Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-02
Bishops Statement
Your recent mali on the Sc

xUuI IECCIlt uAAA VAA tAAS ~
called Bishops Statement" Is
a little frightening In its doc
trinaire approach and dis
interest In facts. One writer
seems to think that the bishops
attacked the public schools.
Another would make free milk
to American school children
attending church-sponsore
schools depend on what Franco
does in Spain for Spanish
Protestants.
Misreadings and arguments
Of this type. If not conceived
by q bitter prejudice. Mt least
have a tendency to encourage
1t.
The real and basic question
Is whether we are going to be
big enough to respect the re-
ligious beliefs Of our neighhors.
not in theory only, but in prac-
tice as well. Is our attachment
to this principle Of freedom SO
fragile that 1t gives way in the
face Of a free glass Of milk or
a bus ride which is fine for our
own children. but should be
withheld from our neighbor's
child who goes to q different
school? Our neighbours child
is no richer. no less in need Of
the milk or the bus ride than
our own. but his parents be-
lieve that In addition to the
three RS. he should have some
religious instruction, and have
sent him to the only type Of
school in the community
where such things are taught.
It is not intimated that the
question has but one answer,
but 1t seems that almost every
one thinks it proper to provide
policemen at intersections In
the vicinity Of church-spon-
sored schools. Nor does any
one object seriously to public
officials providing safety in
structions in these schools.
Many communities furnish free
school bus service to children
without discrimination as to
the type of school they attend.
Others supply free milk at
lunch time to all school chill
dren. Although some might
dispute the wisdom Of SPEND
ing public funds on textbooks
Of American history for school
children regardless of their
parents choice Of school, very
few would question free dis
tribution Of copies Of our Con-
stitution on a nondiscrimina-
tory basis. These are the
things the Bishops State
ment" is about. Can we dis
cuss these things honestly for
what they are, or must we
have a DOGGY man lurking in
the closet and say all sorts of
ugly things about the Interior
motives and intentions Of our
neighbours church?
Landon Gerald Dowdey.
Marion c. Hall, jr., quotes
copiously. II irrelevantly, from
Roger Williams and from r.
Freeman Butts and Father
Paul L. Blakely. but signifi-
cantly his letter contains no
quotation from the Bishops
Statement to support the seri-
Gus charge he has made
against them. This omission
has caused me to wonder
whether Mr.. Hall bothered to
read the statement before he
condemned the bishops for
saying what they didn't say.
go VIM. r. McGraw.
Il Il
Would 1t not be opportune
and meaningful if the Catholic
Church's most prominent ex-
positor in this country, name
ly Bishop Sheen, put his re-
nowned blackboard to further
use and cleared up many of
the puzzling questions regard
ing his church's stand in this
country in contra distinction
to its stand in predominantly
Catholic countries, particu-
larry in matters regarding re-
ligious freedom to minorities
and use Of public monies?
j. e. S.
#HA
Much concern has been ex-
pressed in letters on public
aid for private schools. I think
the taxpayers might be in
terested In my problem. Be-
cause Of lack of transporta-
ton. I send my children to the
public school. However, the
school bus passes by the
parochial school. II my kids
could be let out at the paro-
chial school, ii would be a net
advantage to all concerned.
Since they already ride the
bus, no new accommodations