HEARINGS BEFORE THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS SECOND SESSION ON H. Res. 217 WASHINGTON, D. C. PART II, Pages 945-1241 Printed for the use of the Special Committee To Investigate Tax-Exempt Foundations and Comparable Organizations TAX-EXEMPT FOUNDATIONS Hon. B. CARROLL REECE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., June 21, 1954. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR CARROLL: I cannot be at the meeting on foundations tomorrow and in the meantime want you to know I think there should be an immediate cancellation of all public hearings. Sincerely, ANGIER L. GOODWIN, STATEMENTS OF THE RECTOR OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, AND THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC., IN REPLY TO CONGRESSMAN HAYS' REMARKS CONCERNING THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND SISTER MARY MARGARET PATRICIA MCCARRAN THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, OFFICE OF THE RECTOR, Washington, D. C., September 2, 1954. Hon. CARROLL REECE, Member of Congress, Chairman, Special Committee To Investigate Tax-Exempt Foundations, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN REECE: It has come to my notice that at a hearing of your committee in early June the assertion was made that a doctoral degree was granted by the Catholic University of America as a result of pressure. On behalf of the university, I wish to deny this allegation as completely false. Throughout the 65 years of our existence, our academic standards have been recognized as high and as honestly enforced. Neither in the instance referred to nor in any other instance has pressure or influence brought about the conferring of a degree by the Catholic University of America. According to our regulations, a student is admitted to graduate work only after rigid and impartial scrutiny of his prerequisite undergraduate training. The courses for the major and the minors in the master of arts and doctor of philosophy programs entail constant checks and examinations and are designed to prepare the student for independent thinking and research. For the doctor of philosophy, he must also prove his ability to read French and German. The doctor of philosophy requirements include the publication of a dissertation based upon the student's independent research. A small board of the faculty reads and judges the dissertation. While approval would not be given to views contrary to morals or Catholic faith, and while an effort is made on the part of the official reader to protect the student from errors of fact and judgment, still, in these matters academic freedom is accorded a doctoral candidate and responsibility rests with him. Approval by the faculty of a dissertation means formal recognition that the student has demonstrated sufficient competency in research to justify consideration for the doctoral degree. These regulations are carefully and honestly followed by our faculty without exception. If the unwarranted assertion referred to above is included in the record of your hearings, may I ask that this letter be given equal prominence in your record. With kind regards, I remain, Hon. CARROLL REECE, BRYAN J. MCENTEGART, Rector of the University, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC., Chairman, Special Committee To Investigate Tax-Exempt DEAR CONGRESSMAN REECE: During the course of the public hearings on the investigation into the tax-exempt foundations, generally referred to as the Reece committee, the insinuation was made that the graduate school at the Catholic University could be pressured or influenced into granting a degree when it was not earned or deserved. A reference to the transcript of public hearings of your committee will make the point very clear. The remarks made by Congressman Hays with reference to Sister Margaret Patricia McCarran's workFabianism in the Political Life of Britain, are so derogatory and so full of insinuations that this attack upon the integrity of the university and upon the character of a nun should not be allowed to stand unanswered in a congressional record. As the publisher of the second edition of Sister Patricia's book, the first edition having been published by the Catholic University of America Press, I hereby challenge every statement and every insinuation about this book and about the nun that the Congressman from Ohio made in this connection. As a doctor's dissertation Fabianism in the Political Life of Britain is pretty much a public document and it can and it will withstand any criticism that might be forthcoming. The Heritage Foundation as publisher and Catholic University of America, I am sure, would agree that criticism of a volume or of a study and certainly of a doctor's dissertation would be in keeping with the true spirit of academic freedom. However, we would not agree with the methods used by Congressman Hays of Ohio. A person is still free in this country to agree or disagree with a book, an article or a doctor's dissertation. However, the obvious smear technique used by the Congressman from Ohio to discredit the reputable work of a reputable teacher in an outstanding university must not go unchallenged. |