Evening star., 1949-02-02

are entitled to- then solemn warning comes
from Bishop OMAN and members of the Prot
estants and other Americans united to beware
of the Catholics Aren't Catholics true Ameri-
cans?
Bishop Oman constantly is emphasizing
religious freedom. If he intends to create the
impression that the Catholic Church will i'm
pose its religion upon the American people,
then may he and others be reminded that not
even our Divine Redeemer Jesus Christ, did
this. Neither will the one true church of
Christ, the Catholic Church, do differently from
what its founder did.
II Bishop Oman is such an ardent defender
OF religious freedom, why is he so opposed
to the freedom of religion of Catholics? If
Catholics are supporting our Government and
public schools through taxes, why haven't they
the right, in justice to demand that their chill
dren be taught religion in those schools? Why
is there so much intolerance of this right of
religious freedom of Catholics and others?
Fortunately, not all members of the Protest.
ant faith feel as Bishop Oman and his asso-
cates. 1t is their understanding of and friendly
attitude toward Catholics and respect for re-
hgious freedom which make for good fellow
ship and unity in this country.
JOSEPH E. GEDRA,
FaSCoI, Churcn OF the Immaculate Conception.
Quotes Catholics Against Separation.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In your January 20 edition two Catholic
spokesmen, in denying charges leveled at
Catholicism by Bishop Oman, made several
statements which I wish to compare with
authoritative Catholic utterances.
They said
Cd That the Catholic Church. is not "op-
posed to our system of public education;
CD That "bus rides and health services for
parochial school pupils would amount to not
more than l per cent" of the total spent
annually on the public school system;
90 That the Catholic Church has no desire
to change the traditional relationships ex-
listing between church and state in this country
In reference to the first statement, I quote
from pamphlet bearing the imprimatur of
the late Cardinal Hayes: Our first duty to
the public school is not to pay taxes for its
maintenance. We pay that tax under protest:
not because we admit an obligation in justice
Justice cannot oblige the support of system
which We are forbidden in conscience to use
or system which we conscientiously hold to
be bad IN its ultimate consequences. The
first duty of every Catholic father to the public
IL.
In reference to the second statement.
wish to point out that Washington reporter
in recent account of prediction survey of
St Marys County (Md) public schools, noted
that the county had spent $4,000 during the
previous year on parochial transportation, and
that the sum was equal to half Of the years
total outlay for the countys public schools.
For the third statement, offer the follow
ing from Catholic textbook bearing the i'm
primatur of (now) Cardinal Spellman: But
Pope Leo goes further. He declares that the
state must not only have care for religion
but recognize the true religion. This means
the form of religion professed by the Catholic
Church. - In his encyclical on Catholicty in
the United States, the same Pope gave gen.
erous praise to the attitude of our Govern
ment and laws toward religion, but immedi-
ately added: - but she (the Catholic Church)
would bring forth more abundant fruits if,
In addition to liberty she enjoyed the favor
OF the laws and the patronage of public
authority" HOLTON r. SMALL