Evening star., 1963-05-22
ChurcFl-State
TieOppOsedby
Presbyterians
BY CASPAR NAMES
Star Staff Writer

DES MONIES, Iowa, May %
Separation Of Church and
State in keeping with the de-
nominations historic position
was reaffirmed by the United
Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.,
yesterday.
Commissioners to the General
Assembly voted approval OF the
more than 20,000-Word docu-
ment, considered by many the
most searching and compre-
hensive study of the question
by a religious body, following
a long and spirited debate.
The action brought to a con-
clusion the three-year study
undertaken by the special COM
mittee on relations between
Church and State in the United
States authorized by previous
assemblies of the 3.2 million
member church. DR.. Elwyn A.
Smith, professor of church his
tory at Princeton Theological
Seminary, served as chairman
and presented the report.
School Prayer Issue
Extended debate centered
about the section voicing oppo-
sition to the practice of Bible
reading and prayers in public
schools. Once the $40 elder
and ministerial commissioners
disposed Of this explosive point,
they quickly approved the re-
mainder of the document.
The section, with SGT COM
missioners voting in favor, said
religious observances should
never be held in a public school,
or introduced into the public
school as part Of its program.
Bible reading in connection
with courses in the American
heritage, world history, litera-
ture, the social sciences and
other academic subjects is COM
pletely appropriate to public
school instruction. Bible read
ing and prayers as devotional
acts tend toward indoctrination
or meaningless ritual and
should be omitted for both rea-
sons"
A provision that ministers,
priests and rabbis be permitted
to speak in public schools as
long as their speaking does
not constitute religious indoc-
trination or their presence form
a part Of a religious obser-
vance" was included in the
section.
Oppose Yule Displays
Among the recommendations
approved in the wide-ranging
report were the following:
l. Public property should
not be used for religious dis
plays and pageants, typically
during the Christmas holiday
seasons, as for example, setting
up creches on court house or
school lawns" But they should
be sharply distinguished" from
procedures prescribed by law
and arranged with public
authorities for the holding Of
services of worship, COM
memorative parades, or pag-
eantS."
2. The candidacy of a person
for public office should not be
resisted on the basis OF his
religious affiliation. He should
be evaluated strictly "on the
basis of his competence to gov
ern constitutionally."
3. Birth-control information
should be made available by
tax-supported agencies, in ac-
cordance with sound medical
practice, and in keeping with
the religious convictions OF the
parties involved.
a. Presbyterians should not
force others to observe Sunday
by "the coercive power Of the
state" but seek voluntary OBJ
servance. Also, they should
not press for more stringent
laws about "the prohibition Of
Sunday activities" or to impose
these laws where they do not
now exist.
5. Condemned censorship by
any group Of material that Is
offensive to 1t is critical to It"
because I'VE are convinced that
no human being or agency has
the wisdom to decide on re-
ligous grounds what the general
public may see and hear"
g. Called for a united effort
so that "a greater degree OF
uniformity and consistency In
the marriage, divorce. and
adoption laws Of the States"
be attained.
7. urged Presbyterians TO
continue efforts toward repeal
Of the section OF the Inter-
nal Revenue code allowing
churches and church organi-
cations exemption from the
corporate income tax on profits
from businesses unrelated to
the purpose or activity OF the
church or church organizations.