Interfaith Clergy Letter: Support Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

[Ian David]

Interfaith Clergy Letter
Support the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105)

Religious Organizations Lend Their Support

April 12, 2007

Dear Senator,

As representatives of a diverse array of religious communities, we write to urge you to co-sponsor and vote in support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In the 109th Congress, the House approved an identical bill on Sept. 14, 2005 as an amendment to H.R. 3132, the Children’s Safety Act, with a bipartisan majority of 223-199.

Hate is neither a religious nor American value. The sacred scriptures of many different faith traditions speak with dramatic unanimity on the subject of hate. Crimes motivated by hatred or bigotry are an assault not only upon individual victims' freedoms, but also upon a belief that lies at the core of our diverse faith traditions — that every human being is created in the image of God. While we recognize that legislation alone cannot remove hatred from the hearts and minds of individuals, the LLEHCPA will serve as a crucial step in building a society where hate-motivated crimes are deemed intolerable.

In 2005, the FBI documented 7,163 hate crimes directed against institutions and individuals because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. But these troubling statistics do not speak for themselves — because behind each and every one of these incidents are individuals, families and communities deeply impacted by these crimes. The LLEHCPA will streamline the process for the Department of Justice to assist local authorities to investigate and prosecute these cases — and permit federal involvement in cases that occur because of a victim’s gender, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Existing federal law is inadequate to address the significant national problem of hate crimes. Not only does current law contain obstacles to effective enforcement, but it also does not provide authority to investigate and prosecute bias crimes based on disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. We are morally obligated to call for laws to protect all Americans from hate-motivated violence.

The LLEHCPA does not in any way violate the First Amendment protections of offenders. Hate crime laws do not restrict speech. Rather, they target only criminal conduct prompted by prejudice. Some critics of the LLEHCPA have erroneously asserted that enactment of the measure would prohibit the lawful expression of one’s deeply held religious beliefs. These fears are unfounded. The LLEHCPA does not punish, nor prohibit in any way preaching or other expressions of religious belief, name-calling or even expressions of hatred toward any group. It covers only violent actions that result in death or bodily injury.

Although we believe that state and local governments should continue to have the primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, an expanded federal role is necessary to ensure adequate and equitable response to these divisive crimes. The federal government must have authority to address those important cases in which local authorities are either unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute.

Now is the time for Congress to publicly reaffirm its commitment to protect all Americans from such flagrant bias-motivated violence. As people of faith and leaders in the religious community, we are committed to eradicating the egregious hatred and violence which divides our society. We believe that the LLEHCPA is vital to this struggle, and we ask you to support its passage.

Respectfully,

* African American Ministers in Action
* American Conference of Cantors
* American Islamic Congress
* American Jewish Committee
* Anti-Defamation League
* B’nai B’rith International
* Buddhist Peace Fellowship
* Catholics for a Free Choice
* Central Conference of American Rabbis
* Disciples Justice Action Network
* The Episcopal Church
* Equal Partners in Faith
* Friends Committee on National Legislation
* Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America
* Jewish Council for Public Affairs
* Jewish Labor Committee
* Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
* Methodist Federation for Social Action
* Moderator’s Global Justice Team of Metropolitan Community Churches
* National Council of Jewish Women
* North American Federation of Temple Youth
* Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office
* Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
* The Interfaith Alliance
* Union for Reform Judaism
* Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
* United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
* United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
* United Methodist Church, General Commission on Religion and Race
* United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
* Women of Reform Judaism

More:
http://www.clergyagainsthate.org/signon.htm

[Ian David]

1. I'm giving this one a self-kick, because it needs to be shown that not all religionists are bad.

See also:

Without gay priests Church would be lost claims Bishop Gene
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=55251&mesg_id=55251

Fresno Catholic Workers and others support homeless woman vs. McDonald’s Updated at 12:57 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1462240&mesg_id=1462240

Ketchum: Tammy Faye set example of strong faith
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1459616&mesg_id=1459616

[Ian David]

2. Another self-kick. n/t

[Ian David]

3. And a third self-kick. Hello? ECHO!!!... ECHO!!... ECHO!... Echo... echo...

What?

Don't any of our outspoken religionists want to endorse this?

Aren't any of them proud when churches do stuff like this?

Anyone??

[bobbolink]

4. After being bashed repeatedly here for speaking AGAINST church-hating, many of us just can't care

much anymore.

It's no longer my fight, sad as that is.

[Ian David]

5. I've cautioned people myself not to paint all churches, or all religious groups...

with the same, broad brush.

For example, the Unitarian Universalists and The United Church of Christ are very nice.

And for another example, I corrected someone who falsely labeled The Catholic Worker as a "Christofascist" group.

Look, you have a club where everyone believes in the same invisible friend, and it makes you feel good. That's fine. And a lot of those clubs also do a lot of good.

Some don't. And most are a mixed bag of good and bad.

I think you should stay here and make sure that people know the difference.

And you go back to your church or house of worship and you let them know when and if they are doing a good job or a bad job.

[bobbolink]

6. "And you go back to your church or house of worship and you let them know when and if they are doing

Thanks for the marching orders.

What I've told them is that their support is not appreciated.

And, thanks for your little slam.

It's no more attractive on your side, than on the other side.

I was just explaining to you why you may not be getting responses.

But, judging from your reply, I think you already knew that.

TaTa, and have fun.

[Ian David]

9. I didn't mean it as a slam.

If I were trying to slam you, I would have said, "Imaginary Friend" and not "Invisible Friend."

[LanternWaste]

10. Because one is only minimizing without being derogatory?

Because one merely minimizes the faith of others without being derogatory? :shrug:

[bobbolink]

7. "And you go back to your church or house of worship and you let them know when and if they are doing

Thanks for the marching orders.

What I've told them is that their support is not appreciated.

And, thanks for your little slam.

It's no more attractive on your side, than on the other side.

I was just explaining to you why you may not be getting responses.

But, judging from your reply, I think you already knew that.

TaTa, and have fun.

[Tyler Durden]

8. My two best friends in Owosso: the Rector of the Episcopal Church and the UCC Pastor.

And I am as close to an atheist as you can get without saying it out loud.

Two of the most MORAL and socially upright people in Shiawassee county.