Evening star., 1960-07-03

What are his views on foreign
-~~-~-->------~-
This is the first Of two articles based
on on interview with Senator Ken
nedy by the Washington correspond
ent Of the London Sunday Times.
another, there were critical
comments on your candidacy.
A. I don't hold that view. I
don't think my candidacy was
in their minds. That may be a
good or a bad fact, but I think
they have a longer view than
the 1860 election. They, there
fore. were not really thinking
of the implications of their
| statements on my candidacy,
and I think that's probably just
as well.
| Q. I've heard it said that one
of the reasons why the Catholic
Church would not like to see
a Catholic President in this
country is that the United
States is one of the few-per-
haps the last country-where
the church can still gather new
members, but that with a
Catholic President perhaps this
would not be quite so easy.
! A. Well, I don't know who
holds that particular view, but
I don't hold it at all and I
don't feel that it would be wise
for Catholics to withhold them
selves from the Office of the
presidency in order to affect
the policy of the church in the
United States.
Would Disagree
. I can't believe that view is
held seriously by many mem
bers of the hierarchy and, If
it is, I disagree with it. I can't
believe that the religion of the
President is going to affect
the decision by many Ameri-
cans as to which church they're
going to embrace. If 1t does,
then their conversion is not
very soundly based. I DOM
know what President Eisen-
hower's religion is. What is he
"a Presbyterian? :
@. Yes.
A. Presbyterian? I'm not
sure he has many converts,
has he? In the Presbyterian
Church? Or prevented many
from moving into the Presby-
terian Church?
@. Well, if as a President
you've got to contradict the
dogma, don't you think that
would create difficulties for the
church?
A. 1t seems to me that the
position of the Catholic church
in the United States is quite
clear in support of the Consti-
tution-in SUP port of the sep
aration of church and state
I strongly support it. If one
n held the view suggested in the
question. it seems to me really
! shouldn't be United States
Senator because I take thu
same oath the President take.
in regard to defending the Con.
stitution.
@. Well. take the issue o1
birth control. If the church say
this is our position" and you
contradict it, you don't think
that would create problems fol
|, them? .
A. The Office holder is bound
by his oath of Office which hi
. takes to defend the Constitu.
, ton, which he swears to in ar
!, oath or affirmation. an oath HI
swears to God. 1t would be al
extremely serious offense tt
, violate that oath. The separa'
,, ton of church and state pro
, vides for the President to exer.
else his best Judgment as II
what is the way the Constitu
, ton can best be defended ant
the United States can be de
Tended.
No Conflict Seen
In my opinion there is n,
y conflict. If there we're, then
t Of course, you would say tina
j no man of my religion coult
y take that oath. Catholic judge
= grant divorces every day-evel
I though they, themselves, d.
i not believe in divorce. Yol
= have to make a distinction be
tween your private obligation
7 and then your public duty as
= public official. I find it not diff
d cult at all-and I've been il
: Congress for IA years-to max
n this distinction.
+ @. 1t is often said about tn