Frank Butler Quotes
I get a little behind during Lent, but it comes out even at Christmas.
Butler, Frank, and Frank Cavett. Going My Way. Directed by Leo McCarey, Paramount Pictures, 1944.
What is particularly interesting about this quotation is the date. As late as 1932, a governor of a major state, was declaring a State holiday for a particular religion, and in his official capacity was recommending fasting and paryer within a Christian context. Although the Proclamation violated the First Amendment, at the time few people would make the effort to go to court to challenge what had been a long tradition in America of declaring Christian Holidays official and the keeping of the Sabbath with criminal penalties for those who did not. However, it took time, effort and money to challenge these practices in court, and the majority community did not treat those people well socially who challenged custom as unconstitutional even when the courts agreed and restrained the practice. Even into the 21st century there were still a few legal battles about prayer in schools and promulgating Biblical passages in public buildings. From the late 1800s to the latter part of the 20th century, it was the Democrats who attracted most religious Americans while the Republicans were the party who advocated a non-traditional but Constitutional approach to religion. See {623322}
Frank Butler OBE was a British sportswriter and author. He was one of Fleet Street's best-known and longest-serving sports editors, retiring from that position at the News of the World in 1982, after 22 years' service. Though Butler covered all sports, boxing was always his favourite.
