Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-07
LUTHERAN EDITORS
T0STAY NEUTRAL
Association Decides to Give
Readers Information Only
on Presidential Race.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, September IA
resolution referring to the approaching
presidential election and declaring that
'the peculiar allegiance that faithful
Catholic owes, according to the teach
ing Of his church, toward a foreign
sovereign who also claims supremacy in
secular affairs may clash with the best
interests of the country" was adopted
here Yesterday by the National Lutheran
Editors Association.
The resolution voiced support OF the
principle of separation OF church ano
state but urged editors to take no stand
either for Herbert Hoover or Gov Smltn
in the campaign.
1t was adopted after the association,
composed of editors of publications.
reaching about two million readers, mao
made known its attitude toward
Catholic President in a statement
drawn IN by DR.. c. r. Tappert OF
Philadelphia and adopted by the asSo-
CATION DR.. Tappert is editor OF the
Iutherischer Herald"
Holds Situation Unusual.
The statement declared
IF the issue were purely political
the church papers could not be par
t;cularly concerned about it. II 1t were
a matter only of the personal religion
of the candidate it would be contrary
to the spirit of our Constitution TO
prejudice man because OF his church
afilliation The situation. however, IS
peculiar because of claims, teachings
and principles of the Roman Catholic
Church. which are antagoniStic to ana
irreconcilable with the fundamental
principles set forth in the Constitution
of our country concerning the separa-
ton of church and state, such as: Inc
opposition of this church to the tolera-
ton by the state of any religion other
than the Roman Catholic, its denial OF
the right of individual judgment, lib
city of conscience and freedom OF Wor-
ship, the claim that the worldly govern
ment is in duty bound not only to as
si5t. support and protect exclusively the
Roman Catholic Church, but to sup
press, if necessary, by force every other
religion. Allowance may be made Tor
the temporary suspension of the actual
enforcement of such claims and prln-
ciules. but they are recognized Ideals,
the realization of which must be the
elm and constant endeavor OF every
faithful Catholic.
THE situation is further peculiar be-
cruise of the allegiance faithful Cath
oiic owes, according to the teachings
of his church, towards a foreign SOW
ereign who claims supremacy also IN
secular affairs and who has world-Wlde
political interests of his own which
may severely clash with the best in
terests of our country.
Must Give Reliable Information.
ut becomes the duty of our church
Papers to give to their readers reliable
Information as to the attitude of the
Roman Catholic Church towards the
authority of the worldly government and
especially the precious liberties, guar
snteed by our Constitution; to counter
ct misinformation and to correct false
and misleading innuendoes, statements
aid impressions.
The church papers, however, will
net and need not advise their readers
how to vote, but must leave this to
tn ,Ir own intelligence and conscientious
judgment"
publications represented by members |
OF the association are those OF the !
nited Lutheran Church in America |
and Augustana Synod (Swedish), the |
Norwegian Lutheran Church in Amer |
lea, the United Danish Church, the |
Danish Church, the Joint Synod of |
Ohio and other States and the Iowa |
S. nod Evangelical Lutheran.
The following officers were elected |
for the year: Rev. Harold Jensen, Oma- |
Ia, Nebr, president; DR.. c. r. Tappert,
Philadelphia, vice president; DR.. En-
manual Poppen, Grove City, Ohio, sec
rotary, and A. NJ. Sundheim, Indian
apoliS, treasurer.