St. JOHN'S United Church of Christ Reverend Donald F. Priestaf Pastor MAR 24 REC'D March 23, 1981 Representative Clarenbach Wisconsin Legislature Madison, Wisconsin 53705 Dear Mr. Clarenbach: Via Wisconsin Public Radio I have learned of your endorsement of Bill 235 about which you indicated support of Protestant pastors as well as denomin- ational support. Is the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ, or any of it's Associations, Commissions, or Committees among the supporters to which you alude but did not identify? Dr. Ralph Ley, President of our Wisconsin Conference, UCC has gone on rec- ord that "no person speaks authoritatively for the United Church of Christ." If any UCC person (or pastor) renders an opinion, it is understood to be a personal opinion. No one speaks "ex-cathedra" in the United Church of Christ. Secondly, every pastor in the United Church of Christ accepts as a part of his/her ordination vows "the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments Word of God and the ultimate rule of Christian faith and practice," Page 315, Book of Worship approved by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ. Any pastor of the United Church of Christ who endorses homosex- uality in any shape or form does so in violation of his/her ordination vows. I want to go on record in opposition to Bill 235. I will work for the re- habilitation of the homosexual rather than legalize his/her sickness. as the Sincerely, Reverend Donald Priestar 116 Kettle Moraine Drive South, Slinger, Wisconsin 53086 Office Phone (414) 644-5350 Residence 110 Hill Street Phone 644-5894 • · --- April 29, 1983 Joseph Wineke State Representative 97th Assembly District William Stevens Grace United Methodist Church P.O. Box 186 Belleville, WI 53508 Dear Pastor Stevens, I am writing in response to your letter of April 23, 1983 expressing your extreme disappointment with me in relation to my vote on AB 250. I find it unfortunate that whatever faith you had in me has been destroyed by my vote on this one piece of legislation. In this case, I thought long and hard about how I should vote on this bill and I read my correspondence on this issue closely. Only two residents of the 97th Assembly District contacted me before the vote on the bill. One was in favor of the bill and the other opposed to it. Indeed, your letter was received after the actual vote was taken. Since I don't feel comfortable voting on such a controversial bill on the basis of just two constituent's views, I asked many people I know. All said they supported the bill. In addition, I received correspondence showing that 38 different church-related organizations supported the bill, including Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Unitarians, Epsicopalians and United Church of Christ Congregations. I have enclosed a copy of the requestors of the bill for your information along with several other pieces of information that may interest you. I hope that after seeing some of the information that influenced my vote on this issue, you will at least understand why I could vote as I did even if you don't personally agree with my decision. On a final note, I would like to mention that I, too, remember our chat last summer and enjoyed it. I remember you mentioning that you were new to the community and liked it. In addition, I am happy to know that based on our chat you and your wife decided to vote for me in the last election. Even though you have now promised to never vote for me again, I would hope that you would at least keep me informed on issues that are of interest to you. Sincerely, JW: jp Enclosures JOSEPH S. WINEKE State Representative 97th District Office: 13 East, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 (608) 266-3520 Legislative Hotline (toll-free) 1-800-362-9696 --- destructive? And will not such a circumstance create a positively favorable climate for the proliferation of such behavior? We sympathize with those Leglislators who are of the opinion that the present law is an indefensible infringement upon adult liberties and preferences. But will not decriminalization inevitably create other problems - likely more dangerous than any it may solve? It may be in the nature of the Leglislative office that in such matters as these, neutrality is impossible. Laws restrict and discriminate - but so does the absence of law. While you as the Leglislators must choose between the present law and its repeal, I as one citizen felt obliged - for the reasons cited - to urge you to side with the least unsatisfactory of the two choices. Respectfully submitted, Paul F. DeVries 1014 N. 6th St Sheboygan, Wisconsin -3- --- State Representative David E. Clarenbach State Capitol Room- 422 North Madison, Wi 53702 APR 7 RECD Moral Majority of Wisconsin 2605 S. Libal Green Bay, WI. 54301 MORAL MAJORITY Volume I - Issue I - 5,000 Copies - April 1981 EAGLE EXCERPTS on the inside... THE BATTLE TO SAVE THE FAMILY The Woman's Role WHY BE A MORAL ACTIVIST? Short Term Or Long Term WHO IS THE MORAL MAJORITY? Alive and Well In Wisconsin COALITION FOR BETTER TELEVISION You Can Help BULK RATE U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 338 Green Bay, WI TV Facts Prime time commercials cost up to $225,000 per minute. The three major networks do some $9 billion worth of business annually--just during prime time. When a sponsor drops out, the cost per minute may drop as low as $30,000 for the network to recruit a new sponsor. Most large TV networks operate with a profit margin of less than 3%. Training Seminar A Success The first training seminar for Congressional District Coordinators was held on Feb. 23, 1981 at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point. Nineteen people attended the all-day session. They represented five of Wisconsin's nine Con- gressional Districts. Most of those attending were pas- tors. Mr. Dick Schiller presenting the organization to the seminar attendees. Mr. Dick Schiller of Green Bay opened the seminar with a discussion of the organizational set-up of Moral Major- 'ity of Wisconsin. Schiller said "The local church involve- ment is the key to our whole plan. Everything will hinge on the local pastor's decision to participate". Pastor Harley Keck presented the financial plan. He used the example of bacon and eggs when he said "The hen made a donation, but the pig was dedicated". A presentation on how to handle the media drew the most reponse. Several participants had suggestions and experiences to offer. A video tape was shown with comments on the good and not-so-good aspects of the interview. The consensus of this presentation was to know your Bible. Pastor Max Andrews of Madison was a big encourage- ment to those present. He gave some brief remarks on the present position of some former critics. He said "They are going to just let it (the disagreement with Moral Majority) die". Likewise, Pastor Don Rose of Milwaukee encouraged the group by comparing the development of the Wisconsin organization with that of Moral Majority of Montana. He stated that with the help of a state newspaper "the thing took off". The Coordinators were asked to be active in contacting people in their district. This will enlarge the mailing list, identify the dedicated, and encourage the "almost persuaded". One of the first tasks will be to identify churches in each district. From among the sympa- thetic ones, a County Chairman for each county is to be enlisted, and then a Moral Action Chairman from each church. Pastor Conley of Monroe set the example as he had enlisted several County Chairmen before the seminar. Many favorable suggestions and comments were re- ceived about the seminar. It was Mr. Luke Boyd's idea to begin a state newspaper, of which, this is the first issue. Other seminars will be planned in the future. --- Moral Majority of Wisconsin 2605 S. Libal Green Bay, WI. 54301 Rep. David Clarenbach State Capitol 422 North Madison, wie 53702 BULK RATE U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 338 Green Bay, WI MORAL MAJORITY TA Volume I - Issue 2- 5,000 Copies June 1981 CBTV Going & Growing Scramble underway for 'clean' TV shows, was the headline of an article in the March 30, 1981 issue of Advertising Age, the trade magazine for the advertiz- ing industry. The article told about the impact the coalition was having on TV. Speculation of the net- works passing the word to Hollywood to tone down risque or violent program elements was hinted. Also, that "clean shows" may fetch a better price in the market- place. One network executive wondered if broadcasting didn't bring CBTV's wrath down on them for violating the spirit of the family viewing hour. Folks, we can win if we keep up the good work! We can help TV achieve its potential as a constructive medium; if we work as if everything depended on us and pray as if everything depended upon God. Each major. network brings in somewhere around 30 billion dollars for prime time each year, Already advertisers who purchase more than 1.2 billion dollars a year in net- work time have contacted the National Federation Of Decency desiring to discuss the situation. The NFD is leading the CBTV. Basically the advertisers are say- ing they share our concerns, desire to stay off the list of least constructive programs and WANT OUR BUSINESS! The CBTV is keeping the advertisers informed as to where they stand on a weekly basis. Also, much corres- pondence has all ready taken place offering to explain our rating system to them and offering to help the ad- vertisers anyway we can. The CBTV is trying to be fair and let the advertisers know that we do not seek a confrontation; but if it comes to that, then we intend to push a boycott with all the strength we can muster. The networks, and maybe the sponsors too, may or may not care one bit about our values, but they certainly, care about our business. It is regrettable that the situation has come to this, but over 3 groups representing over 5 million families have agreed to join the CBTV and help in a possible boycott. The Moral Majority of Wisconsin is one of these groups and we intend to keep you informed. IF YOU DON'T WRITE THE SPONSORS DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT'S ON T.V. EAGLE Pastor Keck, State Chairman of Moral Majority of Wisconsin, confers with Pastor Brewer, State Chairman of Moral Majority of West Virginia. Humanism And Family Discussed In keeping with Moral Majority of Wisconsin's purpose of education on humanism, two Seminars wereheld last month. The seminar instructor was Miss Nancy DeMoss of Lynchburg, Virginia. Miss DeMoss is the Family Issues Consultant for the Moral Majority Foundation. Neenah was the location of a Seminar on April 27th and Eau Claire on April 28th. Miss DeMoss said, "There are two basic ways of looking at all of life--man's way or God's way". She also said "Humanism is a belief that traditional theism, especially faith in the prayer-hearing God, assumed to love and care for persons, to hear and answer their prayers, and to be able to do something about them, is an unproved and outmoded faith". The Seminars began in the morning, broke for lunch, and continued into the afternoon. Each lady was given a manual to fill in during the Seminar, thus important comments and ideas could be recorded for future use. The Seminar is entitled, "The Battle To Save The Family". Over the past year, Miss DeMoss has traveled across America conducting this Seminar on an average above once a week. Normally, these Seminars are con- ducted under the sponsorship of the State affiliate organ- ization. These appearances were the first time the Seminar has been given in Wisconsin. Moral Majority of Wisconsin sponsored both Seminars. The Fox Valley Family Forum helped sponsor the one in Neenah. The Seminar presents humanism as a major cause of family problems in America today. Miss DeMoss said, "Humanism is committed to the development of a system of world law and a world order based upon transna- tional federal government". The Seminar further re- vealed a humanist believes, "Reason and intelligence are the most effective instruments that humankind possesses". Typical reactions by ladies in attendance at the Sem- inar were: "The material was well-planned and pre- sented.", "Nancy DeMoss has understanding beyond her years.", "It was a blessing to me." Many ladies have requested that the Seminar again be presented in the State of Wisconsin. The media promoted and covered the Seminars and interviewed Miss DeMoss. Two television stations and a newspaper from the Green Bay area were involved in the coverage. Radio stations WRVM in Suring, WEMI in Neenah, and WWIB near Eau Claire, were involved in the promotion of the Seminars. Local arrangements were made by Mrs. Jean Canan and Mrs. Luke Boyd. --- fi (for all of these Dear Assembly Member: MAR 24 REC'D March 18, 1981 As members of the United Methodist Church, we are writing in opposition to Assembly Bill #23235. The general consensus is that the 25 or so clergymen backing this bill represent the majority of the people in their particular denominations. This is not true, as they do not represent our views, nor the majority of the people in our church. It seems to us that lawmakers are no longer making laws for the betterment of society, but to conform to the lifestyles of a minority of people. There are laws against stealing and murder, but because a few people do it we do not pass laws to legalize it. We can see no reason why cohabitation should be legalized because a minority of people choose to live this way. Passage of this bill would deny religious and moral rights to anyone owning rental property. It would deny religious and moral rights to Christian schools when they would not hire homosexual teachers due to these beliefs. It would deprive divorced parents of the right to alienate their children from cohabital lifestyles practiced by their ex-spouses. We are sure you will agree that this is no type of environment for young, tender minds. The passage of Bill #235 would force anyone with religious objections to these types of lifestyles to condone such actions by renting to them, or hiring them in a religious school. These religious rights have been guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. If this bill passes, where are the rights of those who object religiously and morally to this type of behaviour? It is our belief that passage of this bill will encourage cohabitation and homosexuality among young people and depict this way of life as being "moral" because it is legal, rather than the immoral act that it is. We are sending copies of this letter to every member of the Assembly and urge you to vote NO on Bill #235. cc/Governor Lee Dreyfus Yours truly, Valerie Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Johnson 4626 Maple Road East Troy, Wi. 53120 --- THINK of Sodom and Gomorrah - destroyed by fire from heaven because of the wickedness of the people. Fornication, adultery and homosexuality are consistently condemned in Scriptures. If these sins will be committed because of your permissive vote on Assembly Bill 235-THIN K of your awesome responsibility in the eyes of God. God will not be fooled by ignoring HIS law, nor simply by weakening a man-made statute that also forbids these sins. --- PULL WISCONSIN STATE WIDE - MAR 26 REC'D PULL - People Using Legislation Legally: is a voluntary association of combined decency, morality and anti-smut groups; -Wisconsin State Legislators concerned about o bsenity --Moralityxin media affiliates in Wisconsin (WI) -Citizens for Decency Through Law affiliates in Wisconsin (C.D.L.) -Citizens Concerned for our Community of Madison (CCOC) -Parents for Morality for Teens -Silent Majority (Menasha) -Key Project For Decency Wausau -Others who are concerned March 21, 1981 Dear Representative: On behalf of our affilliated groups and individual opponents of obscenity we urge you to oppose Assembly Bill 235 because it clearly weakens the law against sexual immorality, and if it becomes law it would probably result in still more teenage pregnancies, venereal diseases, abortions, unmarried young mothers on welfare, adultery, divorces, broken families and a further decay of public morality. On the other hand, we urge you to support Assembly Bill 240 which revises the obscenity law and defines obscene material, performances and sexual conduct. Respectfully yours People Using Legislation Legally (PULL) R. Chas. Weier R. Charles Weier, Associate Chairman 2011 Woodlawn Ave., West Bend, Wis. 53095 --- YOU CAN HELP 1] Have a "DECISIONS" house party - at your home if you have Cable TV, or at a friend's. Invite your neighbors and friends. Phone in your questions and comments. Let's be heard. - 2] Be sure your Church Bulletins and Mailings for May include mention of these programs. If you would like Sunday Bulletin inserts or more copies for mailing out, phone the number you want, and a name and address for delivery, to: 274-0833 any time of the day or night. Help spread the word around. Let's work together on these problems. 3] When legislation on these issues comes before the State Legislature or the City Council or the County Board, there is a need for immediate contact by phone of as many as possible to contact those who represent them atthe various levels of government so that the voice of decency and moral integrity can be heard. Will you be a part of THE TELEPHONE TREE to contact 5 of your friends with the relevant information - and ask them to contact 5 of their friends? CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR OUR COMMUNITY will contact you when special needs arise. If you will do this, please let us know at 274-0833. You can help a great deal by making your contribu- tion to cover the costs of addressing, mailing, postage, video tapes, brochures. The costs add up. Will you lay it on your heart? This series on "DECISIONS" is a pilot project to see whether it is worth expanding next Fall into a regular series, with more Christians involved. Phone in your comments, mail in your contributions to the address below and let us know how you feel. Will you be in much prayer about this? We want the Lord's guidance and a witness to Him on TV. C.C.O.C. P.O. Box 9289 Madison, Wi. 53715 FRANCES HURST 3972 PLYMOUTH CIR. MADISON, WI 53705 Bulk Rate U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 844 Madison, Wisc. Dave - See P. 2. 9'm going to be out of town. Carl Thompson almost all of may butert some call-in people might want CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR OUR COMMUNITY to explain BULLETIN you MAY 3 REC'D Listen In-- MAY - --Talk Back! positions May 12 +26. Best! Fan Hurst CABLE TV CHANNEL 4 - EACH THURSDAY EVENING IN MAY 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. "Decisions" MAY 5"DOES GOD BELONG IN OUR TOWN TODAY?" Special Guest: Mr. Dale Watt MAY 12 "WHO'S IN THE CLOSET NOW?" - - MAY 19 "IN DEFENSE OF THE DEFENSELESS! Special Guest: Joanne Duren MAY 26 "LET'S GET OUT OF THE GUTTER" - Special Guest: Milw. D. A. Michael McCann REGULAR PANELISTS: Rev. Max Andrews, Victory Baptist Church, Madison Rev. Richard Pritchard, Heritage Congregational, Madison Rev. Richard Sisson, Middleton Baptist Church [IF YOU HAVE MADISON CABLE TV INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ... ... IF YOU DON'T ASK THEM TO INVITE YOU] WATCH FOR: "DECISIONS" - CABLE TV CHANNEL 4 IN MAY THURSDAYS MAY 5, 12, 19, 26 - 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. +++ ++ --- "DECISIONS" MAY 5"DOES GOD BELONG IN OUR TOWN TODAY?" President Ronald Reagan proclaimed 1983 to be "THE YEAR OF THE BIBLE". He also proclaimed this date May 5th to be a national DAY OF PRAYER. - Did he overstep his bounds? Should God be on the sidelines in our pluralistic society? On what basic principles was our nation founded? Is there a reason for the decadence and violent crime and sickness in our society today? What ought we to do? Is there any hope? Were those Madisonians right who sued the President for proclaiming 1983 as the Year of the Bible? What does the Bible have to say to our modern age? What place has prayer in our scientific world? Our special guest will be Dale Watt, former principal of Madison EAst High School and a leading Christian layman. Phone in your comments and questions in the last half hour. MAY 12 "WHO'S IN THE CLOSET NOW?" - At one time, the homosexuals were in the "closet". They have come out, and forced those who disagree with their lifestyle into the closet. Rep. David Clarenbach, of downtown Madison, has for years tried to legalize fornication, co-habitation, and the active homosexual lifestyle. Last year he came within one vote of succeeding. AB 250 is his Bill this year. Will it succeed? Phone in, during the last half hour, your questions and comments. THURSDAYS IN MAY - 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. CH. 4 "DECISIONS" MAY 19 "IN DEFENSE OF THE DEFENSELESS" - MAY 26- A raging question today - with sincere Christians on both sides - is the question of abortion. When does human life begin? Who has the right to whose body? Is a baby really unwanted? What about a pregnancy due to rape? Our special guest will be Joanne Duren, now Chief Clerk in the State Assembly and formerly a member of the Wis. State Assembly. Phone in your questions and your comments during the last half of the broadcast. Miss Duren was the sponsor of legislation supporting pro-life. If the many Court decisions supporting the rights of the unborn child to legal redress for injuries incurred before birth are acceptable, what does this say about the efforts of some to legalize the killing of children before they are born? "LET'S GET OUT OF THE GUTTER" A provocative problem today. Wisconsin has been one of the few States with no protection from the crime-ridden pornographers. State Senator Carl Thompson of Stoughton, almost singlehandedly, has squelched all attempts to have a meaningful statute. Why? Pornography is a social evil not protected by the 1st Amendment. The graphic movie shown for a week in Madison in April: "NOT A LOVE STORY", showed how degrading and humiliating the porn world is. It leads to drug abuse, violence, crime, destruction of families, and the destruction of moral values. It is a $5 billion business annually. No wonder it's so hard to fight. The hard-hitting Milwaukee County District Attorney, E. Michael McCann, will be our special guest. Phone in your questions and comments during the last half hour of this program. --- TO: MRS OF TE WISCONSIN STAT ASSEI BLY DATE: JUN 14, 1977 FROM: V. RICHA IS. PRITCHARD, MALISON, WIS. RE: AB 323 (sec. 4 and 5) 1) In dealing wit. AB 323, please give consideration to the following: The statement igned by 106 clergy, dated May 5th and placed on your des: on that date, did not contain just "a slight mistake," or words to that effect by Assemblyman Clarenbach. The principle authoress of this statement is one of a State- wide team of campus pastors, each of whom specializes in some special area of concer lers is in the area of sexual values. The statement was obviously intended to carry the maximum weight possible. a) The complaint is made in the statement that "Current Wisconsin statutes... criminalize much of what is now regarded as normal physical expression of love and affection. " Are fornication and perversion to be considered "normal sexual acts" in private wen between two of the same sex, or regardless of marriage status? Are there clergy supporting extra-marital sex? Does AB 323 permit sexual intercourse in public between spouses? It would seem to say so. And we have already had this "on stage" in the edison area. b) Does Jubstitute Amendment 1 to AB 323 (the latest in a raft of amendments, go even further by including minors both in private and in public - or should the phrase in sec. 944.15 (1): "or whoever has sexual intercourse with a minor who is not his or her spouse" be bracketed with commas? c) Is the proposed 944.15 contrary to 944.16? d) Is the basic purpose of AB 323 to support homosexual practices? any feel thi is really the hid en agenda. Then this should be openly discussed on its merits. c) What is the effect of AB 323 on sexual gratification between two consenting adults in private, for a consideration financial or otherwise? A stock fraud or a "pigeon drop" can be between two consenting adults in private, but the State steps i 2) The May 5th statement was approved by 106 clergy. I talked with several other in the Madison and Milwaukee areas. Not one of those with whom I talked had se the Assembly Bill or the Statement. Either it, or the introductory evaluation to the Bill, had been read to them ever the phone. Several had had great doubts about sign but trusted the credibility of the one who prepared it, and were strongly influenced by the name sof the major organizations who were said to have "specifically endorsed" AB 323. The News Editor for WPJN, Pacine, and I, contacted the leadership of everyone of these organizations and without exception - not a one had heard of AB 323, lect alone "specifically endorsing" it. Some said their structure would not permit them to endorce a State bill, no matter what it was about. Others were angry to have it said of them that they would endorse such a Bill. And some said thatwhile they might agree with the intent of this Bill, they had had no knowledge of it. A leader of one of this latter group of organizations, who was from Washington, D.C., said bluntly: "I think someone is playing a prank on you!" A number of the clergy whose names are on that May 5th statement have since withdrawn it when they learned more about the Bill. I am concerned about this Bill because: I believe our sexual nature is a wonderful and a beautiful gift from God. In our ability to creat life, and to love, we reveal our likeness to Him. In so many ways, we are demeaning our integrity and dignity as a person, we are cheapening this gift and making of it a commodity. The sanctity and supportive strength of the family would be seriously eroded. # --- When & Member & Come Gentlemen, I am a Pastor from Sheboygan. I fear Bill 323 for reasons, as you may well imagine, are religious and moral (which I also recognize will not be acknowledged by the State. - reasons But it seems to me that one may oppose this Bill on other than specifically religious or moral grounds. if defeat (which I urge) is improbable, Then First, I believe that it would be wise for the Leglislature to take action that would specifically authorize individual communities to repeal the present law, or allow it to stand as it is. As you well know, the US Supreme Court has refused to act on certain ethically-charged issues which it thought might best be settled by allowing individual communities to enact leglilation reflecting their own moral persuasion. Should not our citizens be permitted to exercise their preference to live in societies where laws again, for example, homosexual behavior would hopefully offer some protection against what to many is morally reprehensible, perilous and polluting? One might oppose the decriminalization of private sexual acts of consenting adults for another reason: I suggest that Bill 323 be opposed because the advocates of the Bill are proposing a change - proposing the removal of a long-standing fence, but have not convinced us yet - or brought forth evidence that their doing so would be safe for our -1- --- society. Has medical and psychiatric opinion been sought and weighed and disseminated? I believe the burden of proof must lie with those who advocate the change. And I would urge them to consider the magnitude of setting aside a law which reflects the historical Judeo-Christian ethic - the ethic that has shaped our institutions and behavior. Finally, I would raise the question whether the Bill may be both unnecessary and inconsistent: Inconsistent because it would continue to make adultery, which while immoral is not unnatural make adultery a legal offence, and make, for example, Act homosexuality, which is traditionally considered an unnatural aet, legally acceptable. Shall the private act of adultery between a man and a woman be punishable, but a private act of homosexuality between a man and another man be allowed? Is not that irresponsibly discriminatory? illegal. Unnecessary because private sexual behavior between consenting adults is, we know, happening now, and almost if not always beyond the reach of the Law, Precisely because it is private. To decriminalize then, it seems to me, would not change adult sexual behavior or attitudes, but I plead with you to consider what decriminalization might mean for the young. Will they not inevitably ask or learn by themselves that our State does not frown upon those types of sexual behavior which now for several millenia the most respected Religious-moral Institutions of the world said was anti-social and -2- ---