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TEN
itTE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF CttUWOTA
SEPTEMBER 2!), 1945
Illinois Suit Disputing Legality of
Released Time’ Instruction Heads
for Supreme Court of United States
(By N C. W. C. News Service)
CHAMPAIGN, 111.—In a cir
cuit court here in t'.' > Illinois corn
country the groundwork has been
laid for what may ultimately be a
United States Supreme Court de
cision on (he legality of religious
education classes held in public
school during school hours.
A suit brought by Mrs. Vashti
McCollum, a 32-ycar-old mother,
who calls hefsolf a "rationalist or
theist,” seeks to halt the classes,
and is now for decision before the
three judges of the Illinois Sixth
Judicial District. Supporters of
both Mrs. McCollum and the
Champaign School Board, defend
ant in the case, declare however,
that regardless of the outcome, the
case will be appealed to the na
tion's highest coi.rl.
A trial court decision is not ex
pected until late November.
Testimony taken during a five-
day trial ranged from explanations
of varying religious beliefs to dec-
• larations that "there is no God.”
The latter assertion came from
Mrs. McCollum, her 10-year-old
son James Terry, and her father,
Arthur G. Cromwell, of Rochester,
N. Y.
A 31-year-old witness called to
the stand as the Rev. Philip Schug.
Urbana minister, brought gasps of
surprise to the packed courtroom
when he declared that, as a Uni
tarian, he considers both Jesus
Christ and Santa Claus “folk
tales.” Schug has worked closely
with Mrs. McCollum in instituting
the suit.
•‘RELEASED TIME” CLASSES
At issue in the case are volun
tary religious classes offered in
Champaign public schools during
the last five years under joint
sponsorship of Catholics, Protes
tants and Jews. Each of the three
groups provide 30 minutes of in
struction, which is taught in school
buildings.
Catholic classes are taught by
priests of Holy Cross parish in
Champaign. All Protestants are
taught together by teachers pro
vided by the Council of Religious
Education, an organization sup
ported by a dozen denominations.
The Jewish congregation furnishes
its own instructor.
• Mrs. McCollum, wife of a pro
fessor of horticulture at the Uni
versity of Illinois, brought suit to
halt the classes on the claim that
her sen, James, was embarrassed
and ridiculed” by his classmates
because he was the only student in
his fifth-grade room who has not
enrolled. Attached to her peti
tion was a pamphlet in which she
described herself as an aheist who
believes religion is a "disease con
tracted in childhood.”
Mrs. McCollum testified she does
not want her child "indoctrinated
with religion while lie is young.
She said also she believes so
strongly in "separation of Church
and Slate” that she would be a
‘‘hypocrite” to allow her son to
join the classes.
The Chicago Action Council and
the Chicago Civil Liberties Com
mittee provide i legal counsel for
Mrs. McCollum, while the Illinois
Council of Churches rallied to the
aid of the School Board and pro
vided attorneys to help defend
the suit.
PRIEST TESTIFIES
The only Catholic to testify at
the trial was the Rev. Clarence J.
Higgins, pastor of Holy Cross
Church, Campaign, who explained
that separate classes are given for
Catholic children. Father Higgins
described the teaching as “religi
ous and moral.” He emphasized
that tolerance of other beliefs “is
a part of the Catholic religion.”
Most of Mrs. McCollum’s fire
was centered on the Protestant
classes. To establish her claim
that the classes violate “freedom
of religion” provisions of state and
federal constitutions and are “sec
tarian,” her attorney interrogated
the religious teachers at length on
the subject matter of their classes.
Then he called representatives
of the Presbyterian, Methodist,
Lutheran, Christian Science, Uni
tarian, and so-called "non-demo-
national” churches to compare
their beliefs with the teachings. A
rabbi also was questioned. Religi
ous teachers insisted, however,
that they merely tell "what the
Bible says” and do not urge par
ticular beliefs on the children.
Mrs. McCollum's ease was cli
maxed by testimony by herself,
her son and her father, all of
whom promlaimed atheism from
the witness stand.
i The youngster declared: "So far
j as I’m concerned, there isn’t any
God.” He related how he was sent
from the room while his class
mates received religious instruc- j
lion, and he claimed “the other
kids made fun of me.” llis grand- !
father, who .heads the Rochester.
N. Y., Society of Free-thinkers, as
serted, “I am proud to say 1 am an
atheist.”
CHILDREN ON WITNESS STAND
To refute .the boy's testimony,
the school board’s attorney, J >hn
L. Franklin, presented a dozen
other students to testify they did
not take religious education and
have never been embarrassed by
it. Those who knew James Terry
said they never heard anyone
"tease” him about his disbelief.
In closing arguments, Franklin
contended that the decision wheth
er or not the McCollum boy would
take religious education subjected
him to no more embarrassment
than a “Catholic child who passes
up meat in the school cafeteria on
Friday."
Mrs. McCollum's attorney, Lan-
don L. Chapman, Chicago, based
his legal arguments largely on a
case in which the Illinois Supreme
Court in 1910 held illegal a prac
tice of opening public schools with
the Lord’s Prayer and hymns.
Franklin answered that the re
ligious classes offered here are
purely voluntary and are not a
part of the school program. They
are taught on "released" school
time, he said. Chapman replied
thcr is “social pressure” to
"coerce” children into taking the
work.
FREEDOM ‘FROM’ RELIGION
The attorney for the school board
argued also that “freedom of relig
ion” laws are intended only to pro
tect the citizens’ right to choose a
religion. They do not apply to
atheists, he asserted, but Chapman
replied, “freedom of religion also
means freedom from religion.”
The school board also stressed
that it incurs no expense for the
religious work. This was disputed
by Chapman.
As the case was submitted to
the three judges sitting en banc,
Mrs. McCollum’s attorney declar
ed. "When we begin to let churches
use public school funds, we are
letting them feed out of the public
trough. Like pigs at a trough the
little churches will be crowded
out by the big ones, and eventual
ly we will have only one church
left. Then we will go back to the
dark ages with a union of Church
and State.”
Franklin concluded by declaring
Chapman’s analogy “bad taste,”
but, he declared: "We know that
when pigs are fed at a trough, one
alone docs not get fat. They all
do So if we must use this ana
logy, wc say, ‘let them all grow
fat at the trough together.’”
National Conference of
Christians and Jews to
Sponsor Seminar Series
(.Special to The Bulletin)
ATLANTA, Ga.—Announcement
has been made by Miss Marjorie
McLachlan, Georgia Area Direc
tor of the National Conference of
Christians and Jews, that plans
arc being made by that organiza
tion to sponsor a series of sem
inars for Catholic, Protestant
and Jewish clergymen, in Atlanta,
Columbus, Macon, Augusta and
Savannah, during the week of
October 22.
Among those who have been
invited to address the seminars
or to lead its discussions arc the
Right Rev. T. James McNamara,
rector of the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist, Savannah; the
Very Rev. Joseph G. Cassidy, rec
tor of the Cathedral of Christ the
King, Atlanta; the Rev. Frederick
V. Gilbert, O. M. I., pastor of St.
St. Paul’s Church. Douglas, Ca.,
the Rev. Robert W. Burns, D. D.,
Peachtree Christian Church, At
lanta; Rabbi Sylvan D. Schwartz-
mann, Congregation of Children of
Israeal, Augusta; the Rev. John
H. Elliott, director of Religious
Organizations Commissions in the
National Conference of Christians
and Jews, New York; Mrs. Mil
dred Moody Easkin, director of
the Demonstration School in the
Religious Education Department,
Drew University, Madison, N. J.
Topics to be discussed include:
“American Religious Groups and
the Inter-Religious Movement,”
“Causes of Prejudice—Sociological
Factors,” “What the Clergy Can
do to Allay Prcpudice and Build
Good Will,” “West Pratices in
Overcoming Prejudices,”
New Coadjutor Bishops
| Colonel Marriott
in Augusta on Leave
His Holiness Pope Pius XII has named Coadjutor Bishops for two
Sees in the United Stales. Rt. Rev. Msgr. William A. Scully, (left)
Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of New York, has been
named Titular Bishop of Pharsalus and Coadjutor Bishop of Albany.
Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Treacy, (right) Director of the Propagation of
the Faith for the Diocese of Cleveland, has been appointed Titular
Bishop of Metelis and Coadjutor Bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin—
(NC Photo).
Capuchins Resume Virginia Work
After Lapse of 300 Years
(Special to The Bulletin)
STAUNTON, Va.—The formal
dedication of Our Lady of the
Angels monastery on September
17 marked the return of the Cap
uchin Fathers to Virginia, where
they first set up a mission three
centuries ago.
In 1680, the Sacred Congrega
tion established an Apostolic Mis
sion of Virginia. Father Joseph of
Agner and Father Joseph of St.
aul, Capuchin Franciscan priests,
were sent to open it. They were
followed by Father Christopher
Plunkett, O. F. M. Cap., who
worked zealously for ten years
until he was finally captured by
the English, at whose hands he
suffered martyrdom.
This summer the Capuchins of
the Province of the Stigmata of
St. Francis of Assisi transformed
the old Maneh Music college into
a monastery where the clerics of
the order will be prepared for the
priesthood. The clerics themselves
spent their vacations helping to
renovate the building in time for
the dedication. The college, which
offers accomodations for more
than sixty friars, has a large re
fectory, kitchen and recreation
room as well as commodious class
rooms and study halls. A tem
porary chapel has been construct
ed on the ground floor. Later, a
chapel will be erected on the cam
pus. The grounds spread over an
area of fourteen acres.
The scholastic year opens with
twenty-six clerics at the Staunton
monastery, nine of them are
studying theology and seventeen
are taking philosophical courses.
The faculty consists of lectors who
former taught in the old Immacu
late Conception Capuchin Semi
nary in the Bronx, N. Y. A pre-
philosophical course, that will
deal mainly with college subjects,
is beiijg offered fc.r the first time
this year.
The Capuchin Fathers have been
LABOR DAY PROGRAM
AT SAVANNAH USO-NCCS
active in the North, doing paroch
ial work, leaching, writing and
preaching missions to Italian-Am-
ericans. They have a preparatory
school and novitiate for clerics
and lay brothers ir» Beacon, N. Y.,
where the Very Rev. Felix Miri-
tello, O. F. M. Cap.,' the Cuostos
Provincial, resides.
Although (he Custody is still
young, it already has forty-two
priests, twenty-six clerics, three
lay brothers, a promising noviti
ate, thirty seminarians in the pre
paratory school and a number of
perpetual Tertiaries. It is also
sending four missionaries to Aus
tralia. The Custodia is represented
in the Archdioceses of New York
and Newark, in the Diocese of
Paterson, as well as in the Diocese
of Richmond.
AUGUSTA. Ga. — Lieut. Col.
Jin Everett Marriott, well known
Uigusta dentist, and a past grand
night of Patrick Walsh Council,
Knights of Columbus, who has
oeen serving a s an infantry officer
once before the attack on Pearl
Harbor, has returned home on
leave after serving several years
; overseas, in England, North Africa
I and Italy.
; Colonel Marriott, a native of
Latrobe, Pa., was stationed at
Camp Hancock in Augusta during
. 'he first World War, in which he
served with the Dental Corps in
France and with the Army of
Occupation in Germany.
Upon liis return to this country,
Colonel Marriott married Miss
Elizabeth Kinchley, of Augusta and
lias since been engaged in the
practice of dentistry here.
While serving in Italy last year,
I Colonel Marriott had the privilege
| of a private audience with His
| Holiness Pope Pius XII.
His son, Lieut. Thomas E. Mar-
] riott, who graduated from the U.
i S. Military Academy at West Point
in June, is presently stationed at
Fort Sill, Okla.. but expects to
be transferred to Fort Benning for
paratroop training.
Upon the completion of his leave,
Colonel Marriott, who was injured
in a tank accident in Italy, will go
to Fort Lee, Va., for reassignment.
Swiss Guard of Vatican
Reinforced By Recruits
(Radio, N. C. W. C. News Service)
VATICAN CITY. —- New re
cruits for the Swiss Guards, en
rolled in the Catholic Cantons of
Sitzcrland, have arrived here and
will take the traditional oath on
May 6, the fcaslday of the Papal
body guards and the anniversary
of the sack of Rome in 1527 by
imperial troops, mainly composed
of Spaniards and Germans. At
I hat time the Swiss Guards were
virtually annihilated in a last-
ditch defense of the Pope.
Owing to the war and transpor
tation difficulties, the strength of
the Swiss Guards has been reduc
ed from 100 to 60. They guard all
entrances and exits to Vatican
City and appear at all Pontifical
functions, immediately following
Ihe Noble Guards in Procession.
Their picturesque uniform of
black, red and yellow was design
ed by Michelangelo.
Back to Scmoi
in #■"
LITTLE
YANKEE
T. M. Mg.
SAVANNAH, Ga.—Featuring the
observance of Labor Day at the
USO-NCCS Club was a "stay-at-
home” picnic. Junior hostesses
brought picnic lunches and danc
ing and games were enjoyed by
the guests in uniform.
Over the week-end, a Southern
hospitality hour was held with
Mrs. Harry T. Wilson, Mrs. Law
rence Dunn, Miss Agnes Rocknell,
Miss Frances Morgan, Miss Wini
fred Quinan, Miss Bridget Fogarty,
Miss Else Holister and Miss Jean
ette Galina as hostesses.
Chaperons in the ballroom were
Mrs. D. J. Colvin, Mrs. Richard
Welsh, Miss Kate Crumbley, and
Miss Jennie Boughan. Music for
dancing was furnished by the
Chatham Field Bombshells, and
refreshments were served by Mrs.
T. J. Dowling, Mrs. W. J. Dawson,
Mrs. T. C. Lyon, Mrs. Madge Roller
and Mrs. Julia Beranc.
Miss Elizabeth Lcaey presided
during the coffee hour, assisted by
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jiran, Miss
Elizabeth Prendergast accompani
ed the group singers and a cabaret
program was presented. 1
• GREAT SHOES
FOR LITTLE AMERICANS'*
5.00
Brown shark tip oxford. Also in plain toe, Sixes 8'/i! to 3.
Mail Orders Filled
201 Peachtree Street, N. E.
ATLANTA