wfn.org | UCC does not support drug decriminalization

[powellb@ucc.org]

Oct. 23, 1996
United Church of Christ
Hans Holznagel, press contact
(216) 736-2214
E-mail:  holznagh@ucc.org
On the World Wide Web:  http://www.ucc.org
OR
the Rev. Matthew J. McCaffrey, UCC Connecticut Conference
(860) 233-5563

A D V I S O R Y :

Reports claiming United Church of Christ supports
decriminalization of drugs are in error

EDITORS AND PRODUCERS:  Contrary to some media reports, a
regional body of the United Church of Christ is not calling
for the legalization or decriminalization of drugs.

Delegates to the Oct. 19-20 annual meeting of the Connecticut
Conference, a regional body of the United Church of Christ,
passed a resolution encouraging "our churches" and "our
legislators" to support steps such as:

* an increase in education about drugs;

* more treatment and counseling for substance abuse in prisons
and in society;

* "a reduction in the use of incarceration for minor
offenses"; and

* "an increase in the use of alternatives to incarceration."

The action calls neither for legalization nor
decriminalization of drugs or drug use.

Confusion about the church body's action began with an Oct. 21
article in The Hartford Courant and a condensed version that
subsequently moved on The Associated Press' regional wire
serving Connecticut and parts of New York and Massachusetts. 
These reported that "a United Church of Christ task force"
recommended that the state's local UCC churches study "the
issue" or "the idea" of "decriminalizing drug use."

This language stemmed from the fact that a conference task
force had been formed in 1994 to "study the pros and cons of
decriminalization of drugs in combination with increases of
treatment and education" toward reducing "drug abuse and its
devastation."  This task force made a report on its two-year
study at the Oct. 19-20 meeting and used the word
"decriminalization" in its oral report.  But the task force
made no recommendation for action by the delegates on
decriminalization.

For more information, contact the Rev. Matthew J. McCaffrey, a
communication officer with the Connecticut Conference, United
Church of Christ, Hartford, (860) 233-5563; or Hans Holznagel,
Office of Communication, United Church of Christ, Cleveland,
(216) 736-2214.

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