wfn.org | Edgar Thanks Bush for Moderating Statement

["NCC News" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

EDGAR THANKS BUSH FOR MODERATING STATEMENT

The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA has sent a
message to President Bush thanking him for defending the right of religious
people "to express their opposition without being accused of being less
religious and less patriotic than their opponents."

In response to question in his news conference Thursday night, Bush cautioned
his supporters and government officials against accusing religious groups who
oppose their programs of being "against persons of faith" or of being
unpatriotic.

The president said that people in political office should not accuse their
opponents of being "not equally American if you don't happen to agree with my
view on religion."

Earlier this week, Edgar had objected to accusations by organizers of the
April 24 "Justice Sunday" telecast that religious groups who opposed
President Bush's judicial appointments were supporting "anti-Christian
dogma," or were "against persons of faith."

Appearing on Fox's "Hannitty & Colmes" and MSNBC's "Scarborough Country"
Monday night, Edgar and other moderate church leaders urged their critics to
tone down the rhetoric. In his e-mail, Edgar thanked Bush for doing just
that.

"Your statement Thursday night about faith and patriotism goes a long way
toward easing a debate that has become increasingly contentious over the past
several days," Edgar wrote. 

The full text of the e-mail follows.

Dear Mr. President:

Your statement Thursday night about faith and patriotism goes a long way
toward easing a debate that has become increasingly contentious over the past
several days. As you know, persons who rallied under the banner of the Family
Research Council Sunday night eloquently defended your judicial appointments.
However, many Americans thought their rhetoric crossed the line when speakers
suggested (and in some cases declared openly) that persons who disagreed with
them were not persons of faith. It was particularly disappointing to us when
Senator Frist said that people who disagreed with your judicial appointments
were "against people of faith."

The National Council of Churches encompasses more than 45 million believers
across a broad spectrum of theology and politics who work together on issues
important to our society. It seems entirely inappropriate when lobbyists and
government officials accuse their fellow Christians of being "against persons
of faith." 

Mr. President, you stated quite forthrightly that people in political office
should not accuse their opponents of being "not equally American if you don't
happen to agree with my view on religion." I am sure many persons in the
100,000 congregations represented by the National Council of Churches support
you wholeheartedly, just as many others cherish the right to express their
opposition without being accused of being less religious and less patriotic
than their opponents.

Thank you, Mr. President, for defending the right of all of us to participate
in the political process as our faith compels--and on all sides of the
political spectrum.

Sincerely,

Bob Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches