Artist’s Critics Told to Print Correct Version : Pornography: Judge orders a religious group to distribute an amended pamphlet in NEA battle.

A conservative religious group that cropped pictures of an artist’s work to suggest that it was sexually explicit has been ordered by a federal judge to distribute a correction to the pamphlet.

The American Family Assn. of Tupelo, Miss., had reprinted fragments of images by David A. Wojnarowicz to promote the organization’s contention that the National Endowment for the Arts supports pornography.

The ruling Wednesday by U.S. District Judge William C. Conner came in a lawsuit by Wojnarowicz. The judge said the pamphlet had probably harmed the artist’s professional and personal reputation.

Conner barred further publication of the pamphlet, “Your Tax Dollars Helped Pay for These Works of Arts.”

He also awarded $1 in damages to Wojnarowicz, who had sought up to $1 million. He said Wojnarowicz had not proved financial damage because no galleries or museums had canceled exhibits of his work.

Conner said the American Family Assn. must send a court-approved correction to the 4,000 churches, members of Congress and other individuals who received the pamphlet.

The association and its executive director, the Rev. Donald Wildmon, have for years led campaigns against films, music, TV shows, magazines and art that they deem obscene.