Evening star., 1952-02-13
Third u ! Series,

lSS-AsAeA
"The first amendment" say
the United States Supreme Court
I"has erected q wall of separation
between church and state which
must be kept high and impreg,
InabIe."
But some feel, in the words o.
the Catholic bishops of thi
UNITED States. that absolute sep.
laration is an utter distortion. oi
American traditions that threatens
to "ban God from public life
Others say, in the words Of th,
Central Conference of American
IRabbis, that the separation prin.
iciple is being questioned, chal.
llenged and undermined in man!
quarters" Yet they, too, cali TO
greater spiritual emphasis.
Score Of Issues.
Varying attitudes have de.
lveloped on a score Of modern is.
sues stemming from the centra
problem.
It has "vexed and divided Amer.
leans" and the courts as well, sais
Henry Steele Cominager, the his.
Itorian.
At the roots Is the struggle ol
a nation to reinforce It's mora
foundations in the face Of ram.
pant materialisln and communism
and at the same time, to safe.
guard the religious rights of eacI
imam.
It has aroused keen feeling,
about religion and the schools
Government aid to sectarian insti.
tutlons, and diplomatic dealing,
with the Vatican. Such matters q.
sunday laws, conscientious obiec.
tors. compulsory flag-salutine
among other things. also have be.
come involved.
Where to Draw Line?
Mr. Commager put it this way
The riddle is over where the lin,
Is to be drawn between conscienc,
and authority"
How can the government of !,
nation, with $50 religious sect
within its borders ID favor an,
without offending others, or (2'
favor all without offending non
believers. agnostics or supporter
OF non-religious systems Of ethics
Religion" James Madison ono,
said, lis not within the puryiey
OF human government.
In Waterloo, Iowa, a Judge re,
Gently was asked to handle a will
leaving $4,000 to supporters 8
the true Christian religion" I'm
possible, he said. Our laws ant
Government, G being separate from
church, define no religion.
The United States Constitution
the supreme law of the land
pays homage to no deity. Its law
spurn any distinctions between
methodiSm. atheism or voodooism
Division Never Complete.
But the division between church
and state never has been complete
Here are few ways the Govern.
ment shows interest in God:
l. Its coins bear the words
In God We Trust"
z. Churches are tax-exempt
Contributions to churches also ar,
deductible from personal incom,
tax.
3. The President and others tax.
their oath on the Bible.
4. Congress has engaged a chan.
lain and opened with prayer since
the founding of the Republic ant
the Constitutional Convention.
5. Chapels stand at West Poin1
and other United States militar,
posts. Ministers are exempt from
military service, or commissioned
as chaplai11s. Chaplains also art
employed at penal and other Gov.
Iernment institutions.
6. Legal documents are datet
In the year Of our Lord Whel
a witness is sworn, he affirnns. rs,
help me God"
o. y \
z. Religious observances-
Christmas, Good Friday, Thanks.
glying-are legal holidays.
g. Presidents often have calleC
Tor national prayer.
8. The Declaration of Inde.
pendence proclaims the "Crea.
tor the bestoWer OF rights anc
liberties.
10. Under the CT Bill, veteran.
could receive support for educa.
tion at sectarian colleges. Under
"a recent Federal act, denomina.
tional hospitals receive aid.
II. An Associated Press suryey
shows II States grant some aid tt
|denominational institutions, sucF
as hospitals and orphan asylums
IL. Laws of 80 States call fol
various restrictions on Sunday o.
the Sabbath.
13. Legislatures in all States
except Rhode Island have o 1.no1,.