New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-18
The Essence OF Statement


reconciliation OF Catholic beliefs with
United States constitutional princi-
plos. as expressed in his letter to
Charles C. Marshall, follows:
l. Your first proposition is that
Catholics believe that other religions
Nhan the Roman Catholic) should,
in the United States, be tolerated
only as a matter OF favor and that
there should be an established
church. You may find some such
dream or ideal OF a Catholic state,
having no relation to actuality,
somewhere described. Arch
bishop Bowling, referring to any
union OF church and
state, says, SO many conditions for
its Accomplishment are lacking in
every government of the world that
the thesis may well be relcgated to
the limbo OF defunct controversies
fOther high prelatcs then are quot
ed) with these great Catholics l
stand squarcly in support of the
provisions Of the constitution which
guarantees religious freedom and
You claim that the Roman Cath
ole church holds that. II conflict
arises, the church must prevail over
the states. \ y Archbishop Ire
land thus puts the church's attitude
toward the state: TO the Catholic
10 law is religious obIi-
cation, binding in Gods name the
conscience of the citizen. Both
Americanism and Catholicism bow
10 the sway Of personal conscience
No man, cleric or lay, has ever
tried to exercise church influence on
my administration Of any office.
Your church protestant EpiscopaD
just the same as mine voices the.
injunction to render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars and unto
God the things that are Gods"
g., You admit that the supreme
court guaranteed to Catholics the
right TO maintain their parochial
and YOU asl. me whether
they would have so ruled If 1t had
been shown that children in paro-
chial schools were taught that the
state should show discrimination be
tween religions, that Protes,ants
should be recognized only as mat
ter OF favor and that they should
be intolerant to non-Catholics>
X Xxx I and all my children went
10 parochial school. I never heard
Of any such stuff being taught or Of
anybody who claimed that it was"
A. You next challenge the ac-
ton Of the Rota tthe Holy Rota of
he Catholic church, in annullins
he Marlborough marriage. You
suggest the Rota in annulling the |
(whero the civil courts
tocognized it but granted only a
livorce) is interfering with civil ,
That might be so if |
anybody claimed that the decree OF
he Eota had any effect under the
avs OF America or any other ma
ion. But you must know 1t has :
10 such effect and nobody claims ,
I has. The decree merely defined ,
he status Of the parties as com
of the church"
5. Il summarize my creed as an
American Catholic. ! believe in the !
Of God according to the
aith and practise OF the Roman
church. recognize no .
power in the institutions OF my |
,hnrch to interfere with the opera
ions Of the constitution OF the
Snited States or the enforcement of
he law OF the land. | believe In
absolute freedom OF conscience for
III men and in equality Of all
all sects, all beliefs before
he law as a matter OF right and not
Is matter OF favor. I believe in
he absolute separation OF church
md state and in the strict enforce
nent OF the provisions of the con-
titution that congress shall make
10 law respecting an establishment
II religion or affecting the free eX-
'rcise thereof l believe that no
tribunal OF any church has any
,ower to make any decree OF any
orce in the law OF the land other
han to establish the status of its
'wn communicates within its own
hurch. believe in the SUPPORT OF I
he schools as one of the corner
tones OF American liberty. be-
ieve in the right OF every parent to
Iecide whether his child shall be
ducated in the public school or in
. religious school by those OF his
'wn faith. believe in the princi-
'le of non-interference by this coun-
ry in the internal affairs OF other
and that We should stand