They Write Letters

From Faithful Democrats:

October 2, 2006

The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1314

Dear Mr. Speaker:

We were deeply saddened to learn of the appalling behavior of Congressman Mark Foley. His sending sexually explicit instant messages and emails to numerous congressional pages — underage high school students — shocked America. We offer our prayers for the affected families, Mr. Foley himself, and all victims of child sexual abuse.

Unfortunately, the latest reports suggest the problem is far bigger than the disturbing actions of one congressman. Evidence is mounting that House leaders and others knew of Foley’s behavior for months, some for more than a year, yet let him continue his tenure in Congress — including his chairmanship of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.

The bitter irony is that the leaders of a political party that emphasizes family values may have deliberately betrayed those values for political gain. This is a moral failure — and a symptom of a Congress that has lost its moral compass.

After all, protecting children is a biblical responsibility. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,” Jesus said, “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

No matter how much some politicians talk about moral values, protecting sexual predators at the expense of children is nothing short of sinful.

We therefore call for the repentance and resignation of all members of Congress who knew about Mr. Foley’s misdeeds yet failed to stop them. Investigations into this scandal must be immediate, independent, bipartisan, and mindful not only of Mr. Foley’s crimes, but also of the possible efforts to hide them.

In this time of moral crisis, we pray that the entire faith community — regardless of political party — will unite in demanding accountability from anyone who has helped cover up these despicable acts. The victims deserve no less.

Sincerely,

Rev. Romal Tune
Co-Chair, FaithfulDemocrats.com
Founder & President, Clergy Strategic Alliances
Washington, D.C.

Dr. Randall Balmer
Professor of American Religion, Columbia University
New York, New York

Dr. Shaun Casey
Professor of Christian Ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary
Washington, D.C.

Rev. William Chrystal
Pastor, First Congregational Church
Former Military Chaplain
Reno, Nevada

Dr. Paul de Vries
President, New York Divinity School
New York, New York

Dr. Robert Franklin
Professor of Social Ethics, Emory University
President, Regional Council of Churches
Atlanta, Georgia

Rev. Dr. Obery Hendricks, Jr.
Professor of Biblical Interpretation, New York Theological Seminary
Author of The Politics of Jesus
New York, New York

Dr. Major Jemison
President, Progressive National Baptist Convention
Cincinnati, Ohio

Rev. Peter Laarman
Executive Director, Progressive Christians Uniting
Los Angeles, California

Rev. Robert Maddox
Executive Director, Briggs Center for Faith and Action
Bethesda, Maryland

Rev. Stan Moody
Pastor, North Manchester Meeting House Church
Manchester, Maine

Rev. Otis Moss, III
Trustee, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
Chicago, IL

Rev. Dr. Robert Parham
Executive Director, Baptist Center for Ethics
Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell
Pastor, Grace AME Zion Church
Raleigh, North Carolina

Rev. Tim Simpson
Executive Director, Christian Alliance for Progress
Jacksonville, Florida

Rev. Stephen Thurston
President, National Baptist Convention of America
Chicago, Illinois

Dr. Patrick Whelan
Executive Director, Catholic Democrats
Pediatric Specialist, MassGeneral Hospital for Children
Boston, Massachusetts


CC: House Majority Leader John Boehner
NRCC Chair Tom Reynolds
Representative Rodney Alexander
James Dobson, Focus on the Family
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council
Donald Wildman, American Family Association
Jerry Falwell, Falwell Ministries
Pat Robertson, Christian Broadcasting Network