Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-11
u. S. Should
Re-examine
It's Faiths
Is Christian Tolerance
Really Practiced?
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTbhOOh fEOLEh
MO MAN can know less than
~ / about life in Russia,
both before and since the revo-
luton. But there are millions OF
other Americans who know as
little and therefore / suggest
that we, who are prattling so
much about religious freedom
there, should be told what
really were the causes OF the
long biackout
The Russians. we are told,
are deeply religious as a people
but we were told also that I'M
der the car they were ignorant,
loutish and docile victims OF
exploitation and superstition.
Their clergy. by all accounts
that came 10 us in those days,
were not faithful 10 their
sacred responsibilities and. il
this version be tfue, were
largely responsible for the de-
cline Of religious practice. al
though, apparently, not the
obliteration Of religious faith.
/ wish some OF those authori-
ties who have been taking part
in the recent discussion would
frankly go into that phase OF
the question. because. If the
restoration OF religious free
dom means only the revival OF
such a system. that obviously is
project in which Americans
will not want TO involve them
selves.
- Moreover, religious monopoly
Is not religious freedom. al
though freedom is commonly
sale TO exist. in countries
which protect and subSidize one
official or favored religion or
sect 10 the exclusion of others.
Religion apparently is thor
oughly at home under the die
tatorial form of government.
provided that the dictator toler-
ates one or more religions. and
we OF the United States have
no mission TO assist in the
restoration Of religious free
dom or monopoly under any
dictator.
THAT religion viii outlast Hit
Il Ter and Stain and will revive
in Germany and Russia after
these little men have vanished,
no mind can doubt.
But there is a distinction be-
tween religious faith and the
properties and personnel OF a
church. as a well known Catholic
priest reminded me some time
ago in urging that men should
not permit the failures and mis-
deeds of erring clergymen 10
drive them 10 apoStaSy.
Yet clergymen have a terrible
responsibility and are guilty OF a
terrible wrong when they under
mine the confidence of people in
their government by giving aid
and comfort 10 dishonest public
officers.
We have areas in the United
States in which men OF the
church have openly sided with
corruptioneers or with the rich
and powerful, and il is a fact
which would be laughable if IL
were not so solemn that any
man who attempted 10 preach
and practice Christianity would
be Scorned in any Christian
American neighborhood Z
There is neither black belt nor
ghetto in Heaven but the Chris
tian American can't bring him.
self 10 practice the brotherhood
Of man on earth.
IN GEORGIA. under the pres
Il ent state administration.
Jesus Christ. Himself, doubtless
would be lynched for stirring up
the Negroes with false notions
of equality and the same Georgia
official who lately averted the
calamity Of equal learning for
white and black would not be.
happy sitting on cloud beside
Negro field hand.
The church-going suburban
snobs who so proudly exclude
Hebrews from the boredom OF
their locker-room smut-sesSions
after golf will be physically i'll
when they find the CohenS right
next door up yonder but they
will be no more at ease in He'll
where the coming ordinance
again is set at naught.
Yet all. or most. such Ameri-
cans believe themselves to be
Christians and / dare say that
most of us have felt pretty in
dignant at the Communists for
scoffing at our choosy brother
hood operating under the sign
of the cross while they have
mingled white. black and yellow,
gentle and semitic apparently
without the slightest race-con-
seriousness under the hammer
and sickle.
I'VE KNOW why religion fell in