SIR – In his review of The Trial of the Kaiser (Books, January 25), Allan Massie concludes that “Germany undoubtedly bore a prime responsibility for war … But the truth was that all the other powers had a reason for wanting war in 1914. No country bore the sole guilt for war.”
He quotes Cardinal Gasparri, the Vatican secretary of state, who objected to any tribunal to determine the Kaiser’s guilt unless the allied powers “open the archives of their chancelleries” – which, of course, they would not have been prepared to do. (And nor, certainly, would the Vatican.) Yet one wonders what defence the Kaiser’s counsel could really have mounted against the charge that, on his direct orders, Germany declared war on Russia, then on France, and then invaded neutral Belgium.
Irrespective of whether or not – contrary to jus ad bellum (the conditions under which states may resort to war) – Germany bore peculiar responsibility for the war (which the German delegation at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 affirmed), there is the question of jus in bello, the laws governing the conduct of war. German atrocities in Belgium, the shelling and aerial bombing of cities, the shelling from the sea of towns on the English coast, and unrestricted submarine warfare (not least the sinking of the Lusitania) were in clear violation of the Hague Conventions and were initiated at the Kaiser’s express wish.
The indictment of former President Milosevic of Serbia in 1999 was a landmark move which served notice that political leaders are not above responsibility for their actions during conflict. It is a pity the principle wasn’t firmly established 80 years earlier.
Allan Mallinson
Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
SIR – The fundamental issue implicitly raised in Peter Hitchens’s letter (January 18) is the general ignorance of Christians of different “denominations” about one another.
Anglican converts to Catholicism like myself are likely to have a special awareness of this ignorance. In seeking to reduce it, we might draw the attention of Catholics to the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) movement in the Anglican Communion.
In our Church diabolical liberalism seems to operate with ever-greater impunity, is widely believed to be responsible for the abuse scandals and has caused bitter divisions among us. Although the Anglican Communion has been even worse afflicted, strong resistance to liberalism has been marked notably by the rise of Gafcon since the 1990s.
While its ranks are filled largely by Evangelicals, among its supporters is Canon Gavin Ashenden, who transcends old Anglican party affiliations, and in his courageous denunciation of the attempted liberal takeover of the Church of England could be compared to Archbishop Viganò in our Church.
We faithful Catholics should pray for the success of this movement. I personally rejoice in the knowledge that it now has as its secretary-general the noble and generous-hearted Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican Archbishop of Jos.
Professor David Jowitt
University of Jos, Nigeria
SIR – Permit me to add to my letter (December 14), suggesting that “lead us not into temptation” be replaced with “deliver us from temptation”. This, I fear, might give the impression of saying “do not let me be tempted”, as expressed by Peter Green (Letter, January 18).
Our intention in the Lord’s Prayer is to ask for the grace to overcome, resist or combat temptation. This would be entirely consistent with the guidance provided in Dei Verbum (1965): “The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express.”
I therefore put forward the suggestion “Give us the grace to overcome temptation”, or ‘‘Help us overcome temptation”. This implies an effort on our part, a more positive approach than in the change in use by the French: “Do not let us fall into temptation”, or another version which reads: “Do not let us enter into temptation”. The suggestion made by the Italian Episcopal Conference, “Abandon us not when in temptation”, or the other version as quoted in my letter of December 14, “Abandon us not to temptation”, seem to cast aspersions that God may abandon us when we need Him most; and “when in temptation” does not read too well either.
Dr Anton Joseph
Wallington, Surrey
SIR – My experience is that so often I am embroiled by a temptation without realising it. (With Les Misérables currently in the air, was this not also Jean Valjean’s problem?) It is surely here that prayer is the vital ingredient to free me.
Peter Green’s words (Letter, January 18) fit in succinctly at this point: “Do not let me give in to it”, and don’t let me blame others, let alone God.
Steve de la Bédoyère
London SW17
SIR – An Orthodox monk concluded: “In every age, and above all in this present deeply uneasy, tired and restless age, nothing is more essential than repentance.”
In the spring a movie is set to be released called Unplanned. It’s the story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director. It was only when she assisted at an abortion herself that the light dawned on her.
She was also pregnant at the time and was watching the ultrasound monitor that was being used to guide the abortionist. As the implements of abortion were inserted into the womb of the mother, the baby could be seen scrambling away, seeking safe haven, running for its life. But to no avail: it was crushed and suctioned out of the womb. She was horrified and quit soon after. (She has since become a Catholic and runs a charity that helps abortion workers exit the industry.)
This will be a very special movie. From the beginning of filming there are already conversions taking place. The actress playing the part of Abby told her mother about the role she was playing and was met with a flood of tears. Her mother had been pregnant with her at a young age and had gone for an abortion, backing out only minutes before it was to take place. Perhaps she was saved to play this special role.
It’s an independent film from the makers of God’s Not Dead, so one hopes it will be screened widely.
America seems to be turning a corner when it comes to abortion, with the partial defunding of Planned Parenthood and other positive policy changes following the scandals of sales of body parts from aborted babies. Let’s hope Ireland will learn more quickly the horror it has unleashed on itself and repent and turn back before the nation loses its soul altogether.
Stephen A Clark
Manila, Philippines
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