NOTE: I apologize for getting these to you so late, I've been out with the flu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- INCLUDED HERE: -- Christian Coalition Joins Forces with Moon Front Group -- AU Advises PA Board of Education to Reject Creationist Science Standards FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2000 Americans United for Separation of Church and State Contact: Rob Boston or Steve Benen 202-466-3234 202-466-2587 fax www.au.org CHRISTIAN COALITION JOINS FORCES WITH MOON FRONT GROUP FOR MEDIA EVENT AT SUPREME COURT Pat Robertson Statement At Moon Press Conference Came One Day After TV Preacher's Criticism Of Moon As 'Cult Leader' Christian Coalition President Pat Robertson may think the Rev. Sun Myung Moon is a "cult leader," but he apparently doesn't mind joining forces with him to achieve common political goals. On Dec. 1, Moon's American Clergy Leadership Conference sponsored a press conference in front of the Supreme Court to coincide with legal arguments at the high court over the Florida election results. The event was billed as a nonpartisan, interfaith call to "unite upon the common ground of America's tradition of faith in God to prevent the continued partisan struggle over the election results in Florida from further polarizing the nation." Among the speakers was Dr. Daniel Perkins, a representative of Robertson's Christian Coalition who read a formal statement from the TV preacher. Robertson's participation in the event is especially ironic given his attack on Moon the day before. In a Nov. 30 essay called "How to Recognize a Cult" -- posted on Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network website -- the TV preacher said one hallmark of a cult is the "exaltation of the leader of the cult." "Cults," said Robertson, "often center around a man or woman who is trying to gain power, money or influence from manipulating people. This appears to be the case in the Unification church with Sun Myung Moon." Moon, a controversial Korean evangelist, has made repeated efforts to reach out to evangelical Christians, and he has succeeded in establishing a cordial working relationship with TV preacher Jerry Falwell and several other Religious Right leaders. The ties exist despite a Moon theology that differs sharply from orthodox Christianity. Moon claims he is a new messiah who has been sent by God to complete the failed mission of Jesus. Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, who call themselves "True Parents," want all Christians to unite under their divine authority. The American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), which sponsored the Supreme Court event, was founded in May of this year at Moon's behest. According to the Rev. Michael Jenkins, a top Moon official (who presided at the Supreme Court press conference), the ACLC is part of Moon's plan to melt down all denominational barriers to form one body of Christ. In a May 21 sermon, Moon said, "America is founded based on Christianity..No one denominational leader can make unity; unity can come only by the guidance of True Parents. And by uniting they can save America and have an impact to create unity in the world." The ACLC received its greatest press attention this year when it helped cosponsor Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan's Oct. 16 Million Family March in Washington, D.C. The Moon relationship with Farrakhan apparently remains strong. Minister Benjamin Muhammed of the Million Family March was one of the speakers at the ACLC press conference at the Supreme Court. Robertson's contribution to the press conference is only one small part of his all-out drive to put Republican George W. Bush in the White House. Robertson and his Christian Coalition worked for Bush's election in the GOP primary and the general election, distributing millions of voter guides. Since Nov. 7, Robertson's legal group has intervened in the courts on Bush's behalf. Observers of the Religious Right say the budding Robertson-Moon relationship is a remarkable development on the religious and political scene. The Moon alliance suggests Robertson is willing to put aside fundamental religious differences to achieve a political objective. "They say politics makes strange bedfellows," said Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "But the Moon-Robertson marriage of convenience is a new height of absurdity. I wonder if the Christian Coalition rank-and-file will approve of Robertson's new ties to a man Robertson himself regards as a cult leader. "Moon and Robertson have a lot in common," continued Lynn. "Both have built billion-dollar religious empires, and both have run into trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. But I don't believe the Moon-Robertson marriage will last. Both men think they're destined to run America -- if not the world -- and they can't both be right." Americans United is a church-state watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents 60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states. -30- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2000 Americans United for Separation of Church and State Contact: Joseph Conn or Rob Boston 202-466-3234 202-466-2587 fax www.au.org AMERICANS UNITED ADVISES PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REJECT CREATIONIST SCIENCE STANDARDS Standards Could Lead Local School Districts Into Lawsuits, Watchdog Group Warns New science standards under consideration in Pennsylvania open the door to religious indoctrination in public schools and could lead to lawsuits, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has charged. In a Dec. 4 letter to Pennsylvania Board of Education President James P. Gallagher, Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn warned that the proposed standards "raise grave constitutional and public policy concerns." Added Lynn, "I'm writing today to urge you to revise these new standards to reflect sound constitutional law and appropriate science education." The standards state that teachers may present theories in science class "that do or do not support the theory of evolution" and that schools may "analyze the impact of new scientific facts on the theory of evolution." Lynn charged that this is code language designed to win a spot for creationism in science classes. In recent years, he noted, some fundamentalist Christians have begun referring to their ideas about creationism as "intelligent design" or "evidence against evolution." In his letter to Gallagher, Lynn wrote, "The new science standards under consideration by the board clearly open the door to religious intrusion into the public school science curriculum. If local school districts follow these standards -- and alter their curriculum to conform to religious tenets -- lawsuits are certain to result. We strongly urge you not to give bad advice to school administrators and science teachers through poorly worded science standards." Lynn noted that State Rep. Samuel Rhorer, an advocate of the new standards, told the Philadelphia Inquirer recently, "I'm not a scientist, but I've done enough reading to know that the whole concept of natural selection and evolution is not science. It's not repeatable. It's a theory. You can talk about chemistry, physics -- those things are all a matter of fact. Evolution is a religious tenet. It's a tenet of secular humanism and of Marxism and Communism." Lynn urged Gallagher not to let creationists drag Pennsylvania into a costly and drawn-out battle over religion in public schools. "Instead," he wrote, "Pennsylvania needs science and technology standards that are free from sectarian dogma, that instruct its children in the fundamental principles of modern biology and that spur all of the state's public school children to aspire to excellence." Pennsylvania is considering the controversial change despite praise for the state's existing science curriculum. Earlier this year, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation surveyed all 50 states and assigned them letter grades on the basis of how they teach evolution. Pennsylvania was one of only 10 states to receive an A. "This is an achievement of which the board can be justifiably proud," noted AU's Lynn. "It would highly ironic if the board were to now turn its back on that progress and denigrate the teaching of evolution in any way." Although once considered a settled question, the debate over evolution and creationism has erupted as a major issue in recent years. During the last decade, 20 states have faced legal, legislative or policy conflicts over the role of religion in public school science classes. Americans United is a church-state watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents 60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states. -30- ____________________________________________ Beth Corbin National Grassroots Organizer Americans United for Separation of Church and State 518 C Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 PH: 202-466-3234 FAX: 202-466-2587 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.au.org
