Religion: God This, God That

“Whose side is God on?” is a question raised in every war. European churchmen began to dogmatize about it as soon as World War II began (TIME, Sept. 18). Last week the question was still mooted. In England:

On a national day of prayer, the Archbishop of Canterbury said: “The whole people of the United Kingdom, as they enter upon the terrible ordeal of war, may be able to join together as one company in committing the national life and cause to Almighty God.”* Said Roman Catholic Canon Martin Hewlett: “They at home . . . should invoke the powerful aid of the Queen of Heaven to protect England, her dowry, in this time of crisis.”

Rev. Cyril Gerard Holland, vicar of Ewell, Surrey, deplored such chauvinist talk. Said he: “Let us at least leave God as a neutral.” In John Bull, Rev. William McCormick, popularly known as “Pat” McCormick, of St. Martins-in-the-Fields, hazarded that “God must hate it all … the evil behind this use of force, the misery and suffering. . . . His is the hardest part. He’s in the midst of all the suffering because . . . Germans and Allies alike . . . we’re all his children.”

Judge Thomas Richardson, chairman of Newcastle’s Conscientious Objectors’ Tribunal, rebuked “conchies” assembled before him by fuming: “I’m certain, as sure as I sit here, that if Christ appeared today he would approve of this war.” Booed, hissed, Judge Richardson had to clear the court. Later he hemmed: “I was carried away. . . . Some of the statements as to what Christ would do irritated me.”

London’s Catholic Herald rounded up some wartime Catholic views. Eric Gill, scraggle-bearded author-artist who wears a monk’s gown, urged a quick peace, arguing that the Allied war aims are: continuation of Versailles policies, contraceptive control of the German population, making the world safe for Big Business. Letitia Fairfield, sister of Novelist Rebecca West: “The Catholic press will cut no ice morally so long as they make persecutions of the church the test of right and wrong in international affairs.” Author George Glasgow: “Stemming atheistic bolshevism and bringing Europe back to Almighty God will not be achieved by this war or any war.”

Recalled in England was a quatrain of World War I, attributed to J. C. (now Sir John) Squire:

God heard the embattled nations sing and shout

“God strafe England” and “God save the King,”

God this, God that, and God the other thing.

“Good God,” said God, “I’ve got my work cut out.”

*Worshipping last Sunday in his Episcopal church at Hyde Park, N. Y., President Roosevelt heard a prayer beseeching God to help King George VI vanquish his enemies.