Church of England Hits Anti -semitism As “wicked Folly”

The most rev. William temple, archbishop of York and primate of England, and other leading members of the Church of England clergy and laity today formally repudiated anti-Semitism or any form of racial discrimination in the name of “the vast majority of Christian English people.” The public repudiation of anti-Semitism was contained in a letter sent to Neville Laski, president of the board of deputies of British Jews.

The letter follows: “Sir: reference has recently been made by the home secretary and by certain speakers in the house of commons to a possible anti-Semitic movement in this country as result of the present world turmoil. We are convinced that such a movement must be hindered by the sense of justice, the sense of humor and the abundant kindliness of the English people. Nonetheless, it seems to us necessary that there should be a public expression of the feeling of the vast majority of Christian English people that, in whatever form and however modified it may be, anti-Semitism remains a wicked folly, utterly opposed to the spirit and letter of the teaching of our lord.

“We are addressing this letter to you as members of the church of England, priests and laymen of differing ecclesiastical views and varying political attachments. We know that we are speaking the mind of our brethren and of the greater Christian public. We would assure Jewish fellow-countrymen that we have the fullest appreciation of the contribution that they have made and are making in various ways to the national life. We would assure them that we utterly repudiate racial discrimination. We would assure them that we are all children of one father, as we are citizens of the same great country which through the centuries has proved its genius for the most advantageous adoptions.”