Marxist talks 'more relevant'

DIALOGUE between Christians and Communists, which has already been growing around the world, "has become more relevant and practical" in the light of events this year in Czechoslovakia and elsewhere, according to a report presented to the autumn session in London of the British Council of Churches.
"increasingly," it said,
"Christians and Marxists engaged in dialogue have found themselves as allies in combatting inhumanity in society and errors within their respective camps.
"Obvious and deep divisions remain. Nevertheless, there is a wide area of possible and actual cooperation which can best be described as humanisation.' "
The report was presented by the Rev. Paul Oestreicher, one of the Blies top negotiators in East-West relations. He said the Christian Church and Communism were today well placed to teach, and learn from, each other.
Referring to Czechoslovakia, Mr. Oestreicher said: "The triumph of the Czechs and Slovaks over 20 years of tyranny means that the development of Eastern Europe and of Communism itself cannot remain unaffected."
The Churches had played no small part in developments in Czechoslovakia. "They were given — for the first time since 1948 — complete freedom to share fully in the life of society and consequently there is today a close identity of purpose between the leaders of Church and State, based not on coercion but on conviction.
the case of Russia, Mr. Oestreicher said: "The more that is learnt of the USSR today, the clearer it becomes that its leaders have abandoned many of the principles to which Soviet society has nominally been dedicated for half a century. . . .
"For the Churches in the West it is of the utmost importance to keep as closely in touch with the Soviet people as possible — not excluding their rulers, but never failing to distinguish between the people and the officialdom which controls their outward lives. . . ."
ACADEMIC ECUMENICS
rrWO important ecumenical appointments to universities were announced last week. The Gregorian University in Rome, the world's largest Catholic institute of higher ecclesiastical studies, has appointed an American Protestant scholar and ecumenist, Dr. J. Robert Nelson, as visiting professor this year. He was for four years secretary of the WCC's Faith and Order Commission. In Switzerland, the local cantonal government has appointed Fr. Hans Kung., the controversial Catholic theologian. as guest professor of systematic theology, in the Department of Protestant Theology at Basle University for the summer se,mester next year.