Evening star., 1960-09-16


fuse to discuss political is
sues. And some issues are
both political and religious.
OF course, misrepresenta-
ton and distortion are wrong
in any case. Anonymous and
underhanded tactics are
wrong. We believe the voters
will not be deceived. This
campaign has presented some
honest, fortnight discus
Sions that can help us all If
we will calmly evaluate them.
Caleb ]. kirkpatrick.
Evangelist, Arlington Church
of Christ.
SO
Although both candidates
have requested a cutoff date
for the boiling controversy
regarding the religious affil-
iation of one of the candi-
dates it surely would not be
a request to stop reading
and thinking about the mat
ter. 1t is a regrettable fact
that very few people know
very much about anything.
People with very little educa-
tional background and with
out a smattering Of objectiv-
ity can throw opinions
around as If they were au-
thorities on many subjects.
OF course, one has a right
here in the United States to
express an opinion without
fear of official censorship or
punitive consequences. How
ever, the right to express an
opinion does not make an
opinion right. Therefore, 1
suggest to readers who are
genuinely interested, some re-
cent works which I believe
will clarity their minds and
raise the subject matter to
a higher level than too sell
dom met in the heat of per-
sonal controversy. The books
are: Robert M. Brown, "An
American Dialogue" 1860,
Doubleday; Robert A.
Graham, Vatican Diplo-
macy" Princeton University
Press. 1859, and Jerome Ker-
win, Catholic Viewpoint on
Church and State" Hanover
House, 1860.
Because Of the divisive ma
ture in a pluralistic society
of religion, there will always
be an undertone of negative
thinking about religion, gen.
orally by a few, and often
misinformed, people. Objec-
tive reading on the subject
will silence many tongues and
reap a harvest Of good will
in the religious community.
Matthew A. McKayitt
4 y y
If Senator Kennedy wins
in November, I think he
should change his mind about
appointing an ambassador to
the Vatican. Likely candi-
date: A positive thinker with
negative notions about Rom
ish influence on a Democratic
President of the Catholic
faith. From this vantage
point 1t would be a simple
matter for said ambassador
to tap in on the imaginary
Vatican-White House pipe
line. In his spare time he
could write a book. Sug-
gested title: The futility of
negative thinking about a
positive President.
william F. CIune
4 + 4
From recent observation of
political discussion in the
American press, it is evident
that we have strayed far
from the primary issue. The
primary issue is-which can
didate and party can most
effectively lead America and
the God-fearing people of
the world In the immediate
containment and eventual
defeat of the atheistic Com
munist ideology. This battle
requires the help and re-
sources of every religious
group on earth. We must set
no example which will alien
ate a single religious group.
BY alternating one group, we
will lose support of several,
totaling hundreds of millions
outside the Iron Curtain.
There are numerous checks
and balances in our govern
mental structure to allay
fears Of possible extension of
Roman Catholic power in
America If Senator Kennedy
is elected. The press or the
candidates can and should
widely refresh the memory
of the electorate on these
checks and balances. BY so
doing, the electorate can
quickly lay aside the dan
gerous religious side issue