The constitutionally erected wall of separation between church and state is the only viable foundation for maintaining religious freedom and for preserving our public school system. The patchwork of recent court decisions and State and Federal legislation concerning aid to parochial schools threatens to erode that wall. Justifications for such aid are based on (1) separability of religious and secular functions of parochial schools, (2) provision of proper public welfare assistance to all students, even when they are not enrolled in public schools, (3) cries of discrimination against religion, or (4) saving of taxpayers' money. Some of these justifications are couched in fallacious reasoning and all become unimportant in the face of constitutional principle. Current aid to parochial schools is establishing the precedent for future demands for aid by more religious groups who desire to segregate their children from the public schools, which have been of vital importance as a great cultural "melting pot" for national unity. (DE)