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Was the President right-not necessarily in the details
secondary considerations, we muddy the rivers of thought
or manner of the appointment-but in the hard core of
and make clarity impossible.
his action? Or is the President a traitor to Protestant
Why are thirty-nine nations now represented at the
principles? Is his action also a violation of the Ameri-
Vatican-eighteen of them with ambassadors and sixteen
can tradition of the separation of Church and state, and
with ministers? The remaining five have charge d'af-
a contradiction of the Constitution of our country
faires. Is it because these particular nations are enam-
There is strong medicine in these questions. They
ored of Catholic ritual and ancient, archaic pageantry
raise great issues. They are vital to America and the
and ceremonial? Is it because a large number of their
world. I propose to give you my answer as an American,
respective bodies of citizens look upon the Swiss guards
a Christian, and an Episcopalian not unlearned in the
as entrancingly tall and picturesque? Is it because they
fields of theology and history. This answer may not be
own spiritual allegiance to the Pope and desire to see
yours. I do not expect it to be necessarily. I do not
the world Catholic?
seek to impose it on you. If you have strong feelings on
To ask such questions is to answer them. These na-
this whole issue, and if you are tempted to irritation
tions include some with established Protestant Churches.
with me, please remember this. Please remember that
They include democratic cultures much like our own as
I feel you have just as good a right to your view as I to
in the case of the Scandinavian countries and of Switzer-
mine-if the facts and correct reasoning from them sup-
land, oldest of living republics. They include coun-
port your view in measurable part.
tries of non-Christian faith such as India, Pakistan and
This is the American way. It is also Christianity in
Nationalist China. Indonesia, also, and Liberia are
basic attitude and in approach to areas of tension and
represented. All these nations maintain fully accredited
controversy. It was St. Paul who said: "Prove all things
representatives at the Vatican for one reason, and one
hold fast to that which is good." "Come now," writes
reason only. They think that it is in their interest and
Isaiah, "and let us reason together, saith the Lord."
in that of the world generally to do so.
The question of diplomatic representation at the Vati-
This is our criterion, too. This should be the test of
can is not a religious question in any direct sense. It is
American policy : Is it in the national interest, is it in the
an issue of expediency, a pragmatic question, a problem
interest of Christian civilization, is it in the interest of hu-
of American interest and welfare. This is a point of
manity, that we have a representative at the Vatican?
paramount importance. If we keep it in mind, we shall
If the answer is Yes, the matter is closed. If it is No,
think clearly. If we lose sight of it in the pursuit of
the matter is likewise closed in a reverse direction.
[6]
[7]
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"ocrText": "Was the President right-not necessarily in the details\nsecondary considerations, we muddy the rivers of thought\nor manner of the appointment-but in the hard core of\nand make clarity impossible.\nhis action? Or is the President a traitor to Protestant\nWhy are thirty-nine nations now represented at the\nprinciples? Is his action also a violation of the Ameri-\nVatican-eighteen of them with ambassadors and sixteen\ncan tradition of the separation of Church and state, and\nwith ministers? The remaining five have charge d'af-\na contradiction of the Constitution of our country\nfaires. Is it because these particular nations are enam-\nThere is strong medicine in these questions. They\nored of Catholic ritual and ancient, archaic pageantry\nraise great issues. They are vital to America and the\nand ceremonial? Is it because a large number of their\nworld. I propose to give you my answer as an American,\nrespective bodies of citizens look upon the Swiss guards\na Christian, and an Episcopalian not unlearned in the\nas entrancingly tall and picturesque? Is it because they\nfields of theology and history. This answer may not be\nown spiritual allegiance to the Pope and desire to see\nyours. I do not expect it to be necessarily. I do not\nthe world Catholic?\nseek to impose it on you. If you have strong feelings on\nTo ask such questions is to answer them. These na-\nthis whole issue, and if you are tempted to irritation\ntions include some with established Protestant Churches.\nwith me, please remember this. Please remember that\nThey include democratic cultures much like our own as\nI feel you have just as good a right to your view as I to\nin the case of the Scandinavian countries and of Switzer-\nmine-if the facts and correct reasoning from them sup-\nland, oldest of living republics. They include coun-\nport your view in measurable part.\ntries of non-Christian faith such as India, Pakistan and\nThis is the American way. It is also Christianity in\nNationalist China. Indonesia, also, and Liberia are\nbasic attitude and in approach to areas of tension and\nrepresented. All these nations maintain fully accredited\ncontroversy. It was St. Paul who said: \"Prove all things\nrepresentatives at the Vatican for one reason, and one\nhold fast to that which is good.\" \"Come now,\" writes\nreason only. They think that it is in their interest and\nIsaiah, \"and let us reason together, saith the Lord.\"\nin that of the world generally to do so.\nThe question of diplomatic representation at the Vati-\nThis is our criterion, too. This should be the test of\ncan is not a religious question in any direct sense. It is\nAmerican policy : Is it in the national interest, is it in the\nan issue of expediency, a pragmatic question, a problem\ninterest of Christian civilization, is it in the interest of hu-\nof American interest and welfare. This is a point of\nmanity, that we have a representative at the Vatican?\nparamount importance. If we keep it in mind, we shall\nIf the answer is Yes, the matter is closed. If it is No,\nthink clearly. If we lose sight of it in the pursuit of\nthe matter is likewise closed in a reverse direction.\n[6]\n[7]"
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