Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-10-25
He Sees Grounds For Grievance
Because of the Different
Versions. I
Rev. Patrick Walsh States the
Catholic Position on This
Subject.
ASKS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

The Rev. DR.. w. w. Landrum. IN
his sermon at the Broadway Baptist
church Sunday night, set forth
reasons for believing the Bible has
no place in the public schools. His
utterances attracted wide attention
and commentator from both Prot
estants and Catholics and com
mendation for his courageous stand.
From the sermon we give extracts
and also a letter from the Rev.
Patrick Walsh. pastor of the Sacred
Heart church, who states the Cath
olic position on this subject and
Joins DIR. Landrum in his appeal for
equal rihgts. Recognizing that
some ministers may not agree with
him. DR.. Landrum frankly sets forth
his reasons, which he asks all to
consider:
First then as a citizen, | teel
that patriotism demands that !
support, with my whole soul and
with unvarying loyalty the letter
and the spirit of the Constitution OF
my country, which explicitly opposes
all approaches, however gradual,
well meant and apparently harmless,
to a union of the civil and religious
powers 1t may be Gods country.
At all events, stamped on all our
coins is the legend, in God we
trust It is not a Jewish country,
it is not a Roman Catholic country
nor a Protestant country. Citizen
ship in it has no religious tests.
Every man can worship God or re-
fuse to worship God, as he may
think best, with no one to molest
him or make him afraid. Religion
is a private and personal matter Of
which the Government has no right
to take cognizance. Besides as a
citizen | believe in equal rights to
all and special privileges to none.
Put any Bible in the public schools
and the friends of that Bible have a
special privilege over the foes of
that Bible. Put the Jewish Bible
into the schools and Gods ancient
people enjoy an advantage denied
those of us who believe in a more
complete revelation of his holy
will. Put a Roman Catholic Bible
in the schools and all others have a
just ground for grievance. Put the
Protestant Bible into the schools
and all who do not agree with them
are showed aside from the just en-
ioyment of their rights As an
American citizen can not compro-
mise my patriotism and my 10y
atty to government of the people
and by the people and for the peo-
pie. If i consent to let any group
of citizens, should they be my best
friends and most beloved brethren,
enjoy advantages not allowed 20
all others, | do compromise such
patriotism and loyalty.
"As a Christian ! accept and
teach Christ's summary Of the law
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart and all thy mind
and with all thy soul and thy neigh
Dor as thyself. Religion is love.
The alpha and omega of it's alphabet
is love. Perfect obedience is proved
In one word, love. God is love- and
whosoever is born of God practices
love. Put Protestant Bible into
the public schools and you violate
the law of love and in my Judgment
can not expect the approval and
blessing of the great head of the
church who is willing to rule human
hearts by love and by love alone.
The Bible, some say, is not a sec.
tartan book, but Gods word. the
only revelation of his will meant
for all and unfair and unkind 10
none. Others loudly declare that
the Bible is not a Protestant book,
but broadly Christian, and so should
be acceptable to all Christians and
indeed to all good men.
In reply wish to affirm with
distinctness and positiyeness that II,
by the Bible, you mean the English
version, the King James version
usually read in Protestant churches,
then the Bible, beyond question. is
Protestant translation. With
equal confidence | say that the
Douay version of the Vulgate is a
Roman Catholic translation used
by the Roman Catholics only. and
declared by them to be the only true
version or the original Scriptures.
II then l put In the schools my Bible
by force, and all action by Govern
ment is force, for in the last analysis
all governments rest on force.
violate the law OF love. / do NOT
treat my brother as | would have
my brother treat me. II the Roman
Catholic brother ever succeeds in
putting his Bible into the public
schools, then he changes them into
sectarian schools, little short Of
parochial schools, and violates the
law of love as II relates TO me. As
a Christian I can not afford to take
any advantage OF my brother. In.
deed, | wish none. would spurn
as utterly unworthy a disciple OF
Jesus Christ any method of teaching
what I believe to be the truth which
gave me an unholy advantage over
my opposing brother"
Rev. Patrick Walsh sends the
Kentucky Irish American the fol
loving letter. which the public viii
read with interest: