Christians for Social Justice, the new movement aimed at reviving Catholic social teaching in Britain, has received the blessing of Archbishop Dwyer, President of the Bishops' Conference.
In a letter to the movement this week, Archbishop Dwyer said he was delighted that the work of the Catholic Social Guild was to be continued in a new form, Cardinal Hume is due to speak at its official launching on March 4.
Mr Lionel St Quintin, the organisation's honorary secretary, said the response to it so far had been "encouraging". But Mr Roger Walsh of the Institute of Social Ethics, expressed concern at the "vagueness" of the objectives.
Mr Walsh referred specifically to the question of ecumenism in this connection. The problem, he said, was how to approach it. "Do you build up a Catholic organisation which then works with non-Catholics, or do you incorporate them from the beginning?" This had not been resolved.
Mr St Quintin stressed the Catholic nature of the organisation. "As regards
teaching it will be specifically Catholic," he said. "Other people will be welcome to join, but they will have to accept Catholic social teaching. No document will be put out by us which is not in accord with the mind of the Church."
Methodists say `ban National Front march'
The Methodist Church's Division of Social Responsibility has asked Mr Merlyn Rees, the Home Secretary, and Sir David McNee, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to ban the National Front march due to take place in Ilford tomorrow.
Journal concerned with social concern
Christian Statesman, a bimonthly journal, has just been launched to focus attention on issues of social concern. It intends to pay particular attention to education, the legal system, discrimination, pacifism, medicine and developments in nuclear technology. The first issue contains articles on immigration from South Africa to Bolivia, the Church in Ethiopia, China after Mao, and racism in Britain. Copies cost 15p each and can be obtained from 15 Brooklands Avenue, Manchester.