GOP Leaders Back Wolf-Specter Bill

GOP Leaders Back Wolf-Specter Bill

Republican congressional leadership last month endorsed pending legislation designed to reduce religious persecution, but President Clinton believes the bill could play into the hands of extremists.

After two days of hearings on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and House Speaker Newt Gingrich said they were committed to enacting the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Frank Wolf (CT, Aug. 11, 1997, p. 61). Gingrich called it “one of the top priorities of this Republican Congress,” and supporters are pushing for passage this fall.

But Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights John Shattuck said the act could “seriously harm the very people it seeks to help” by prompting reprisals.

The legislation would create a White House office to monitor religious persecution; ban all exports to foreign nations that sponsor such persecution; halt economic aid to repressive countries; and provide expedited asylum for oppressed religious minorities.

More than 80 religious leaders sent a letter to Lott and Gingrich urging passage. Signatories include National Association of Evangelicals President Don Argue, Family Research Council President Gary Bauer, Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright, Prison Fellowship chair Chuck Colson, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Christian Coalition President Donald Hodel, Institute on Religion and Democracy President Diane Knippers, and Concerned Women for America founder Beverly LaHaye.

In addition, Hodel declared that ending persecution is the Christian Coalition’s “top legislative priority,” and Dobson has sent mailings to 2 million radio listeners, urging them “to keep pressure on Congress to revoke most favored nation status for China next year.”

However, the National Council of Churches is opposing the Wolf-Specter bill, saying it overemphasizes Christian persecution at the expense of Jews and Muslims.

“God’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves compels us to seek religious freedom for all—not just our brothers and sisters in Christ,” says NCC special counsel Oliver Thomas.

While nations—such as Saudi Arabia, China, and Sudan—where Christianity is the most persecuted faith would likely be the primary targets of sanctions, the bill does not give special treatment to any particular religion.

Argue acknowledges that the bill may need to be clarified with amendments.

Copyright © 1997 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The Annual Bible Issue Asks: Do Inclusive-Language Bibles Distort Scripture? Also, the Confessions of a Bible Translator.

Cover Story

Thank God for Our Bibles

Do Inclusive-Language Bibles Distort Scripture? (Part 3 of 4)

Partial-Birth Abortion: States Approving Bans on Partial-Birth Abortion

National Baptists: Lyons Survives Challenge

Reconciliation: Leaders Help Fighting Factions Build Bridges

A Bad Week in Hell

Your Sins Shall Be White as Yucca (Part 1 of 3)

Your Sins Shall Be White As Yucca (Part 2 of 3)

Your Sins Shall Be White As Yucca (Part 3 of 3)

Do Inclusive-Language Bibles Distort Scripture? (Part 1 of 4)

Do Inclusive-Language Bibles Distort Scripture? (Part 2 of 4)

Southern Baptists: Denominational Restructuring Trims 200 Agency Positions

Do Inclusive-Language Bibles Distort Scripture? (Part 4 of 4)

Fraud: New Era's Bennett to Prison, Part 1

Fraud: New Era's Bennett to Prison, Part 2

Trinity Western Accreditation Ordered

Rich Mullins Killed in Crash

Tiller Invites Lawmakers to Facility

Regent Names New President

News

News Briefs: October 27, 1997

Laughter in the Jungle

Fiction: Yes!

MAF Pilots Killed in Mountain Crash

Jewish Scientists Enter Debate

Baptist Library Burglarized, Set Afire

Editorial

The Great Translation Debate

Editorial

Why the World Listened

News

News Briefs: October 27, 1997

On the Shoulders of King James

The Women in Paul's Life

Confessions of a Bible Translator

A View from the Wheelchair

Putting Belief and Practice Back Together

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from October 27, 1997

Testimony: Bennett Confesses 'Dream' Became 'Delusion'

Orthodox Rekindle Evangelistic Heritage

View issue

Our Latest

Latino Churchesโ€™ Vibrant Testimony

Hispanic American congregations tend to be young, vibrant, and intergenerational. The wider church has much to learn with and from them.

Review

Modern โ€˜Technocultureโ€™ Makes the World Feel Unnaturally Godless

By changing our experience of reality, it tempts those who donโ€™t perceive God to conclude that he doesnโ€™t exist.

The Bulletin

A Brief Word from Our Sponsor

The Bulletin recaps the 2024 vice presidential debate, discusses global religious persecution, and explores the dynamics of celebrity Christianity.

News

Evangelicals Struggle to Preach Life in the Top Country for Assisted Death

Canadian pastors are lagging behind a national push to expand MAID to those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

Excerpt

The Chinese Christian Who Helped Overcome Illiteracy in Asia

Yan Yangchu taught thousands of peasants to read and write in the early 20th century.

What Would Lecrae Do?

Why Kendrick Lamarโ€™s question matters.

No More Sundays on the Couch

COVID got us used to staying home. But itโ€™s the work of Godโ€™s people to lift up the name of Christ and receive Godโ€™s Wordโ€”together.

Review

Safety Shouldnโ€™t Come First

A theologian questions our habit of elevating this goal above all others.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube