Evening star., 1949-08-19
Letters to The Star
Differences on School Aid
Not Really a Religious Quarrel

Differences on School Aid
Not Really Religious Quarrel
To the Editor OF The Star:
AS one who has devoted much of his life
to the promotion of good will and under
standing among different religious groups
disagree with the press in its handling of
the current discussions on Federal aid to
education.
The press commits a serious error in
treating the public expression of opinion
on this question as a religious quarrel. OF
course it is nothing of the kind. True, the
Roman Catholics and Protestants range
themselves. on opposite sides on a public is
sue in voicing their views, along with citizens
who are nonchurchmen. Quite regrettable
has been some name-calling But the pro-
posal to allocate Federal funds in aid of
education must not be regarded as a mere
struggle between Roman Catholics and
Protestants. To call it a religious contro-
versy between two religious groups reveals
a distressing confusion about what should
be clearly seen as strictly political and
educational issue. g Such loose thinking
could lead eventually to national disaster.
The error is encouraged by the assumption
indulged by some Protestants and many
Roman Catholics that this is a Protestant
Nation Not So Granted that Protestants
are in the majority. that does not show this
a Protestant Nation, any more than pre-
ponderance of women proves this is female
nation. Ours is not church-state. 1t is
a political democracy To predicate set
tlement of Federal aid for education on
religious basis is therefore not only erroneous
but hurtful. The Supreme Court has said
by virtue of the nature of our government
that it is not the business of government to
aid any church, any religion or all religion.
In the matter of the schools the sole queS-
ton involved is where to place the respon-
sibility for general education. BY our Con-
stitution, affirmed by the Supreme Court,
the citizens have located that responsibility
in the governments public schools, in the
performance of the Nations right and obli-
cations.
Rather Conflict With Government.
Is it not preposterous. then. to say that
because the Roman Catholic Church holds
to the different conception that RESPONSE
bility for general education is. primarily in
the church this difference thereby makes
the discussion of the question quarrel be-
tween Protestants and Roman Catholics?'
1t is far more factual to say the quarrel is
between the government and the Roman
Church.
The assumption of the press that the
question will be resolved by settling differ
ences of feeling, as between Cardinal Spell
man and Mrs. Roosevelt, is grievous error.
The issues are not superficial and personal
but definitely complex and profound. Many
of us might be much interested in the
opinions of such celebrated citizens. but
nothing is settled in respect to the question
of Federal aid to education by our being
enabled to behold the pleasing spectacle of
reconciliation of a Sundered friendship.
People in the United States are becoming
quite impatient with attempts to settle
fundamental governmental question involv-
ing the Constitution and the Nations foun-
dation principle-its most distinguishing
contribution to the worlds political philos-
ophy and action-by throwing sop" tax
money to a contending religious group in
order to mollify it.
The citizens, irrespective of controversy,
must critically consider any contribution
the so-called settlement" presently effected
by Cardinal Spellmans statement. received
so amiably by Mrs. Roosevelt. Mark well
the Cardinals language. 1--WE do not think
it should be left to each State to decide for
itself whether or not to distribute Federal
funds in discriminatory way" This plain
ly means that since 80 States prohibit the
use of public funds for bus transportation
to parochial schools, and A States prohibit
the use of public funds for the purchase of
extzbooks, he would utilize the Federal Gov
ernment to override the rights of those
States reserved to them in the Tenth Amend
ment to the Federal Constitution.
This does not help the United States Sen
ate, because whatever the unsatisfactory
features of S-246, in response to public opin-
ion, it tried hard not to involve States
rights through imposition OF control and dis
tribution of Federal school aid funds The
House is trying too along the same lines.
The people will not stand for putting the
control of their public shools in the hands
of the Federal Government.
j. M. DAWSON.