Support for Rhodesian bishops

THE heads of 16 non Catholic churches in Rhodesia will meet this month to discuss the Catholic bishops' pastoral message which attacked the regime's new Land Tenure Act.
Most members of the Rhodesian Christian Council, and in particular the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, are expected to support the Catholic bishops.
Observers from the Catholic Church will attend the meeting and be available to elaborate on their views. If there is broad agreement it is hoped to co-ordinate opposition and so force the Government to modify its legislation.
The Land Tenure Act divides Rhodesia's land area almost equally between the "white" and the black" populations. There are 250,000 Europeans against five million Africans.
MISSIONARIES CURBED The Catholics say the Act gives the Government the right to restrict each race to its own area. They say it goes as far as restricting Africans wishing to attend church services in "white" areas or missionaries wishing to teach or minister in African areas.
So far there has been no Government reply to the Catholic stand. But is expected that Government Ministers will launch a counter-attack during this month's election campaign.
Support for action against the law has already come from the Rt. Rev. Oliver GreenWilkinson, Anglican Archbishop of Central Africa.
In Lusaka, Zambia, he said he would give his full support to any measures taken by the Anglican Church in Rhodesia against the Smith Government and the Land Tenure Act.