Coalition’s Top Priorities

We appreciate your Aug. 27 story on the top global priority of the Christian Coalition, fighting religious persecution worldwide. Don Hodel, president of the Christian Coalition, outlined our top legislative priorities at a forum Aug. 22, in Washington, and placed that important issue at the top of list.

However, your article inaccurately stated that racial recon- ciliation is no longer the top priority, as it was under Ralph Reed, our former executive director. The truth is racial reconciliation remains a top priority for the Christian Coalition. We firmly believe that racial reconciliation is essential if we are to remain, truly, one America. In addition to speaking forcefully on the issue, the Christian Coalition is working for passage of the American Community Renewal Act, which contains key elements of our Samaritan Project. Passage of that legislation led the list of our domestic legislative priorities which Hodel articulated in the forum.

The American Community Renewal Act provides real assistance to strengthen families and restore hope in American inner cities. It provides for hope and opportunity scholarships, charitable tax credits, empowerment zones and support for faith-based organizations providing much needed assistance for people at risk because of drug or alcohol abuse.

ARNE OWENS

Director of Communications

Christian Coalition

Chesapeake, Va.