An Aggressive Campaign Announced

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1912

An Aggressive Campaign Announced

We are of the opinion that the Roman Catholic hierarchy, by its persistent interference in governmental affairs, has aroused an opposition and precipitated a discussion which it little expected. That some sturdy Protestants have become thoroughly aroused is shown both by the wide-spread discussion of these matters in the leading religious papers and in the various anti-Catholic publications, and by the plans now announced to carry the work into the enemy's camp by seeking such legislative action as will forbid some of the things for which the Roman hierarchy has been striving.

The following extracts from an article in Church and State (Boston), September, 1912, announces a plan of action during the next session of Congress which will doubtless line up the forces for and against a more complete separation of church and state in this country:—

“The American Minutemen are planning a most aggressive campaign at Washington when Congress convenes for its December session. The organization will, in the first place, vigorously oppose and use every honorable means to defeat every attempt that may be made to secure the appropriation of public money or the diversion of public property for any sectarian purpose. It will also combat any effort to secure undue privileges for any religious body.

“On the offensive the organization will concentrate its efforts on two important measures. As will be recalled, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Valentine some months ago issued an order that teachers in Indian government schools should not teach in religious garb. President Taft immediately revoked this order. The Minutemen believe that the Valentine order was absolutely fair and in accordance with the American policy of complete separation of church and state. They further believe that this matter is altogether too important to be left to the judgment of either the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Interior, or the President of the United States. As evidenced by the present disagreement between Commissioner Valentine and President Taft, officials of the same administration may hold different views on this question, and even were they in complete accord in the matter, there is nothing to prevent their position being completely reversed by the next administration. Such a condition must not be permitted to continue. The Minutemen are now drafting a bill to absolutely prohibit the wearing of any religious garb by teachers in government schools during school hours. This bill will be presented in Congress next December.

“The second and by far the most important matter to be presented by the Minutemen is a constitutional amendment to prohibit sectarian appropriations. In other words, an attempt is to be made so to amend the Constitution of the United States as to prohibit forever the national government, as well as any State or local government, from making any appropriations of money or property for any institution wholly or in part under ecclesiastical control.

“To amend the Constitution of the United States is a serious and somewhat difficult task, but the end sought is well worth every endeavor. This amendment, if adopted, will permanently settle a controversy that would otherwise drag on for years with ever-increasing bitterness and ill feeling. As matters at present stand, a bill appropriating money for parochial schools or other sectarian institutions may be introduced at any session of Congress, or of most of our State legislatures, and if defeated, may again be introduced at the next session. Such a situation accrues entirely to the advantage of those demanding sectarian appropriations. They lose nothing by a defeat or even by a series of defeats, and sooner or later they are sure to secure a Congress or a legislature weak enough or base enough to yield to their demands. In fact, numerous appropriations have already been made for sectarian institutions other than schools. We believe that the only statesmanlike course to pursue is to add the proposed amendment to the organic law of the land. Such legislation will eliminate any excuse for ecclesiastical interference in American politics. It will settle this grave question, and settle it right.”