The Massachusetts State Senate and the House of Representatives were split today in regard to proposals to amend the Sunday blue laws in such a way that business enterprises that observe Saturday as the Sabbath may remain open on Sundays.
The House rejected a proposed amendment two weeks ago. The Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 21 to 14, but there are demands that the Senate reconsider the liberalization of the blue laws. Rabbi Samuel J. Fox, vice-president of the Massachusetts Council of Rabbis, and chairman of the Council’s social actions committee, has praised the Senate for its action, saying the Senate has provided “equality and freedom to every religious belief.”
The Pilot, organ of the Catholic Archdiocese here, has bitterly assailed the Senate, declaring specifically that the Senate vote favors “principally Jews and Adventists,” charging the amendment” clearly gives commercial advantage to one minority in the community.” Rabbi Joseph S. Shubow, spiritual leader of Temple B’nai Moshe, stated he was “rather aghast at the harsh tone used by The Pilot.
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