Evening star., 1942-08-17
Rover Protests
Move 10 Tax
Monastery
Recommends Changes
In Senute Bill on
District Levies
BY j. A. O'LEARY.

1ne rullng OF the DlSbTlCI Fedl
Estate Tax Exemption Board that
the Franciscan Monastery in Brook
land is not church within the
meaning of existing laws was chal-
lenged by Attorney Leo A. Rover
at Senate hearings today on the
McCarran bill to liberalize the ex-
emption statutes.
Mr.. Rover told the committee he
felt certain he could convince amy
court in the land" that the mon
astery is church. but recommended
two changes in the pending bill to
eliminate any question of doubt.
The monastery was one of list
of properties of various denomina-
tions recommended for taxation by
the Exemption Board in the course
of an 18-month survey of the ex-
emption roll. including hospitals
and some welfare institutions. The
bill offered by Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada is intended
to clarity the old statutes to re-
store exemption to some Of these
institutions.
Minister Also Testifies.
The committee also heard today
the Rev. Freeley Rohrer of the
Presbyterian Church explain the
work of the Presbyterian Home for
the District in caring for INDECENT
members.
Mr.. Rover said that. in holding
the monastery is not church, Dis
trict authorities gave no reason,
beyond a statement that it is
national shrine. He said he as
sumed the only other reason they
could have had in mind was that
It does not have fixed parish lines.
He contended that could be said of
some other churches. He expressed
belief that churches in the down.
town section, surrounded by hotels,
undoubtedly have more nonresident
worshippers than Pensioners, even
though they have parish lines.
Pointing out that between 100000
and 100000 visitors go through the
monastery annually, Mr.. Rover said
masses open to the public are cele-
brated there every day.
Describes Founding.
In 1919, he said, the Pope en-
trusted to one branch of the Fran
ciscan Order the task of protecting
and preserving the Christian shrines
in the Holy Land and Egypt, and
that branch founded the monastery
In Brookland in 1898 to help carry
out that mission. Mr., Rover ex-
planned that the funds obtained by
the monastery are used to maintain
the shrines IN the Holy Land, to
educate priests for missionary work
there, and to help missionaries in
other parts Of the world.
Because of the work it does in
raising the funds needed for these
purposes through crusade move
mert, Mr.. Rover said the monastery
has larger setup than an ordinary
church, but pointed out that it all
goes to benevolent purposes, since
members of the Franciscan Order
take the VOW of poverty. He sug-
gested an amendment to exempt
buildings used for benevolent or
missionary purposes.
Although the Commissioners ac-
cepted the recommendation OF the
exemption board on the monastery.
the carrying out of the taxation
order is being held up pending action
on a petition for reconsideration.
Would Restore Exemption.
District officials said the bill as
drawn would restore exemption to
institutions like the Presbyterian
Home. Such homes were declared
taxable in the recent survey because
the Exemption Board held the pres
ent law Is not broad enough to ex-
emptempt charitable institutions
limited to one sect.
E. Barrett Prettyman, counsel for
the Georgetown Visitation Convent,
urged the committee to strike out
the words absolutely required" in
describing the amount of tax
exempt land to be allowed around
exempt institutions He proposed,
instead, the definition be made
LAND reasonably used" In the case
of the convent, he said, the District
held that two thirds of its land was
not required.
Before recessing until 1:30 o'clock
this afternoon, the committee also
heard the Rev. Thomas A. McCaw-
ley of Holy Redeemer College in
Brookland.
Senator McCarran said his pres
ent feeling is that religious houses
of study should be exempt, even
though those studying for the min
istry attend classes outside OF the
study house, as long as there is nc
element of gain or profit. He in
vited such institutions that have
not thus far been heard to come
forward before the hearings close.