Roosevelt Pledges Himself to Work for Religious Freedom

President Roosevelt pledged himself today to work “with all the resources at my command” for harmony among the various elements of the population and preservation of “the right of all within our borders to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience.”

His statement was made in a message to the Calvert Associates, who, with their organ, Commonweal, joined in a high mass of thanksgiving at St. Patrick’s Church celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation and the anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims in Maryland in 1634 under the leadership of Lord Calvert.

The President declared that the lesson of religious toleration “must be inculcated in the hearts and minds of all Americans if the institutions of our democracy are to be maintained and perpetuated.” The message follows in part:

“The lesson of religious toleration-a toleration which recognizes complete liberty of human thought, liberty of human conscience-is one which, by precept and example, must be inculcated in the hearts and minds of all Americans if the institutions of our democracy are to be maintained and perpetuated.

“We must recognize the fundamental rights of man. There can be no true national life in our democracy unless we give unqualified recognition to freedom of religious worship and freedom of education…

“I have learned also with peculiar satisfaction that the Commonweal believes that rarely before in our history have prospects for achieving permanent harmony among the various elements composing our nation been so propitious as at the present time. I rejoice in this assurance. I pledge myself at this solemn commemoration, with all the resources at my command, to work for so happy a consummation. My prayer shall ever be that this nation, under God, may vindicate through all coming time the sanctity of the right of all within our borders to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience.”