Evening star., 1952-02-12
church-Stute Controversy
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NEW YORK. Feb. contro-
versy is cracking around Presi-
dent Trlman's plan 10 send an
ambassador to the Vatican
Tlae move. vet 10 be put before
the senate for confirmation. has
Second ofs D Series.
=, - !.
stirred up u Storm of Protestant
oppositio ionand iriterchurch fric-
tioyi s.s go, } u. 80, s. i
THE Presid dent Inns driven ID sis
visiye wedge into ntll national
lift, r said MethO Odist Bishop q.
Bromley Oxnana. Scores d. other
churci1nneli have echoed these
words. q
Most major religious pubiica-
tions In the country have entered
into the dispute. Roman Catholic
writer's defend the action; Prot
estantS denounce 1t. e
Little stacks OF pamphlets argu-
ing the question have appeared On
tables and in; the churches and
Sunday schools across the land.
Lecturers and protest rallies on the
subject are common.
Spontaneous" Opposition.
"The remarkable thing" said
DR.. Franklin Clark Fry, "has been
the spontaneous and unanimous
way in which Protestants every
where have opposed this unfor-
tunate STEP"
+ DIR. Fry. president Of the United
Lutheran Church in America.
heads a six-man committee to CO.
ordinate opposition among the 20
denominations Of the National
Council Of Churches Of Christ In
the y. s. A.
"As Christians and as Ameri-
cans we repudiate prejudice
against Roman Catholics and de-
plore religious dissension," the
council said, but the issue was
thrust upon US" and is a threat
to basic American principles"
In less-restrained quarters the
move has been the basis Of broad
attacks on Catholicism:
Most Of the ''pros" and "cons''
have centered around this coun-
try's deeply rooted tradition:
Separation of church and state.
Arguments Summarized.
Here are just q few of the argu-
ments, as advanced by various
Catholic and Protestant spokes-
men, on what diplomatic relations
with the Vatican would mean:
/. AGAINST-It would show
religious preference, and give the
Roman Catholic Church a special
status with the United States
Government.
FOR-No preference is involved.
It would simply facilitate relations
with q unique church establish
ment, the only one which desires
or is in q position to receive an
envoy. @' T.,
2. AGANsT-By recognizing
the Pope as head OF q foreign state
it would make Catholic priests
agents Of a foreign power. and put
cardinals in the dubious position
Of having helped elect a foreign
sovereign. fe :
FoR-Priests owe no political
allegiance whatever to the Pope.
but only recognize his guidance in
faith and morals. = . -
3. AGAINST IT'S absurd tc
say, as the President does, that the
mission would be merely to Vati-
can state, q tiny. 1O8-acre strip
with about 1000 residents. Actual
", 1t would be to the Pope. as
head of q church.
FOR-True. the Vatican's inter-
national significance derives from
the holy fathers moral influence
But foreign policy must consider
not only q states size. but its i'm
portance In the world community
4. AGAINST If the Vatican
has information valuable to the
United States in lighting COM
mmism, it could be relayed to our
Ambassador to Italy, without con-
sideration Of diplomatic protocol.
FOR-If protocol Is Of little con-
cern, then there is no valid OBJ
lection to abiding by it to make
cooperation how more smoothly.
Effective diplomacy requires clear
channels Of approach.
5. .AGA1NST-To send an Am
bassador to the Vatican on
grounds 1t is an information CEN
ter would indicate the Catholic
church is q network Of spies.
FOR-Espionage Is beyond the