A prominent Catholic layman and two Protestant Episcopal bishops opposed today a proposed amendment to the U. S. Constitution which would void the Supreme Court’s ban against prayers and Bible-reading in the public school. They appeared before the House Judiciary Committee as that group opened its third week of hearings on a number of proposals aimed at the Supreme Court’s ban. They centered their criticism particularly against the draft amendment introduced by Rep. Frank E. Becker, New York Republican.
John Quincy Adams, of Montclair, N, J., warned that the Becker amendment would be “bad for religion,” and said the Becker draft’s provision for a “non-denominational” prayer” would merely succeed in creating a watered-down substitute for religion.” Mr. Adams, a leader in many national, Catholic, lay organizations, is a member of Cardinal Shellman’s Coordinating Committee of Catholic Lay Organizations in the Archdiocese of New York.
Similar stands were taken before the committee by two other witnesses. Bishop Brooke Mosley and Bishop William Greighton, both of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Bishop Mosley characterized the Becker clause on a “non-denominational” prayer as a “gimmick.” He argued also that another Becker provision, making a school child’s participation in prayer “voluntary,” is tantamount to putting a burden on the child. It is especially offensive in the name of Christian religion.”
Bishop Creighton defended the Supreme Court’s ban against school prayers. “Far from being hostile to religion,” he said, “the Court decisions have encouraged the teaching in the public schools of the proper place of religion in our culture and history.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
