Book Reviews : Rumania: Russia's Dissident Ally. By DAVID FLOYD. (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1965, Pp. xvi, 144. $4.50.)

• Date: 01 March 1966
• DOI: 10.1177/106591296601900124
• Author: David T. Cattell
• Published date: 01 March 1966
• Subject Matter: Articles

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dilemma to those who wish to maintain these ties, yet vigorously oppose further
church-state associations such as federal aid to parochial schools.
One of the more meaningful contributions of Religion in American Public Law
flows from the author’s extended discussion of the classic Supreme Court decisions
affecting church-state relations. Politico-judicial analyses of the Everson, McCol-
lum, Zorach, School Prayer, and Bible Reading cases provide an extended inter-
pretive background for those who have but a cursory understanding of the legal
developments in this area. The author concludes that there are no simple solutions
to these intricate problems. He suggests that the best for which we can hope is to
attempt to make rational judgments in concrete cases by weighing competing
&dquo;values, interests, and considerations.&dquo;
While presenting the reader with a primer on Religion in American Public Law,
Professor Fellman occasionally strays from his objective orientation revealing his
approval or disapproval of certain cases or activity. One case in point is found in his
discussion of the criticism directed toward the Supreme Court immediately following
the School Prayer decision. Having examined some of the irrational critical out-
bursts, Fellman notes that the decision did find support in responsible newspapers
and religious journals. Another passage, which should delight the behavioral critics,
finds Professor Fellman striking a subtle blow at the legal quantifiers who persist in
seeking precise answers in a system which flourishes on vague and imprecise tests.
But rather than detracting from the author’s theme, these sidelights seem to lend to
the enjoyment which at least the political scientist can gain from reading the book.
On
the whole, Religion in American Public Law is a scholarly work which can
be exceedingly useful in providing both layman and academician with a better under-
standing of the intricacies flowing from the &dquo;free...