The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1949-08-05
MRS. ROOSEVELT AND The
CATHOLIC CHURCH
IAN Editorial)

IAN EdtoriaD
The Southern Jewish Weekly has been requested bv
number readers take stand the controversy
between Cardinal Speman Mrs. Franklin Delano
VeaS affects the American doctrine of the separation of
Church and State.
We believe that the following editorial which appeared
week the Jewish Examiner is the boldest and most
courageous bit of writing this bitter subject and pre-
sent 1t to our readers in the spirit of hearty APPROVAL
In his Mrs Franklin Delano Roosevelt Cardinal
Spellman blew off his top It bad bunder because
only served to bring sharply into the the faacY OF
the Catholic Churchs unAmerican demand for Federal
port of its parochial schools
The Barden Bill pending in Congress which precipi
ated this controversy would spend three hundred million
dollars of public money annually to aid public schools
pressy uates that private religious schools not to
ceive any share of this public money
Mrs Roosevelt is for the Bill and because she is for it,
the Cardinal denounced her in very Incorporate, almost
violent language She defends the American doctrine of the
separation of Church and State She believes in the free
public school system which, because serves children of all
religious faiths has been the greatest buwark of this nation
and the mghtest force for democracy
The Cardinal is against the Bill because he wants the
general public consisting of taxpayers OF all
Church he put over because that church. having
parochal schools than all the other denominations put
together would public financial support than
any other Church
But he can't put it over-until America ceases to be
America!
Neither PrOteStanS Jews Ethical CulturlStS ask
for Federal financial support for their church or regou
schools What right has the Cardinal to demand it?
ANY religious school necessarily private exclusive
institution which serves only the children of its denom
nation Even the First Amendment of the u s. Consttu
on Conqres shall make no law respecting
of regioO did not expressly forbid federal support OF de-
nominational religion Why logical grounds should pr
vate school be entitled to public support Why should non
Jews non-Cahoics non-Proestants be compeeo 10
spport Jewish Catholic Protestant private reglouS
schools? Thomas Jefferson, who religious man.
said "Amghty God hath created the mind tree to compel
man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation OF
onnions he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannlcal"
Fierce Attack
is interesting to note that Mrs. Roosevelt in her column
v Dav" did not criticize the Cardinal his church she
made mention of him almost meekly when she wrote Ihe
brought about by the request made by Cara
SneIman that Catholic schools should share IN Federal ald
forces upon the citizens of this country the kind OF decision
that is going to be very difficult to make"
Mrs Roosevelt would have been justified had she SAID
that the decision is very simple and is emphatic MOI
her expression that warranted the
Cardinals fierce attack her whom he insultngY
-ed =. ;onorant msnformed prejudiced and
and whose statement ne su9nd"]e0 az U"O---A - ~
American mother.
rca in his of the CORY sacrifices made by Cath
olc bov in the World War; though Mrs RooseVe wanted
to denrve those boys of the privileges OF education
All that she did was uphold the Constitutional prnc
1o If American democracy under which the children OF all
in this country shall continue 10 receive an
ocatio in public schools supported by citizens OF all oe
inations or if they prefer in private reglous scnooS
no;d for hv their respective denominatlona churches
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