Submitted to and Passed by the AEU 63rd Assembly

Whereas, legislators in many states have passed or are considering various proposals for financial assistance to private and parochial schools; and

Whereas, many elected and appointed public officials, including those in the federal government support and favor such proposals; and

Whereas, such aid is not only a violation of the guarantee of religious liberty as stated in the First Amendment to the Constitution, and more specifically, in many constitutions of the individual states; and

Whereas, such use of tax funds diminishes support of public education and violates the Jeffersonian principle “to compel a man to furnish through taxation contributions for the propagation of religions in which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical”; and

Whereas, governmental support of parochial schools encourages religious and ethnic divisiveness;

Therefore Be It Resolved, that the American Ethical Union and its constituent bodies and individual members strenuously oppose with all the means at their disposal, including time, energy and financial resources, these efforts and uphold the principle of free public schools as a cornerstone of our democracy, leaving support of private and parochial schools to those religions and organizations who wish to operate and pay for them without government assistance.