Blamed in Mutiny
Buddhist Chaplains Criticized
By Father Patrick O’Connor
Society of St. Columban
(N.C.W.C. News Service)
SAIGON — Buddhist military
chaplains have been saying more
than their prayers in central Viet
nam.
They have taken a prominent
part in organizing the mutiny
among Vietnamese armed forces
in Danang and Hue.
This agitation, with which the
government has tardily come to
grips, is directed by the Soldiers
and People’s Revolutionary Strug
gle Force (Luc Luong Quan Dan
Tran Thu Cach Mang). Buddhist
chaplains have proved themselves
not only zealous workers but even
leaders in this ominously named
force. Communists are certainly in
it, too. Known communist cadres
have been recognized in its ranks
in central Vietnam and in Dalat
IN SOME mutinous army units
Buddhist chaplains give orders.
It is the view of the government
in Saigon that Buddhist chaplains
in central Vietnam are subversive
agents in the armed forces. Many
earnest Buddhists condemn their
behavior.
This open mutiny throws light
on the issue of the Buddhist chap
laincy which was first raised dur
ing the campaign against the late
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NORTH CAROLINA BOTTLERS OF COCA-COLA
President Ngo dmh Diem and nis
government in 1963.
One grievance proclaimed by
Buddhist leaders and some of their
foreign supporters was the fact
that the Vietnamese army at that
time had no Buddhist chaplains.
A spokesman for the Ministry of
Defense, however, told this corres
pondent in June, 1963, that the
Buddhists had never asked to have
chaplains until then. Their de
mand was regarded by many as
just a political maneuver to
strengthen their case against Pres
ident Diem.
HE DID NOT refuse their re
quest but he was apparently loath
to grant it. He was afraid that once
installed as chaplains, political
bonzes would cause trouble and
disaffection among Budduist sol
diers.
After Diem and his government
had been overthrown in the coup
d’etat of Nov. 1-2, 1963, the bon
zes appeared to be in no hurry to
have their chaplains appointed. It
was only about July, 1964, that
the first Buddhist chaplains were
named.
Thich (Venerable) Tri Quang,
the bonze who had led the cam
paign against Diem, revealed his
real thoughts about the proposed
chaplaincy shortly after, the coup
of November, 1963. He did not
want any Buddhist chaplains, he
told an American official.
STATION DEDICATED
Belleville, 111. — (NC) — Bish
op Albert R. Zuroweste of Belle
ville dedicated a new FM radio at
the Shrine of Our Lady of the
Snows at ceremonies here (May
19). The station, a non-commercial
venture supported by benefactors
of the shrine, broadcasts 18 hours
a day.
RELIGION WINNERS — Katherine Reid Fulton (left), daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Fulton is the winner of the
Bishop’s Medal for the highest average in religion over a four
year period at Bishop McGuinness Memorial High School, Win
ston-Salem. Bernadette Lucia Jones, daughter of the late
Robert and Elizabeth Jones, is the winner of the religion medal
at Mother of Mercy High School, Washington, N.C.
Clergymen Would End
Rites in Public Schools
OKLAHOMA CITY — (NC) —
A group of 63 Oklahoma City
clergymen, representing 14 reli
gious denominations, have peti
tioned an end to “unconstitution
al” religious observances in pub
lic schools and a suggested study
of feasibility of released or shared
time for religious instruction.
The group, called Churchmen
for Religious Freedom, said they
are “concerned with the silence of
the leaders in public education in
the state, the county and the com
munity, on the issue of religion
in the public school.”
The petitioners, including 15
Catholic priests, emphasized they
were in agreement with the U.S.
Supreme Court’s decision, believe
it is right and necessary to safe
guard freedom of worship.
The group’s statement pointed
out that the Supreme Court “did
not rule against religion but for
it.” The clergymen insisted their
plea* is “pro-religious,” not “anti
religious.” The group said it is pre
pared to initiate court action to
stop the observances.
Among the 15 Catholic priests
signing the petition were Father
Ernest A. Flusche, diocesan super
intendent of schools, and Father
John Joyce, editor of the Okla
homa Courier, newspaper of the
Oklahoma City-Tulsa diocese.
The petition was presented to
Jack Parker, superintendent of the
Oklahoma City public schools.
1
A
SECRET OF SAFETY
IS
“KNOW HOW”
United Elastic Corporation
* f
H. A. White, Mgr.
Stuart, Virginia