Evening star., 1952-01-25
Pilgrimage threatens
To Defeat Backersof
E&j
Vatican Envoy Plan

some 5,UUU pugElulS pIOb6Sb'
ing President Truman's plan II
send an ambassador to the Vati.
can carried back to their homes
today a resolution to strive fol
defeat of any political candidate
or party favoring such an ap-
pointment. M
Adoption of the resolution, as
serting also that communism and
Roman catholicism are totalitar.
ianism bent on world control. cli-
NAKED a rally sponsored by the
American Council of Christian
Churches last night in Constitu-
tion Hall.
The principal speaker. the Rev,
Carl McIntire, pastor of the Bible
Presbyterian Church of Colling-
wood. N. j., and president of the
International Council of Christian
Churches. accused President Tru-
man of playing politics by appeal
ing to special group.
Many Out-Of- Town Visitors.
A few hours before the rally, the
President told his news confer
ence that he intended to gc
through with his efforts to send
an envoy to the Vatican. He said
he didn't back UP after starting
something. i
DR.. McIntire said "aH the unions
there are can't elect" Mr.. Truman
now.
The gathering, described as a
Protestant pilgrimage brought
large numbers of out-of-town visi-
tors, particularly from Philadel-
phia. Some of them called on
various members of Congress
earlier in the day.
Series Of Charges.
The main charges In the reso-
luton were that the sending of
an ambassador to the Holy See
would violate the Constitution
and give preferential treat
ment to the Catholic church; that
"the papacy does not discharge
the obligations of a bona fide state
by the registration of its agents
as those of a foreign power" that
sit is obvious to all informed
people that the struggle between
communism and Roman catholic
ism is that of atheistic political
totalitarianism versus ecclesiastical
totalitarianiSm, equally bent upon
cultural domination and world
control" and that in some lands,
such as Colombia, dominated by
the Roman church, the most saw
age destruction Of Protestant mis-
sion property and of human life
is taking place."
The resolution concluded with
the pledge that, "for the sake of
preserving both the lives and the
religious freedom of unborn gem
erations in our land, we shall as
individual citizens work for the
defeat at the polls of any man or
any party which is disposed to3
undermine the Constitution"
Instances Of Heckling.
Although the audience nes
peatedly shouted encolragemellt,
there were several Instances 0t4
heckling. A s:S.'#ss
DR.. McIntire hammered out the
following main contentions:
1. President Truman ais In
difficulty with the, protestants
and the opinion polls and needs
help. and so he turns TO the
Roman Catholic Church. 2
2. The United States does not
need the Catholic church to de-
feat communism. This country
should Immediately sever diplo-
matte relations with Russia.
8. Sending an ambassador to-
the Vatican would represent a.
recognition of the temporal pow
er Of the Pope. A Vatican ambas-
sador to the United States would
have access to inner circles" of
the State Department, "and I
think we have enough trouble
with the State Department with
out having more"
Coins "SpelImanism."
4. In a denunciation of Francis
Cardinal Spellman Of New York,
DR.. McIntire coined the word
"SpellmaniSrn" to denote Roman
catholicism and its bid for world
power"
S. That the Catholic church
In this country used its power
and influence" to suppress news
of Protestant objections to the
Presidents plan.
Earlier in the day, the council
asserted that President Truman
had refused to grant it's spokes-
men a hearing in the White House.
DR.. w. E. Breckbill of Altoona,
Pa. the president, said he asked
for an appointment and received
in reply letter signed by Mat
thew j. Connolly, secretary to the
President.
The letter advised:
"Since the President has already
made up his mind regarding the
appointment OF an Ambassador
to the Vatican, he has asked that
! suggest to you that any repre-
sentations which your group
wishes to make in protest against
the appointment should be made
to the Department of State or to
the appropriate committees OF
Congress-"
The Vatican row started anew