Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-08
ToyIor's Vatican Post
TARGET of Criticism
Some Protestant Groups Continue
To Protest His Role There
r., RorfrouI Rono1;rf

Protestant churches in the United
States are once more protesting against
the presence at the Vatican of a per-
sonal representative of the President OF
the United States. Last March the
Council of Methodist Bishops appointed
a committee to consider the diplomatic
(sic) representation at the Vatican on
the part of the United States" And on
Wednesday delegation of Protestant
leaders called on President Truman to
urge him to recall Myron H. Taylor as
his representative at the Vatican--be-
cause his presence there is contrary to
the historic American principle of the
separation of church and state"
AS matter of record, many coun-
tries which separate church and state,
such as France, maintain full diplo-
matte relations with the Vatican. So do
countries with a Protestant state
church, such as Great Britain. So do
Cor did until recently on-Christian
countries like Japan and China.
Ever since 1893 the Vatican has been
represented in Washington by an apos-
tolic delegate. He merely reports to the
Pope on developments in the United
States, and has no official relations
with the United States Government.
The Vatican maintains apostolic dele
cations in other countries with which
it does not enjoy diplomatic relations,
including Canada.
Once Maintained Diplomatic Relations.
There VIII
States maintained full diplomatic rela-
tons with the Vatican. In 1889 the Pope
was head Of large temporal domain,
with capital at Rome, but for almost
go years the United States was repre-
sented at the papal capital only by a
consul. Then, in 1848 the United States
established full legation at Rome.
Curiously enough, this step was taken
at time when anti-Catholic move
ments in the United States such as
native Americanism" were growing in
strength and influence.
In 1867, although anti-Catholic agita-
ton in the United States had died down,
the United States ended its diplomatic
relations with the Vatican. The House
year voted by 80 to 10 to discontinue
appropriations for the legation at Rome
after June 80, 1867, and the Senate
failed to restore the appropriation.
1t was pointed out in the House de-
bate that the temporal power of the
! papacy was collapsing before the move
ment for united Italy. However, prob
ably another reason for the action of
the House was a belief that the Pope
had shut down on Protestant worship
in Rome. Rufus King, at the time the
| United States Minister to the Vatican.
| protested in vain that this belief was
unfounded.
Taylor Appointed in 1899.
| The temporal power of the papacy
! was ended in 1870 It was restored in
1929, when the Lateran accord with
| Italy created the Vatican Free State,
with an area of 100 acres within the
city of Rome. In December, 1899, after
the outbreak of World War II, President
Roosevelt appointed My. Taylor, an
| Eplscopallan. as his personal represent
/ alive at the Vatican. President Truman.
in announcing last May his decision
to send Mr.. Taylor back to Rome in
the same capacity, said that the latter
would confer not only with the holy
father but with other spiritual leaders:
also with secular and political leaders
in Europe. The President said: 81 feel
the necessity of having for my guidance
the counsel and cooperation of all men
and women of goodwill. &. . have
| therefore, sought the advice of leaders
in religion of various convictions and
allegiances.