Various writers have come out in defense of the Witnesses, as in the case of the Catholic who wrote in Sur of November 12, 1976: “The Witnesses may be mistaken in their interpretation, but no one can doubt the immense faith that sustains them. In this religion, not sect, there is no room for lies, fornication or stealing, the three most abominable sins in God’s sight. How much the world has to learn in this respect from the Witnesses!” Another, writing in the Hoja del Lunes de Gijón (June 21, 1976), under the heading “The Bishop of Santander and Jehovah’s Witnesses,” stated: “It so happens that Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . have a much deeper and more careful knowledge of the Bible than the majority of Catholics.”

THE QUEEN OF SPAIN IMPRESSED

During 1976 a fine witness was given in university circles. This came about when one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a student of medicine studying at Madrid University, gave a witness to some of his fellow students. Some of these were participating in other studies in the Interfaculty Department of Contemporary Humanities, organized for the benefit of students and graduates. As a result, Jehovah’s Witnesses were invited to present a lecture on the theme “New Man and His Future.” Two Witnesses developed the subject, bringing out the facets of the new personality and Jehovah’s purpose in relation to the earth. This talk resulted later in an invitation to present a series of nine lectures on the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the students was Queen Sofia of Spain, who paid close attention to the arguments, took notes, and participated fully in the discussions that took place after each talk. After the lecture on the soul and hellfire, the queen declared that she had never known anyone who used the Bible with such knowledge and facility for answering any question that arose. “For every subject it appears you have an answer in your Bible,” she commented.