In the six months new appointed bishop Gijsen sacked his deputy bishop and two vicar generals. Laying down a strict policy against birth control and abortion.

To the easygoing Roman Catholic burghers of the Dutch diocese of Roermond, their new bishop came on like a thunderclap. Last January, when Johannes Mathias Gijsen, 39, was named to the see from the rectorate of an old-folks home, hardly anyone knew who he was. They soon found out. In…

A year ago Pope Paul introduced the first new conservative, now he has named Johannes Mathias Gijsen, 39, a friend of Simonis, bishop to the diocese of Roermond.

>The seven Roman Catholic bishops of The Netherlands, who presented such a progressive front at the Second Vatican Council, have suffered another breach in their ranks. A year ago Pope Paul introduced the first new conservative into the Dutch hierarchy by appointing Adrianus Simonis to the see of Rotterdam, ignoring…

The appointment by the pope of Simonis as bishop plunged the Vatican and the Dutch church into confrontation once again. Liberals were furious that Paul had bypassed three candidates.

Just a year ago this month, the Dutch Pastoral Council of the Roman Catholic Church voted for a policy statement against compulsory celibacy. During the debates preceding that vote (TIME, Jan. 19, 1970), one of the few voices arguing to preserve the old celibacy rule was a young-looking parish priest…

It maybe that one of the best-known and most creative theologians in the Roman Catholic Church will have to stand trial for doctrinal error, Dominican Father Edward Schillebeeckx.

It may come to pass that one of the best-known and most creative theologians in the Roman Catholic Church will have to stand trial for doctrinal error, an accusation not far short of heresy. Dominican Father Edward Schillebeeckx, the principal theological adviser to the Dutch hierarchy, has been under investigation…