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Japanese Voice Widely Varied Views On Hopes For Ecumenical Council (The following article is one of a series telling what Catho lics of various countries hope will be accomplished by the Second Vatican Council. By Father A. W. Bryson, M. S. C. (N. C. W. C. NEWS SERVICE) TOKYO, “What are your ex pectations of the ecumenical council?” Up and down Japan for weeks 1 asked that question of Bud dhist, Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, and the man in the street. The answers were as varied as the individuals. A man sitting next to me on an Osaka-bound train came up with the most original reply: “The ecumenical council had better strongly condemn the testing and use of atomic wea pons, or there soon won’t be any people left in the world to hold councils about.” A Buddhist priest agreed that the council would do much to promote religious and interna tional harmony, but added: “At tendance by observers from Buddhism and the other great non-Christian religions would make it even more effective as an instrument for world peace and religious cordiality.” A puzzled Russian Orthodox Japanese complained: “The ecumenical council is both needed and widely approved by divided Christians. I’m disap pointed that we, who are closest doctrinally to Catholics, alone have declined to send obser vers.” This man voiced his opinion before the Russian Orthodox Church sent two observers to the council. Protestants, traditionally un- bigoted here, have widely ac claimed the ecumenical council, especially the idea of Protes tant observers attending. The council has been given favorable news coverage in the two local Protestant newspapers. The emphasis is upon increased dialogue and mutual under standing, which they look to the Second Vatican Council to pro- Spiritual Formation Is Duty SAN FRANCISCO. (NC) - The biggest responsibilities facing the Catholic laywoman today are to realize her own personal worth as a Christian, and to achieve a spiritual formation to help her efforts to raise the moral level of society. This message was brought home by Mrs. Joseph McCar thy of San Francisco, who last month was named national pre sident of the National Council of Catholic Women. Speaking at a press confer ence after her return from a month-long sojourn on the East Coast, Mrs. McCarthy empha sized the importance of “for mation,” through careful study and reading, in order that the Catholic laywoman be prepared to face the crucial moral issues of our time. With regard to the national council’s plans for the coming year, Mrs. McCarthy stated that Leadership Institutes—training programs for leaders of the 14,000 affiliated organizations --will form a major part of the national program, as they do every other year. A specific work program and theme, however, will not be announced until the NCCW exe cutive board, over which she will preside, meets in Washing ton, January 20 to 25. mote. Catholic interest here is at its height. The Hierarchy, clergy and Catholic mass communications media have kept our Catholic people here abreast of Council developments. Dr. Tateno, pro fessor of social science at the Catholic Sophia University, sees spiritual renewal and unity as the driving force and central theme of the ecumenical coun cil. “Travelling in Europe last year 1 was most impressed with the desire 1 found everywhere for a closer union of its peo ples, which has led to the EEC. As I see it this kind of thinking created an atmosphere warmly sympathetic to the Holy Father’s call for an ecumeni cal council, to unite people in Christ the world over. I assume that the talk of more decen tralisation of ecclesiastical jurisdiction is consonant with this desire for greater unity. I had occasion last year to speak in the major seminary and uni versity of the Lyons arch diocese in France on‘The heart of Asia. The ready under standing my words received there convinces me that the psychological needs of the Ja panese and Asian peoples will not be lost sight of in the coun cil’s deliberations on the lay apostolate, liturgy and Church regulations.” Professor Matsumoto of Tok yo’s Keio University empha sized the need for dynamic reapparisal of the lay aposto late in the council. “The prominence of the lay apostolate on the ecumenical council’s agenda is heartening to Catholic laity, especially in a non - Christian country like Japan. It will need more dyna mic leadership, better organi zation and human reorientation. Catholics will have to cooperate more with each other, and be more charitable in their think ing and approach to non-Catho- lics.” Mr. Anzai, distinguished lec turer and Catholic authority on comparative religions, had this to say: “We look to our bishops as our fathers in Christ. Anything the ecumenical council does to increase and strengthen this relationship will be particularly beneficial to the spread of the Faith in this country, where the family bond is traditionally strong.” Priests and laymen pointed out oddities related to Japan which the ecumenical council could take into consideration. Some mentioned the matter of Friday abstinence in a coun try where eating fish is no hardship, but the normal and staple diet. Others considered unpsychological the require ment for the non-Catholic party to sign premarriage promises in this non-Christian country, where face is so important and one’s word is one’s bond. On the question of more use of the laypeople in the aposto late, there was unanimous agreement that this is greatly desirable, especially in Japan, but it was felt that only specific directions from the Second Vat ican Council could bring this about. Some favored restoring the direct apostolic function of the diaconate on the lines of the early Church. Members of the Hierarchy of this land of ancient martyrs have emphasized through pasto ral letters, pulpit and press the tremendous importance of the Second Vatican Council to the whole world, especially Ja pan. Peter Cardinal Doi, Archbi shop of Tokyo, issued a special pastoral calling all to pray for the council’s success. “Interest and zeal for the success of the ecumenical coun cil is not enough. Every bishop, priest, Religious and Catholic in Japan must pray and make sacrifices daily.” Bishop Paul YoshigoroTagu- chi of Osaka stressed the uni versality of the council in re presentation, scope of agenda and authority. “Races, nations, languages, customs, different- colored skins are all part of the truly Catholic mosaic of the . . .ecumenical council. “It is of historic significance to the Church in Japan, as it Best Wishes To The Southern Cross From Oblate Fathers St PauVs Church Douglas Greetings And Best Wishes To Our New Weekly From St. Patrick’s Parish Augusta marks the first time that Ja panese Bishops attended an ecu menical council.” Bishop Benedict Tomizawaof Sapporo commented: “The Second Vatican Council may well be called and go down The Southern Cross, January 5, 1963—PAGE 5-C in history as the council of the apostolate. This modern age requires a highly organised lay apostolate: we expect to come out of the council with the scaffolding to build it.” Bishop Peter Arikata Kobay- ashi of Sendai summed up the feeling of all in seeing in the call of His Holiness Pope John XXIII to Christian unity the Pentecostal spirit of the council. “The ecumenical council is not merely an assembly of churchmen, but a coming down of the Holy Ghost to inspire and show the way to a united Christendom.” Best Wishes To The Southern Cross From St. Joseph’s Parish Way cross Best Wishes To The New Southern Cross From MISSIONARY FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ST. MICHAEL’S CONVENT SAVANNAH BEACH Best Wishes From St. Peter Claver’s Macon C^onarutuiciti and rom Saint Benedict’s Parish COLUMBUS