Thailanders some still proudly call them
selves Siamese belong to the same basic racial
stock as the Vietnamese and their majority follows
the same religion: Buddhism. But Thailand is a
Land of Smiles and comparative prosperity.
This nation encountered the last war merely
in an uncomfortable form of a Japanese protectorate
and it had never been the colony of a European
power. The foreign visitor is met by the Thai in a
spirit of ~easygoing equality. There are no humilla-
lions to remember, no hurt pride
Thailand, moreover, has practically no Commune.
lists and only very few Christians. AS a member OF
SEATO whose headquarters are in Bangkok -
this nation fully .cooperates with the Free West.
However, the tale of the rapidly advancing, VIC
torious Church does not repeat itself here. We are
not in Vietnam, though in Thailand too one observes
a phenomenon which characterizes the South OF
Asia: a great deal more men than women Worship
on weekdays as we'll as on Sundays, something UNI
heard of in either Europe or America. (The explana-
ton offered by two Asians: /. men have lots OF
free time, whereas women have to work constantly
which is only natural because steady work alone
keeps them. out of mischief and prayer, | person.
ally would like to add and 2. man is more spiritual
than woman, but let's leave the problem at thatD
Still, the Church in Thailand is fighting a very
stiff uphill fight with great efforts and few conver-
sions. The Catholic schools are excellent and almost
every Thai intellectual will boast of his Catholic prl-
mary and secondary education.
The priests are Jealous, the Sisters are devoted.
but Buddhism, the official and strongly fostered
state religion, has still an iron grip on the popula-
lation. This is certainly not surprising in Bangkok.
the most beautiful city ina the Far East Though I
must admit that | have not seen Peking), whose
beauty is made of the most gorgeous temples, pa
godas, and tombs the human mind could %contrive.
To become a Christian here means to give up
spiritually Though not artistically) these treasures.
Only last year the King declared that he is con-
stitutionaly the protector and good friend OF all
faiths and the royal family is famous for it's intel
ligence and it's attachment to freedom. (Most read
ers will remember Prince VANS activity in the UN
on behalf of the enslaved Hungarans. l just met
this delightful gentleman)
All this does not eliminate the fact that, con-
trary to what is true of conditions in Japan, the ca
reer Of any man in the army, navy, or civil service
would be-severely married were he to join q Chris
tian faith
And, for reasons of personal, social, and intel
lectual prestige employment by the State means a
great deal in Eastern Asia usually more than
personal wealth.
The work of conversion is somewhat easier IN
the interior OF. the country and among the tribes
men in the mountains. There the missionaries have
frequently bought land in order to found villages
with a soidly Catholic rural population, coming from
various parts of the region.
What one sees here very clearly is the import
ance not only of the Catholic family, but also of the
Catholic community with the concomitant elimination
of mixed marriages. Victory, as we have said, is stil
far ahead but we will never give up hope. American
Redemptorst Fathers have erected a beautiful church
in Siamese style in Bangkok and Cardinal SpEttman
has just blessed their new school.
Some day, some time, the ice is going to melt
and Siam will become Christian. From the pro-
verbal Land of Smiles it will turn into a Land
of Laughter. 49,