Denouncing efforts to spread religious intolerance in the United States, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio said in a speech here Friday that this country “has always been, is, and must remain, the citadel of religious freedom and religious toleration.”
Senator Taft, who is a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, declared spreading of religious prejudice was contrary to the principles of the Constitution and was designed to destroy minority rights as in Germany and Russia.
“Frankly,” he said, “I do not believe the American people have any such prejudices, or will support any such propaganda. We have seen waves of prejudice before, but they have never found any fertile soil in American institutions, and after a brief popularity have died away. Any man born in the United States can be elected to any office, whether he be Protestant, Catholic or Jew, provided only that his political views meet the approval of a majority of the electorate. The United States of America has always been, is, and must remain, the citadel of religious freedom and religious toleration.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
