Evening star., 1960-09-21
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Separation of Church and State

ant, not to vote for a Catho-
lie because he is a Catholic,
or a Catholic not to vote for
a Protestant because he is
a Protestant, is like asking a
Republican not to vote for a
Democrat because he is a
Democrat, or Democrat not
to vote for a Republican be-
cause he is a Republican. 1t
apparently has become a ma
tional sin to make a religious
choice. Let every voter feel
free to vote as his mind,
heart and religious convic-
tionS dictate.
John C. Mills, jr.
One point that has not
been emphasized enough in
the religious issue" is that
Senator Kennedy, as he has
stated, is not the Catholic
candidate for President; he is
the Democratic Party candi-
date. I am only one of many
Catholics who are also Re-
publicans. The only thing the
Catholic Church has ever told
me on the subject of politics
is that it is my duty to inform
myself on the candidates and
issues and to vote according
to my best judgment for the
men I believe best qualified
for Office. I will vote for Mr..
Nixon in November because:
l. I am opposed to many
things in the Democratic
platform; 2. I can not vote
for a man who is indorsed by
such organizations as the
Americans for Democratic
Action and the Liberal Party
of New York; 8. I admire and
support President EisenhoW-
er, his policy and programs,
and believe that Mr.. Nixon
will best carry these on; 4. I
am convinced that foreign
policy is the most important
issue and that Mr.. Nixon and
Mr.. Lodge are best qualified
and most experienced in this
field.
1t is ridiculous to ask for
an Endorsement of Kennedy
by the officials of the church.
Many of them. I am sure, are
Republicans. The Catholic
Press has been, so far as
know, completely impartial in
this campaign. I do not be-
lieVe they should take any
stand, except as individuals,
until or unless there was a
Communist running for Of
flee: Then 1 am sure the
Pope and the bishops would
take a stand against him, as
they did in Italy. Commu-
nism is not only anti-Catho-
lie, it is anti-American.
I agree with Mr.. Nixon that
a deadline must be Set-as
soon as possible-and the re-
ligiouS issue should not be
discussed further. 1t is taking
valuable time that could be
devoted to important and le-
gitimate issues-domestic and
foreign.
Catholic for Nixon.
y u
If this country has any
heritage at all, it certainly
is predominantly Protestant
so be it.
1t was good to hear that
Senator Kennedy is against
aid to parochial schools, at
least something has been left
off the aid rolls. Yet we must
admit that the field of edu-
cation would be the wrong
place to make the cut.
I have been searching in
vain throughout our Consti-
tuition for this doctrine of
the separation of church
and state" Can there be a
separation of public and pri-
vate morals? Our forefathers
were, in the main, devoutly
religious and they were
guided by religious principles
in their everyday dealings.
Can this be a key to some of
our failings today? We, their
progeny, are losing this reli-
gious fervor.
The Senator states that he
would not post an ambaS-
Sador to the Vatican. Yet, we
have an ambassador in Mos
COW, the seat of a Goddess
empire whose leader has re-
peatedly threatened to bury
us. The Papal state raises
the strongest, most consist
emily anti Communist voice
in the world today. Our dear
Catholic Senator's position
is one of pure, unmitigated
hypocrisy.
w. Curley.
"a Boston Catholic)