Separation of Church and State: The First Freedom

There are signs, on the other hand, that aggression against the principle of separation is being met by persons and institutions that are fully cognizant of the significance of the imminent dangers. Instances of the defense of separation are the suits to nullify a New York State housing grant of $1I28,000 to a Catholic college,4 and to outlaw the released-time program in the State of New York.5 Of special interest in this connection was the refusal of the United States Senate on April 7, I948, to enact S. i557, a bill to incorporate the Catholic War Veterans of the United States.6 Although the newspapers neglected to report the action of the Senate7 or the debate on the bill,8 some of the points made in the argument show that the defenders of the principle of separation are alive to the threats. American civilization and American public education are being charged with a newly created crime-namely, secularism. Typical of this line of attack is the