The Editor, Sir:

I refer to Claude Wilson's letter on Page A7 of The Gleaner March 31, and wish to point him to the fact that all the world was given the Christian faith by Jesus Christ through the apostles when he constituted the apostles into the Church with Peter as the leader (Matthew 16: 15-19) and when He commissioned them to teach all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

Africa got its faith through Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch and subsequently the Apostle Matthias spent the rest of his life in Ethiopia. So Africa and Europe were recipient of the same faith, Europe was no less pagan than anywhere else, but by accepting Christianity and the discipline which it entails, they were able to turn their energies into human progress, led and motivated by the Church.

Most of the disciplines which make for human development were initiated by the Church starting with education. 'Eternal Word Television (EWTN) is currently airing' a series at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays on this topic.

If Africa and others did the same, they would enjoy equivalent level of development within their own culture, but in any language they would have the same Christian faith.

After centuries of persecution and Rome was submitting to the Christian faith, the proclamation of Emperor Theodosius 392 AD was "all subjects of the Empire should accept the faith which Peter has delivered to Rome", and he outlawed paganism, smashed their temples and seized their treasures.' So our Christian faith is confirmed by Scripture and history as that handed on by our God and Saviour Jesus Christ; we do not need concoction.

I am, etc.,

A. JAMES

alvalj@anngel.com