The church and protest
Sir: May I comment on Edward Norman's review of Alan Paton's book (Spectator, June 1) I am surprised at the Dean's indignaton towards what he calls the liberal intelligentsia. We bombard our young with the scriptures and then are pained when we find that they have discerned the radical message contained in them, and with the impatience of youth and not always with sound judgement, advocate measures to banish the evil in the world. It seems illogical to urge men to seek after righteousness and then chide them for their enthusiasm.
The Church of the Middle Ages adopted this attitude and used drastic measures to curb anyone who was considered to be rocking the boat. Those in Germany who thought that the reformation had not gone far enough were well and truly hammered by Luther, and Oliver Cromwell stood no nonsence from the levellers.
The opponents of apartheid may have been a little unorthodox and perhaps formed dubious alliances, but any departure from what is regarded as normal risks the charge of exhibitionism. I suppose Jesus could be thus indicted as He challenged many of the conventions of His day and suffered death on this account.
When we consider the rulers of South Africa we should be moved not so much by moral indignation but amazement at their incredible stupidity.
One of the virtues of the aristocracy of our own country is the happy knack of knowing just when to give way, consequently they are tolerated, sometimes even loved, and we have thus escaped the upheavals experienced by other countries.
The rulers of South Africa do not possess this gift and 1 suspect that there are considerable numbers of people there enjoying Victorian middle class standards whose main qualification is that they are Europeans and are consequently determined to maintain the status quo. One can sympathise with their fear of being. in the minority and that there are types such as President Amin about, but it does not help matters to inform the indigenous population of South Africa that they must remain second class citizens for all time.
The members of the CND were, I suppose, exhibitionists. Mothers pushing their perambulators and old men who had lived through what is without doubt the most violent period in the history of mankind, voicing their protest against the latest manifestation of our stone age morality. I attended some of the discussions on this subject and received the impression, I hope I was mistaken, that one or two of our spiritual mentors thought it would be all right if we dropped the bomb on the 'commies'. There were others who sat on the fence. Now we are biting our nails every time a new member joins the nuclear club. Finally, if we started psychoanalysing our reformers how many would emerge unscathed? A. monks 94 Oldham Avenue, Wyken, Coventry
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