-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for June 4, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
AANEWS
#582 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/4/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
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A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* Robertson bank deal "good as dead"
* Commission faults Judge Moore
* Wait hits Columbine hysteria
* Resources
* About this list...
ROBERTSON DEAL IN TROUBLE? BANK OF SCOTLAND MAY
SCUTTLE AFTER "DARK COUNTRY," GAY REMARKS
The Bank of Scotland may sever a deal with Pat Robertson after the
American televangelist described Scotland as a "dark country" overrun
by gays. This comes after revelations that Robertson was expanding
his international financial interests by organizing a Cayman
Islands-based corporation to mine gold in Liberia, where human rights
advocates have criticized the regime of President Charles Taylor. In
March, the prestigious Bank of Scotland announced that it was entering
into a partnership with Robertson to provide on-line and
telephone-based financial services to American customers. Robertson
had reserved the name "Bank Direct USA," and the venture was to be
promoted on the NASDAQ exchange with an Initial Public Offering (IPO)
potentially worth "billions of dollars" according to financial
sources.
Bank of Scotland was to have a 60% share in the action, with Robertson
taking a one-fourth interest. The remainder was to have gone to a
Milwaukee firm that would have handled all processing transactions.
News reports said that Robertson was investing $50 million in the new
business; he praised the new Bank of Scotland deal saying that the
institution "could be assured that with me it would be a runaway
success..."
But last week, fortunes for Robertson began to unravel. AANEWS
reported earlier this week that major customers of Bank of Scotland
were severing their ties, or about to do so. In what the Observer and
Guardian newspapers described as "the first major blow," the powerful
Trades Union Congress of the U.K. announced its decision to take it
business elsewhere, and specifically protested the bank's new business
relationship with Robertson. Other charitable groups were
contemplating similar action, and the bank had reportedly lost
hundreds of small individual accounts in protest of the new deal. Gay
and progressive groups, members of the Scottish parliament and even
some church organizations were also taking issue with having one of
that nation's leading financial establishments enter into an agreement
with the controversial founder of Christian Coalition.
Now, word of Robertson's comments on a May 18 broadcast of his "700
Club" television program has surfaced, and may sink this deal.
According to transcripts, Robertson -- a former Southern Baptist
minister -- remarked: "In Europe, the big word is tolerance.
Homosexuals are riding high in the media ... And in Scotland, you
can't believe how strong the homosexuals are. It's just
unbelievable... It's kind of frightening to look at that great
Christian history of a nation like (Scotland) and to see the lack of
depth in there..." Robertson added, "And as far as the vestiges of
John Knox and some of these heroes, I don't think it exists any more.
And what could happen? It (Scotland) could go right back to the
darkness very easily."
American news reports are tentative in claiming that the deal between
Bank of Scotland and Robertson is off. British media, however, are
reporting that the Bank does intend to end ties with the American
preacher. Ausland Cramb, Scotland correspondent with the Daily
Telegraph said that that financial institution "is expected" to
dissolve the relationship; a Reuters news dispatch is headlined "Bank
of Scotland to end Robertson deal."
The Telegraph adds that Bank of Scotland executive Peter Burt flew to
the U.S. yesterday and is expected to meet with Robertson later this
afternoon to officially cancel the banking teal. Sources claimed that
the arrangement was "as good as dead," and cited Robertson's May 16
broadcast, and the growing clamor from human rights, gay and other
organizations as the reason. One critic was Most. Rev. Richard
Holloway, the Episcopal Bishop of Edinburg; another speaking out
against the internet banking deal with Andre Wilson, Member of the
Scottish Parliament who denounced Robertson's statements and noted,
"We cannot allow these views, which are utterly discriminatory, to be
associated in any way with our new parliament."
Bill Spears, spokesman for the Trade Union Council, told reporters,
"We believe his (Robertson's) gratuitous and offensive attacks on
Scotland and its people reinforce the message we have already given to
the bank -- Pat Robertson is bad news."
BBC is reporting that Burt "will tell Mr. Robertson the deal is off
when he meets him in the United States on Friday afternoon." A Bank
of Scotland spokesperson added, "There will be a statement released
after the meeting..."
The Bank of Scotland may also be reacting to losses on the stock
exchange, where shares slipped nearly 4% amidst fears that its
association with Robertson's was hurting its image. Local media had
been referring to the venerable institution as the "God Bank." When
the announcement was made that BOS was reviewing the deal, however,
shares began to rebound and closed slightly higher.
Questionable Deal, Claims By Robertson
One item emerging in the British press concerns the understanding
between Bank of Scotland and Robertson regarding the preacher's vast
databank of names, presumably gleaned from his various ministerial
operations. Bloomberg Financial reports that "The venture
(BOS-Robertson) was to begin operation this month by offering deposits
to Robertson's 50 million viewers, and later pitch credit cards, and
then loans including mortgages..." But today's BBC report is more
specific, and notes "Doing business with Mr. Robertson was seen as a
means of helping the bank to break into the huge US market. The
evangelist's most important asset in the deal was his fabled mailing
list of hundreds of thousands of people sharing his beliefs and
listening to his gospel. The bank said it expected to have access to
this 'huge data bank' of names and addresses."
Although Robertson has said that he does not sell any lists of
contributors, the reports raises serious concerns that Robertson once
again intended to commingle his for-profit financial enterprises with
his ministerial outreaches. Such an action could be illegal; indeed,
names of contributors to a tax-exempt charity could not be used gratis
to promote a financial enterprise for an official tied to the
ministry, in this case, Pat Robertson. The State of Virginia has been
investigating an incident of similar possible misuse of funds and
resources; two pilots employed by Robertson's "Operation Blessing"
program in Africa have told reporters and investigators that most of
their flights consisted of ferrying equipment to Robertson's diamond
mining operation in Zaire rather than delivering humanitarian supplies
to the needy. A report on that incident is due shortly from the
Virginia Attorney General's office.
Robertson's promise or possible use of names culled as part of his
religious outreach, including his Christian Broadcasting Network to
promote his banking scheme could have been a legal minefield. The
latest reports, though, suggest that the Bank of Scotland - Pat
Robertson deal is about to collapse. Robertson has other financial
enterprises, but the Bank of Scotland will now have to repair its
tarnished image in its home nation and within the international
financial community.
**
ETHICS PANEL CITES "PRAYING JUDGE" ROY MORE
In a 5-0 decision on Wednesday, the Alabama State Ethics Committee
found that controversial Etowah County Judge Roy Moore violated
guidelines in connection with a fund set up to finance his legal
battles over courtroom religious proselytizing. The vote sends the
case to Attorney General Bill Pryor for further action, including
possible criminal prosecution.
Moore has attracted national media attention for his combative
religious antics in the courtroom, including a Ten Commandments
display and his policy of opening judicial proceedings with a Baptist
invocation. In 1995, the judge was sued in an ACLU suit which
challenged the courtroom display; another county Judge, Charles Price,
ordered Moore to remove the Declaogue plaque or dilute its religious
significance by including secular documents such as the Bill of
Rights.
Judge Moore attracted support from then-Governor Fob James who linked
the case to other culture wars issues including prayer in public
school classrooms. James threatened that he would mobilize the state
police and national guard, along with the University of Alabama
football team if necessary, to challenge any "federal order." In a
brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, James even argued that the
Bill of Rights did not apply to individual states, and that Moore's
official religiosity deserved legal protections.
A defense fund was establish to cover Moore's legal expenses in the
court fight; the "Save Our Commandments Committee" organized rallies
and other events to promote Moore's crusade, and hosted a rally in
front of the state capitol building which attracted several thousand
demonstrators. Many carried anti-separationist signs, and chants
reverberated through the crowd demanding, "Tear Down the Wall " -- a
clear reference to the "wall of separation" suggested by Thomas
Jefferson. In addition to contributions, Moore supporters raised
funds by selling replicas of the stone Ten Commandments.
Moore's attorney, Stephen Melchior and supporter Dean Young of the
Christian Family Association, said that more than $100,000 had been
raised. The Ethics Commission found that Moore had spend funds on
activities other than his legal defense, though, and exploited the
"mantle of his office" to raise monies. If convicted, More could face
up to $10,000 in fines and 20 years in prison.
Part of the evidence allegedly involves a complaint filed in 1997 by a
man identified only as J. Lewis; copies were distributed anonymously
to the news media.
According to the Gadsden (Ala.) Times newspaper, James L. Sumner Jr.,
director of the commission, said that the body found no evidence that
Moore had personally stolen any of the defense money, but instead
apparently paid out funds "for things other than legal defense."
Moore immediately went on the offensive, saying that he was "tired of
getting harassed ... because I have displayed the Ten Commandments."
Mr. Sumner countered by saying, "That's not even the issue that came
before the commission."
Conflict Of Interest?
Sumner added that the commission did not send the matter to Etowah
County DA James Hedgspeth, Jr. since his office would have to argue
cases in the future before Judge Moore's bench. But there may be
problems with having this case investigated even by the State Attorney
General. Pryor refused any comment on the Moore situation, saying
only that it would "handle it the way I handle any other referred
case."
Carol Faulkenberry, a member of the Alabama Freethought Society that
had challenged Moore in the original Ten Commandments suit," warned
that "referring the matter to Pryor is a joke in view of the fact that
he once appeared at a massive rally in support of Moore, and his
public position that the reason why he became a lawyer in the first
place was to fight the ACLU." That rally took place on April 12, 1997
and was a double-bill of support for both Judge Moore and Governor Fob
James. Co-sponors include Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, the
American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, Rutherford
Institute, and the American Center for Law and Justice. When Attorney
General Pryor stepped up to the microphone, he told the assembled
faithful that he had indeed become an attorney to find the
"Anti-American Civil Liberties Union," adding "God has chosen through
his son Jesus Christ this time, this place for all Christians --
Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox -- to save our country and save
our courts."
Judge Moore addressed the "Tear Down the Wall" crowd, insisting that
the wall of separation between church and state was "a misleading
metaphor," and demanding "We must, nay we will, have God back in
America again."
"The ACLU began this controversy," Moore thundered. "With God's help,
we will finish it."
Moore's attorney seemed most comfortable with the prospect of having
his client's case handled by Attorney General Pryor, who he described
as "a fair man" who would "smoke out the truth." Pryor has a number
of options in the case, which he could handle administratively --
something which would reduce any penalty to only a $1,000 fine -- or
he could decide to send it to a grand jury, or return it to the
commission.
In the meantime, Moore still faces charges which were have been filed
against him by the Judicial Inquiry Commission, an investigative arm
of the state judiciary.
"I think it's a travesty," Judge Moore told the Gadsden Times. "I
think it's an attempt to stop the message about God and about the
First Amendment and I think it is wrong and we're going to fight it
with everything we've got."
**
WORTH NOTING: COLORADO DIRECTOR CHALLENGES
COLUMBINE HYSTERIA
Margie Wait
Colorado State Director
American Atheists
1160 Pierce St. #315
Lakewood, CO 80214-1994
June 2, 1999
Letters to the Editor
Denver Rocky Mountain News
via E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To the Editor:
Darrell Scott, whose daughter was a victim of the Columbine tragedy,
recently told a US House subcommittee on crime that the only answer to
the tragedy lies in "prayer, faith and the spirit of God." (Denver
Rocky Mountain News, 5/28/99) Scott, like many evangelical Christians,
hopes to see a "renewal of prayer in public schools and a reawakening
of spiritual faith among America's youth" result from this tragic
event. Yet, while expressing concern for our "personal and private
liberties," Scott called the present focus on more restrictive gun
laws by our nation's legislative bodies a "scapegoat".
The "answer" to the school shootings does not lie in imposing
mandatory school prayer and putting God back into the public
classroom. Inserting religion into the public school setting will
only divide the student body and further alienate students like Harris
and Klebold from their peers.
Religion in the public setting is simply too divisive. Furthermore,
government mandated religious rituals infringe on our personal
constitutional right to participate or not participate in all matters
pertaining to religion. We need only look to the controversy
surrounding the public memorial service to see what effect religion
has on the general public.
The public memorial service, arranged by government officials, no
less, fully exploited the deaths of these students, turning it into a
proselytizing session for Jesus. Anytime religion is inserted into
the public arena, the end result is always one of controversy. Our
founding fathers recognized this fact when they drafted the First
Amendment, but time, unfortunately, has eroded those lessons learned
long ago.
When asked in an earlier congressional hearing if God and prayer in
school would have prevented the tragedy, one Columbine student said,
"No! Students would probably rebel even more...You can't force people
to believe in God." That's very wise advice, indeed, coming from a
student who witnessed the events inside Columbine High School on April
20.
Many politicians have been exploiting the Columbine tragedy and other
school shootings to further their own political agendas. But seeking
to implement mandatory school prayer in our public schools is just
another scapegoat which, ultimately, helps our politicians, parents
and school officials avoid discussing the real issue in this case --
Personal Responsibility.
Sincerely,
Margie Wait
Colorado State Director,
American Atheists
**
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