The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-02-22

president OF the Augustana Synod
of the Lutheran Church, also from
Minneapolis. repeatedly said that
the Catholic population lis so reg
imented in many areas that it
manages to defeat all legislation
for appropriations for. public
schools"
When the adoption of the reso-
luton on parochial schools was
recounted in the secular press,
the reports of the remarks of the
two men we're linked with il and
the resolution was described as
being critical of Catholic parochi-
al schools as we'll as Lutheran.
Agitation for a council resolu-
tion on parochial schools came
from the Augustana Lutheran Syn
cd. This body passed a similar
resolution at its annual conven-
tion in June, 1856, at Moorehead,
Mimi, and asked the council to
I
take up the subject.
Chairman of the resolution
committee at the Augustans meet.
ing was the Rev. Stanley Sand.
berg of Emmanuel Lutheran
Church, Hartford, Conn.
The Augustana Synods resolu.
tion was passed on to DR.. Charles
B. Foelsch, president of the Pa.
cific Lutheran Theological Semi.
nary, Berkeley, Calf, who was
chairman of the resolution com
mittee at the councils Atlantic
City meeting.
The resolution which DIR
Foelsch drew up and presented
the delegates at Atlantic City was
as follows:
Whereas among our Christian
people, we confront an appalling
illiteracy in the knowledge of the
Holy Scriptures; and whereas
primary responsibility for the ed
ucation of their children belong!
to the parents to whom God ha:
entrusted them; and whereas, ths
United States of America ha:
been founded upon the principle
of separation of church and state
and whereas, the state and church
share joint responsibility to ait
parents in their God-given task
be it resolved that we urge oul
people as churchmen, citizens
and parents, /. To increase th'
reading and study of the Holy
Scriptures within our homes, 2
To uphold and strengthen th'
public school system as a chic
instrument for general education
in our society, and 3. To be faith
full in the support of the ongoinl
educational program of th'
Church"
This resolution met with objec
ton from DR.. Benson of the Au
gustana Synod. He said it was to-
ambiguous. He added that he di:
liked giving equal weight to pub
lie and parochial schools, Stain
that the former was the primar
means of educating America
children.
DR.. Benson's synod does nc
. maintain elementary parochis
schools, as do some of the eigh
denominations in the council, d.
Benson himself is known as a
opponent of parochial education.
Immediately after DR.. Benson
objections, the Rev. Mr.. Hove sui
mitted his substitute resolution
This one received the unanimou
approval of the delegates afte
I DR.. Foelsch withdrew the orig
! nal.
Mr.. Levsnder, who reported.
ly criticized Catholic paroehiaI
education from fhe convention
floor, emphasized in Washing.
; ton, Dc, where he was on bus
/ iness, that reports that he had
criticized schools are "sbso.
| lvtely false" He said he did
| find Some faulf" with Luther
| an parochisi schools.
II He stated that he did not kno
of any specific instances wher
| psrochiaI school advocates worl
ed against public schools.
II Reached in Minneapolis, D
Benson, who criticized the res
| luton presented by DR.. Foelsch
committee. disclaimed knowlede
of any instance in which paroch
al school interest had hurt publ
schools.
III He denied reports that he hs