Religious press warned of dangers to freedom

Christian Century, April 24, 2002

The First Amendment guarantees of religious and press freedom from government interference are in trouble--"and that means you are in trouble," declared Charles Overby, chairman and CEO of the Freedom Forum, in a keynote address to the annual meeting of Associated Church Press (ACP). The First Amendment "will not survive this century unless the public is educated," he said.

Recent polls done for the nonpartisan Freedom Forum foundation, best known for its Newseum in Arlington, Virginia, and the First Amendment Center in Nashville, reveal that many Americans object to what they perceive as "unbridled freedoms," saying they would give up some basic freedoms for more security, Overby said. For example, almost 40 percent say the First Amendment goes too far--double the percentage of the previous year. Another 46 percent say the press has too much freedom.

"We have our work cut out for us," said Overby in challenging the ACP, an 86-year-old professional association of 175 members with a combined circulation of over 28 million. The group held its convention at a Baptist retreat center near Birmingham, Alabama, April 7-10.

Noting that some people "insist we are a Christian nation" despite our religious diversity, Overby said the Freedom Forum backs teaching about religion in schools but is opposed to such things as posting the Ten Commandments in government buildings, regarding them as attempts to "secularize" religion. "We don't need our government to tell us what to do in the realm of religion," he said, according to the Episcopal News Service.

Overby challenged church communicators to be more diligent in exploring the issues, using their considerable influence in more effective ways. "Your job is more important than it has been before even though it is being minimized by many religious leaders," he added. Too often those leaders are "confused about the issues--they need more light and less heat."