THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220195
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LAURA MECKLER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 89 lines
A Christian Coalition leader's suggestion that evangelicals tone down harsh attacks on homosexuals and President Clinton is sparking fresh debate over where to draw the line between religion and politics.
``Every word we say should reflect God's grace,'' coalition director Ralph Reed writes in his new book, ``Active Faith,'' excerpted in Newsweek this month. ``This is easy when dealing with allies, but the Bible tells us to love our enemies.''
On Clinton, Reed writes: ``Some of the opposition has been deeply personal, attacking his character rather than his policies, and in so doing, risks permanent damage to the office he occupies. . . . If Bill Clinton is a sinner, he is no worse than you or me.''
On gay bashing: ``Calling gays `perverts' or announcing that AIDS is `God's judgment' on the gay community is not consistent with our Christian call to mercy.''
The reception from some has been chilly, if not outright hostile.
Jerry Falwell, whose Liberty Alliance is singled out in Reed's book as over the line, predicted that as Reed ``gets older he'll be more careful about questioning the persons in his own movement who may have been at it longer than he.''
Reed argues that many in his movement are not behaving in a Christian way when they use hateful language in place of legitimate policy debates.
``I think our movement is a movement of love and compassion and concern for human compassion,'' he said in an interview. ``We've seen a coarsening of our political discourse that needs to be softened and made humane, and I think Christians can be an important part of that softening process.''
Many Christian leaders said they agree with Reed on his philosophical point - that Christians must separate the sin from the sinner. But they do not agree on its application to politics.
``I do believe the president of the United States is open game regarding his conduct,'' said Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Character is fair game, agreed Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission, based in Nashville, Tenn. ``Any man that would cheat on his wife would cheat you,'' he said.
Christians must use ``great care and caution'' when choosing their language, but they cannot compromise their beliefs, said Bill Merrell, a vice president with the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee.
``We do not have the permission as Christians to be less than forthright,'' he said. ``We have an obligation to say what we believe God has stated,'' adding that the Southern Baptist Convention teaches that ``homosexuality is a practice disapproved by God.''
Falwell said there is nothing wrong with calling homosexuals ``perverts.''
``I think it's fair to say that homosexuality is a moral perversion,'' Falwell said. ``I think that a person who is practicing moral perversion is a moral pervert.''
Meanwhile, Reed didn't score any points with gay-rights advocates either.
``This move to attempt to stop the really cruel gay bashing is completely disingenuous,'' said Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, a national gay and lesbian rights organization.
``The truth is his members won't let him do this anyway,'' she added. ``Every time Ralph Reed tries to strategically move to the center, he is yanked back by his members.''
Some in the Christian community agree.
``I think Ralph Reed is being very true to his faith when he calls for civility, and I think a call from him, particularly when he is known by many for his harshness, is welcome,'' said the Rev. William H. Willimon of the Duke Divinity School.
``It sounds like he is attempting to give a real leadership to this,'' he added. ``With some of his followers, he may pay a price.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Ralph Reed's ``Active Faith'' is stirring debate.
Graphic
WHAT REED SAYS
ON CLINTON: ``Some of the opposition has been deeply personal,
attacking his character rather than his policies, and in so doing,
risks permanent damage to the office he occupies. . . . If Bill
Clinton is a sinner, he is no worse than you or me.''
ON GAY BASHING: ``Calling gays `perverts' or announcing that AIDS
is `God's judgment' on the gay community is not consistent with our
Christian call to mercy.''
A RESPONSE: Jerry Falwell predicted that as Reed ``gets older
he'll be more careful about questioning the persons in his own
movement who may have been at it longer than he.''
SOURCE: Excerpts from Ralph Reed's forthcoming book, ``Active
Faith''
KEYWORDS: CHRISTIAN COALITION by CNB