THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 25, 1994 TAG: 9407210013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Anthony Lewis' column ``Christian right targets Clinton'' (op-ed, July 18) is insulting and distasteful. Mr. Lewis' attempt to distort the true beliefs of religious broadcaster Pat Robertson is another attempt to marginalize people of faith. In this case, Mr. Lewis obviously believes the country is facing some sort of constitutional crisis because Pat Robertson has deeply held religious beliefs and exercises his citizenship through politics.
You will not find a stronger advocate of the U.S. Constitution than Pat Robertson. To suggest that he is one of the leaders of the Christian right who wants to ``substitute their vision of a religious policy for the secular system of government'' is absolutely absurd.
Pat Robertson strongly endorses the separation of church and state but stands firm in his constitutional right to express himself freely. He embraces a democracy grounded in Judeo-Christian principles - not a theocracy. He is not trying to force his religious beliefs on anyone. But at the same time, he is being targeted by Mr. Lewis and a growing number of critics who are participating in the fastest-growing sport in America today - Christian bashing.
Mr. Lewis lashes out wildly when he writes, ``It will be an intolerant America if they have their way: something like a Christian version of the Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran. Pat Robertson tells women: `The husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period.''' This is bigotry and the kind of hateful language that Mr. Lewis condemns. To compare a biblically based belief whose author is Paul the apostle (which in its entirety teaches mutual respect and love between husband and wife) to the regime of a dangerous zealot is offensive and repugnant.
To belittle and berate Pat Robertson's religious beliefs because someone does not understand or agree with them is the epitome of intolerance. The problem with Mr. Lewis and other ``attack'' columnists is that they don't understand or believe that Pat Robertson is only asking for equal access to the marketplace of ideas - a place at the table.
GENE KAPP
Vice president, public relations
The Christian Broadcasting Network
Virginia Beach, July 18, 1994 by CNB