Evening star., 1963-09-02
ChurchCOunciI
Dep|oresCurbs
In Wet Nam
BY CASPAR NAMES
star Staff Writer

The World Council Of
Churches Central Committee
decides today whether the coun-
Gil should accept Government
funds for pilot projects in such
areas a social service, technical
assistance and the permanent
resettlement of orphaned peo-
pie.
The admission Of nine new
denominations to the council,
now consisting of 201 Protes-
tant, Anglicaii and Orthodox
communions in 80 countries.
also was to be considered at
the committees final session Of
its week-long meeting in Col
gate Rochester Divinity School
here.
The 100-member committee
serves as the governing body
Of the council between general
assemblies, which take place
every six years.
Wet Nam Statement
Regret that the Roman Cath
olic- dominated government Of
Wet Nam had imposed re-
strictions upon the religious
freedom Of BuddhiSts there was
voiced in a statement issued
yesterday by the executive COM
mittee Of the councils Com
mission Of the Churches on
international affairs.
Signed by Sir Kenneth
Grubb, commission chairman.
and DR.. o. Frederick Nolde,
director, the document praised
Pope Paul VI for stating recently
that proper recognition should
be given to the Buddhists and
that all should work to re-
establish "fraternal concord"
1t added that equal religious
freedom for all communities is
a necessary basis of such con-
cord" and hoped that "the
objectives cited by His Holiness
will be speedily achieved"
DR.. Roswell P. Barnes Of New
York, executive secretary Of the
councils United States Con-
ference, told the gathering yes
terday that the ecumenical (co-
operative) movement has given
the churches a new sense Of
renewal.
Gap is Narrowed
He said the wide gap which
has prevailed in the past in
understanding and feeling of
leaders and the average church
members has been narrowed
noticeably by events"
Delegates yesterday adopted
an amended report of the
recent Faith and Order Con-
ference at Montreal suggesting
changes in procedure for COM
munion services at ecumenical
gatherings. The committee
agreed that some way should
be found at world council meet
ings for communion services
that respect "the teachings Of
the churches and individual
consciences" and yet preserve
"the fullest possible expression
to the oneness Of the church
of Christ which we all confess. "
The first session of the Vati-
can Council greatly increased
relationships between Roman
Catholics and other Christians
but many basic issues must be
frankly faced If a true dialogue
between them is to be made
possible, a report to the meet
ing asserted yesterday.
Observers to Vatican
Four official observers from
the World Council Of Churches
will attend the second session
Of the Vatican Council, opening
September 20 in Rome. Three
are new-Dr. Nikos A. Nissiotis,
associate director of the ECU
menical Institute of the Coun-
ell at Bossey, Switzerland,
Greek Orthodox Church; the
Right Rev. John Sadiq, An
glican Bishop of Nagpur, India,
and Prof. MasatoShi Dol, pro-
fessor at Doshisha University,
Kyoto. Japan, United Church
Of Japan.
DR.. Lukas ViScher Of Geneva,
Switzerland, Reformed Church,
was at the first session and
viii return for the second ses-
sion.
Protestant and Orthodox
leaders we're guests Of Roman
Catholics yesterday at what
was termed an unprecedented
event.
It was a luncheon at st.
John Fisher College, with
prayers offered by churchmen
from various countries and de-
nominations.
At the close, the bearded
Russian Orthodox Metropolitan
Nikodim Of Moscow looked Out
over the gathering and pro-
nounced, PAX vobiscum peace
be with youD."
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