The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-02-12

as "a Fighting Phrase" the Rev. Dr.
Wilfred Parsons, S. j., discussed
'"The Separation Of Church and
State in a Democracy" sat the sec
ond series of forums being spon-
sored by st Mary's Catholic Church,
which was held on Sunday night in
the ballroom Of the Hotel Alexander
FIR. John Ballard Of St Mary's
Parish acted as moderator, and the
speaker was introduced by Thos W.
Pangborn, the forum chairman.
The Rev. DR.. Parsons opened his
address by referring to two recent
court decisions concerning the sep
aration Of the church and the state.
The first of these concerned a case
which came up in the State Of New
Jersey a couple of years ago, when
an ordinance was passed permitting
pupils at Catholic schools to be car
ried on public school buses This
ordinance was challenged in the
courts Of New ersey, and the State
Supreme Court held that it was
valid. Those opposing it, however,
took the matter TO the u S. Su-
preme Court, who also, by 5-4 de-
cision, upheld the ordinance.
The second case came up in the
courts Of Illinois when a lady in
Champagne, Illinois, objected to
what is known as Released Time"
This Released Time is a period al
lowed during school hours by Some
| 1000 school boards throughout the
nation, for religious instruction,
4 such instruction, Of course, being
given in the different religions TO
which various pupils in the schools
belong.
The mother in Champagne, Ill
inois, objected to the Released Time,
on the grounds that she and her
husband, both being atheists, OBJ
jected to any form Of religion being
taught in the schools. The State
Supreme Court ruled in favor Of the
school board, and the case is now
before the Supreme Court, but no
decision has yet been given.
Following these examples, DR..
Parsons then proceeded to trace the
whole question of church and state
in democracy from the time of our
founding fathers. He gave very
clear and simple explanation Of the
First Amendment (Which, Of course,
is part of the Bill Of Rights, show
ing that this Amendment did not
divorce Federal Government from
religion land he emphasized this
point by stating that one Of the first
acts of the First Congress Of the
United States was to appoint a
chaplain). But he did point out
that the purpose of the Amendment
was to prohibit the Congress Of the
United States from setting up any
religious order which might be ac-
cepted as the official religious body
of the nation, or from interfering IN
any way with the religious rights Of
the people. DR.. Parsons pointed out
that during the days of the original
thirteen colonies, many of the col
onies did have state religions. In
some of the colonies it was Con-
gregational Church-in others it was
the Episcopal Church, etc.
Following through on his subject,
the speaker brought out the fact
that as far as the Catholic Church
was concerned it had no wish or de-
sire (even if it became majority
group in the nation) of taking over
the government of the United States
in any shape or form. And he point
ed up this statement by reading a
recent manifesto issued by the col
lege of Bishops cf the Catholic
Church on the subject. He did point
out, however, that insofar as edu-
cation was concerned, the Catholic
Church expected to be treated on an
equality with other educational
bodies in the matter of service pro-
vided by the various states and sub
divisions.
DR.. Parsons stated that the Cath
Ollie schools did not expect that the
Sisters who taught there would be
paid by city, state or county funds,
but since Catholics were tax payers
the same as anyone else, school ser
vices such as lunches, medical at
tention, textbooks, school buses, etc,
should be available to Catholic
schools just as well as any other
schools. And he pointed out that
this actually was taking place now
in a good many instances.
In support of this argument, DR..
Parsons brought out that even as
far back as two years ago, there were
100000 Catholic children in par
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