Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-04
East Re ported
Easing View
0fChristianity
BY HARRIET GRIFFITHS
Star staff Writer

Star Staff Writer
A relaxation of the social
pressures adverse to Christian
ty in the Eastern world was
cited yesterday before the 9Th
triennial meeting of the Inter-
national Federation of Cath
Ole Universities.
The Rev. John Labrador,
rector of the University of St.
Thomas, Manila, P. l., de-
clared:
THE revolutionary tempo no.
iceable in the East at present
'as served to break down age
I'D barriers of tradition and
uStom which used to make it
close to impossible for the
church to speak directly to
the Oriental peoples"
President Kennedy was
scheduled to meet the dele
gates at the White House to-
day. More than so rectors and
presidents from Catholic uni
versities in Europe, Asia, Afri-
ca. Latin America, Canada and
the United States accepted in
vitations to the gathering at
Catholic University.
Father Labrador said in his
talk during a discussion Of
Western Christian culture and
Oriental civilization yesterday
that the future seems most
promising"
Language Barrier
ANY possible source of
pessimism." he said, can only
stem from the error of theh
Eastern world to think that
God does everything and man
does nothing, even as the
Western world may commit
the other error of putting all
reliance upon man and none
upon God"
The Rev. N. Luhmer, rector
Of Sophia University at Tokyo,
predicted that Christianity
would rarely be able to take
deep roots In the Oriental
civilization unless a way is
found to express its message
in a language the Orientals
can understand.
Mere verbal or literal trans
lation will not suffice, he
noted, stating that he referred
also to the PHILOSOPHICAL, ply
Geological, cultural, social and
political concepts to which
language is related.
1t is possible the process may
be speeded by the rapid ex-
change now going on between
secular Oriental and Western
culture, Father Luhmer said,
asserting: 1T is not quite i'm
possible that a point may be
reached first in secular knowl-
edge and philosophy, then in a
broader sense in other cultural
achievements at which the
sharp distinction between East
and West in cultural express
sion, understanding and appre-
citation may cease or give way
to mutual understanding"
Different Psychology
Father Luhmer spoke from
the Far East viewpoint, while
the case of the Near and Mid
die East was discussed by the
Rev. A. de Jerphanion, rector
of the University of st. Joseph,
Beirut.
He pointed out that the
psychology of the Oriental is
not that of the Western person.
For example. his intellectual
life is sustained by tradition
and he is more ready to follow
the ancients than to listen to
contemporary conceptions. he
said.
Nevertheless, he continued,
the actual situation, particu-
larry in the countries trying to
group together in an Arabic
union, shows the masses can be
influenced by ideas and slogans
socialist and progressive in
nature. Still, he added, "all
that is nothing but methods of
immediate propaganda and ar
guments adapted to the situa-
ton rather than an effort of
penetration" He questioned
whether time would justify
those behind such revolutions.
Tomorrow's topic will be the
establishment of Catholic uni
versities in developing countries.
The Right Rev. Msgr. William
]. Mcdonald, federation presi-
dent and rector Of Catholic
University. has suggested two
possible federation projects, a
study Of the feasibility Of COM
piling an International Bibliog-
raphy Of the Sacred Sciences
and development Of a draft
proposal on the international
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