Church & Commonwealth

Until a fortnight ago, when the island's three Roman Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter forbidding Catholics to vote for Governor Luis Munoz Marin and his Popular Democratic Party, Puerto Rico's gubernatorial campaign was a race without an issue. Munoz' opponent, Luis Ferre, candidate of the Statehood Republican Party and a partner in the island's largest private enterprise (Ferre Industries), had demanded a plebiscite on statehood, but foxy old Munoz sidetracked that issue. His party slipped a rule through the legislature that no statehood plebiscite could be held in an election year, thus reducing the campaign to platitudes.

But last week, as controversy over the bishops' prohibition boiled across the island, the campaign at last had its issue: the separation of church and commonwealth. Aboard his campaign bus Munoz toured the countryside to defend himself against the bishops. "The day you begin to follow the political orders of the clergy," he cried, "that day you will lose your freedom." Munoz pointed out that the legality of birth control, one of the bishops' points of protest, was established in 1937 by the Statehood Republicans, not by his Popular Democrats.

The Mortal-Sin Vote. The bishops were of no mind to let the issue die. In a second pastoral letter. James P. Davis of San Juan, Aponte Martinez of Lares and James E. McManus of Ponce reiterated and clarified their earlier warning against voting for Munoz. "To violate the law of God, which prohibits supporting a moral without God ... is a clear disobedience against God and evidently a sin."

Leaving no doubt as to where Bishop McManus stood, his chancellor at Ponce. Msgr. Victor M. Nazario, added that anyone who supported Munoz Popular Democratic Party "not only commits a mortal sin but can also be excommunicated." Taking its cue, Puerto Rico's new Catholic Action Party, openly sponsored by Davis and McManus, took full-page daily ads in the newspapers to remind voters that "Catholics cannot vote for the Popular Party." Spot radio commercials proclaimed that "the Masons, the Protestants and the Communists obey Luis Munoz Marin. Catholics obey their bishops."

Reduced Margin. While the bishops stand enlivened the island's campaign and caused a new stir about the religion issue in the presidential campaign, it is not likely to have a decisive effect on the governorship. Like other Latin Americans, Puerto Ricans traditionally make a sharp distinction between religion and politics, and cannot be expected to desert Munoz for the bishops. What is likely to cost Munoz more votes is the old statehood question. For all the maneuverings in favor of commonwealth status (which gives Puerto Rico the advantages of being part of the U.S. without federal taxation), the statehood vote is growing. In 1956, the Statehood Republicans polled 172,000 votes. This year the experts predict a 60% jump to 275,000 or more.

With two issues affecting his strength, Munoz seems sure to win--but not by his usual 60%-plus margin.

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