Evening star., 1960-09-28

13 years ago to perform the
mission specified in its title.
Each year since then ''POAU'
has grown in strength and size
while pursuing its announced
aim Of hating what 1t regards
as dangerous encroachmentS of
the Roman Catholic church on
church-state boundaries defined
by the Constitution.
AS debate over the Catholic
faith Of Senator Kennedy
Democratic presidential nomi-
nee, has intensified, so has the
interest in POAU of the Prot
estant clergy and the public
From its national headquarters
here at 1888 Massachusetts,
avenue NV, POAU has STEP
ped up its activities to meet
the new demand.
The hundreds Of thousands
Of pamphlets being mailed out
from Washington and three
regional Offices make POAU
one of the most active forces
IN the national debate over the
religious issue" in the presi-
Dental campaign.
Denies Hate Literature
POAU reSents any implica-
ton that it is anti-Catholic
and few would brand its schol-
arly discourses on the church.
, state issue as "hate" literature
But its role in the political
campaign is controversial and
likely to become more so.
At its Washington head
quarters alone, POAU is re-
ceiving more than 1000 re-
quests q week for its pamphlets
on subjects such as the ques-
tions a Catholic candidate for
the Presidency must answer
and Federal aid to Catholic
churches and schools. The let
ters come from individuals who
want a sampling of POAU
literature, from clergymen and
church councils, from Southern
church groups which have
ordered as many as $4,000
pamphlets at one time.
View POAU as Effective
Some Catholics regard POAU
as their most dangerous and
effective opponent on the is
sues famed by Senator Ken
nedy's candidacy. Replyin G
earlier this year to a question
ON how he could explain the
fear Of some Americans that
election Of Catholic President
would imperil the separation 'oi
church and state, Father Johr
A. O'Brien of Notre Dame, one
Of the country's best-knowr
Catholic priests. said:
II believe this fear is chiefly
the result Of a 12-year propa-
ganda campaign by (POAU)
which follows the same line oi
attack on Catholics the Know
Nothings followed In the 1850s.'
His statement was denounced
by Glenn L. Archer, executive
director Of POAU. as "ludi-
crously false"
POAU has heard and an.
swered the know Nothing
charge before. It denouncel
religious bigotry and disclaiml
any political motivation In itI
activities. It states its reserva.
tons on electing q Roman
Catholic to the presidency un.
equiyocally and bristles al
those who infer that intelligent
discussion Of the matter Il
higotry.
Raps Policies
In a recent statement de.
failing POAU's position anc
dealing specifically with Roman
Catholic dogma on suct
chrch-state issues as birth
control and public schooling
Dr.. Louie D. Newton, POAC
president, said:
"These policies are clearly
inconsistent with the American
concept Of separation of church
and state, and, to the extent
that any candidate supports o.
indorses them, he is UNITED
for the Presidency Of tn,
United States. To the exten
that he repudiates these poll
cies and demonstrates his in
dependence Of clerical control
he is entitled to our praise anC
encouragement"
POAU pamphlets combin,
criticism Of the Roman Catholi,
position on long standinl
church-state issues with q de
failing Of its reservations abou
Senator Kennedy. They expires
skepticism about his ''equivoca
words" on the birth control is
sue. They point to his silence
on the position Of his churcl
that Catholics may not SEM
their children to public school
without special permission.
POAU has praised the Demo
cratic candidate, however, TO
his stand on some other issues
including his declaration
against Federal aid to paro
chial schools.
Uneasy Over Issue
It's view on the election Of {
Catholic President has perhap
been best summed up by Meth
odiSt Bishop G.. Bromle,
Oman, a vice president o
POAU from its inception unit
his recent retirement, and tn
Rev. DR.. Eugene Carson Blake
stated clerk of the Unitet
Presbyterian Church, U. S. A
In an article in Look magazin
which they coauthored. the tw'
Protestant leaders gave thi
reply to the question of hoy
they felt about a Catholic can
didate for President:
Uneasy. This uneasines
arises from a feeling, wide
spread among American Prot