{"id":3260,"date":"2014-12-12T09:24:58","date_gmt":"2014-12-12T09:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2014\/12\/12\/mt-60-years-16\/"},"modified":"2018-05-16T13:43:11","modified_gmt":"2018-05-16T09:43:11","slug":"mt-60-years-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/mt-60-years-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Rev. Father Dethise writes to Mauritius Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauritius Times 60 Years Ago – 1st YEAR NO. 18 –\u00a0<\/span>SATURDAY\u00a0<\/span>11th November 1954<\/span><\/p>\n

Rev. Father Dethise writes to Mauritius Times
\n<\/span><\/strong>20, Rue Pope Hennessy
\n<\/span><\/strong>Port Louis
\n<\/span><\/strong>30.11.54.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Monsieur le R\u00e9dacteur,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dans votre num\u00e9ro du 27 Septembre, vous publiez quelques r\u00e9flexions \u00e0 propos de la \u2018Lettre\u2019 de Monseigneur l\u2019Ev\u00eaque concernant le communisme. Si votre but \u00e9tait d\u2019alimenter une controverse-politique je m\u2019abstiendrais d\u2019intervenir; mais si comme je l\u2019esp\u00e8re \u2013 vous vous proposiez de documenter vos lecteurs sur un texte qui ne peut manquer d\u2019influencer l\u2019orientation intellectuelle du pays, voulez-vous me permettre d\u2019ajouter quelques pr\u00e9cisions \u00e0 votre article? <\/span><\/p>\n

Peut-\u00eatre en effet ne souligne-t-il pas assez le motif de l\u2019opposition entre communisme et catholicisme. Il ne s\u2019agit d\u2019un malentendu temporaire et superficiel, la divergence est compl\u00e8te et radicale car elle provident du mat\u00e9rialisme dialectique profess\u00e9 par le communisme. D\u2019une part le catholicisme est centr\u00e9 sur la possibilit\u00e9 pour l\u2019homme, \u00e0 cause de son \u00e2me, d\u2019entrer en relations de connaissance et d\u2019amour avec l\u2019\u00catre supr\u00eame, \u00e9ternel et parfait. D\u2019autre part le communisme rejette Dieu comme un \u201chypoth\u00e8se nuisible\u2019 et ne reconna\u00eet \u00e0 l\u2019homme aucun autre droit que celui de s\u2019int\u00e9grer dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 temporelle. C\u2019est donc tout le probl\u00e8me de la destin\u00e9e humaine (individuelle et collective) qui est pose\u2026 et qui est r\u00e9solu de fa\u00e7on diam\u00e9tralement oppos\u00e9e. Aucune conciliation n\u2019est possible entre communisme et christianisme, tel est l\u2019objet fondamental de l\u2019intervention de Monseigneur l\u2019Ev\u00eaque et tel est le point sur lequel je voudrais, avec votre permission, attirer l\u2019attention de vos lecteurs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nous sommes donc loin, comme vous voyez, de cette anti-communisme n\u00e9gatif que d\u00e9non\u00e7ait jadis un \u00e9v\u00eaque fran\u00e7ais: \u201cles chr\u00e9tiens doivent veiller \u00e0 ce qu\u2019une attitude anti-communiste ne puisse jamais para\u00eetre comme une opposition\u2026 au d\u00e9sir de lib\u00e9ration de la classe ouvri\u00e8re\u201d. Le point vaut d\u2019\u00eatre remarqu\u00e9 (et Monseigneur l\u2019Ev\u00eaque n\u2019a pas manqu\u00e9 d\u2019y insister) car la tactique de communisme est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment de t\u00e2cher de s\u2019identifier avec les l\u00e9gitimes aspirations du peuple. Qu\u2019il s\u2019agisse de justice sociale en Occident ou d\u2019autonomie politique en Orient, les communistes n\u2019oublient jamais de susurrer : \u00ab En vous opposant \u00e0 nous, c\u2019est la mont\u00e9e de classe ouvri\u00e8re que vous emp\u00eachez, c\u2019est l\u2019ind\u00e9pendance de notre pays que vous compromettez. \u00bb Rien n\u2019est plus faux mais rien aussi n\u2019est plus perfide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ceci r\u00e9pond, je pense \u00e0 la question que vous vous posiez de savoir si l\u2019appel de Monseigneur est \u00ab to wage war \u00bb contre le communisme en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral ou contre un communisme qui existerait parmi les chr\u00e9tiens. Lorsqu\u2019un foyer d\u2019incendie se d\u00e9clare dans la maison du voisin, ne va-t-on pas l\u2019aider \u00e0 \u00e9teindre le feu ? Lorsque le mat\u00e9rialisme ath\u00e9e tend \u00e0 s\u2019infiltrer, par exemple sous le d\u00e9guisement du patriotisme (comme il le fait actuellement dans la communaut\u00e9 sino-mauricienne) n\u2019est-ce-pas un signal\u00e9 service qu\u2019on rend aux communistes eux-m\u00eames en leur rappelant ses implications antihumaines ?<\/span><\/p>\n

Quant \u00e0 l\u2019expression \u00ab to wage war \u00bb vous conviendrez qu\u2019elle ne d\u00e9crit pas correctement la pens\u00e9e de Monseigneur. Elle \u00e9voque des images de \u00ab guerre Sainte \u00bb et de \u00ab pogroms \u00bb alors que l\u2019\u00e9v\u00eaque parle uniquement et explicitement de lutte pacifique. Sans doute, ces deux derniers mots semblent une contradiction dans les termes\u2026 mais je pense pourtant qu\u2019il n\u2019est pas n\u00e9cessaire de l\u2019expliquer \u00e0 des intellectuels familiers avec la pens\u00e9e de Gandhi.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veuillez agr\u00e9er, Monsieur le R\u00e9dacteur, l\u2019assurance de ma consid\u00e9ration distingu\u00e9e.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Sg) E. Dethise<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ed Note:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are very pleased to publish the letter of Rev. Father Dethise which throws more light on the stand taken by the Catholic Church against Communism. We must repeat one important aspect of our comments which has not attracted the attention of Rev. Father Dethise. We concluded our comments by writing: \u00ab There is the danger that the pastoral letter might be exploited by unscrupulous people to political ends \u00bb. (vide M. TIMES Page 2, 4th column). Has not the declaration been exploited by N.M.U. and his clique? Is not N.M.U. used to mingle very cunningly religion with politics ? Since more than five years N.M.U. who is trying to prove that the Hindus are Communists, has he not written in the C.I.D.I. bulletin : \u00ab Some years ago a Hindu Nationalist movement with subversive tendencies was formed. The leader of this movement is Dr Ramgoolam who is well known for his inclinations towards Communism \u00bb?<\/span><\/p>\n

The pastoral letter was published on Monday 22nd November 1954, N.M.U. after having in the first instance created the impression that the Bishop approves his campaign, accelerated his attack to prove that Dr Ramgoolam and consequently all the Hindus and the Labourites are communists :<\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday 23rd Nov. N.M.U. wrote:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab Ajoutons que le CERNEEN ne compte renoncer nullement \u00e0 sa mission de chien de garde consistant \u00e0 aboyer aux trousses des politiciens subversifs, des fourriers avou\u00e9s ou cach\u00e9s du communisme, des exploiteurs\u2026 \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

On Wednesday 24th Nov. N.M.U. wrote :<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab On entend dire depuis longtemps que le Dr Ramgoolam ne se contente pas d\u2019\u00eatre un nationaliste hindou. Il est de surcro\u00eet un Communiste n\u00e9gligement camoufl\u00e9 pour \u00e9viter de faire scandale. \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

On Thursday 25th Nov<\/span><\/strong>. Georges Sylvain of LE CERNEEN wrote: \u2026 \u00ab quand ils apprendront qu\u2019\u00e0 des r\u00e9unions pr\u00e9sid\u00e9es par leur repr\u00e9sentant certains orateurs entre autres le Dr Ramgoolam communiste et leader hindou\u2026 \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday 26th Nov. NMU wrote:<\/span><\/strong> \u00ab Il y a des ann\u00e9es que nous d\u00e9non\u00e7ons la progression souterraine du communisme dans notre \u00eele.\u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

On Saturday 27th Nov.<\/span><\/strong> An English translation of NMU\u2019s Opinion du Jour of Wednesday 24th was published.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday 29th Nov.<\/span><\/strong> NMU wrote: \u00ab Dans tous les pays o\u00f9 apparaissent les symptomes de l\u2019esprit communiste les \u2018repr\u00e9sentants\u2019 du peuple se comportent de cette fa\u00e7on. \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday 30th Nov. Georges Sylvain wrote the following concerning Dr Ramgoolam \u00ab Comme repr\u00e9sentant un communiste et comme leader un nationaliste hindou? \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

Were we wrong when we said that the pastoral letter will be exploited to political ends? Anybody who is acquainted with the Nazi method of propaganda will easily understand NMU\u2019s intentions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the expression \u201cto wage war\u201d we fear it has been wrongly understood. Expressions as \u201cto wage war on vice\u201d, \u201cto wage war on drunkenness\u201d, \u201cto wage war on gambling\u201d, etc., are common in the English language. <\/span><\/p>\n

In an introduction to a new translation of Goncharov\u2019s famous novel Oblemov, David Magarshack writes: \u201cIt is interesting that in his novel Goncharov himself condemned the so-called \u201crealistic\u201d writers who wage \u201cbitter war an vice, and indulge\u2026\u201d In our context \u201cto wage war\u201d means \u201cto fight or to combat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A little familiar to the thoughts of Gandhi and brought up to some extent according to his teachings, we think it is not wise to interfere in our neighbour\u2019s religion or ways of thinking. Gandhi\u2019s high conception of tolerance either in religion or in politics was very advanced. Replying to a question about his idea of tolerance, he wrote: \u201cI do not like the word tolerance, but could not think of a better one. Tolerance may imply a gratuitous assumption of the inferiority of other faiths to one\u2019s own, whereas AHIMSA teaches us to entertain the same respect for the religious faiths of others as we accord to our own thus admitting the imperfection of the latter. This admission will be easily made by a seeker of Truth who follows the law of Love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026 Everybody is right from his own standpoint, but it is not possible that everybody is wrong. Hence the necessity of tolerance which does not mean indifference to one\u2019s own faith, but a more intelligent and purer love for it. Tolerance gives us spiritual insight which is as far from fanaticism as the north pole from the south.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The spirit of tolerance, of free thought or of peaceful co-existence in all spheres of life is characteristic of Hindu conception of life and has been acclaimed by nearly all the top intellectuals of the world, the latest being the greatest living historian (probably of all times) Arnold Toynbee. Making a reflection on his monumental book A Study of History which is just out in ten volumes and which took twenty seven years of research work, the author writes in the Observer<\/em><\/strong> of the 24th October, 1954: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 I was brought up in the belief, held by the adherents of religions and ideologies of Jewish origin, that my own ancestral religion (as I am English, this was Christianity) was a unique revelation of the truth. I have come back to a belief that Religion holds the key to the mystery of existence; but I have not come back to the belief that this key is in the hands of my ancestral religion exclusively\u2026 In thinking this I find myself holding the view that was held by a pre-Christian Greek and Roman paganism and is still held to-day by that half of the human race that adheres to some form of Hinduism or Buddhism. The Indian religions are not exclusive-minded: they are ready to allow that there may be alternative approaches to the mystery. I feel sure that in this they are right and that this catholic-minded Indian religious spirit is the way of salvation for human beings of all religions in an age in which we have to learn to live as a single family if we are not to destroy ourselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Professor J.B.S. Haldane too agrees that India has had and still has something very great concerning the dignity of the man to teach the world. How can we respect the dignity of our neighbour unless we try to understand him, tolerate his personal feelings? Are we justified to interfere into our neighbour\u2019s religious or political beliefs so long as he does not interfere in ours or harm our method of thinking?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* Published in print edition on 12 December 2014<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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