Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-08-11
Tolerance Asked by K. Of c. Meet.

DdScApOIC, aug .. oPOeAhAS oSAO1~
the Knights of Columbus convention
here on American Citizenship, Joseph
Scott of Los Angeles, CAL, touched
sharply upon the problem of religious
prejudice. Mr.. Scott is lecturer for
the Religious Prejudice committee Of
the supreme council of the Knights of
Columbus.
No matter, he said, how loyal the
Americans are in their hearts to the
spirit of patriotism, it us necessary to
implant the idea of patriotism firmly in
the plastic minds of our children. There
never was time since Lincoln's presi-
dency when this country needed more
the spirit of harmony and cooperation
from all classes and conditions of peo-
pie.
1.-The only test of loyalty to this
country" said Mr.. Scott. ''is firm be-
lief among its citizens of the Ameri-
can ideal as being superior to any other
ideal now existing on earth. /"
1.-The Knights of Columbus has no
limitation on its membership growing
out of racial distinction. 1t may be
somewhat helpful, however, to empha-
size for the benefit of those who are
not Knights :.of Columbus that mere
racial prejudices are not the only diff
ficulties which confront the nation to-
day. A more subtle influence is abroad
in the land in the character of an or
ganized campaign to discredit the Cath
olic church and to brand Americans of
that religious belief as unworthy of the
confidence of their fellow citizens. Men,
and even women, have been going
through this country on lecture plat
forms, and through public print with a
campaign of villification of the man.
hood and womanhood of the Catholic
church which would resurrect even the
dead to righteous indignation. We
Catholic men are just like the rest of
you, with limit of human patience.
For centuries we have been taught to
respect our mothers, our wives, our
sisters and our daughters, and if, there
fore, the mails are filled with litera-
ture unfit to be read by decent people
it is hardly to be wondered at if in GER
tain places impulsive men have resent
ed insults to their women in q manner
not warranted by law.
81 am surprised to note that great
deal Of this scandal mongery comes
from the south, tie land of chivalry
and gallantry hardly excelled IN his
tory"
Returning to his subject of citizen
ship, MIR. Scott said
''My observation has led me to be-
lieve that there is some anxiety even
among some otherwise well-informed
people as to the political power of The
pope. Ordinarily that would be an ex-
tensive subject to consider in one night.
Contemporary history has, however,
afforded an illustration THAT should re-
move the last lingering suspicion OF
doubt from such anxious citizens.
1--WE Catholic Americans owe no po-
litical allegiance to the pope. He has
no civil powers whatever over our &C.
tivities. am saying this deliberately,
and without equivocation or reserva
ton, and am asking you to accept il
with the sincerity with which it is ex
pressed.
$50 long as religious liberty is prac
ticed under the spirit of the constitu
ton the Catholic would be the veries
migrate who would not give his whole
hearted allegiance to this country. i
we only look abroad therefore for tn,
illustration to which refer we will se'
Catholics of every country in Europ'
dying by the thousands for the flag o
their nation. In some instances tina