Evening star., 1948-08-27
BY the Associated Press

A congressional committee set out
today to define the radio rights of
person who wants to deny the exist
ence of God.
Chairman Harness of the special
House committee investigating the
Federal Communications Commits
sion ordered public hearing next
Tuesday. Its purpose is to inquire
into 1916 FEC statement relating
to the demands of atheists for radio
time to reply to religious broadcasts.
Mr.. Harness said he was acting on
the complaints of radio and reli-
gious groups that FEC rulings are
SO vague that some stations are
uncertain whether they can continue
to give broadcasting time to divine
worship without jeopardizing their
licenses.
Mr.. Harness declared that if the
situation really is having the effect
of driving religious programs off the
air, then that is an intolerable situa-
ton"
Stems From Coast Case.
The Communications Act says
that when public controversy is
aired, there must be equal oppor-
tunity for opposing sides to be
heard.
But the FEC has never given a
fiat yes" or mo" answer to the
right of atheists to demand time
for replies to religious programs.
The latest statement from the
commission is that the licensee (of
a radio station) must necessarily
exercise his Judgment in each situ-
alton on the basis of the specific
facts presented"
The Harness hearing stems from
a case in which Robert Scott of
Palo Alto, Calf, asked the COM
mission to revoke the licenses of
Stations KWQ at San Jose and KPO
and KFRC at San Francisco. Mr..
Scott said these stations regularly
broadcast religious services, but had
refused to give or sell him time for
talks on atheism.
Refused to Revoke Licenses.
FEC refused to revoke the licenses
in a ruling which discoursed al
length on the rights of free speech
and equal opportunity to be heard.
1t said in part:
"An organization or idea may be
projected into the realm of contro-
versy by virtue of being attacked.
The holders of a belief should not
be denied the right to answer attacks
upon them or their belief solely be-
cause they are few in number"
Another section of the ruling, as
cited by an attorney for the Harness
committee said.
Freedom of religious belief nee
essarily carries with it freedom to
disbelieve, and freedom of speech
means freedom to express disbeliefs
as we'll as beliefs.
IF freedom of speech is to have
it cannot be predicated on
the mere popularity or public ac-
ceptance of the ideas sought to be
Varied Ideas of God Cited.
ut is true, that in this country an
overwhelming majority of the peo-
pie profess belief in the existence
of divine being. But the concep-
ton of the nature of the divine be-
ing is as varied as religious denomi-
nations and sects and even differs
with the individuals belonging to
the same denomination or sects. "".
Moreover, however strongly we
may feel about the sacredness of re-
ligious beliefs, we should be mindful
of the fact that immunity from
criticism cannot be granted to re-
ligion without, at the same time,
granting it to those who use the
guise of religion to further their
ends of personal profit or power, to
promote their own particular po-
litical or economic PHILOSOPHERS, or
to give vent to their personal frus-
trationS and hatreds."