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Jewish Congress Opposes Federal Funds for Church-operated Colleges

June 20, 1963
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The American Jewish Congress today testified here against Federal funds for church-operated colleges and universities as well as for elementary and high schools.

“We see no distinction between a parochial school or an institution of higher learning if both are controlled and maintained by religious bodies,” Leo Pfeffer, general counsel of the Jewish group told a hearing of the Senate Sub-Committee on Education here today. “Neither has the right to claim public funds” he added.

“Our opposition to such aid is based not on any hostility to religion, but because we see a grave danger to the independence of our country’s religious institutions and a basic threat to American freedom in any plan that would breach the church-state separation principle by giving public funds to church-operated schools on any level,” he stated.

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