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Foreign Policy
Spring 1999
Faithful Lobbyists
The Christian Coalition and the Family Research Council are not the only religious organizations that have made their presence known in Washington. A diverse spectrum of religious groups has long sought to influence U.S. policy on issues ranging from foreign aid to arms control:
The United States Catholic Conference (USCC): The uscc maintains a government liaison office that informs Congress about public-policy issues of concern to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Describing foreign assistance as a “moral obligation” that plays a vital role in efforts to “reduce poverty and assist growth and development” worldwide, the uscc has urged Congress to reverse the pattern of declining U.S. aid. The uscc supported U.S. legislation to protect religious freedom abroad but warned that economic sanctions should be imposed “sparingly and with restraint” to avoid punishing the poor for the actions of their governments.
The American Jewish Congress: Often characterized as the “attorney general of the Jewish community,” the American Jewish Congress was a key player in drafting U.S. legislation that penalizes companies that adhere to the Arab boycott against Israel. Every year, the American Jewish Congress brings elected officials to Israel so that they can develop an understanding of Israel’s security concerns and “the critical importance of an undivided Jerusalem.”
The American Muslim Council (AMC): Dedicated to the political empowerment of Muslims in the United States, the amc lobbies Congress on issues ranging from religious civil rights to the Middle East peace process. The amc denounced the United States’ military strike against Iraq last December and has opposed congressional resolutions that recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. In response to reports of religious persecution in China, the amc has called upon President Bill Clinton to highlight the plight of Chinese Muslims in his dealings with Beijing. The amc supports continued sanctions against Serbia and has endorsed a congressional resolution that seeks to put Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on trial as a war criminal.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): Since 1943, the fcnl has lobbied Congress on issues of concern to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The organization has sought to promote global security by supporting measures such as the international ban on land mines and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The fcnl has urged the U.S. government to pay all United Nations dues and has called upon Congress to shift budget priorities away from defense spending toward humanitarian needs.
—FP