Serious differences of opinion, which may provoke a test case in court, have developed here between a Catholic clergyman and the Somers Central School over a decision to hold on June 18 a religious baccalaureate service in which a rabbi and a Protestant minister will participate. The Rt. Rev. Edward V. Dargin, pastor of a local Roman Catholic church, protested against the decision to hold interdenominational services.
“Our objection to the annual religious baccalaureate service for the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish students is that Catholics are forbidden by Canon 1258 of the Code of Canon Law of our church to actively participate in the religious services of non-Catholics,” Monsignor Dargin said in a letter of protest addressed to the school authorities.
Strong objection to the views taken by the Catholic pastor was voiced by Reverend Joseph L. Germeck, pastor of a Protestant Episcopal Church. “The effort to abolish the baccalaureate service is most tragic,” Reverend Germeck said. “Not only does this action of the Roman church deliberately stress the division of the Christian church, but it effectually emphasizes the differences between Jew and Gentile.
“The great strides made in recent years toward understanding of another religion would be seriously harmed,” the Protestant pastor continued. “It is a travesty on the goodness of Almighty God that any one can maintain the impossibility of Jew and Gentile to stand together to call down God’s blessing on a group of young people. To attack the service on theological grounds is simply a cover to hide some deeper meaning. Such a service is not held in a church. There is no teaching, no ritual, no creed, no vestments.”
Monsignor Dargin Indicated in a letter that he may bring the case before the State Commissioner of Education or the civil courts “for remedial or disciplinary action.” However, the board of the school replied by adopting during the week-end a resolution directing the principal to proceed with an interdenominational baccalaureate service at which Reverend Germack will give the benediction and Rabbi Solomon Kahn Kaplan will deliver the baccalaureate service.
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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.
