Evening star., 1941-11-08

where members OF denominations W
port those institutions as well as
contribute toward financing the
public school system.
The new legislation, 1t is reported,
will make financial grants to the
schools in return for a measure OF
control over their operation. Vichy
thus seeks to win support for its
collaborationist policy from the
churches by means Of the device OF
state aid to religious schools. At
least, that is the way the develop
ment is interpreted here.
It is not likely that the Vichy plan
will meet with the enthusiasm OF
the clergy and it may even en-
counter opposition. Although GER
tain Of the Catholic hierarchy. par
ticularly Cardinal Suchard, Arch
bishop of Paris. have established
working relations with Vichy, many
of the younger clergy. both IN oc-
cupied and unoccupied France, are
opposed to the church being USED
for political ends.
Acute Controversy Ragged.
The question OF national educa-
ton has been a subject OF acute IN
ternal controversy during recent
months. One of the reforms" an
nounced by the Petain government
was religious education on released
time in the public schools. But the
proposal called forth 50 much crltl-
cism that the marshal was obliged
to withdraw it. The French car
dinals and archbishops were the
most unbending in their hostility and,
according to a recent article IN the
Protestant Christian Century. pub
hshed in Chicago, they deserve
much of the credit for the malnte-
nance of liberty OF conscience and
the separation Of church and state
in France
On November %. 1910. the newly
appointed secretary OF education.
Jacques Chevalier. a Catholic pro-
fessor, decreed that a course in
morals in the French schools should
teach all children their duty to-
wards God. as we'll as toward So
ciety. the nation and the family.
In addition, specific hours were in
dicated in the timetable for nom
compulsory instruction in religion.
to be taught by priest or pastor on
the school premises.
The whole program was imme-
diately opposed by laymen and cler-
les who resented this attempt to
use religion for the purpose Of JUS
tifying the authoritarian Vichy re-
gime Archbishop Gerlier Of Lyons
and other bishops urged Chevalier
to revoke his order. Last March.
Chevalier was replaced and his sue
cessor forbade the teaching OF re-
ligion on school premises or during
school time. thus maintaining in
tact the principle OF separation OF
church and state in France.
Informed Catholic leaders in this
country regard the latest Vichy move
as another attempt to violate this
They point out that the
proposed plan to finance church
schools would be a step toward a
union which would
have unfortunate consequences in
France, since it would result in the
return of conditions which created
50 much opposition to the church
in the, past.
Sword of Spirit In Canada.
The Sword Of the Spirit move
ment was inaugurated in Toronto.
Canada. this week with an address
by the Most Rev. Charles Leo Nelli-
gan. Roman Catholic Bishop OF
Pembroke. Ontario. who Is promot-
ing the movement throughout the
Dominion.
Bishop Nelligan said the aims Of
the Canadian movement are to unite
all men OF good will In a crusade OF
prayer. study and action for the
restoration of an order of justice and
peace; to combat the totalitarian
system: to spread the knowledge of
the principles Of social and inter
national order and of the Christian
tradition which are at stake in the
present crisis, and to further the
Ave peace points of Pope Plus XII.
American religious leaders are
the development Of the
movement with interest,
just as they have watched the move
ment in England, where it origi-
mated. The movement was launched
IN England by Roman Catholics
more than a year ago. and many
leaders Of the Anglican and Free
collahorated with 1t. So
was this interfaith CO.
operation becoming that Protestants
we're startled when, at a meeting
celebrating the first year OF the
Cardinal Hinsley in an
address indicated that non-C Catholic
would henceforth be
restricted and that the officers of
the movement would be Catholics.
Anglican and Free Church leaders
expressed regret over this new policy.
From all indications, however. the
Canadian movement is proceeding
Upon an interfaith basis. In his
Toronto address Bishop Nelligan
spoke hopefully of the cooperation
of Catholics. Some Canadian
church leaders view the movement
As likely to unite Catholic and non-
Catholic as they have never been
united before. They believe that it
will help to break down hostility be-
tween Protestants and Catholics in
Canada.
1t is pointed out that Protestant,
Catholic and Jewish churchmen in
The United States cooperate as citi-
,ens through the National Confer
,nce of Christians and Jews, but
40 such cooperation has heretofore
existed in Canada. Certain relig-
ous leaders in Canada feel that the
American example of cooperation
will be influential in keeping the
sword of the Spirit movement on
in interfaith basis and making 1t a
orce for cooperation.
The National Christian Council