Catholic Call to Combat Anti-semitism Lauded by American Jewish Committee

The American Jewish Committee today hailed a resolution adopted at a Catholic convention urging Roman Catholics “to work for the complete removal of anti-Semitic prejudice where it exists in ourselves and our nation. The resolution was adopted by the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, at its recent convention in Detroit.

The resolution scored the “evil of anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it occurs, subtle and violent, in small things as in large.” It urged all Catholics “never to forget the towering infamy to which the small things of this kind of hate, have grown in other lands in our own lifetimes.” Dr. John Slawson, American Jewish Committee executive vice-president, praised the Catholic parley for its recognition of this tie between non-violent anti-Semitism and Nazi-like persecution.

The American Jewish Committee also took note of another section of the resolution which urged greater cooperation between Catholic Interracial Councils and Jewish organizations, including visits of Jewish speakers to Catholic high schools, and exchange visits to churches and synagogues. Welcoming this suggestion, the AJC stressed that whatever has been done in this area in the past “certainly requires greater augmentation” in these difficult times. Dr. Slawson indicated that the regional offices of the AJC would be called upon to cooperate with local Catholic Interracial Councils in implementing the resolution.