Glenn L. Archer
Encyclopedia
Glenn L. Archer was the founder of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
, formerly known as Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
In its first years, a main focus of AU's activity was opposition to the political agenda of the Roman Catholic Church
and it was seen by critics as an anti-Catholic organization. It was under Archer's tutelage that the Roman Catholic hierarchy was dubbed in 1949 as being more dangerous and clever than communism.
He petitioned the FCC to deny TV licenses to Jesuits because they were an alien organization. He also demanded that Cardinals in the Catholic Church have their citizenship revoked. Furthermore, he asked the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate the intentions, scope and achievements of Vatican espionage in the United States, charging that the Catholic clergy had learned American secrets hardly anyone except the president knows.
In 1960, Archer entered into a dialog with presidential candidate John F. Kennedy
to assess his views on church-state relations. In a letter to Archer, Kennedy assured him of his support for the First Amendment. Kennedy later responded to concerns about his faith in his famous speech before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, delivered September 12, 1960 at the Rice Hotel in Houston Texas
. In his memoir The Dream Lives On, Archer praised Kennedy's views on Church-State separation, saying they were the best of any president since Thomas Jefferson
.
In 2002, after Archer was eulogized by Barry W. Lynn
, then president of Americans United, Catholic League director William A. Donohue
accused Lynn of ignoring Archer's anti-Catholicism.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a group that advocates separation of church and state, a legal doctrine interpreted by AU as being enshrined in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Mission:The guiding principle of Americans...
, formerly known as Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
In its first years, a main focus of AU's activity was opposition to the political agenda of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and it was seen by critics as an anti-Catholic organization. It was under Archer's tutelage that the Roman Catholic hierarchy was dubbed in 1949 as being more dangerous and clever than communism.
He petitioned the FCC to deny TV licenses to Jesuits because they were an alien organization. He also demanded that Cardinals in the Catholic Church have their citizenship revoked. Furthermore, he asked the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate the intentions, scope and achievements of Vatican espionage in the United States, charging that the Catholic clergy had learned American secrets hardly anyone except the president knows.
In 1960, Archer entered into a dialog with presidential candidate John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to assess his views on church-state relations. In a letter to Archer, Kennedy assured him of his support for the First Amendment. Kennedy later responded to concerns about his faith in his famous speech before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, delivered September 12, 1960 at the Rice Hotel in Houston Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In his memoir The Dream Lives On, Archer praised Kennedy's views on Church-State separation, saying they were the best of any president since Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.
In 2002, after Archer was eulogized by Barry W. Lynn
Barry W. Lynn
Barry W. Lynn, Esq. has been the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State since 1992. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and a prominent leader of the American religious left...
, then president of Americans United, Catholic League director William A. Donohue
William A. Donohue
William Anthony "Bill" Donohue is the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in the United States, a position he has held since 1993.-Life and career:...
accused Lynn of ignoring Archer's anti-Catholicism.