“THE Protestant clergy in this country as a class is not opposing woman suffrage and in some instances appear to even favor the movement. In view of the fact that this must be considered clearly contrary to the teachings and ideals of Christianity, such conditions must impress one as strange, to say the least, yet the cause is not far to seek and will be readily understood through an interview I had with a clergyman friend some time ago.
“On my taking him to task for neglecting his plain duty in not opposing woman suffrage in the face of his oft-emphatically (privately, of course) expressed disapproval of the movement, he replied: ‘Of course, I fully realize my evident and serious short-coming, for there is no doubt in my mind that the ‘craze’, for such I must call it, is directly opposed to the teachings and ideals of the Christian Church, and that whenever or wherever put in practice will eventually lead to its destruction, the end of our family relations and complete demoralization of our system of government. But what can I do in the way of opposition promising successful results?To be sure the great majority of my congregation of both sexes is clearly opposed, but unfortunately there are a few highly aggressive women supporters with a small following of weak and hysterical women and the leaders through their loud-mouthed, objectionable and oftentimes unprincipled tactics have practically terrorized the congregation, and I must confess its pastor also, thereby endeavoring to create the impression that the majority of the congregation was with them, which is surely not the case. You can realize that women of the class mentioned will not hesitate to make use of the worst means in order to carry their point or down opposition, and, therefore, by taking a stand against them I would make my position untenable and eventually cause the disruption of the church.’
“He furthermore expressed the opinion that like conditions existed in nearly all English-speaking Protestant churches in the United States and to a great extent in all other organizations with memberships composed exclusively or partly of women. On the ground that a bad excuse is better than none, some clergymen claim that women suffrage is politics and they believe in keeping politics out of the pulpit. Now, although nearly all great ethical questions are in a way connected to politics, should this stand in the way of the pulpit opposing with all means in its power a movement which through politics, if put that way, threatens the very existence of religion, the family and our system of government? The Catholic Church, as ever (whenever the family or morality is concerned) is fighting it without fear or favor and entirely regardless of their merely political interests, for in that direction it would for obvious reasons be greatly the gainer by its adoption.
“It is, therefore, the obvious duty of all members and attendants of Protestant churches who have the highest interests of the church and humanity at heart, to awaken the consciences of their pastors if derelict in their duties, and when successful by giving them their loyal and enthusiastic support, help to clear the Protestant clergy of this very serious charge now resting against it.” [paragraph break added]
— Article by ‘Veritas’ in women’s anti-suffrage publication, The Women’s Protest, September, 1913
