Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-09-01
Religions
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| NSu3sOluS
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the teacher backed by the friendly
support of parents and the commun-
ity."
Parochial and many private
schools teach religion as a central
point of the curriculum, the survey
observed It said that in many
schools religious instruction in sec
tartan, however, and offered no OPP
portunity for the understanding of
beliefs of other faiths.
In general statement preceding
its recommendations the citizens
committee said its experience has
demonstrated that progress can be
made when religious tensions are
seriously studied and frankly dis
cuSSed.
THE problem of race and creed
is not one-way street; both sides
must cultivate good will and mutual
forbearance." the statement asserted.
Other Recommendations.
The recommendations above were
two of nine made by the committee.
The others were:
/. Existing forums to discuss prob
lens of religious tensions should be
further encouraged. The Washing
ton Round Table of the National
Conference of Christians and
Jews, lay organization, might be
strengthened, the committee sug-
gested, by expanding its executive
committee with additional Profess
tant, Catholic and Jewish members.
A recommendation was made that
this organization and the Commit
tee on Religious Life in the Nations
Capital, composed of clergymen,
should coordinate with other groups
having similar interfaith detectives.
The committee suggested these eff
forts be made within the Council of
Social Agencies or of a planning
group that may succeed it. In
formal talks among clergymen on
potential tensions also were advised
2. The committee asserted that
established agencies in Washington
such as the Community Chest and
the Council of Social Agencies
possess the resources to meet pres
ent needs for community integra-
ton.
3. Cooperation among religious
groups in community enterprises
was advocated by the committee as
means of combating religious
rivalry in similar activities.
Inter Faith Harmony.
4. The avoidance of inter-faith
rivalry in the field of social welfare
by sectarian agencies through the
use of the facilities of the Council
of Social Agencies of Washington
and Vicinity and of the Community
Chest was urged by the committee.
1t pointed out in this way social
agencies might be kept in harmony
with community planning and
financial regulation.
5. Positive programs "in the prin-
ciples of brotherhood" for lay lead
ers should be organized by charac-
already done SO, the committee said.
6. Discussion of national inter-
faith controversies with respect to
their local applications should be
held at forums under the sponsor
ship of existing agencies as indi-
Gated in the first recommendation
A joint attitude may be reached un-
der these conditions that would pro-
vide the lay and religious leaders of
the three faiths with a guide to
answer questions raised by a ma
tional controversy. The committee
also suggested these joint attitudes
could be referred to the local press
for it's information.
7. The practice of restrictive real
estate covenants against any re-
ligious group" was condemned by
the committee as 'undemocratic"
and productive of religious tensions.
This practice should be discour-
aged" it said.
Series Of Social Surveys.
The report included survey of
religious group relations in Wash
ington sponsored by the Council Of
Social Agencies and financed by the
Community Chest. The survey is
one of series of social surveys in
the District being made under the
direction of c. M. Pierce, director of
The Social Survey. The Religious
Relations Committee survey was
prepared by Walter Davidson of the
National Conference of Christians
and Jews. The recommendations
were made by Citizens Committee
of 80 men and women headed by
Col. w. o. Tufts, former president
of the Washington Federation of
Churches.
The series of social surveys
directed by Mr.. Pierce has been set
up to study the social problems,
needs and facilities in postwar
Washington in an effort to find a
basis for intelligent planning of the
community's health and welfare
program. The Religious Relations
Committee is part of the Group
Relations Committee, whose other
branches comprise the Race Rela-
tions and Labor Management Rela-
lions committees.
;. In his survey conclusions, Mr..
Davidson declared Washington is a
city of few covert religious tensions
because the "comparatiyely equal