Evening star., 1960-09-13

to Protestants their faith as
the United States gives to the
Roman Catholics or any other
group?
Senator Kennedy Il would
use my influence as President
of the United States to permit.
to encourage the development
of freedom all over the world.
one OF the rights which I con-
slider to be important is the
right Of free speech, the right
Of assembly, the right of free
religious practice. and / would
hope that the United States
and the President would stand
for those rights all around the
globe without regard to geog-
raphy, or religion or political
conditions.
Baptist Pastor
Question-Senator Kennedy,
this is E. H. Westmoreland,
pastor Of the South Bay Bap-
tist Church here IN Houston.
I have received today a copy
of a resolution passed by the
Baptist Pastors Conference Of
st. Louis, and they are going
to- confront you with this to-
morrow night. l would like
you to answer to the Houston
crowd before you get to st.
Louis. This is the resolution:
with deep sincerity and in
Christian grace. we plead with
Senator John F.. Kennedy as
the person presently concerned
in this matter to appeal to
Cardinal Cushing. Mr.. Ken
nedy's own hierarchial superior
in Boston. to present TO the
Vatican Mr.. Kennedy's sincere
statement relative TO the sep
aration Of church and state
i'll the United States, and re-
ligious freedom as represented
in the Constitution OF the
United States, in order that
the Vatican may officially
authorize such a belief for all
Roman Catholics in the United
States"
Won't Interfere
Senator Kennedy May I
just say that as I do not accept
the right of any, as 1 said, &C.
clesiastical official, to tell me
what I shall do in the sphere of
my public responsibility as an
elected official. do not propose
also to ask Cardinal Cushing
to ask the Vatican 30 take some
action. 1 do not propose to in
terfere with their right to do
exactly as they want. There
is no doubt in my mind that the
viewpoint that I have expressed
tonight publicly represents the
opinion of the overwhelming
majority Of American Catholics.
and think that my view 1
have no doubt is known to
Catholics around the world. So
I am just hopeful that by my
stating it quite precisely. and
I believe 1 stated it in the ira
dition of the American Cath
olics, away back all the way
to Bishop John Carroll, I hope
feel I hope this will clarity
it without my having to take
the rather circuitous route.
This is the position take with
the American Catholic Church
in the United States with which
] am associated
Let me say that anyone that
I would appoint to any office
as Senator or as a President.
would, I hope. hold the same
view. of necessity. of their liv-
ing up to not only the letter
Of the Constitution but the
spirit. If I may say so, I am
a Catholic. I have stated my
view very clearly. don't find
any difficulty in stating that
view. In my judgment. it is the
view of American Catholics
from one end of the country
to the other. Why? Because as
long as I can state it in a way
which is hope satisfactory to
you. why do you possibly doubt
that I respect a viewpoint which
is hostile to the Catholic church
in the Unite d States? I be-
lieve I am stating the view
point that Catholics in this
country hold towards the happy
relationship which exists be-
tween church and State.
DR.. Westmorland-Do you
state it with the approval of
the Vatican?
No Prior Approval
Senator Kennedy don't
have to have approval in that
eanen baua Mt e,,hv,oik&oS ,..,,