Evening star., 1960-04-21

islation or any other issue. And
on the Sunday before the pri-
mary, the Milwaukee Journal
featured a map of the State,
listing county by county the
relative strength of three types
OF votes-Democrats, Republi-
cans and Catholics.
In West Virginia. it is the
same story. AS reported in yes
terday's Washington Post, the
great bulk of West Virginians
paid very little attention to my
religion-until they read re-
peatedly in the Nations press
that this was the decisive issue
in West Virginia. There are
many serious problems in that
State-problemS big enough to
dominate any campaign-but
religion is not one of them.
I do not think that religion
is the decisive issue in any
State. I do not think it should
be. I do not think it should be
made to be. And recognizing
my own responsibilities in that
regard, am hopeful that you
will recognize yours also.
For the past months and
years, I have answered almost
daily inquiries from the press
about the religious issue. want
to take this opportunity to
turn the tables-and to raise
some questions for your
thoughtful consideration.
First: Is the religious issue a
legitimate issue in this cam
paign?
There is only one legitimate
question underlying all the
rest: Would you, as President
of the United States, be re-
sponSive in any way to ecclesi-
aStical pressures or obligations
of any kind that might in any
fashion influence or interfere
with your conduct of that Of
flee in the national interest?
1 have answered that question
many times. My answer was
and is-"No."
Once that question is an
Swered. there is no legitimate
issue of my religion. But there
are, I think. legitimate ques-
tions of public policy-of con-
Germ to religious groups which
no one should feel bigoted
about raising, and to which l
do not object answering. But
I do object to being the only
candidate required to answer
those questions.
Feoeral assistance to paro-
chial schools, for example, is a
very legitimate issue actually
before the Congress. I am op-
posed to it. I believe it is
clearly unconstitutional. I voted
against it on the Senate floor
this year, when offered by
Senator Morse. But interest
ingly enough, I was the only
announced candidate in the
Senate who did so. CNeverthe-
less I have not yet charged my
opponents with taking orders
from Romeo
An Ambassador to the
Vatican could conceivably be-
come a real issue again. l am
opposed to it, and said so long
ago. But even though it was
last proposed by a Baptist
President. 1 know of no other
candidate who has been even
asked about this matter.
The prospects of any Presi-
dent ever receiving for his sig
nature a bill providing foreign
aid funds for birth control are
very remote indeed. 1t is hardly
the major issue some have sug-
gested. Nevertheless 1 have
made it clear that 1 would
neither veto nor sign such a
bill on any basis except what
I considered to be the public
interest, without regard to my
private religious views.
I have said the same about
bills dealing with censorship,
divorce, our relations with
Spain or any other subject.
These are legitimate inquir-
les about real questions which
the next President may con-
ceivably have to face. But these
inquiries ought to be directed
equally to all candidates. /