Evening star., 1960-09-16

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that the ugly. hypocritical
dispute over the potential
treason of a Catholic Presi-
dents m e n t al reservations
can hurt all of u.s." And.
with impeccable logic and po-
litical realism, The Star
doubts if a cutoff date for
further mention of the reli-
giouS issue is enforcible. AS a
non-Catholic family doctor,
who graduated in 1925 from
the Jesuit university, George
town, I would like to join The
Star in discussing why this
un American intolerance Of
another's religion is hurting
us.
Before my overseas ex-
perience in World War I. I
had planned to be a Metho-
dist minister. I entered
Georgetown with all the pref
udices and phobias of a nom
Catholic overwhelmed by
those whose religious rituals
seemed so alien. Yet, I, then
a Mason, treasure the under
standing those six years gave
me of the Catholic mind
which makes up 25 per cent
of our people. I learned Cath
olics had as many wrong no
tionS about me as a Mason,
as I had about their similar
penchant for ritualiSm and
pageantry. Since my gradua-
ton I have had the privilege
Of serving thousands Of Cath
olics in the most intimate
and personal Of relationships.
In action against the enc
my in two World Wars, I
have never witnessed one act
or gesture which made me
feel a Catholic soldier failed
to give his country the same
full measure of loyalty and
devotion as his comrades Of
the Jewish or other faiths.
Every soldier had his religion
designated on his identifica-
ton disc. If it was marked
&C" for Catholic, 1t was my
duty to see that he spent his
last moments, If possible,
with his priest. And. If a
Catholic chaplain was not
available, chaplains Of other
faiths, with the sincerity of
good intentions. gave their
solace. We know that solace
was incomplete but we have
a common faith that God
honors good intentions.
In IS years as a family
doctor, I have observed there
is one essential difference be-
tween all Catholics and most
non-Catholics: When death
seems to be opening the i'm
penetrable veil, the Catholic
wants as a matter of duty
and right, the consultations
and rites Of his church. Is
one suspect Of potential dis
loyalty and treason because
he sincerely believes that his
last moments should be spent
with his priest? Does not a
Catholic have the right to
decide which things belong
unto Caesar and which be-
long unto God?
AS an old doctor and an
older soldier, who happens to
be both father and father
in-law of war veterans, I
plead that in our present war
with those who curse God,
we accept as an incorruptible
American, a presidential can
didate who happens to be a
Catholic. I believe and I am
sure most men of good will
believe a Catholic is just as
much an incorruptible Amer
lean as those of any other
faith.
Thomas E. MattingIy, MD.
= y Il
Please allow me to dis
agree with your September
13 editorial, 1T Can Hurt
All of U.s." Discussion of re-
ligious issues can hurt us,
but 1 believe that as it is
now being conducted, it will
help.
Bigotry is based on mis-
understanding and suspicion.
The honest, frank discussion
of these matters should i'm
prove UNDERSTANDING. If dis
cussion is suppressed, then
suspicion and misunderstand-
ing will continue to create
barriers and problems. The
policy that some people have
of refusing to discuss reli-
gion and politics is a great
danger. Suppression of dis
cussion does not support Ell
ther the truth or the public
good. 1t would be just as
mistaken and un-American to
refuse to discuss religious is