THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180742
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
The Christian Coalition's clout went on display Wednesday as a bevy of Republican congressional leaders rushed to endorse the organization's ``Contract With the American Family,'' which seeks to restrict abortions and foster public prayer.
The release of the contract marks the start of a major lobbying effort by the 1.6 million-member Christian Coalition to focus Congress' attention on a conservative social agenda.
House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia was among about two dozen GOP leaders who attended a news conference at which the Chesapeake-based coalition unveiled its legislative agenda.
He said Republicans are ``committed to keeping our faith'' and pledged votes on each of the contract's 10 points so voters would know ``who says in Washington and does in Washington the same thing they say and do at home.''
Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole, R-Kan., did not attend but issued a statement saying the contract will help Congress ``in its fight to end government's sad role in undermining the values that sustain and nurture the American family.''
The organization, founded by evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson of Virginia Beach, was influential in helping to elect a Republican majority in Congress last year and is looking for a payback.
The agenda also reflects a growing pragmatic approach within the coalition, which has been accused of trying to force the Republican Party to accept politically unpopular ideas. Mindful of the 1996 elections for Congress and the presidency, the organization has toned down key parts of its agenda.
For example, the contract does not seek a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion even though that remains an ultimate goal for the organization. Instead, it calls for restrictions on late-term abortions. Although the coalition did not specify what it means by late-term, it said in its literature that 26-week-old fetuses have better than a 50 percent chance of surviving outside the womb.
The organization also called for the repeal of a Clinton administration policy requiring states to use Medicaid funds for abortion. And it urged a halt in federal funding for groups that perform abortions or abortion counseling in the United States or abroad.
``We still support a constitutional amendment,'' said Mike Russell, a spokesman for the coalition. ``But we're looking for legislative goals that can be passed.''
The coalition also is seeking a constitutional amendment to ensure the right of voluntary prayer in public places such as schools and city halls and to display religious symbols such as nativity scenes or menorahs.
Dole committed himself to the effort, saying, ``I believe that we must restore religious expression to its rightful place in our national conversation and our public life.''
Other elements of the contract include:
Dismantling the federal Department of Education and giving greater control of public school policies to states and localities.
Aid to help low-income parents send their children to private schools.
A $500 tax credit for each child in a family and tax-free retirement savings for homemakers.
Banning the spread of pornography through computers or cable television.
Ending federal funding for public television and radio and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.
Laws that would protect the rights of legal guardians to educate and discipline their children.
Requiring criminals to make restitution to their victims and achieve literacy before being paroled.
Passing tax laws that would encourage charitable contributions.
In an effort to promote the contract, the coalition placed a large advertisement in Wednesday's editions of USA Today and plans to soon publish a book elaborating on its agenda. The group also plans to send letters to 5 million sympathizers across the nation asking them to urge their congressmen to support the manifesto.
But Ralph Reed, executive director of the coalition, said he will not ask congressmen or presidential candidates to sign the document or impose deadlines for legislative action. ``These proposals are the 10 suggestions, not the Ten Commandments,'' he said.
Reed vowed to be patient with Congress and receptive to compromise so the coalition can reap ``a place at the table, a sense of legitimacy, and a voice in the conversation we call democracy.''
The go-slow approach - particularly on abortion - did not sit well with many social conservative leaders. ``In the reach for consensus, I think they have given up a little bit in the way of boldness,'' said GOP presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, who favors a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion.
On the other hand, a host of moderate and liberal public interest groups accused the coalition of taking a first step toward imposing a religious agenda on the nation.
Kate Michelman, president of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, said the coalition's proposed ban on Medicaid funding for abortions will hurt poor women. ``It's alarming that Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed and their allies have such strong support in the current Republican leadership of Congress,'' she said.
And the Baptist Joint Committee plans to oppose a constitutional amendment for voluntary public prayer. ``We see that, throughout history, as church and state grow closer, coercion starts,'' said Melissa Rogers, associate general counsel for the group. MEMO: Staff writer Esther Diskin contributed to this story.
ILLUSTRATION: Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson founded the 1.6
million-member Christian Coalition.
by CNB