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- Dear Friend,
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- For many, many years, I did my best to report on the issues of the day in as objective a
manner as possible. When I had my own strong opinions, as I often did, I tried not to
communicate them to my audience.
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- Now, however, my circumstances are different. I am in a position to speak my mind. And
that is what I propose to do.
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- For a decade, I have watched with growing apprehension the rise to real political influence
in our country of a genuinely radical movement known as the religious right wing.
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- This movement, whose lead organization calls itself the Christian Coalition, has a militant
ideology -- one that encourages deep hostility toward those who disagree with its agenda.
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- It is lavishly funded. According to published reports, the Christian Coalition alone has an
annual operating budget in excess of $20 million.
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- This movement is tightly organized. And it is led, says Christian Coalition Executive
Director Ralph Reed, by political operatives who have earned for themselves "an
advanced degree in hardball politics."
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- As a political organization, the Christian Coalition has been a great success.
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- It is a textbook example of what a relatively small number of skilled and committed
political organizers can accomplish within our democratic system. But with the Christian
Coalition, I have a real problem.
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- I consider myself a person of faith. I work very hard at being a Christian. And certainly,
the Christian Coalition does not speak for me.
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- What's more, I am absolutely sure that the Christian Coalition does not speak for the
great majority of men and women of faith in this country. And I, for one, am not prepared
to stand by and permit Mr. Robertson and his friends to get away with wrapping their
harsh right wing views in the banner of religious faith.
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- Do you agree?
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- I hope that you do. And I also hope that you'll join me as an enthusiastic supporter of the
absolutely vital work of TIA -- The Interfaith Alliance.
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- What is The Interfaith Alliance?
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- TIA is a faith-based group whose members are drawn from many religious traditions.
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- On TIA's national board are some of America's most distinguished religious leaders.
Among others, they include Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches...Most Reverend Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop of the
Episcopal Church...Catholic Bishops Francis Murphy of Baltimore and Thomas
Gumbleton of Detroit...Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, former President of the American Jewish
Congress... Reverend Gardner Taylor, co-founder with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the
Progressive Baptist Convention...Denise Davidoff, Moderator of the Unitarian
Universalist Association.
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- TIA is a diverse group -- as diverse as America. And its members have come together for
the purpose of standing up to the Christian Coalition and other radical right wing groups
and individuals who wrap themselves in the language and symbolism of religious faith.
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- From a mere handful of people a little more than a year ago, TIA has grown into an
organization of 40,000 with local alliances in 35 states. And every month, it is adding
thousands of new members. In Tennessee and Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania,
Missouri and Texas, TIA is on the move.
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- TIA chapters have challenged and exposed right wing "stealth" candidates for local
school boards -- published and distributed their own voter guides -- testified before state
legislative committees.
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- TIA is the mainstream.
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- With passion, TIA supports the precious American tradition of religious liberty and the
separation of church and state. And loudly and clearly, TIA proclaims that Pat Robertson,
Ralph Reed and their friends are not -- repeat not -- mandated to speak on behalf of the
community of faith.
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- But in order to pose a real challenge to the right wing extremists, TIA must continue to
grow.
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- TIA must be in a position to serve as a voice -- as an organizing focus -- as a base from
which people of good will can stand and fight against the forces of extremism and division.
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- But to do all of that, TIA most urgently needs our help.
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- Will you take a stand? Will you help TIA in saying "No" to religion as a political cover --
"No" to Pat Robertson -- "No" to Ralph Reed -- "No" to Jerry Falwell?
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- I hope very much that you will. And I hope, too, that in your support for TIA's work, you
will be as generous as you possibly can.
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- TIA asks supporters to make an annual membership contribution of $25. But if you can, I
urge you to do more. Your gift of $50, $100, $250 or even $500 will help TIA grow strong.
And that, I submit to you, can only be a good and helpful thing for our country.
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- A lot of good people are counting on you. Please say "Yes."
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- Sincerely,
- Walter Cronkite
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