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Salient: An organ of student opinion at Victoria University, Wellington. Vol. 23, No. 4. Wednesday, May 4, 1960

[Vatican v. Kremlin]

"That the Vatican is a greater long-term menace than the Kremlin." Those 11 words packed a boisterous audience of more than 100 into the Little Theatre on Friday. April 9. Opinions were expressed in tones that ranged from what Adjudicator I. Milburn described as "belligerent bellowing"to"quavering tones."

Many eager speakers from the floor had still not been heard when the Debating Society's meeting closed at 11 p.m.

The teams were: For, Frank Hamlin, Tony Cussham, Val Maxwell; Against, Jim Larsen, Steve O'Regan Harry Dean. Chairman: Peter Hogg.

Basic contentions against the Vatican were that the Roman Catholic Church, headed by a "dietator,"sought world domination, The doctorine included the Infallibity of the Pope, meant in effect the suppression of free thought. Interference in the political life of various nations was alleged, and held as evidence of a Catholic belief that "Church and Slate must be one." Finally, because the church was better organised, and claimed to he the way to eternal life, it had a better chance than Communism of achieving its aim of world domination.

These views brought sharp denial from proVatican speakers who said the Church's aim was to lesd men to salvation, to immortality with God. In achieving this the Church sought influence only in the fields of faith and morals, and not in polities.

Most speakers had to battle fiddle, through an audience campaign of| small arms fire, jeering flak and an occasional barrage of all-in up-roar.

Cartoon by Dropy of a cat drinking water out of a fish bowl with a straw.

Proceedings remained fairly orderly as the six-team speakers lined up their respective cases. But this Introductory period proved to be the calm before the vocal storm that broke as a succession of floor speakers trudged on to the stage.

In this procession were two orators whose speeches emerged like lilies atop a refuse heap. In a photo finish, negative supporter H. McNeil shaded affirmative backer P. O'Brien for first in Mr Milburn's placings.

McNeil, firm jawed and commanding declared that both Communism and Roman Catholicism had degenerated since their founding. The degeneration of Communism was more harmful than that of Catholicism, he held.

O'Brien, assured and provocative, claimed the Church's aim was world domination. Evidence was the prevalence of Catholic "political intrigue" through the centuries.

Placing of seven speakers: McNeill, O'Brien, Tamasese, Hamlin, Larsen, Maxwell, Roberts.

Voting: General: 36 for; 46 against. Student vote: 35 for; 34 against.