THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY December 19, 1964

Notes from Geneva Church Seeks the Answers THE Vatican Ecumenical Council that both sides were at fault. There claration was not ready for promulga­ concluded its third and penulti­ might eventually be a common Christi­ tion by the end of the session, to the mate session on November 21. Gathered an charter and a common Christian disappointment of many. were cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops prayer. The Pope also promulgated a As for the religious liberty declara- and bishops from the world over. The document on the Eastern Rite Churches , tion, the Pope rejected it, although he Council is two years old, and the next in communion with Rome. All these sent word to the Council that it would session will be its final one. The last were approved by the Council. On his definitely be taken up at the next Vatican Council was held in 1870 own, the Pope proclaimed the Virgin session. The presidency, a steeling 12 when it defined the supremacy and in­ Mary "Mother of the Church, that is, cardinals, first announced its decision fallibility of the Pope. of all the people of God, as much of not to allow a vote on this declaration. Internal Struggle the faithful as of the pastors". The A group of prelates numbering about bishops had unsuccessfully tried to get 120 from Spain and Italy "had asked At the session just concluded vari­ the title "Mother of the Church" put for more time to study the declaration". ous declarations were put forward; on into the "De Ecclesia" decree, of which Then American bishops together with the Jews, on religious liberty, on the the eighth chapter explains Virgin Canadian and European progressives collegiality of bishops and on the unity Mary's role in terms aimed at avoiding drew up a 1,400 name petition for im­ of the Christian world. The most im­ difficulties for other Christians and dis­ mediate vote which the Pope reject­ portance perhaps was given to an in­ couraging excessess. ed— all this, after undignified, unpriest- ner problem, the collegiality of bishops. ly chaos. The battling factions were the Before the Church can provide answers Jews and Non-Christians liberal bishops (mostly Americans) and to the world's problems and the pro­ There was a final draft of the con­ the conservatives (Latin Americans, blems of its confrontation with the troversial document on the Jews and Portuguese and Italians). twentieth century, it must first settle non-Christians. During the session, it the question of authority and end the was sent back for revision, rewritten Religious Freedom constant struggle, for power in the and given a new title: "on the The controversial declaration is on Church. The Roman Curia is a power­ Church's attitude to non-Christian reli­ full freedom of religious choice, oppo­ ful, antiprogressive, absolutist body, gions". The new document was stronger sing interference with that freedom by giving orders to the bishops which the than the original draft on the historical any Church or State. The Roman bishops in turn relay to the priests. Its mis-conception of Jewish guilt for Catholic Church must become the leaders are Rontan cardinals with half Christ's death. It firmly stated that champion of religious freedom, man a generation's lead over their brothers the Jewish people must never be pre­ must be given decent respect for his who, to them, are revolutionaries who sented as having been rejected, cursed opinion. "Even if a conscience is in must be over-ruled with an iron hand. or guilty of deicide, and that nothing errror it must be allowed to err". The Its High Priest is 74-year-old Cardinal should be taught or preached that antiprogressives say that this would Alfredo Ottaviani who, it is said, had could arouse hatred or contempt of lead to disaster and the collapse of his first doubts about the Pope's infal­ Jews in the hearts of Christians. the Catholic hierarchy in certain libility when John XXIII disagreed with The declaration now is in five parts, countries. The World Council of him. In the debate on the schema on dealing with the various non-Christian Churches on November 26 issued a the Church, "De Ecclesia", in which religions (specifically mentioned are, bulletin which said: "when a large the Church declared its intention to Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam), and majority of the Council expressed it­ update and reform itself to be better including a, call for universal brother­ self in favour of religious liberty, it equipped to deal with the problems of hood without discrimination and an was thought that the time had now the modern world. Ottaviani threw in introduction emphasising "the com­ come when one of the most difficult his weight against the Bishops' Charter. munity of all peoples in one" in the problem of relationship between the But 15 influential cardinals appealed Roman Catholic Church and other directly to the Pope, asking him to religious problem of seeking answers to the mystery of man's fate. Originally, churches could be solved. It is, there­ break the grip of "men directing the fore, a very real disappointment to find Curia, who appear to be divorced from the document was intended to explain the Church's position on anti-Semitism. that the present session of the Council the will and wish of the great majority is ending with a vote on the subject as of the Council", When the votes were But Near East prelates were concern­ ed with Arab reprisals against the to the official position of the Roman counted, among 2,000 or more bishops, Catholic Church in this matter". only 46 were against. The decree was Church. So was the Vatican Secretariat of State. Christian Arabs in Jordan did Since the liberals are more numerous, promulgated. The Curia, as a govern­ the others are obliged to use under­ ing body, may eventually be replaced denounce the Vatican declaration ask­ ing the country's Catholics to split with hand means. by a Senate of the world's bishops, The fourth and final session of the sharing responsibility with the Pope. the Vatican and the Jordan Govern­ ment to take control of all Catholic Council will discuss the Church in the After looking inwards, the Church missionary schools in the country. Jor­ modern world. It will consider two qu­ looked outwards, on unity, extending a dan newspapers attacked the decision estions of great importance: morals in hand to all Christians, Protestants in to absolve Jews. The Vatican Curia marriage, and war and peace. Most the West and Orthodox in the East, and and some Italian prelates also showed probably the progressives will triumph. beyond them to non-Christians, after hostility. All this prevented the Pope Paul's statements on contrace­ 400 years of competition, or non-co­ Council from taking a vote. Even after ptives, disarmament, aid for develop­ operation. "De Ecumenismo" admits approval of the new version, the de­ ment, world poverty and the strength- 1985

THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY December 19, 1964 ening of international institutions are sonality and a leader; the Church party held a 5-day congress in Karls­ eagerly awaited. backs the Democratic Christians who ruhe to launch its campaign for the general elections next autumn. Willy The Pope celebrated mass every day are attacked by the right and by the Brandt, Mayor of West Berlin, got a before the meetings, but was rarely left; Nenni's Socialist Party has alli­ solid vote for another 2-year term as present at the debate. Pope Paul ances with the Communists in trade national chairman of the party. He wants to continue what Pope John unions and at the local level on the named a shadow cabinet of II promi­ began, but he lacks his predecessor's one hand, and with the Government nent party members. Erler, it is thou­ personality and does not seem to be on the other. But perhaps more than ght, will be foreign minister, should made of the same stuff. At the closing of anything else, it is the independent the Social Democratic Party come to the third session, he made it clear that line of the Italian Communist Party which has helped it to gain ground power. He is deputy chairman of the although he had promulgated a schema party and leads the party in parliament; by which Bishops were given the right steadily. In the municipal elections the hammer and sickle was missing he is said to be pro-American and anti- to share in the Church's government, Gaullist. Wehner, the other deputy his own position as Supreme Pontiff re­ from posters and the parry concen­ trated on the middle class. The Chairman and a former communist, mained unchanged. The authority of the will be the all-German affairs minister; bishops was not in contrast with that of younger leaders aimed at the Catho­ lic vote and supported small business­ he is considered the brain behind the the Vicar of Christ but in harmony party's organisation. with it. Nothing truly had been chan­ men and shop-keepers. "Each year ged in traditional doctrine. Bat. it is we help scores of Bologna workers The Social Democrats' success is at­ expected, new problems of the modern to become small factory owners", a tributed as much to its safe social re­ world would make him gradually more communist official in Bologna is re­ form programme as to the open dis­ disposed to consult the Bishops. ported to have said. The communist- putes within the government caused run co-operative department stores by the Gaulle's efforts to confront Pope Paul expressed the hope that and industrial and agricultural organi West Germany with a choice between the doctrine in the Schema on the sations are managed on capitalist lines "pro-Allan tic" integration and a Franco- Church would be "kindly and favour­ with loans from banks and re-invest­ German alliance. The Social Demo­ ably accepted by Christians as yet ment of capital. crats support the American-sponsored separated from us" and that it would multilateral force and have called for stimulate them to a revision of their The Italian Liberal Party, represent­ efforts to bring the Common Market own ideas and attitudes which might ing big business and the Iand-owners, and the EFTA closer together. They bring them "closer to our community won the other big success in the stand for West German action to pre­ and, God willing, make them one with elections. So it is the extremists that vent the Common Market from becom­ us" (never "us with them", but al­ are moving in with the centre parties ing a closed group. In Germany itself, ways "them with us"!). On the question weakening. The Democratic Christi­ the party supports a free enterprise of religious liberty, the Pope said that ans, having rejected the rightist parties, economy, with increased social welfare much as he would have liked to see it found themselves isolated; they got and long-term planning of public in­ approved at this session, he would 37 per cent of the votes. Altogether vestment. have created a grave scandal had he the coalition got 56.5 per cent with * * * overruled the Cardinals of the Council Only the Democratic Socialists scoring presidency who were doing no more any gains. The communists won 25 Allies Divided than following the rules. The docu­ per cent of the votes. Both the com­ The Council of the Western Euro­ ment had been substantially changed munists and the Liberals gained about pean Union, which includes Britain and and that was more than sufficient to a million votes each. the Common Market Six, met in Bonn justify the presidency's action. When the election results appeared, for talks on the Nato mixed-manned • * * rightist leaders and sections of the nuclear fleet project. The French More Italians Vote Communist press demanded that the Christian Foreign Minister was absent in a crisis Democrats should break up caused by de Gaulle, who is expected Togliatti (he was the Italian Com­ the coalition with the Socialists. to announce withdrawal of French munist party for a quarter of a The Socialists' alliance with the units from Nato, reflecting the grow­ century) was dead and had left behind a communists in the trade unions ing policy split with the U S. Mean­ testament of disagreement with Soviet and at the local levels disturbs the con­ while, time is running out. If the Communism, Khrushchev had disap­ servatives. But the facts that the signing of the M L F treaty is delayed peared, the Sino-Soviet rift had shown coalition has lost support because of beyond March, it might not be possible no signs of healing, Pope Paul at the the inflation, widespread unemployment to get it ratified by the West German Vatican was continuing on the 'pro­ as well as numerous scandals in the Parliament before the elections in gressive' path chartered by his prede­ Government. September. No wonder Chancellor cessor—all these factors, it was thought, Social Democrats Get Ready Erhard is pressing for concrete results would redound to the disadvantage of before that. the Italian Communist Party when In Germany the Social Democratic nearly 33 million Italians voted in local party has had a most satisfactory British ideas on nuclear weapons con­ and municipal elections last month. election. The Social Democrats have trol are being worked out at the time But, in fact, the communists have been the opposition since the creation of writing. The Labour Government gained 2 to 4 per cent votes every­ of West Germany in 1949 and, for the wants a quick solution of nuclear weap­ where. The explanations are many. first time, in the recent State elections ons control problems facing the Nato There have been strikes and popular they have won more votes than the alliance. Wilson has strongly criticis­ unrest; the government has been power­ ruling party, the Christian Democrats ed de Gaulle, believing that efforts to less and the coalition is shaky; the —12.4 million votes against 12 million. create a separate nuclear force in­ Catholic party, lacks a political per Soon after the successful election the dependent of Washington would force 1987 December 19, 1964 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

Americans to make "a serious reap­ the cost of 55 million pounds, the first principal military ally has been further praisal of their attitude to Europe". delivery to be made in 1969. The U S consolidated in everything except In­ The Labour Government is ready to and Germany will jointly manufacture formation where the exchanges with put all Britain's nuclear weapons un­ 200 Bell helicopters and there will be Britain are greater. Significantly, Tass reservedly under an Atlantic command. a joint venture to produce a new battle has found it necessary to warn Bonn There are, of course, certain safeguards tank to be made in Detroit and Augs­ that it has no right to enter any new which Britain expects to be provided. burg, Southern Germany. The Amer­ agreements which violate or evade the From the U S, Britain wants a greater icans are buying substantial numbers Potsdam treaty or any other post-war say in the management of a global of 20 mm automatic guns used in the agreements between the allies. deterrent, and from West Germany, German forces. America is also send­ French reaction to these develop­ Britain wants acceptance of a political ing 12 defence planning experts to the ments have not been long in coming. control system with a foolproof veto German Defence Ministry in the next Andre Fontaine, Foreign Editor of Le to ensure that West Germany can never three years to build up a new depart­ Monde, comments that if Germany pull the nuclear trigger by herself. Im­ ment of Operational Research. enters the atomic foreign legion of the mediately, Gordon-Walker is seeking The agreement with Germany shows US, a united Europe will no longer German reaction to suggestions that Washington's determination to continue be possible. De Gaulle himself is re­ the mixed-manned naval part of the its major role in Europe; it also gives ported to have told Adenauer that any Atlantic force should be much smaller new hope to German Nato policies. precipitate action by the Federal Re­ than the fleet of 25 Polaris-equipped Despite the vote by the West Germany's public on the M L F would jeopardise surface ships as envisaged in the pre­ ruling Christian Democratic party to the entire ECM. French official circles ­ent M L F plan. This would reduce delay German participation in M L F, have taken to calling the multilateral German influence in the force. On the West Germany's position as America's force the multilateral farce. M L F, Britain's voice carries con­ siderable weight since several NATO countries, the Netherlands and Italy for instance, have made their own stands on the M L F in part dependent on British participation. In Washington President Johnson, waiting for the British proposals, has over-ruled MLF zealots in the State Department.

US— German Agreement Meanwhile, an agreement of some Significance was signed in Washington between West Germany and the U S last month. The U S wants contracts for American engine firms which are working overtime to reduce Britain's jump-jet lead. There is to be an American-German jump-jet, the VAK 191. The use of American engines would end Britain's last hope of mak­ ing big money from foreign sales of the Hawker 1127 or the supersonic 1154. VAK 191 is being built by a consortium of German firms, among them Focke-Wulf who designed it. The British Government first encouraged handing over of blueprints in the hope of receiving orders from Germany to offset Britain's 85 million pound a year bill for maintaining the Rhine Army. This future of the Hawker 1154 is to figure prominently in the current de­ fence talks. The VAK 191 is for pos­ sible use by the Nato forces. With the American-German pact, the training programme for German soldi­ ers in the U S has been expanded. By the end of 1966, 16,000 West German missile specialists will have been train­ ed. Germany will spend on average some 250 million pounds a year in the U S over the next few years. It is buying 3 rocket-carrying destroyers at 1988