DENUNCIATION OF MRS. ROOSEVELT BY CATHOLIC CLERIC

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 July 1949, Page 5

DENUNCIATION OF MRS. ROOSEVELT BY CATHOLIC CLERIC

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reed 6 pm).—The right Reverend John Cartwi'ight told tne congregation of St. Matthews' Cathedral today that “by indirection, by mean reservation ana by every slicK device,” Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt has "expressed prejudice” against the Catholic Church. Joining a widening controversy over the former first lady's statements, the Rt. Rev. Cartwright said Mrs. Roosevalt had never said anything good about the Catholics, although she has “made a great point ot patronising minorities.’ The controversy arose over the Barden Bil, which proposes to withhold Federal tax money from private schools, including church institutions. Cardinal Spellman has expressed opposition to the Bill and Mrs. Roosevelt criticised Cardinal Spellmans attitude, and expressed her support of the Bill. The Cardinal then denounced her in a letter he made public. The Right Rev. Cartwright said Cardinal Spellman's criticism of her stand on the Barden Bill “Unveils the secret intolerance of a very notable public character who, for many years, nas unjustly enjoyed a reputation for tolerance." He said Mrs. Roosevelt was “very sentimental and a little more than tolerant toward the Reds and Communists and Friends of Russia in this country for as long as it was safe to be so.” He said that Cardinal Spellman made his letter public because he felt “at length obliged to be intolerant of intolerance.” The Right Rev. Cartwright con- ■ tinued: “I remember no generous, no open, no widehearted noble charitable thing said about any Catholic ' cause by Mrs. Roosevelt, who, God knows, has found time to express 1 herself on everything else in the uni- , verse.” A former Governor of New York State, Mr. Herbert Lehman, also ' entered the controversy when he defended Mrs. Roosevelt. He said he was deeply shocked by Cardinal Spell- ‘ man’s charge of anti-Catholicism ' made against Mrs. Roosevelt. He 1 added that in her record 25 years as * a public figure he did not know of a s single act or word that would in the * slightest degree indicate bias or pre- < judice against any religion or race. ! “The issue is whether Americans are entitled to express their views on 1 public questions, without being vilified 1 or acused of religious bias,” he said. < The Washington “Star," in a lead- > ing article today says Cardinal Spell- 1 man’s reaction: “Is deplorable, the more so in view of the restraint which Mrs. Roosevelt exercised in her comments. People who harbour prejudice, as well as many who do not, will feel that this outstanding spokesman ,for the Catholic church is intolerant of a dissenting point of view on a question that is of concern to all \ American people." a A Protestant pastor of New York’s in- y terdenominational Riverside Church, a Doctor Robert McCracken, joining the t defence of Mrs. Roosevelt, said he f found her comments moderate a n<i 8 tolerant and the Cardinal’s charge 8 “disappointing." He said all this be- 11 cause Mrs. Roosevelt reminded Ameri- ' cans that “many years ago it was decided that tax-supported public 1 schools should be entirely separated ? from any kind of denominational con- ' frol, and that those who desire their ( children to attend parochial schools ® should be free to set them up, pro- q them” they Me wiiling t 0 main tain