All Senior Citizens Count

May 1, 2023

Natick Patch

Why Is the State Anti-Aid Amendment

Anti-Senior Citizen in Natick

The State Anti-Aid issue came into prominence in the early 1800’s. This was when Protestants were the predominant population in Boston. As more and more Catholics immigrated to the area and established private schools for their children, several statesmen rallied that it was extremely unfair that public money be given to aid private Catholic schools.

Heated discussions ensued for several decades. Since the Protestants still held the majority in the political arena, the Anti-Aid Amendment XVIII [18] was signed into law in 1855. It basically stated that No public money could be expended for private Catholic schools. The Catholics were furious. They referred to it as the Bigoted Amendment.

Despite many attempts to repeal the law, it was the law of the land until 1917 when Amendment XLVI [46] was ratified. It totally superseded Article XVIII. The new law provided that No private school could receive public money or property [textbooks]. More significantly, No private enterprise could receive public money or property. The only exceptions were the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke and free public libraries.

Debates on the issue were the norm of the day. Many attempts were made to repeal the law but none of them passed. Tensions became high and the debates intensified. Finally, in 1974 Amendment CIII was introduced and ratified into law. The key changes here were that aid shall Not be made to any church, religious denomination or society. A much-welcomed provision was that "the Commonwealth can make grants in aid to private higher educational institutions or to students attending such institutions". This is the last recorded Anti-Aid Amendment. Note, every Amendment specified 'money" or "money and property" only.

The Anti-Aid Amendment first reared its "ugly head" to me around 2017 as a member of the Friends of Natick Community-Senior Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is "to raise funds for the Senior Center in order to perpetuate the dignity and well-being of Senior Citizenry of Natick". This is when the Rotary Club of Natick wanted to put on a special St. Patty's Day brunch for the Seniors in the Function Room at the Center. They needed a way to accept reservations so we asked if the receptionist at the front desk could handle it. We were told No because of the Anti-Aid Amendment. The Town could not aid a private organization. I felt this was an extreme stretch of the Amendment so I began a slew of back-and-forth emails to Town Officials. I finally met with Town Counsel who determined that the request shouldn't be a problem. After all this, the issue became moot as the event was already filled to capacity thanks to word of mouth.

The next time we encountered major resistance was in 2022 when we wanted to sponsor the St. Patty's Day luncheon for the Seniors. We were told that we couldn't hold it at the Center because of the Anti-Aid Amendment. So, we held it at the AMVETS over on Lake Cochituate and it was a grand event.

The next instance was in December 2022. We hired a coach bus to take a group of Seniors to the Christmas Show performed by the Reagle Players in Waltham. Since it was on a Saturday we asked if the Seniors could park at the Center. We were told No again for the same reason. So the Seniors parked at the Fisk Church on Walnut Street.

The most recent occurrence was this year when we wanted to sponsor another St. Patty's Day luncheon because the Seniors love the event. We were again told that we couldn't use the Center so we rented the hall at the Sons of Italy. Once again it turned out to be a very festive event.

These are only to name a few of the times this has happened to the Friends. What bothers me the most is if an event is for the life enrichment of our Seniors, why can't it be held at their Center? I realize this is a Community-Senior Center, but the Seniors still do count. One group shouldn't begrudge an organization that wants to give our Seniors a good time. I know that I didn't help rally for a new Center for over twenty years only to have Seniors shut out of their own Center. They shouldn't have to go to other venues for much-needed social gathering.

Furthermore, I have been personally told more than once that the Friends should be thankful that they even have an office at the Center. This was extremely hurtful to me. The Friends have been housed with Council on Aging since their beginning in 1977. I was on the Building Study Committee as well as the Building Committee for the new Center and an office for the Friends was always in the plans. At this point, the grandfather clause should be applied to the Friends.

As I wanted to gain definitive clarification of the Anti-Aid issue, I wrote to the Bureau of Municipal Finance Law. Chief Kathleen Colleary advised me that "the decision to allow you to use the facility rests solely with Natick officials". I was very surprised and deeply disturbed to learn this. For all these years the Friends were subject to an arbitrary interpretation of the Anti-Aid Amendment, and a very wrong one at that. The Friends were fervently misled. Again, every version of the Anti-Aid Amendment specified "money" or "money and property". There was never any mention of any other kind of assistance. Very sadly, I rest my case.

Note: The information and statements herein are based on my own experience and research. They do not represent those of any other individual or any organization.

Jerry L. Pierce

Natick, MA 01760