27 MAY 1966, Page 13

The CND at Prayer

as one hopes, there may be other rounds in the exhilarating John Collins versus Quintin Hogg scrap (May 20). they will be the more interest- ing if the contestants and spectators appreciate that they differ not only as Socialist and Tory, but as Anglicans. in their respective attitudes to the Creeds.

Quintin Hogg seems to take the phrases of the Apostles' Creed quite literally (almost to give them equal weight), and to be of the opinion that no man should remain a priest who doesn't. John Collins rejects them as reasonable 'tests of faith,' and allows himself a good deal of latitude in respect of them.

The question is: Is that latitude such as to amount to repudiation of his profession? And the answer to that question is that he stands well within

the permissible limits set forth in that classic docu- ment. Doctrine in the Church of England, in a way that, for instance, Robinson of Woolwich does not.

If Quintin Hogg were disposed to make a legalistic point. he could point out that this 'Report of the Commission on Christian Doctrine appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 1922' has only been formally received and never officially accepted. But he would not deny that it is the im- pressive result of sixteen years of debate at the highest level. and that in, practice it is everywere (almost everywhere, anyway) regarded as authori- tative.

HAROLD S. GOODWIN

St Giles in the Fields Church. Holborn