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Arab Demand of Proof That Person Seeking Visa is Not Jewish is Opposed by Canadian Church Group

May 21, 1975
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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The General Board of the Canadian Council of Churches has recommended to its member churches that they follow the example of Protestant and Catholic churches in The Netherlands which refuse to issue baptismal certificates to persons who are required to furnish proof that they are not Jewish in order to obtain tourist or business visas for Arab countries.

Rev. T.E. Floyd Honey, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, sent the Canadian Jewish Congress a copy of its directive. The recommendation was made following the receipt of reports that the Dutch Council of Churches and the Dutch Roman Catholic Bishops were refusing to issue the baptismal documents that would, in effect, abet travel restrictions against Jews in the Middle East. The position of the churches in Holland was brought to the attention of the Canadian Council of Churches by Rabbi Gunther Plaut who suggested that similar action be taken in Canada.

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