The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-07-01

An Archbishop from
Belgian Congo both expressed
optimism here regarding the
Church's development.
ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM r.
Porter, English.born former
Archbishop of Cape Coast,
Ghana, declared: The wind
of change blowing through
Africa brings no threat TO the
Christianity of its peoples,
neither now nor in the flu
ture."
Archbishop Porter, 70, who
has just retired otter AZ years
service as a missionary, said
he disagrees with reports
claiming that the growth of
nationalism and independence
in Africa is causing a revolt
against Christianity. Bue he
admitted that problems have
arisen in the transitional per
iod. Some of these have been
solved and others have not, he
said.
The Archbishop, in an in
terview in Manchester with
the Universe, Catholic news
paper, added that he sees no
change of an anti-Christian
policy in Ghana.
"iF THE GHANA govern
ment became deliberately
anti Christian they would Gre
ate a situation which they
would find too tough to han
die" he said. THE people
would not stand for it. There
is a growing organized
strength among the African
Christians, a voice that is be-
ginning to speak with author
ity and one that is being heed
ed by the eountry's offifc-
ials."
Many Ghanians arc still
simple. uneducated people but
they are intelligent and quick
TO spot injustice. the Arch
bishop said. Their Prime Min
lister, kwame Nkrumah, who
was educated by Catholic mis-
slonaries, lis wise enough to
appreciate that he needs the
support Of all the people If
his regime is TO be a peaceful
and successful one the pre-
late said. The Ghana govern
ment realizes that it is essent-
ial 10 integrate peacefully all
communities and faiths"
Archbishop Porter dismiss
ed rumors of the return of the
old tribal witch doctors TO
power and the resurgence Of
pagan practices Some of these
practices merely satisfy the
African urge for ceremonial,
he said.
II HAVE A GREAT admira-
tior for the work the Ghana
government has been trying
TO do the Archbishop stat
ed. at Is expecting too much
for everything 10 be perfect.
There are excellent relations
between the government and
the Christian churches"
Citing an example, he said
he complained to the new au-
thoritIes when a progOvern-
ment newspaper suggested
that South Africa's apartheid
(racial sepration) policy was
supported by the Church-and
the false propaganda was
stopped.
In another case, more than
200 Catholic schools and many
Protestant ones were nation
allied for political agitation"
The Archbishop said he told
the government none Of the
offending schools was Cath
Ollie. Both the Catholic bishops
and the Protestant Church
leaders protested. Two days
later the Ghanian Education
Ministry announced that the
schools would be handed back
and they we're, except for
one teachers training college.
OVER IN THE HEART of
Africa. the Belgian Congo was
to become independent on
June 80. Its first Prime Minis
ter is Patrice Lumumba, also
missionary-tralned and report
ed by some newspapers hers
to be anti.C Catholic.
An authority on the eoun-
try. Ruth Slade, a convert,
writing in the Catholic Herald
here said:
There has been an a~nticler-
ical current in the Congo for
several years, particularly in
the towns. Many Africans have
come to feel that Christianity
is an European affair. that
the Church is exclusively Eur
opean in form and expression.
Bat in an Independent
Congo the Church will be
freed from a situation where
it can appear that Christian
missions are only one express
sion of European colonialism
and will be able to grow to
maturity in a way which is not
possible in a country not yet
autonomous.
ut rs THE GREAT good
fortune of the Church in
Congo-indeed of the Church
in Africa-that at this critical
stage in her development
she il able to benefit from
those movements Of renewal