Interfaith Body Hits Skirball on Films Talk

A statement attributed in the Jewish Daily Bulletin to Jack H. Skirball, general sales manager of Educational Films Corporation of America and a former rabbi, to the effect that he feared the clean films campaign “might develop into an anti-Semitic drive” was branded as “utterly ridiculous and not worthy of consideration,” by a spokesman for the National Conference of Jews and Christians.

“This statement,” it was declared, “is a reflection upon the high-minded attitude of the Catholic and Protestant religious groups have refused to succumb to the temptation of holding an entire section of the people responsible for the sins of a few movie producers. Spokesmen for these groups, as well as the Catholic and Protestant press, have commendably avoided referring to the religious confession of the movie producers. The campaign has been directed against the movie industry in general and not against any particular section of the industry.

“The Protestant and Catholic religious groups have also appreciated the fact that Jewish religious and secular groups were among the first to enter the campaign and have been among the insistent critics of the movies. A degree of cooperation perhaps unparalleled in the history of this country has developed between these three great faiths in common acknowledgment of the necessity for securing cleaner and more wholesome movies.”

MANY JEWS ENTERED

It was stated that virtually every section of Jewish religious life had entered into the campaign of the Legion of Decency. A list of such Jewish agencies and the extent of their action was given.

In a chronological table reference was made to active participation in the campaign by Jewish groups and leaders in virtually every section of the country. Rabbis Sydney Goldstein and William Rosenblum, it was pointed out, have represented the Jews on the inter-faith committee in New York. Favorable reaction to the campaign on the part of leading Jews in many other cities was detailed.