The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-09-18

wv AAS0t AIiNlNUl AoD0SS III
current relations among US.
religious groups.
DR.. John j. Kane. head of
the sociology department at
the University of Notre
Dame, predicted that tensions
among religious groups over
educational questions ARE go
ing to become much worse in
the immediate future"
The nomination of a Catho-
lie as a presidential candi-
date, DR.. Kane added. would
arouse at least some" inter.
religious tension.
He made the statements in
an address on Progress and
Tensions in InterreligiouS Re-
iations," delivered to the 45th
national convention of the
National Newman Club Fed
Grafton, held this year at the
University of New Mexico.
The sociologist ass e
that whether one sees har-
mony or tension among us.
religious groups depends
pretty much on how, when
and where you look"
Compared TO the past" he
declared, ''interreligious rela-
tions today are much less vio-
lent and threatening, at least
on the purely physical level.
We can honestly admit we
have come a long way, and
we must also honestly admit
We have a long way to GO"
Describing the field of edu-
cation as "a prolific ource of
interreligious ten S ! o H." DR..
Kane contended that prob
lens will increase in coming
years as the Sabotage popu-
lation grows.
If rising tax rates needed
to support public education
cause private schools to close
their doors, Dr.. Kane said,
their student populat j 0 n S
will turn to public education
and the tax rate will be ac-
CELEBRATED like a rocket ship"
"As serious as this may be-"
he continued, "it will be less
serious than possible results
on inferrelisious rela I j o n =.
ships. If there is strong in
sisfence that under these cir
eumstances public s h o o | S
must provide sectsrian re-
iigioUs instruction, | can fore
see equally great problems in
inferreligious relationships"
until some moduS vivendi
is worked out" he said,
"there will be more heat than
light on this matter 50
Those working TO eliminate
or diminish interrel i g i o IL S
problems will have to spend
much time, thought and eff
fort on this one"
DR.. Kane also predicted
that the rising number of
students may prompt medical
and other professional schools
to adopt "invidious quota syS-
TENS biased upon the religion
or race of applicants. Conse-
quent results in interreligious
relations are clear" he said.
The speaker cited a recent
survey of public and parochiaI
school superintendents on
the question of religious ten.
sions in education. He said
the public school officials in.
Dictated that observance oil
Christmas and HanUkah in
school is the most serious
source of friction, while fos
lparochiaI school superintend.
enfs the greatest tension-pro.
dUeer is the question oil
fringe benefits"
On the matter of a Catho
lie candidate for President
the speaker said public opin
ion polls indicate that young
er voters are less swayed by
the question of a candidate.
religion than are older vot
ers. He called this a hopeful.
sign that the implications Of
democracy are likely of fuller
realization in the future thar
In the past"
II However, Or. Kane added
ene disturbing finding" Of ;
recent poll was that "mor,
than half of all Catholic.
questioned would Jump theiI
party lines to vote for q can
didaie of their own faith"
He said this may be an in
dication that, however dis
tasteful to Catholics, the rem
nants of a minority grouI
mentality still survive" anon,
them.
The public opinion polls in
dictate, he said, that ~ pc.
cent OF fhe voters would no
vote for a we'll quaIifie,
Catholic candidate for Presi
dent.
There seems to be n,
doubt" he declared, "tha
nomination of a Catholic TO.
the presidency would arous,
some interreligious tensions
The mere possibility has al