The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-01-25

information on church affiliat
This is the thinking of mo
according to DR.. Conrad
Tsevber, the assistant director
in charge of the Popuis.
fion and housing stud.
les, who was interviewed at
the bureaus headquarters in
suburban SUifland, Md.
Thus, he said, questions such
as do you believe in God?" or
do you attend church or syna-
gogue regularly" have been
pretty much put aside in the
bureaus deliberations.
Both questions, suggested to
the bureau by various groups,
we're deemed improper" by CEN
sus authorities, DR.. Taeuber
said He added that they were
thought to constitute an exam
/ ination of religious belief, some
thing prohibited by the First
Amendment TO the Constitution"
In addition, he stated, there
would be substantial technical
difficulties" in asking such ques-
tions because of the problems of
defining for statistical purposes
what the word God" and the
phrase regular atte nd anc e"
mean.
ITO some persons regular at
tendance at church may mean
once a year, to others once. a
month and TO others once a day.
BY the same token, Cod may
mean a number of things to a
number of people.
Many groups have set their
sights on getting a question, or
questions, on religion in the 1860
population and housing census.
They point out the previous stud
les of religious bodies indicate
that the government thought
there was a need for such fig
ures and since funds cannot be
spared for separate study, why
not put question on the general
census?
Or. Tseuber said that IL the
question goes in the 80 CEN
sus-and the decision is not
due for another year--if will
be the first time the govern.
ment has directly asked eiti.
eens TO identity their religion.
He said a problem stems from
this fact. Responding to the CEN
sus is compulsory under law. We
are not sure that in good con.
science we we can ask question
on religion, knowing that for
some people it is matter of con-
science not to answer such ques-
tions."
From the bureaus point of
view, d. Taeuber said, it must
be demonstrated that question
Submitted for inclusion in the
census QUESTIONABLE seeks in.
formation that can be collected
without major difficulties and
that this information will be more
widely used than that from other
questions suggested.
In addition, and this is partieu-
larly true in the matter of re-
iigion question, there is public
reaction to be considered,
The major argument of those
opposed to any religion question,
said DR.. Taeuber, who insists he
is neutral" interested in hear
ing both sides, is that it would
violate the public's "deepseated
feeling of privacy" on this mat
ter.
However, this contention has
to face up to two hard facts.
First, private pollsters have long
asked-and gotten answers to-
questions on religion. Replies. as
with the census bureau, are con-
fidential.
H Second, in a recent bureau
sponsored sampling in four coun-
ties around Milwaukee, All per-
sons over IA years of age were
asked What is your religion?"
Only three refused to answer.
Though he hesitated to pre-
dict exactly what might happen,
! DR.. Taeuber admitted that in view
of the successful use of publicity
in the past, it is "quite possible"
it would contribute to the accept
ance of a religion question if it
were inserted in the so census.
Advocates of a question on re-
ligious affiliation argue that a
: real, down-to-earth count of
church members is desperately
needed, he said. They say figures
presently compiled unofficially
by various national church
groups are constantly proving un-
Trustworthy.
They argue thst since fhe
government asks about rsdios,