New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-18
.ution OF the United States. XXX I


tween my official duties and my re-
lisious belief. No such conflict
could exist. xNXx During the years
I have discharged these trusts COT
public office) l have been a COM
municant OF the Roman Catholic
church"
Marshall in his counter-Teply said:
with your customary directness
YOU make a disclaimer for yourself
of the convictions imputed by me
20 Roman Catholics in my open let
ter. Had you stopped with that dis
claimer this reply would have been
superf7uous. but you say that those
convictions are not held by any
American Roman Catholic so far as
YOU know. The convictions l impute
| supported by citations from the
encyclical letters OF Pope Leo XIII.
You repudiate my citations as mex
&C; and as detached from a neces-
sarv context This is a matter OF
opinion and I cannot yield 70 your
claim in the matter. The enCvCliCal
letters are accessible and Il nothing
tlsj mas bttll t.l' oll4 HltSli'J tlN our
controversy than TO secure their
careful reading by the American
public, that is enough"
Then. saying he could not allow
20 pass unchallenged Smiths asser-
ton that the imputed convictions
were not held by any American Cath
olics Marshall quoted at length from
the Manual OF Christian Doctrine"
published by John Joseph McNey for
use in Catholic schools.
He quoted the book as saying that
the Pope has the right to annul
those laws or acts OF government
that would injure the salvation Of
citizens" that the state should aid.
protect and defend the (Roman
Catholic) church," that the princi-
pal obligation OF the heads of states
is 10 practice the tRoman) Cath
Ole religion themselves and. as they
are in power, 10 protect and defend
IL" and that the state has the
right and the duty" to "proscribe
schism or heresy.'
He cited that o0,o0o.00o Catholic
students We're being taught these
principles, which, he said we're OBJ
iectionable teachings from the po-
litical standpoint. Similar quota
tons In Marshall's original letter
were dismissed by the governor as
dealing with theoretical Catholic
state which had nothing In common
with the United States.
Marshall declared his contention
was that there was conflict between
the doctrine and politv OF the church
and the American governme nt. not
between the faith or religion of the
church and the government, Smith
took the latter view in his reply.
Marshall said
He denied the governors assertion
that Marshall had imputed disloyalty
to Catholics, and emphasized that his
complaint was against the polity. or
governmental system. of the Catho-
lie church and not against the faith
and religion itself.
Marshall also said that mo view
| have expressed has been intended
to suggest the placing of ban
against candidacy for office because
Q. religion"
Smith. in his reply to Marshali's
first letter. credited data on church
law used in the reply 20 Father
Francis p. Duffy whose patriotism
neither YOU nor any other man will
question:
The governor cited Duffys brilliant
war record, including award to him
OF the distinguished service cross.
distinguished service medal, legion
of honor ribbon and croix de guerre
with palm.
The governor said Re regarded
the public school system as one OF
the foremost functions of govern
ment. and said the largest single
item of increased appropriation I'M
der his administration was for the
support of common schools.
Then he pointed to his large ac-
QuaintanceshiD with Catholic &c
clesiastics and said he had never re-
cciveI from any OF them anything
but cooperation and encouragement
in the full and complete discharge
of my duty to the state
II am unable TO understand how
anything that ! was taught TO be
lieve as a Catholic could possibly be
in conflict with what is good citizen
ship the governor continued.
Tho essence OF my faith is built
upon the commandments of God.
There can be no conflict between
them"
He pleaded for an end to hicker-
ing among sects in order 10 provide
more religion for our young peo-
pie, not less
In committing Marshau's allegations
of conflicting duty. Smith cited the
experience Of Catholics who have
held high office in this country. EN-
phasizing particularly the case Of
the supreme court which during
fourth of its history has been
presided over by two Catholics,
Roger Brooke fancy and Edward
Douglass White
"Confict." he said, may exist in
some lands which do not guarantee
religious freedom. But in the Wild
est dreams of your imagination You
cannot conjure up possible conilic'
between religious principle and po-
litical duty in the United States"
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