Evening star., 1941-08-02

iled IN the lectures ana DISCUSSIONS
that the Communist party not only
seeks to promote the league in a
general way but also exercises a
direct control over its work.
Yaraslovsky reported that the
league had 3,450,182 enrolled mem
bers at the end of 1910 as against
2,292,036 members in 1889 Anti
religious lectures were held to the
number of 239 900 during 1910 as
against 100000 during 1899. During
1910 there were, 9,698 anti-religious
discussion groups and $3.50 anti
religious seminars. During the years
1923 and 1910 a total of 1882 anti
religious books were published.
The atheist leader called for in
creased efforts by the Goddess
League because the influence of
the church has been weakened less
than is often thought"
Churches Discuss Peace Aims.
The statement of America s Peace
Aims" issued this week in Washing
ton by the Catholic Association for
International Peace draws attention
to the fact that the planning of
postwar reconstruction has become
one of the major activities of reli-
gious groups Of all denominations
and faiths.
The Catholic peace program called
for leadership by the United States
and the nations of the Americas in
creating world organization and a
United Europe. 1t proposed creation
of two world organizations and two
European-Wide organizations, one
Of which would be governmental and
the other economic. The world
governmental organization would
engineer boycotts against any coun-
try going TO war and against any
country assisting a beligerent. The
international economic organization
would help guide economic life
throughout the world.
The European organizations would
affirm and protect the rights of in
dividuals and peoples in Europe
protect local self-government auc
redraW the lines of local autonomy
according to needs. The organiza-
tionS would also make Europe s
economic life serve the welfare OF
all Europe and fit world needs. They
would administer special African
colonies and engineer military anc
econimc action against any coun-
try in Europe that goes to war OF
assists the belligerent nation.
Last month a similar statement
Of peace aims was issued by the
Church Peace Union, an organiza-
ton composed of Protestant. Catho-
lie and Jewish leaders. This group
also advocated creation of an "in-
ternational authority" which would
control an international police force
Next month, the Williamstowr
Institute of Human Relations, tc
be held under the auspices of the
National Conference of Christians
and Jews at Williams College, will
bring together Protestant, Catholic
and Jewish leaders for a study ano
discussion of peace aims.
ParOchiaI School Aid.
Parochial schools in two States
are affected by legal decisions just
handed down, involving financia,
support from tax funds.
The Missouri Supreme Court has
barred the use of public tax money
to support parochial schools in a
ruling which affects many small
Missouri communities where paro-
chial schools often are incorporated
in the public school system to re-
ceive the benefit of State school
funds.
The court decision applied spe-
cihcally to Catholic parochial
school in Meta, Usage County. Ten
years ago it was taken into the
public school system, supervised by
the Public School Board and
financed with local and State school
funds.
The court unanimously agreed
that "the constitutional policy of
our State has decreed the absolute
separation Of church and state.
not only in governmental matters.
but in educational ones as well.
Public money, coming from tax
payers of every denomination. NAV
not be used for the help of any
religious sect in education or other
wise"
Previously similar decision af-
fecting parochial schools in Ken
ttucky was handed down by the
assistant attorney general of that
State. The ruling was given when
the superintendent of schools in
Hickman County said that patrons
of parochial school in that county
had asked the School Board to paw
the salary of one of the teachers.
The attorney generals Office then
ruled that Kentucky's constitution
and State statutes expressly forbid
expenditure of public school funds
to maintain private or parochial
schools
Enforcement of this law might
force several parochial schools
throughout the State to close since,
it was said, iTr>some counties public
funds are being spent for salaries of
parochial school teachers.