CUNTON page 68

that religious freedom basically mote thier prayers, their religious
was a coin with two sides," he beliefs."
Many of the pro-prayer groups
said. 'The Constitution protect-
ed the free exercise of religion, also argue that they are victims
but prohibited the establishment of a pervasive anti-religion, anti-
of religion. It's a careful balance Christian conspiracy; even advo-
that's uniquely American. It is cates of church-state separation
the genius of the First Amend- who also favor a strong religious
ment. It does not, as some people presence in the public forum, in-
have implied, make us a religion- cluding most Jewish leaders, are
free country. It has made us the regarded as part of this malevo-
most religious country in the lent cabal.
That too, suggests that the
world."
Mr. Clinton was right on the Christian Right is seeking some-
money, according to Jewish ac- thing more than the right for chil-
tivists in Washington, in chal- dren to quietly say grace in school
lenging some of the basic cafeterias. It represents a rank
assumptions of the school prayer appeal to religious bigotry that
advocates, while not denying the can only add to the divisiveness
important role religion can play of the debate, Jewish leaders
in reversing the nation's moral worry.
President Clinton's speech last
slide.
The real issue here is that Clin- week represented an effort to
ton — like Jewish leaders around force the debate back to the facts,
the country — believes that the which is what Jewish groups
Christian Right groups that are attempting all along. And it
driving the religious equality represents an effort to force
amendment are playing a two- Christian Right leaders to be
more honest about motives which
faced game.
On the surface, organizations Clinton and most Jewish leaders
like the Christian Coalition insist suspect have little to do with a
they are promoting religious ex- nonsectarian devotion to Judeo-
pression in a generic sense, and Christian values. LI
that school prayer and invoca-
tions at public gatherings should
be genuinely nonsectarian and
non-coercive.
But if that is their real goal,
Jewish leaders argue, the Chris- Washington (JTA) — States can
tian activists and their congres- continue to invoke harsher pun-
sional backers should be content ishments for people who vandal-
with the President's approach, ize places of worship than for
which emphasizes the need to ed- those convicted of other types of
ucate government officials and vandalism, the Supreme Court
teachers about exactly what cur- declared.
rent law allows and what is for-
By refusing to hear an appeal
bidden because of church-state of a Florida case, the high court
considerations.
upheld a state law allowing for
In fact, it has become an article stricter punishments when places
of faith for Christian Right groups of worship are vandalized.
that current law is not enough;
The American Jewish Con-
many continue to insist that only gress, which filed a friend of the
a Constitutional amendment dra- court brief supporting the state,
matically expanding the right welcomed the decision.
to religious speech in public
"The challenged statute vio-
forums can protect their religious lates neither the Establishment
liberties.
Clause nor the equal protection
To buttress that argument, provisions of the U.S. and Flori-
they cite a battery of anecdotes da constitutions," said AJ-
about children prohibited from Congress President David Kahn.
saying grace in school lunch-
Under the Establishment
rooms or barred from holding Clause, which serves as the ba-
after-school Bible classes.
sis for the separation of church
But those activities, as the and state, the government can
President pointed out, are al- make no laws favoring a partic-
ready permitted; in instances ular religion.
when they are not, it is because
Two Florida men who were
local officials misunderstand the convicted of spray painting anti-
densely worded body of church- religious sentiments on three
state law.
churches challenged a state
`They say that what they want statute making it a felony to de-
is voluntary and nonsectarian," face religious buildings, such as
said an official with one Jewish churches, synagogues and
group here. "But their actions — mosques.
the exaggerations they use, their
Jason Todd and Joseph
insistence that we need to tam- Huchinson, who were sentenced
per with the Constitution to pro- to 15 years' probation, argued
tect activities that are already that the law was unconstitution-
protected — lead to the suspicion al.
that their motives are actually
Under the Florida statute, the
very sectarian and very divisive. maximum penalty for vandaliz-
One is left with the feeling that ing houses of worship is five years
what they really want is to pro- in prison.

Court Backs
Harsher Sentences

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