NCJW Applauds Supreme Court Decision on Funding Religious Education
February 26, 2004, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) applauds the decision of the US Supreme Court that upholds the Washington state ban on funding religious education. NCJW President Marsha Atkind issued the following statement:
“NCJW is pleased that in Locke v. Davey the US Supreme Court has decided to uphold the provision in Washington state law that bans funding religious education. This case involved a decision by the state to withhold scholarship money for training persons pursuing a religious vocation. Had the court not upheld the state’s ban, taxpayers would have been forced to fund the education of rabbis, priests, ministers, and other religious officials.
“Indeed, as Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote in the 7-2 majority opinion, ‘Training someone to lead a congregation is an essentially religious endeavor. Indeed, majoring in devotional theology is akin to a religious calling as well as an academic pursuit.’
“While this case does not undo recent decisions permitting the use of vouchers to fund education in secular schools, it does draw a bright line that should give pause to those advocating faith-based initiatives that fund religious activity.”
NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.
Contact:
Erin Glazer
202 296 2588; erin@ncjwdc.org