June 1973<\/p>\n
PEOPLES TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SUPPORTS FIRST AMENDMENT<\/p>\n
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES<\/p>\n
Mr. Speaker, I was recently made aware of the fact that the congregation of the Peoples Temple Christian Church of Redwood Valley, Calif., has donated a total of $4,400 for the defense of William Farr and other reporters jailed for refusing to reveal their sources of information. I would like to commend the Rev. James Jones, who is pastor of the church, and every member of his congregation for this outstanding demonstration of their commitment to the principles on which this country was founded.<\/p>\n
I like to include in the Record at this point a few items which appeared in the press recently about Peoples Temple. The first is an article from the IAPA News, which is published bimonthly by the Inter American Press Association. This item appeared in the February \u2013 March edition, and reads as follows:<\/p>\n
CHURCH DONATION AIDS FIGHT FOR PRESS FREEDOM<\/p>\n
The Inter American Press Association, we all know, operates strictly on dues paid by members and does not solicit outside contributions for its main task of defending and promoting freedom of information in the Americas. Recently, however, we received an unsolicited contribution that moved us deeply. We accepted it with gratitude and full appreciation of the high principles that moved the donors.<\/p>\n
The donation of $250 came from the congregation of the Peoples Temple Christian Church of Redwood Valley, California, whose pastor, the Reverend James Jones, has sparked a campaign in defense of the First Amendment to the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe,\u201d wrote James R. Pugh, in behalf of the Board of Elders, \u201cthat the American way of life is being threatened by the recent jailings of news reporters for refusal to reveal their sources. As a church, we feel a responsibility to defend the free speech clause of the First Amendment, for without it, America will have lost freedom of conscience and the climate will become right for totalitarianism.\u201d<\/p>\n
The elders voted the donation after hearing the Rev. Jones read \u201cto an overflow congregation\u201d excerpts from a report on the state of the press in the US made by Brady Black, editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and regional vice president of the IAPA\u2019s committee on freedom of the press at the IAPA\u2019s annual meeting last October in Chile. \u201cMr. Black,\u201d the covering letter said, \u201cgave a lucid and convincing account of developments in our country constituting a threat to the people\u2019s right to know.\u201d The letter was addressed to Francis Dale, Publisher of The Enquirer.<\/p>\n
Mr. Pugh reported that a grand total of $4400 had been contributed by the congregation made up of \u201cordinary working people of all backgrounds,\u201d for the defense of William Farr and other reporters jailed for refusing to reveal their sources of information.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo acknowledgment for this contribution is necessary,\u201d wrote Mr. Pugh. \u201cWe wish simply to demonstrate \u2026 that there are churches and other groups in society which are not connected with the institutional press who do indeed care about this threat to freedom of speech, press and conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the donation was \u201cto be used as you see fit in defense of our free press.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Peoples Temple Christian Church, under the Reverend Jones, does not only take a stand on constitutional rights. The church also has established a drug rehabilitation program, two convalescent homes, a 40-acre home for mentally retarded boys, three senior citizens homes, and an animal shelter.<\/p>\n
The next item appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on January 17 of this year, and without further introduction, I place it in the RECORD.<\/p>\n
A CHURCH GIVES $4400 TO THE PRESS<\/p>\n
Twelve newspapers \u2013 among them The Chronicle \u2013 and a newsmagazine and a television station have been awarded grants totaling $4400 by Peoples Temple Christian Church of the Disciples of Christ for use \u201cin the defense of a free press.\u201d<\/p>\n
Announcement of the grants was made yesterday in Ukiah, Mendocino County, by the Board of Trustees of the church, which has a statewide membership of more than 7500.<\/p>\n
THREAT<\/p>\n
Speaking for the board, trustee James R. Pugh said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe the American way of life is being threatened by the recent jailings of news reporters for refusal to reveal their sources.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a church we feel a responsibility to defend the free speech clause of the First Amendment, for without it, America will have lost freedom of conscience and the climate will become ripe for totalitarianism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pugh said the church\u2019s pastor, the Reverend Jim Jones, had \u201cpublicly commended\u201d The Chronicle and its \u201cfine editorial staff\u201d for taking a strong editorial position in defense of the First Amendment and for the \u201cthe high quality of the newspaper.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe San Francisco Chronicle has shown itself to be fair, lucid, comprehensive and courageous in confronting many issues head-on,\u201d trustee Pugh said.<\/p>\n
SOCIAL<\/p>\n
Called less formally Peoples Temple, the church is best known and highly regarded for its social works which include housing and feeding senior citizens and medical convalescents, maintaining a home for retarded boys, rehabilitating youthful drug offenders and assisting nonmembers as well as members of the faith through college and legal difficulties.<\/p>\n
In accepting the grant in behalf of the Chronicle, Charles DeYoung Thieriot, editor and publisher, expressed his thanks to the Peoples Temple Christian Church.<\/p>\n
Thieriot said the $500 awarded to The Chronicle will be turned over to Sigma Delta Chi, the professional journalist society, which is active in defense of freedom of the press.<\/p>\n
And next I would like to share with our colleagues the text of a resolution which the Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada \u2013 Disciples of Christ \u2013 passed by an overwhelming margin on May 19 at their 1973 annual meeting. The resolution was offered by the First Christian Church of San Jose and won broad support from the 230 delegates attending the convention at the First Christian Church of Modesto, Calif. The delegates represented about 16,000 members from 79 congregations.<\/p>\n
The text of the resolution follows:<\/p>\n
Whereas, the church stands for freedom and the free flow of information, and<\/p>\n
Whereas, the public media mainly the press, is under increasing challenge as to it exercising freedom in news and programming, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, and<\/p>\n
Whereas, one of our congregations Peoples Temple Christian Church, Redwood Valley, California, has made a financial contribution for use in defense of a free press as guaranteed by the First Amendment,<\/p>\n
Therefore, be it resolved that the Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada Disciples of Christ, meeting at its annual meeting May 18, 19 and 20, 1973, at First Christian Church, Modesto, California, encourages its member congregations to make their voice heard in support of a free and responsible press by either making financial contributions to ensure a free and responsible press or by letting our elected officials, representatives of the communications media, and others know that we oppose any action which infringes on the First Amendment.<\/p>\n
And be it further resolved that the Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada Disciples of Christ, meeting in its annual meeting May 18, 19 and 20, 1973 at First Christian Church, Modesto, California make known to our elected officials, representatives of communications media, and others our support of a free and responsible press and our commitment to that position and our rejection of any action which interferes on the First Amendment.<\/p>\n
The Church Board, First Christian Church, San Jose, California.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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