Central American Growth Is Cited by Mormons
SALT LAKE CITY—The phenomenal growth of the Mormon Church in Central America and Mexico was reported here at the 146th annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).
J. Thomas Fyans, assistant to the Mormon Council of 12 Apostles, the governing body of the church, said that in 1947 there were fewer than 100 Mormons in Central America and fewer than 5,000 in Mexico.
The 100 in Central America has grown to more than 40,000 and the 5,000 in Mexico has increased to 150,000 today, he said, also noting a great progress in economic security, education, and culture among the Mexican and Central American "Lamanite" (Indian) members.
Progress in Dialog with Catholics Reported to Assembly of Lutherans
CLEVELAND Roman Catholics and Lutherans visiting each other's celebration of the Eucharist would "not find it very different," a Catholic theologian told a gathering of Lutheran leaders from the United States and Canada here.
Dulpician Father Raymond E. Brown, professor of Biblical studies at Union Theological Seminary, New York, said that despite certain difficulties Lutherans and Catholics "are no longer able to regard ourselves as divided in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic faith."
He reported that the question of the validity of ordained minis tries remains a "tough issue" for theologians in dialog, and noted "remaining differences in speaking and thinking."
The review of a decade of theological dialog with Roman Catholics was presented at a two-day meeting of about 90 U.S. and Canadian presidents of districts of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, bishops of districts of the American Lutheran Church, and presidents of synods of the Lutheran Church in America.
U.S. Religious Beliefs Strongest Among Nations Surveyed by Poll
PRINCETON—The United States rated the highest in religious beliefs among non-Communist nations of the Western world, according to a 60-nation survey conducted by Gallup Inter national.
"While religion continues to play as important a role in the lives of Americans today as it did 25 years ago, Christianity appears to be in trouble in the Western European nations," George Gallup said.
However, he found that "nearly all people in the nations surveyed report being identified with some church or faith, and throughout the non-Communist world there is widespread belief in the existence of God or a universal spirit. A majority of the free world believes in life after death."
The new survey showed religious beliefs were considered "very important" by 56 per cent of persons polled in the U.S., 36 per cent in Italy and Canada, 26 per cent of people in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), 25 per cent in Australia, 23 per cent in United Kingdom, 22 per cent in France, and 17 per cent in West Germany and Scandinavian nations.
Professing belief in "God or a universal spirit" were 94 per cent in the U.S., 89 per cent in Canada, 88 per cent in Italy, 80 per cent in Australia, 78 per cent in Benelux, 76 per cent in United Kingdom, 72 per cent in France and West Germany, and 65 per cent in Scandanavian nations.
Belief in "life after death" was affirmed by 69 per cent in the U.S., 54 per cent in Canada, 48 per cent in Australia and Benelux, 46 per cent in Italy, 43 per cent in United Kingdom, 39 per cent in France, 35 per cent in Scandinavia, and 33 per cent in West Germany.
India topped all the nations polled, with 98 per cent of its people expressing belief in God or a universal spirit, 81 per cent holding religious belief to be "very important" and 72 per cent believing in life after death.
George Gallup reported that the new survey, "the first on a world wide basis, covered two thirds of the world's population and nearly 90 per cent of the inhabitants of nations that permit opinion surveys." Some 10,000 persons in 60 nations were interviewed for the study.
