Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Vineyard GleaningsSenate Review of Religious LibertyA sub-committee of the Senate Judiciary Committeehas announced hearings on the Bill of Rights, that will begin on October 3, and it would seem that the Bill of Rights(includingmay be taken up clause byparticularlyamendments 1-10 to the Constitution)clause. But we are concernedwith the first one. It reads "Congress shallmake no law respecting an establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble and to petition the government forredress of The grievances."committee conducting this investigation consists of Senators Thomas C. Hennings Jr., ofMissouri, chairman; Joseph O'Mahoney of Wyoming; andWilliam Langer of North Dakota. The hearings on Freedomof Religion and separation of church and state is plannedfor the week of October 3. A tentative schedule also calls fortwo weeks of hearings on Freedom of Speech and Press beginning October 17, and four weeks on the Right of Assembly beginning October 24. The appropriation for this inquiryis $50,000. While the public press seemed inclined to minimize the effect of this investigation at first, the questionnaire sent out by the committee indicates that severalquestions may come up that will provoke debate and perhapssome dangerous consequences. The questionnaire follows:1. (Identification of witness)2. (a) Do you regard the phrase "make no law respectingan establishment ofreligion"as a prohibition againstany direct or indirect government aid to churchesor religious sects?(b) Or do you regard the language as banning preferential treatment of any particular church or religioussect while permittinggovernment aid to religiongenerally or to the various churches and sects on anon-discriminatory basis?3. Do you believe the free exercise of religion protectsatheists in propagating a disbelief in religion?4. Do you consider that the U. S. Supreme Court is correctin interpreting the religion clause in conjunction withthe Fourteenth Amendment as constituting a prohibitionagainst acts bystate and local governments as well asagainst acts by the Federal Government?5. Have you observed anysignificant instances in recentyears of a denial of the rights expressed in the religionclause?If your answer is Yes, kindly enumerate the instances.6. (a) If your answer to Question 5 is Yes, do you considersuch instances as you cite as routine problems inthe course of life in a democracyhandled satisfactorily by the courts?which can be(b) Or do you consider them as evidence of a tendencyto permit erosion of the rights expressed in thereligion clause?7. If you have checked 6 (b), do you think that the tendency could be corrected or eliminated by some Congressional action?If your answer is Yes, please indicate as specifically asyou can the nature of the Congressional action you havein mind:nature of religious beliefs, do you feel that the presentstate of affairs in the United States with respect to therights expressed in the religion clause is :Excellent Good Fair PoorBut the questions 2 and 4 may raise the issue of Government Aid, State or Federal, to religious organizations.The present interpretation of the law is that all such grantsmay be made, but will this apply to states and cities? Andwill the Roman Catholic Church put on the pressure to havea clarification of this amendment to permit them to haveaid for their parochial schools. Another debate may beraised on question 3 whether atheists will be allowed topropagate their doctrines on the same basis as those advocating religious beliefs. The third question that may risefor discussion is the matter of representation to the Vatican.A fourth question mayCourt's decision in the McCollum case.evoke debate on the SupremeInasmuch as this Bill of Rights, as it is usually termed,has endured for more than 100 years without question andmost of the people are generally satisfied with most interpretations of the courts, will this be the beginning of astruggle for power to enlarge the privileges of the RomanCatholic church, now that our schools are crowded beyondmeasure, and do they consider that this is an opportune timeto urge that they be given a share of the public funds? Also.there is the danger on the other hand that there will be increasingsecularization in the interpretation of the law so.that religion shall be ruled out of all public education and:legislation.We quote from a Baptist publication, "Baptists havealways been interested in religious liberty both as personal"soul liberty" and as institutional freedom and independencefor the church. In the past as in the present we have soughtthese freedoms for all peoples in the world at high cost toourselves. There is no doubt that the American people areoverwhelmingly in favor of our American system by whichthe church advances on the basis of commitment and stewardship of the participants rather than by use of tax money.(Continued on page 183)THE COVENANTER WITNESSIssued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of theREFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHOF NORTH AMERICAat 129 West 6th Street, Newton, Kansas orthrough its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka Kansntto promote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and LifeFor individuals, churches and nationsOpinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writer.not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.Contributing EditorsFrank E. Allen, D.D.Prof. William H. RussellWalter McCarroll, D.D.Remo I. Robb, D.D.Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka KansasDepartmental EditorsRev. John O. EdgarMrs. J. O. EdgarMrs. Ross LatimerSubscription rates: 12.50 per year; Overseas, S3.00 ; Single Couiei10 cents.r.British Isles.R- B- LynE. B-A-. Limavady, K. Ireland, Agent for thEntered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton. Kansas "nder the Act of March 3, 1879.8. Speaking generally and considering the deep emotionalAddress communications to the Topeka office.179September 21, 1955