The Washington times., 1927-04-18
Smith Makes Reply to.
Church Critic
(contipued from First Page.)

Ccontinued from First Page,
hood Of man under the fatherhoOd Of
God.
lin this spirit join with fellow
Americans Of all creeds in fervent
prayer that never again in this land
VIII any public servant be challenged
because of the faith in which he
has tried to walk humbly with his
Cod
The Marshall letter, published IN
the April number of the Atlantic
Monthly, challenged the governor
bIuhtly on number Of pertinent
Issues affecting Roman Catholic prin-
csples and American Political doc
tfine, to wit:
Cannot Vision Conflict
1. Marshall cited the claims of
several Roman peptiffs to authority
In civil matters where there was 4
conflict between church and state.
To this, Governor Smith replied
that he could not vision conflict
between church and state in Amer
lea. the land of religious freedom.
AS a loyal Catholic, he said he
recognized the supremacy of the
Pope in spiritual matters. but he
quoted Cardinal Gibbons, Arch,
bishop Ireland. and Bishop England
as denying the Pope any voice
whatsoever in American political
affairs.
In the event Of a conflict, how.
ever, the governor said he would
decide "as protestant would do
BY the dictates Of conscience. !"
Denies Intolerance
2. Marshall quoted the Catholic
encyclopedia as stating that the
church regards dogmatic intoler.
ance not alone as her incontestable
right, but her sacred privilege" and
asked the governor to explain it.
Governor Smith replied that this
to Catholic alone and meant
that for Catholics alone the church
recognizes no deviation from accept
ance Of its dogma He denied that
1t meant that Catholic were to be
'dogmatically intolerapt Of other
people.
Explains Divorce
s s. Marshall challenged the
church's assumption OF complete
authority over ali marriage and
divorce, and cited Rome,s annull-
the Duke OF Marlborough and
Consuelo Vanderbilt as an arrogant
disregard Of American laws by the
roman tribunal.
Governor Smith replied that
MarshaIl's own church, the Episco.
palian, did not recognize civil
divorce, and asserted that in an
nulling the Marlborough marriage
the Roman Church merely defined
the status of the Litigants as
Catholic communicates. and not
their status under American law
(4) Marshall cited the situation in
Mexico, quoting VIM. ID. Guthrie,
attorney for the Catholic Hierarchy
In America. as saying there are
many precedents to support armed
by America in the |
present conflict between church and !
state there, He asked Governor
smith to define his attitude in the
Mexican question.
The Governor replied that he did
not favor the interference by Amer
leans lin the internal affairs OF
other nations, and we should stand
steadfastly against such interfef-
ence by whomsoever it isurged."
Teaching In Schools
(5) Marshall. citing the claims of
some Roman pontiffs to supreme
power in case Of conflict between
the church and state. implied that
II. this were being taught in Paro-
chial schools, such teachings We're
violating the United States consti-
tuition.
Governor Smith replied; Il never
heard Of any such stuff being
taught or Of anybody whoA claimed
1t was"
The Governors letter, a lengthy
one, in which he went into some
detail to explain his. position, made
it clear that, to his mind. there are
Catholics and Catholics in America.
All Not of Same Mold
You seem to think he said,
that Catholics must be all alike
in mind and in heart, as though
they had been poured into and
taken out fthe same mold.
You have no more right to ask
e-to defend as a part of my. faith