Evening star., 1952-01-06
The Week in Religion
By Religious News Service

Concern over the rights of
minority groups was paramount
last week as Protestant, Roman
Catholic and Jewish leaders re-
viewed progress in race relations
during the past several years and
predicted increasing improvement
in the New Year.
The issue was brought to the
fore when leaders of the three
faiths spokes out sharply against
recent acts of racial bigotry in
Florida. Their protest was
prompted especially by the mur-
der of Harry S. Moore. State CO.
Iordinator of the National Asso-
citation for the Advancement of
Colored People, whose home was
bombed after he had led a cam
Ipaign to prosecute white sheriff
for shooting two handcuffed Ne
Igroes in Lake County, Fla, last
November 6.
In a telegram to President Tru-
man the National Council of
Churches declared that 'the
Christian conscience is shocked by
such disregard for human life as
lis evidenced in Florida" 1t asked
for prompt White House action to
redeem the good name of Amer
lea"
The National Conference of
Christians and Jews scored the
murder Of the NAACP leader as
IAN outrage against the memory
Iof those young men-Protestant,
Catholic and Jew, Negro and
white-who have laid down their
lives in foreign fields so this coun-
try may remain decent place in
which to live"
Signing the statement on behalf
of the National Conference were
its three national co-chairmen-
Benson Ford Protestant) Thomas
IE Braniff (Catholic) and Roger
wv. Straus Jewish)-and DR..
Everett R. Clinchy, president of
the organization.
A statement issued last week by
the National Council of Churches
the Nations most representative
Protestant body-in connection
with Race Relations Sunday on
February 10 declared that "a rev.
olution in race relations has been
taking place in America in the
last decade"
Declaring that 'the whole world
watches every denial of human
brotherhood" the statement said
1.-THE struggle for racial equality is
a central aspect of the current
iconf1ict among the nations and
tyranny can hardly be defeated in
one sphere unless it is rejected in
every form. everywhere.
A statement on race relations
was issued also by Rabbi Roland
B. Gittelsohn on behalf of the
Commission on Justice and Peace
Iof the Central Conference of
American Rabbis. He warned that
I'VE can no longer afford to re-
main vulnerable to the criticism
of friend and foe alike In the
treatment Of our racial minor
tiles"
Rabbi Gittelsohn praised the
eight States and the numerous
municipalities" that have passed
fair employment practices acts,
but said I'VE must continue to
exert pressure on Congress to
take affirmative action in passing
Federal F.EP.C. law as well as
total rights legislation, including
the outlawing of poll taxes and
of lynching." .
In its Race Relations Sunday
message, the National Council of
Churches referred especially to
the fact that the Christian
churches themselves had "suc-
cumbed largely to racial lines"
Now, however, it said, I'VE are
moving toward unity in race re-
lations and. toward integration
in more blessed community"
In New York last month, Prot
estant, Catholic and Jewish lead
erS Joined in special tribute to
the courageous and remarkable