Walter Van Kirk. secretary of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. a council which represents 25 percent of the largest and most influential denominations of the country. Though he did not. the numbers and power of the denominations which he represents might well have allowed him to say that he spoke with the Protestant voice of America on this bill. He said: As I understand the bill before the committee. it is ndt proposed that East Indians shall be accorded any specialfavors but only that the stigma of racial discrimination. insofar as those people are concerned. shall be removed from our immigration and naturalization laws. This is an action dictated by the ethical precepts of the Christian religion. and by the concern of the American people that the principles of democracy and fair play shall become operative throughout the world. * * * It is the belief of the Federal Council of Churches that such racial discrimination * * * does violence to the Christian view of one humanity under God. and is contrary to the democratic principles upon which this country was founded. Thus speaks eternal principle. which is a far firmer foundation for lawmaking than either military. economic. or political expediency: and I do not have any doubt that it is upon this firm and eternal. principle that we will legislate today.
Keywords matched
naturalization immigration