The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia urged the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today to reject proposed state legislation providing aid to parochial schools because it would be “a step in a dangerous direction which may eventually cause the collapse of separation of church and state.” The warning was sounded by Marvyn Gould, member of the Board representing the Philadelphia JCRC, in testimony before the House Committee on Basic Education here.
Mr. Gould said that the concept of an “Authority,” provided by the proposed legislation, to “purchase” education from private and parochial schools does not change the essential fact that tax revenues will be paid directly to parochial educational institutions, making such legislation “unconstitutional and unwise.”
The Philadelphia JCRC’s stand in effect, endorsed the position taken last week by the Pennsylvania Jewish Community Relations Conference, a state-wide organization that coordinates the community relations activities of nine Pennsylvania Jewish communities. Mr. Gould told the House Committee that “Jews know from their entire historical experience, which spans scores of lands and thousands of years. that religious liberty is an early victim of state-sponsored religious activity.”
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