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Could (By John A. O'Brien Ph. D.) The editors of LOOK maga zine submitted a number of questions about relations between Church and State that are seldom discussed publicly and frankly in the United States. These and additional questions along with the answers are here presented with a view of removing the mis conceptions which foster preju dice and create divisions. It is hoped that an Understanding of the true position of Catholics on this subject will increase neigh borly understanding and good will, and strengthen our national unity. Is there any reason why a properly qualified Catholic candidate could not be elected president of the United States? No. There is nothing in the Catholic religion which would keep a Catholic from upholding faithfully and conscientiously every provision of the U. S. Constitution, guaranteeing and A Catholic President Uphold Church - State Separation? protecting the rights of all citi zens. Indeed, the Catholic faith would require him to do this. Why have not other Catholics besides Governor Alfred E. Smith been nominated for this office? Partly because of widespread misconceptions of Catholic teaching concerning the separa tion of Church and State in a pluralistic society such as the United States. In the interests of common justice, civic unity and national solidarity these misconceptions should be clear ed up. What hssve leading Protestant ministers said on this? Reflecting the opinion of most such leaders, Dean John C. Bennett of Union Theological Seminary said that to deny the nomination to a morally quali fied man because of his religion “would be an affront to 39 mil lion of our fellow citizens,” and could “damage our institutions more grievously than it would be possible for a Catholic presi dent to do-even if he chose to.” What have Protestant churches said? Typical of the pronounce ments of many is that of the United Church of Christ, whose Council for Christian Social Ac tion declared “unequivocally” that no citizen should be denied election to the presidency be cause of his race, religion or ethnic origin. The Council held that “to assume that no Roman Catholic should be president of the United States would be a denial of the fundamental American principles and would infringe liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.” Why are so many people in terested in knowing what Cath olics really believe about sepa ration of Church and State in the U.S.A. and if they have any real stake in it? . It is, we think, largely be cause of the incessant propa ganda of a nation-wide organi zation called Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State, depicting Catholics as conspir ing to breach the wall of sepa ration and set up a union of Church and State. That organi zation has scared many Protes tants with the fear that their religious liberties are endanger ed and they will be subjected to the alien domination of Rome through the crafty machinations of Catholics. How did the Christian Cen tury describe the present Prot estant attitude toward Catho lics? As characterized by “paranoia and persecution mania. Because Roman Catholicism has made problems for us somewhere, we begin to see its threat every where. We feel chronically pick ed on, beaten down, abused . . . The fine Italian hand (which is usually here a fairly clumsy Irish one) is seen in everything . . . What bothers most at this Reformation anniversary, though, is the amount of Protes tantism that thinks itself best and most vigorously expressed in terms of that suspicion and resentment . . . There is a neu rotic Protestant anxiety about Rome which, far from safe guarding Protestantism, gets in the way of its postive self- realization and fulfillment.” How can fhe ghosts of sus picion, fear and dread best be banished from fhe minds of non- Catholics? By disclosing the real attitude of American Catholics toward separation of Church and State and the actual stake they have therein. Do Catholics really want union of Church and State in America? As a result of propaganda misrepresenting Catholic thought and aspiration on this subject it is not sufficient, we think, to answer this question with a simple yes or no. It will be necessary: 1. To ascertain the official teaching of the Catholic Church on the general subject of the relationship of Church and State. 2. To examine the public pronouncements of the leaders of the Church in America and of the Pope him self. 3. To scrutinize the actions of American Catholics to see if they are de facto seeking to breach the so-called “wall of separation,” erected by the Con stitution. 1. Official Catholic Teaching on Church State Relations What is the Catholic leaching on this subject? The church makes her own the teaching of her divine Founder: “Render therefore to Caesar,” Said Christ, “the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt. 22; 21). Here is a clear indication of the respective loyalties due to these two institutions. The State is concerned with the ma terial and temporal welfare of its citizens, while the Church is concerned with their spiritual and eternal welfare. This does not mean that there should be an iron curtain be tween the two, much less rival ry and hostility. “While Church and State are independent pow ers,” pointed out Pope Pius XII, “They should not because of this ignore one another and still less fight one another. It is far more in conformity to nature and the divine will that they cooperate in mutual under standing since their activities apply to the same subject” (man). Doesn't the Church claim supremacy over the State and the right to dictate in political matters? No, Pope Leo XIII expressly repudiated such a monstrous claim. “Each in its kind is su preme,” he said, “each has fix ed limits within which it is contained, limits which are de fined by the nature and special object of the province of each . . . Whatever is to be ranged under the civil and political order is rightly subject to the civil authority. Jesus Christ has Himself given command that what is Caesar’s is to be ren dered to Caesar.” Hasn't some pope condemned the American principle of sepa ration of Church and State? No pontiff has ever condemn ed the present relation between the Church and State in this country, nor has any pope sug gested that it be changed. In a country such as ours, character ized by widespread diversity of religious beliefs, union of Church and State is utterly un- (Continued on Page 8) Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Vol. 41, No. 1 MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, JUNE 11, i960 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year Judge Houlihan lead At 71 Prominent Catholic Leader SAVANNAH—Judge James Patrick Houlihan, prominent Catholic layman and president of the Georgia State Savings Bank of Savannah is dead at 76. Survivors include his son, James P. Houlihan Jr., Savan nah attorney; Miss Joan L. Houlihan, a granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews. Judge Houlihan had been in the Savannah banking business for more than half a century and was a former chairman of the Chatham County Commission ers. He had served on the Board of Commissioners from 1925 un til 1955 when he resigned. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara, a friend for many years eulogized Mr. Houlihan as “A truly outstanding Catholic layman—one who was com pletely dedicated to his Faith and one who was deeply inter ested in the welfare, not only of his fellow Catholics, but of the entire community. His un selfish community service over many years bears ample witness to that/” “There was never a major Church undertaking which in volved the participation of the laity, that did not find Judge Houlihan in the forefront,” said Monsignor McNamara. “When ever these undertakings were considered the name of Judge James P. Houlihan immediately came to mind, either as hon orary chairman or as an active chairman.” A communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Savannah, Judge Houlihan was named a Knight of St. Gregory by the late Pope Pius XII. This honor is one of the highest conferred upon laymen by the Church. He was a member of Savan nah Council No. 631, Knights of Columbus and had served presi dential terms in both the Geor gia Catholic Laymen’s Associa tion and the Hibernian Society. Judge Houlihan’s civic serv ices included chairmanship of the Chatham County Board of Health and membership of the Coastal Highway Commission, State Ports Authority, Industrial Committee, and the former presidency of the Chatham Em ployers Association. A reguiem Mass was cele brated at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, May 28. Celebrant was the Rev. Terrence Kernan O.S.B., Pastor. His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough presided. Burial was in the Catholic Cemetery in Savannah. ^ Pope Seen Ploying "inspiring Role" In Jew-Cofhoiic Ties LAKE K I A M E S H A, N.Y.. (NC)—A Jewish leader said here ihai His Holiness Pope John XXIII was playing "an inspired role" in fostering bel ter relations beiween Catholics and Jews. Benjamin R. Epstein, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’- L-W-’-old the or ganization’s district 3 conven tion that members of both faiths were realizing. more fully their common ties. “In this dialogue, on this road to greater maturity, we are mutually helped by the words and deeds of John XXIII,” he said. “In today’s relations be tween Catholic and Jew, he is playing an inspired role.” Mr. Epstein was among a group given a private audience by the Pope last January. He noted the Pontiff’s various ex pressions of friendship, his ac tion in revising two prayers that had offended Jews and his “deep interest in Isreal.” "Despite basic differences and the tragic past, Jews and Cath olics—in behalf of the common good—are finding new areas of understanding," Mr. Epstein said. Two Retreats For Women At Macon MACON — There will be two retreats for women at ||| Ml. de Sales Academy dur ing the month of July. The first retreat will be if held from July 26 to July 2S with the second running f§ from July 23 to July 31. Each 11 retreat opens at 9 a. m. on 1| |i the date specified. For reservations or infor- §| maiion contact: Sisters of Mercy, Mt. de §: 11 Sales Academy, Macon, Ga. 11 lli IS Archbishop O'Hara Guest At Parliament LONDON (NC)—A U.S. born prelate was the first representa tive of the Holy See to visit Britain’s House of Parliament on more than 400 years. Archbishop Gerald P. O'Hara, Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, was guest of honor at a dinner in the House of Com mons. A native of Scranton, Pa., and former Bishop of Savannah, Ga., the Delegate attended the dinner given by alumni of St. Joseph’s Academy, London school run by the Christian Brothers. The dinner was held through the good offices of Rob ert Mellish, Catholic Member of Parliament. Last representative of the Holy See to visit the Parliament buildings is believed to have been Cardinal Pole, exiled by King Henry VIII for refusing to asquiesce in his first divorce. Archbishop O'Hara said in his speech fo the ex-alumni that he is a rarity among arch bishops since he is now in a position to say: "During my speech in the House of Com mons the other night . . ." SEMINARY BURSE — Dr. Carl Rankin Jordan, Savannah physician, presents check to Bishop McDonongh for establish ment of two scholarships for Priesthood. Scholarships were es tablished by Dr. Jordan in memory of his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Rankin Jordan. CLEVELAND, (NC) — Vot ing for or. against a presiden tial candidate on religious grounds is “an act of irrespon sible citizenship,” the 172nd general assembly of the United Presbyterian Church said in a resolution. The original resolution de clared that supporting or op posing a candidate because of his religion is “an act of re ligious bigotry.” This was amended to read “irresponsible citizenship” after H B several delegates objected to the idea that persons are “big ots” if they oppose a candidate because of his religious affili ation. In another resolution, the del egates directed that a special committee be set up to inter pret the meaining of the doctrine of separation of Church and State in the light of the re formed tradition.” The meeting was attended by 992 delegates, representing some 3.2 million Presbyterians. Gomulka's Claim Of Religious Freedom In Poland Denied By Vatican City's L'Osservatore (Radio, N.C.W.C. News Service) VATICAN CITY — Vatican City's daily newspaper has de nied a claim made by Poland's communist chieftain in a U. S. magazine that the Church is free in his country. L’Osservatore Romano re ferred to the author, Polish Communist party first secretary Wladyslaw Gomulka, only as “a high exponent of the Polish Communist party.” “Mr. Gomulka’s article, ap pearing in the quarterly review, Foreign Affairs, said: “Complete religious tolerance exists in Poland; it is guaran teed by the state, is universal ly recognized and is not ques tioned by any honest foreign observers. In many respects freedom of religious practice, freedom of all rights and relig ious holidays, is wider here than in most capitalist states.” L'Osservatore replied that such statements cannot go un challenged since they are quite contrary to the truth about the Church's position in Poland. It denied that any concessions made by the Polish state to the Church in recent years could be described as "tolerance." The newspaper recalled that the Church’s present situation in Poland is due entirely to the fact that in 1956 the Polish com munists were forced to grant it not the freedom to which it is entitled, but a few of the rights which had been violently de nied it after 1950. L’Osservatore cited religious instruction in schools as an ex ample: "Hardly four years have pass ed since 1956, (yet) fhe commu nist power thai weighs on Po land shows clearly its wish fo take back fhe slight 'conces sions' made under force of nec essity. Religious instruction, au thorized by decree toward the end of IS56, is seriously tram meled once more by admini strative harassmenfs, by indi vidual and collective pressure, by the excuses and indecision of the school authorities. “Judicially, the possibility still exists, but in practice it is ever more restricted and theo retical.” Mr. Gomulka said in his arti cle. “Misunderstandings of one kind or another have occurred and will no doubt occur in the future between the State and the Church. Indeed, they are unavoidable in every country which wishes to observe the principle of a strict separation of Church and State, and where for long centuries the Church had a strong influence on the spiritual life and cus toms of the people.” The Vatican City newspaper commented: "The article published in Foreign Affairs wishes to make the American reader believe that what is practiced in Poland is separation of Church and State more or less as in the Uniied States in a spirit of com plete tolerance." L’Osservatore noted that the right of Catholics to form asso ciations does not exist in Pol and. It said there are signs in dicating that the right of the Church to govern itself “is once more being undermined” under the pretext that it is indulging in “exhorbitant” policies. "Meanwhile, attempts are be ing made with slanderous law suits — a meihod used already by the Hitlerite Germany of nazism — to discredit the clergy Poland Begins Fourth Year Of Novena BERLIN (NC)—Poland has begun the fourth year cf its “Great Novena” in preparation for the 1,000th anniversary of its conversion to Christianity. This novena year is dedicated to Catholic marriage. The Polish Bishops have urged Poles living outside the country to take part in the Great Novena by prayer and study. In a letter to rectors of Polish missions throughout the world, His Eminence Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, Archbishop of Warsaw and Primate of Po land, said that such worldwide participation “will be a visible sign of unity in faith and love.” The Great Novena grew out of the pilgrimage of one million Poles to the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa on August 26, 1956, shortly after a govern ment completely subservient to Moscow was replaced by a gov ernment more independent al though communistic. The pilgrims placed the na tion under the protection of Our Lady as Queen of Poland, and vowed to prepare for the 1,000th (Continued on Page 8) in the eyes of the faithful," fhe newspaper said. It concluded: “This is the reality. And since it is due to external im positions against which the Poles are powerless, their only hope of saving their religious heritage is loyalty to the Church, to its teachings and to its traditions.” 3 ions onths At Ca SAVANNAH — The list of staff members of Camp Villa Marie for the 1960 season was released last week by the Rev. William V. Coleman, camp di rector. Heading the girls’ section will . be Sister Mary Fidelis, R.S.M., former instructor and directress of the widely known Glee Club of St. Vincent’s Academy, Sav annah. Assisting Sister Fidelis will be Sisters Amata, Nernar- aa, Dennis Marie, Jogues, Mar cia and Valentina, all of the Re ligious Sisters of, Mercy. The boys’ section of the camp will be under the direction of the Rev. John Fitzpatrick, who will be aided by Wil liam Sisson, Richard Morri- sette, Alex Sherlock, William Simmons, Henry Bertogmoli and Robert Wilkerson, students from various major seminaries throughout the country. The junior staff is composed of high school seniors and re cent graduates. They are Tippy Anderson and Mary O’Connor of Augusta; Clara McDonough, Julie Miller, Carolyn Emmerick, Rosemary Emmerick, Ann Har per,. Susan Hutton and Ann Leonard, all of Savannah. Members of the boys’ junior staff are Matt McCoy of Alba ny; Pat Mahon, “Bro” Mulherin For Summer mp Villa Marie arid Karl Staunch of Augusta; Gerald Daly and Freddy Muller of Savannah; and George Col vin of Thomasville. Mrs. Peter Vasta of Savannah will head the kitchen staff. Mrs. Rita Daly is registrar and Cap tain Joseph Puder is camp maintenance supervisor. Camp Villa Marie accepts boys and girls from 7 to 16 years of age during the last week of July and the first two weeks of August. At present the camp, operated under the au spices of the Diocese of Savan nah, still has openings for campers for one, two or three weeks. Father Fitzpatrick described the activities of the camp as follows: “The activities offered by Camp Villa Marie are similar to those offered by all Catholic camps. The basic program of the 1959 season will be employ ed again this year. There have been, however, some additions which we think all 1960 camp ers will enjoy. “We have a very large swim ming pool and instructions will be, available to those interested in perfecting their ability in this very popular sport. The en tire swimming program is under (Continued on Page 8) SUMMERTIME MEANS VACATION from school, but nol from Religion. Praising God is integral part of camp activity.