
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 5, 1995                   TAG: 9504050071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CHRISTIAN COALITION LEADER MOVES TO REPAIR RIFT WITH JEWISH GROUPS

The executive director of the Christian Coalition, trying to soothe tensions with Jewish groups, says Christian conservatives ``have at times been insensitive'' to the sufferings of Jews.

Ralph Reed also told the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith that ``not all who share our faith'' have demonstrated an appreciation for the traumas suffered by Jews.

``There is, sadly, a measure of culpability among some segments of the Christian community for these horrors.''

And he specifically criticized those who claim ``that this is a Christian nation, suggesting that others may not be welcome.''

Relations between the groups have been strained since last June, when the Anti-Defamation League put out a report that accused the Christian Coalition's founder, Pat Robertson, of promoting religious intolerance and trying to destroy the constitutional separation between church and state. The Christian Coalition put out its own report two months later charging the league with ``defaming'' religious conservatives.

The league's national director, Abraham Foxman, was quoted in Tuesday's New York Times as saying he welcomed Reed's remarks as ``a major step in mutual respect'' between the two groups.

``One of the constant irritations to the Jewish community emanating from the Christian evangelical or religious right rhetoric was the frequent use of `Christian nation' and `Christian America,' because it carried with it the baggage of history,'' Foxman said.

The Washington Times quoted Foxman as saying that the two groups ``simply differ on basic points of constitutional law, particularly regarding separation of church and state.''

Reed told the league, ``The Christian Coalition believes in a nation that is not officially Christian, Jewish or Muslim, a nation where the separation of church and state is complete and inviolable.''

But he said that, to the detriment of both Christians and Jews, the government and courts have ``confused freedom of religion and freedom from religion.'' He said the groups need to ally themselves ``to achieve moral stability and a sense of community based on shared values.''

``We ... share the challenge of maintaining a vibrant and vital religious life in a secular and free society,'' he said.

by CNB