
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 10, 1994                   TAG: 9401100083
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: LANCASTER, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Short

QUAYLE URGES CHURCHGOERS TO BE OPEN ABOUT THEIR BELIEFS

Former Vice President Dan Quayle told more than 2,000 churchgoers Sunday that they must "come out of the closet" to proclaim publicly the importance of religion and family values, despite what he termed widespread bigotry against conservative Christians.

Speaking at a $100-a-plate breakfast and later at a church dedication ceremony, Quayle also thanked President Clinton for noting recently that Quayle had raised a valid point in the "family values" campaign debate that Quayle launched with a criticism of television character Murphy Brown.

On Sunday, Quayle said he has "the greatest admiration for single mothers" and meant "all of our values."

Although the former vice president said he was in Lancaster to talk about religion rather than politics, Quayle, 46, indicated interest in a 1996 presidential bid, saying he plans to "start looking hard at '96" after the 1994 midterm congressional elections.

Using a phrase often associated with homosexuals proclaiming their sexual orientation, Quayle told the Lancaster Baptist Church gathering, "We need to come out of the closet and speak up for family values like responsibility, integrity, hard work, fidelity and compassion."

He also complained that fundamentalist Christians are "taught to be tolerant of others," but are often the subjects of intolerance.

"Today, the only acceptable form of bigotry in our society is bigotry against conservative Christians," Quayle said.

Quayle's breakfast speech attracted a small protest by five abortion-rights activists, all members of the National Organization for Women.

by CNB