CAMPAIGN ’88 : Dukakis Called ‘Pagan’ for Views, Jewish Wife

A Senate Republican leadership aide in Washington and a conservative political group are circulating a harsh “open letter” that says Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis is not really a Christian, calling him an “apostate” and a “pagan” who uses his membership in the Greek Orthodox Church “as just a convenient (political) prop.”

The letter, distributed in the conservative and Greek-American communities and publicized in the conservative weekly Human Events and by columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, said Dukakis is an “imposter” (sic) who “attacks our (Greek Orthodox) Church and attacks Christ.” As evidence, the letter notes Dukakis’ opposition to aid for the Nicaraguan Contras, his pro-choice stand on abortion and his “marriage to a non-Christian.” Dukakis’ wife, Kitty, is Jewish.

The missive was written by James Jatras, who works for Sen. William L. Armstrong (R-Colo.), on the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Jatras said he distributed hundreds of copies of the letter to leaders of the Greek-American community. The Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Life, a New York-based anti-abortion group, is also circulating the letter. The attack on Dukakis drew criticism from Republican National Chairman Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., who said, “We do not believe that religion should be the basis for political attacks.”

The Greek Orthodox Church of North America issued a statement saying: “Regretfully, recently attempts have been made to mix religion into the political life of this country. . . . We will not be a party to the effort.”