RHODESIAN BISHOPS AGAIN WARN SMITH

FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
APAMPHLET issued last week by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Rhodesia reiterated their warning to Mr. Tan Smith's Government that if the Land Tenure Act remained in force all the Church's institutions would be closed.
The Act divides the country between the five million blacks and 225.000 whites, and strictly controls the activities of one race in the area of another. If the bishops' threat is carried out, it would mean the closure of 14 schools with about 6,000 European pupils.
The pamphlet, "Race and Morality." says the Church does not want to discontinue its charitable services, and adds: "It is up to the Government to make possible the continuation of their work, which they believe is laid upon them by God."
Reports in British national newspapers that the Redemptorists of Rhodesia had defied the bishops by registering as a "voluntary association" in terms of the Land Tenure Act were explained on Sunday in a statement after Mass at St. Gera rd's Church, Salisbury, which is served by the Redemptorists the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.) PRIVATE DEMANDS It said that the move in no way concerned the parish or its priest. Fr. Philip Foster. The statement was prompted by private demands for explanations by the hierarchy.
The statement explained that the application for registration had been made by the parish priest of the neighbouring Tafara African township, Fr. Patrick Cosgrove. He wanted to use nearby designated "white" land for a multi-racial purpose — to establish a seminary.
place while the old Land Apportionment Act was still in force — and the Church had no objection to obeying this legislation. Before the matter could be resolved the Land Apportionment Act was superseded by the controversial Land Tenure Act.
The statement said: 'Fr. Cosgrove was informed of the Act. He consulted his superiors in South Africa and was told to continue with the negotiations."
The result of this was pub lication in the Government Gazette of permission for the Redemptorist Fathers to use the "white" land for both Europeans and Africans.
It is understood that the Redemptorist Fathers have no intention of applying in terms of the new Act to continue their present work.