The American Jewish Congress has urged leaders of the New York State Senate and Assembly to reject bills before both chambers that would authorize state funds for church-affiliated colleges and universities. The AJ Congress’ new York metropolitan council stated in telegrams to the legislative leaders in Albany that the measure would violate the state and Federal Constitutions and the principle of separation of church and state. In “channeling vast funds over the years to church-affiliated colleges and sectarian institutions” the state would “deprive public colleges and universities of desperately needed funds,” the AJ Congress charged.
It noted further that the legislation, introduced by both the Senate and Assembly rules committees, would eliminate present requirements that private institutions receiving state aid meet the same educational standards applicable to public colleges and universities. “Thus, the proposal would make it possible for private and sectarian institutions inferior to existing public colleges to receive state aid while the state university and the city university struggle along on austerity budgets,” the AJ Congress message declared.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
