Religion: The Churches and the War

Just 19 months after the Methodist Church, the largest U.S. Protestant denomination, had gone on record that it would never “officially support, endorse or participate in war.” its bishops met in Georgia last week, declared: “There can be no peace in the world until totalitarian threat against the liberties of all freedom-loving people is thoroughly eradicated. Our duty, as American citizens, is clear….The Methodists of America will loyally support our President and our nation.”

The Methodist shift was paralleled in other churches—and the declaration of war found the clergy even stronger in their support than they were in 1917. This united sentiment was attested by the official heads of each major Protestant denomination in replying unofficially to a questionnaire from TIME. Significantly, however, not one of them directly answered TIME’S question as to whether most ministers feel America is fighting for the cause of righteousness—i.e., whether they were likely to preach a holy war. Apparently the clergy have not forgotten how they got their fingers burned after World War I for preaching a crusade against the Kaiser.

Episcopal. The Right Rev. Henry St. George Tucker, Presiding Bishop: “Our clergy and people are overwhelmingly back of the President….In comparison with the attitude of the clergy in April 1917, I should say that today there is a deeper appreciation of danger to our country than existed at the beginning of the last war.”

Baptist. Dr. William A. Elliott, President of the Northern Baptist Convention: “Now that the Japanese have struck us under the belt…there is but one opinion among us. The struggle must be won for democracy, and Baptist ministers are ‘all out’ to win.”

Presbyterian. Dr. Herbert Booth Smith, Moderator: “The ministers of our communion feel as do most patriotic citizens, ‘that while we have longed and prayed for peace consistent with honor,’ nevertheless it is our duty as a nation to defend the lives and fortunes of our people.”

Lutheran. Dr. Ralph H. Long, Executive Director of the National Lutheran Council: “The developments which have brought us into war with the Axis powers have undoubtedly intensified the [Lutherans’] devotion to the U.S., irrespective of national origins.”

Unitarian. Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, Moderator: “The Unitarians have always admired the Samaritan who bound up the wounds of the stranger set upon by robbers, but today they work to rid the Jericho Road of thieves.”

Congregationalist. William Ellery Sweet, Moderator: “The attitude of the Congregational Church is practically the same as in 1917—solidly with the Government. We deplore war but regard it as a bitter necessity.”

Ranking Roman Catholics were equally emphatic. The Pilot, diocesan organ of William Cardinal O’Connell of Boston, last week editorialized: “Wars can be just. Violence may be used against the unjust aggressor.” Said the other U.S. holder of the red hat, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia: “Like our fellow American citizens we will do our utmost to protect our country by winning the war, and…to that end we place at the disposal of our Government everything in our possession.”

The Jews left no doubt about their stand either. The Synagogue Council of America called upon all congregations ” to offer prayer for a speedy victory…to cooperate in national defense and to help strengthen our national morale.”

Even the Church papers which have fought most rigorously against U.S. entry into the war last week backed the war—with qualifications. The Protestant arch-isolationist Christian Century castigated the Government for having “invited the [Japanese] attack,” but added: “We stand with our country. We cannot do otherwise.”

Catholic America editorialized: “The U.S. has been left no choice but to prosecute war….”

Front-rank clerical pacifists are holding fast, however. TIME last week asked a dozen of their leaders—including Harry Emerson Fosdick, Walter W. Van Kirk, Ralph W. Sockman, Ernest Fremont Tittle, Allan Knight Chalmers, Georgia Harkness, John Haynes Holmes, Methodist Bishop Paul B. Kern, Episcopal Bishops Walter Mitchell and W. Appleton Lawrence—whether the Axis attack had changed their position. All replied that they are still dead against war.