The Archbishop Saw Red

If the Church of England were not such a respectable organization, it might be considered a scandalous one. Twice in ten weeks the Archbishop of Canterbury has found it necessary to repudiate the opinions expressed by some of his leading clergy. First it was the Bishop of Birmingham (TIME, Oct. 27). Last week it was the Dean of Canterbury.

The "Red Dean's" nickname is no great exaggeration. An occasional enthusiastic visitor to the U.S.S.R., roguish Dr. Hewlett Johnson, 73, who looks like an 18th Century character in need of a haircut, has long been one of Communism's warmest apologists. He is a member of the London Daily Worker's editorial board. His political ululations have been an increasing embarrassment to the Church.

Last week the archbishop explained some "widespread misunderstandings":

"The dean's office and jurisdiction in this country does not extend beyond the confines of the cathedral body, of which he is the head. Outside those limits he speaks and acts only for himself. The Archbishop of Canterbury has neither responsibility for what the dean may say or do nor power to control it."

Spry as a bandersnatch, the Red Dean retorted: ". . . It is important to remember that I was appointed successively to two dignified positions in the Anglican Church, first as Dean of Manchester , and then as Dean of Canterbury , by a Socialist Prime Minister*, and was appointed precisely because I had long urged that Socialism was, in my view, not only scientific but the logical consequence in our age of Christian morality. . . .

"That Christian spokesmanship, placed at this heart of English-speaking Christendom, was the Socialist Prime Minister's deliberate intention. That was also my desire. That is my right. That is my responsibility. And I am justified in the discharge of that responsibility to use all the weight that the honored name of Canterbury lends."

*Ramsay MacDonald.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.