The American Jewish Congress today urged an amendment to the National Selective Service Act that would exempt from military service persons who oppose a particular war on the basis of ethical or moral principles as well as religious convictions. A resolution adopted by the AJ Congress’ national governing council alleged that the present draft law resulted in “discrimination” against those who objection to service in war was not based on a generally recognized religious system of ethics. The resolution said the refusal of the Selective Service System to recognize the right of conscientious objection based on non-religious grounds was “inconsistent with democratic principles.” It also “runs counter to our national and religious principles to compel a man to carry and use a gun against another man in a cause that he regards as morally wrong,” the AJ Congress said. The organization supported amendments to the draft law that would allow conscientious objectors “as wide a variety as possible of non-punitive alternate forms of service.”
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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.
