Catholics on Record by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1908

Catholics on Record

By W. A. S.

The American Federation of Catholic Societies, in its meeting in Boston, August 11, registered a protest against any religious test in civil service in these words:—

RELIGIOUS TEST.—Resolved, That this Federation stands for the abolition of any and every religious test in all public employment, and we more particularly condemn any and all inquiry as to the religious belief of applicants for such public employment.

It is an admirable declaration, and one can only ask why, if this is Catholic doctrine in the United States, it is not emphasized by the church in Catholic lands, where that church is supreme? Very likely the refusal to apply the principle in Catholic lands is based on that other principle which Lecky quotes from Veuillet, a French journalist, who said to the Protestants and Liberals:—

When you are masters, we claim perfect liberty for ourselves, as your principles require it; when we are the masters, we refuse it to you, as it is contrary to our principles.

W. A. S.