Evening star., 1961-03-23

the Constitution which grants
us freedom of religion. We
are rejecting religion in favor
Of indifference or atheism.
Atheism instead Of Catho-
icism, or Professionalism, be-
comes the established religion.
A little introspection in
the matter of schools being
oriented to a particular re-
ligion will reveal that the
vast majority Of the public
schools Of this country are
Protestant in outlook. It's
only too obvious that the
existent policy Of no religious
instruction in the public
schools finds greatest favor
among Protestants. The athe-
istic schools seem to be con-
sistent with Protestant edu-
cational doctrines. The
schools are oriented to what
the Protestant churches want.
Is this separation of church
and state?
The Protestant groups seem
to be quite active in getting
the types of schools they
want. But when the Catholic
Church becomes equally ac-
tive in pressing for the type
Of schools it wants, there
arises q loud roar about the
separation Of church and
state-in the very area where
organized Professionalism has
traditionally exerted the
greatest interference. Our
States and Protestant
churches are not as separate
as they appear to be at first
glance. Protestant doctrines
are certainly not separate
from State policies in the
field Of education.
I recommend that we scrap
the Kennedy bill for aid to
education and come up with
a realistic solution that con-
siders Catholic as well as
Protestant doctrines. To ig-
more the Catholic Church, as
Kennedy has done, can be
disastrous to schools and poll
ticians alike. And to consider
only those educational doc
trines that Protestants ap-
prove can be disastrous to the
separation of church and
state.
Robert G. FilliOn.
In my opinion, the only
reason the President has
failed to indorse a bill giving
aid to parochial schools. is
the fact that he fears a
roasting from critics. He
thinks they would accuse him
of being a figurehead Of the
church.
I feel Mr.. Kennedy is using
the Constitution as an excuse
for not proposing such q bill.
Prof. Arthur e. Sutherland
Of Harvard, q noted expert
on the Constitution, has gone
on record saying that the
Constitution is no barrier to
private school aid.
The President, IN my mind.
realizes that parochial schools
have a right to receive Federal
aid, knowing they perform a
part Of the tremendous task
Of educating our country's
children.
I earnestly hope that Mr..
Kennedy solves this dilemma
to everyone's satisfaction. I
agree with the Catholic
bishops and several Senators,
that a way to do this would
be to send two bills to Con-
gress, one for aid to public
schools, and one for aid to
private schools, according to
their needs.
James Kurtx.
= 4 4 q
There has been a loud vocal
demand by some pressure
groups for Government aid
to private schools. Some peo-
pie seem to have forgotten
that our Constitution forbidS
aid to religious establish
ments. If loans to religious
schools are not a form Of aid,
then why are they so eagerly
sought? Were aid granted,
who would play God" by
deciding which groups will
receive these loans? On what
grounds could splinter re-
ligious groups be denied
funds, because they are in
small minority?
Other experts say that we
must provide our children
with instant salvation by
opening UP our public schools
to religious education. There
are other avenues Of religious
instruction available to every
Individual; through Che fam
lily, house Of worship, or Sum
day school.
So - wuv sAs