The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-03-18

Did Ohio
POAU Slip?

| suggest an alteration in the title of 'Protestants
and Other Americans United for Separation of Church
and State"-or at least of the Columbus, O., chapter.
[ make my proposal in the interests of accuracy
and honesty. And | solicit serious consideration of this
matter by POAUs national officers in Washington
and by the American people.
THIS CHANGE that | think ought to be made,
in Columbus anyhow, is this: the word separation
should be dropped, and the word union substituted.
| come to this conclusion because of a mailing
piece sent to Protestant ministers in central Ohio re-
Gently by the POAU in Columbus, the state capital.
THE was headed: "Protestants and
Other Americans United for Separation of Church and
State, Pc, Box 1882, Columbus 2, Ohio "a National
Organization u
Those three last parentheticaI words, | think, call
for some action, or at least explanation, on the part of
national POAU headquarters.
POAU cannot have it both ways. 1t cannot boast
of being in favor of Separation of church and state
while allowing one of its leading branches to inject
religion, blatantly, into politics.
THE COLUMBUS chapter did precisely that, In
my view. It's circular sent to ministers alleged that the
Roman Catholic hierarchy is attempting to elect and
place a Catholic in the White House"
The mailing piece also advertised two POAU-spon-
sored public meetings, one to be addressed by a mem
Der of A national board, the other by its national
executive director, DR.. Glenn [. Archer of Washing
ton.
The title of DR.. Archer's talk was given as Re
ngion and the Presidency"
ALL THIS SEEMS TO nae to put a sharp point on
a truth that is generally not recognized. | refer to the
4A1 eA1S ~ LAY R1&(@&At La@0( FA0 '~A@A N+ O@AA1ASH
and Jews from the presidency who are guilty of max
ing politics a religious matter,
Those who would make the White House a Protess
tant preserve are not promoting separation OF church
and state. They are doing the contrary. This is true
not merely if POAU, but of all who urge that voting
be along religious lines.
/ have no AK to grind for Sen. John F. Kennedy.
Far from il. | do not expect to vote for him.
Not now, nor in the future, will | vote for any
Catholic because he is a Catholic. | base my ba1oting
on examination of the policies and abilities of candi-
dates.
THE COLUMBUS PoAU, however, obviously was
suggesting that a Catholic candidate should be oppos-
ed be""nse he is a Catholic.
This is confusing religion and poltlcs-Whlch is
precisely the opposite of separation of church and
state" That is why | propose substitution of union"
for separation"
Either that, or POAU national headquarters
should repudiate the idea of asking Protestant min
listers to go into political action for UNCONVENTIONAL
reasons.
This whole question of a Catholic Tor a jew In
the presidency is not a Catholic problem. 1t is not a
Jewish problem.
In a special way, though, I do think it is a problem
for Protestants
NEITHER JUoAis nor the Catholic Church ex.
it to elect a president. Neither will rise or fall with
the election or non-election of a Jew or a Catholic, now
or a thousand years hence.
Protestants who imagine that it is all-important to
their churches to see that the president is always a
Protestant, seem to me to demean their faith.
BiGoTRY HURTS America and degrades Ameri-
cans. Jews and Catholics, when victims of it, are not
degraded; they are given an opportunity to exercise
patience, which exalts them.
| don't think POAU represents most Protestants
in America. | do hope | am right about that.