Jewish Congress Opposes Role of Religious Groups in Peace Corps

Opposition to participation by religious groups and missionary societies in overseas projects in the Peace Corps was expressed today in a resolution adopted by the executive committee of the American Jewish Congress. The resolution, which was prompted by reports that about half of all Peace Corps projects assigned to voluntary agencies would be carried out by religious groups, said that the use of Government funds by religious and missionary groups would violate the principle of Church-State separation as required by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

The Congress also warned that there was “grave danger” that such groups would “confuse their governmental obligations with their missionary zeal,” thereby imperiling the success of the Peace Corps program. The resolution declared:

“Any effort–whether deliberate or coincidental–on the part of church groups either to spread their religious beliefs or enhance their good name through participation in the Peace Corps program overseas would violate the Constitutional mandate against the use of governmental funds or personnel to promote religious teachings or practices.”

Warning that the objectives of the Peace Corps program might be “severely handicapped” by the presence of church groups as participants, the resolution stated: “It is not unlikely that many citizens of the countries where such Peace Corps projects are launched will view the program with suspicion as being motivated not so much by the goal of furthering the cause of peace as by promoting the missionary ends of the church groups involved.”