INTERFAITH ALLIANCE STATE OF BELIEF

RADIO SEPTEMBER 5, 2015

RUSH TRANSCRIPT: JACK MOLINE
Click here for audio
[REV. DR. C. WELTON GADDY, HOST]: At
the end of this month, Pope Francis will travel to Philadelphia for the
World Meeting of Families. The trip will include stops in New York City
and Washington D.C., where the leader of the Roman Catholic
Church will address a joint meeting of the United States Congress.
Next week, the rather notorious organization ACT for America will
host a conference in which fourteen members of the House of
Representatives are expected to participate. Besides featuring the
largest bald eagle I've ever seen on a website, the organization also
focuses on blaming Islam for most all of the ills of the world today.
Bad things happen when either religion or politics are used in the
service of the other. To discuss whether we're crossing that line, I'm
joined by Rabbi Jack Moline, executive director of Interfaith Alliance.
Jack, welcome back to State of Belief!
[RABBI JACK MOLINE, GUEST]: It's just like coming home, Welton,
thank you.
[WG]: Let's start - this is this is heavy stuff - let's start with the ACT
conference. You issued a strongly-worded statement addressing
political leaders taking part in this. Tell the listeners a little bit about
this conference, and then why you offered such a serious statement
regarding it.
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[JM]: So, ACT for America is one of those organizations that has
taken as its mission the denigration of Islam and the people who
practice it. It really is a very troubling organization headed by
someone who's not a Muslim - she's an Arab, Brigitte Gabriel - and
who claims to have been a victim of extremist violence. And I have no
reason to doubt her particular story; but she's extrapolated that to a
condemnation of Islam and all those who adhere to it based on her
particular circumstances. She founded this organization in order to
quote-unquote alert America to the danger that faces them from
people who are practicing Muslims, and has put together this
conference that features a variety of people who are legitimately
describable as Islamophobes; and has invited and received
confirmation from members of Congress - at this point fourteen in all who will be there and participate in this conference.
It's simply shocking and inexcusable.
[WG]: Well you know, Jack, bias against people who are perceived to
be Muslim continues to be a serious problem in this country. So you
set down in the middle of that this ACT conference - do you think
political leaders taking part in a blame-Islam event like this makes
anything better, or makes it all worse?
[JM]: Of course it makes it worse, because when you have people
who are elected officials, they become validators of any position that
they take - even if it's not in the general society - among those who
are so inclined. Instead of speaking out against stereotypes and
biases, they wind up reinforcing them. And the only reason, Welton,
that I can think they're doing this is for the votes. That they think by
appealing to a base of people who include prejudice as part of their
values they will find themselves reelected to the United States
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Congress. And that's very troubling to me. Its troubling from an

incumbent; it would be troubling from a candidate; it would be
troubling even from someone who is not standing for office.
[WG]: So is there a call to action for Interfaith Alliance members and
our listeners to help discourage their elected officials from endorsing
a conference like this with their presence?
[JM]: Well, first and foremost, the call to action is for our listeners to
educate themselves. They should know what ACT for America is;
theres a website, they can follow it; they can see that that Brigitte
Gabriel has placed at the very top of that website a quotation from
Winston Churchill - whose life ended thirty five years before the
events that she claim inspired her even began - in which he calls for
an opposition to terror (he was of course speaking of the bombing of
London, not of the World Trade Center) - and they need to educate
themselves as to what ACT for America's all about.
And then they need to take that education and share it with their
elected officials and their candidates for office, so that theres no
excuse for somebody saying, well, he didn't know, he wasn't aware.
And then they have to tell their friends - because the only way that
we're going to reduce the scourge of prejudice in our country is if
people of conscience speak out.
[WG]: That's well said. I usually, at the end of an interview, ask to get
how to make contact with the organization and website and so forth. I
want to do that right now in this instance, because I think it would be
very helpful for our listeners to go to the website of ACT for America,
and then go to the website for Interfaith Alliance and see what those

look like side by side. So please tell our listeners how to get in touch
with Interfaith Alliance.
[JM]: Well it's pretty simple: InterfaithAlliance.org. It's a long handle,
but it takes you to an important place. And if you're willing to take a
look at what we have to offer and send us a little contact information,
we will make sure that you are kept up to date on everything we're
doing. And if in the process you're inspired to support our work, we
would be very grateful for that as well.
[WG]: Jack, I want to shift from politicians and religion to religion and
politicians, if I may. Pope Francis is addressing a joint session of
Congress later this month. I know that both of us have major
concerns about this; I'd like for you to detail your concerns about it.
[JM]: Thanks. Yeah, actually, the two issues are very much
interrelated - although I want to make very clear that I don't make any
equivalency between the goodwill of Pope Francis and the ill will of
ACT for America.
What's at stake here is we have a religious leader who is addressing
a legislative body that is constituted under the documents of founding
the United States of America. My concern is that out of respect for
this great man and his insight into the human condition, the audience
is going to forget that they are listening not as members of a Church
or people seated in pews, but as representatives of the United States
of America and the values that it stands for. Whatever Pope Francis
says should be understood as his representation of what the Roman
Catholic Church stands for - which I honor and respect; but in the end
the decisions that need to be made in the chamber in which he's
speaking have to be based entirely on the Constitution and not on the
suggestions of anybody, domestic or foreign, who comes to deliver a
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message that it's not 100% consonant with the Constitution of the
United States.
[WG]: Jack I know how well you do this, and so I want to do a
hypothetical here: if you were the Pope's warm-up act, would you say
to our legislators as they prepare to hear Pope Francis?
[JM]: If I were the Pope's warm-up act? Well, first of all, I'd probably
tell a story about a rabbi in a priest walking into a bar. But then I
would say to them, You're about to hear from a great man with
tremendous spiritual insight, and I hope that the words that he speaks
touch your very soul. But when it comes to making decisions about
the future of this country, please remember that we are not all Roman
Catholics; were not even all members of the Abrahamic traditions;
were not even all people of faith. But we're all Americans; and we are
all depending on you to support and defend the Constitution, which is
what you promised to do when you took office.
[WG]: I'd love to hear that right before that speech. As a nation, you
know, we seem to be bumbling around these issues somewhat, with
people taking too many things personally - and this goes back to
Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress a few months ago as
well. What guidance can Interfaith Alliance offer both voters and
leaders on better dealing with these kinds of issues? Because it's
really not ideological at all - the same rules should apply to everyone.
[JM]: So, I think here's where Interfaith Alliance occupies a niche in
this conversation that is not being well-filled by anybody else. We
really have a unique message. There are people who believe so
absolutely in the separation of Church and State that they are
completely opposed to the presence of any voice of a faith community
in public. We have organizations with whom we find ourselves in
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coalition who are regularly critical of the entire endeavor of a faith

community, of religious belief. They defend that separation well, but
with a bias against the faith component.
Then there are people who believe that there should be no separation
between their particular religious beliefs and the policies of the United
States - and they are threatened and frightened by the notion that
they might have to give up what they've presumed to be the status
quo.
Interfaith Alliance occupies the ground that I think is what Jefferson
laid out in the Bill of Rights and what the United States government
has upheld beautifully over the course of these hundreds of years of
the United States existence, and that is that faith is an intensely
personal and private matter; and that while the values that we believe
in need to be brought to the public sphere, the thing that protects us
from having those beliefs compromised is the Constitution that
guarantees the same rights and privileges to every member of this
country. And we need to take the responsibility to defend those rights
and privileges - not just to claim them for ourselves. That's the
message of Interfaith Alliance.
[WG]: Well said, too. While I have you, Jack, I do want to ask what
else Interfaith Alliance is working on this fall, and of course you've
already got in one request for funding support; you're welcome to do
that again.
[JM]: Well, I want to emphasize that we have other things that are still
continuing, Welton. I know our focus right now is on the Pope's visit
and some of the issues that will surround his presentation; but we are
still focused on marriage equality - which is now, fortunately, the law
of the land, but is not quite the practice of the land in every corner we
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look - so our #everyoneonly campaign is still alive and well, and we

hope that, particularly in those states that have or are considering
Religious Freedom Restoration Act processes, that people will take
those to their local merchants and ask them to put them in their
windows. And that's everyone-only.org. You can find that information
there.
And we are of course continuing our advocacy for religious freedom.
We are looking at the Equality Act, which has just been introduced
and will begin deliberations this fall; and we are looking at the federal
Religious Freedom Restoration Act and how it can be strengthened to
ensure that it is used to protect religious freedom and not abuse
religious freedom.
[WG]: Jack, you've been in that office now about eight months. Im
just tickled to death to see the joy you're having in doing the job and
the good way in which you're doing it. I used to want to go home at
night and think about what had happened in that day or in that week
or in the month that just made me say, I'm really glad I'm doing this
job. I'm curious - because honestly, you know and I know that there
are a lot of days when you get home and say, Well, that wasnt a very
fun thing to do! But what's happened over these eight months that
maybe has caused a ripple up the spine or caused you to go home
and say, You know, I really am glad I'm doing what I'm doing?
[JM]: So, Welton, you know and listeners may remember that I spent
a lot of years on the board of directors of Interfaith Alliance, and even
as Chair of that board for a couple of years; and was always a willing
participant in the course that you charted for the organization, and
was and remain one of your biggest boosters for what you've
accomplished. But I don't think I understood from the inside what it
really means to read The Washington Post, The New York Times, The
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Alexandria Gazette-Packet and see what's going on in the world - and

knowing that we have a voice to weigh in on matters that affect that
day-to-day lives of Americans; people of faith; people who don't
profess a faith; people who interact with other people of faith. It really
makes me feel like I am a part of history in the making when I know
what we've been doing and what impact it's having on people who
want to get married, people who want health care, people who just
want a quiet enjoyment of their religious life.
[WG]: Rabbi Jack Moline is executive director of Interfaith Alliance.
His statement on the ACT for American conference and political
leaders taking part in it is up on our website, stateofbelief.com, and
we'll look forward to a message regarding the Pope's visit in the next
week or two.
Jack, as always, thanks for being with us on State of Belief Radio.
[JM]: Thank you, Welton.

Rabbi Jack Moline

Jack Moline is Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance. In a career
spanning four decades, he has established himself as a powerful
voice fighting for religious freedom for all Americans, regardless of
their faith or belief system. As a rabbi, he has worked to create
common ground between people of diverse religious and secular
backgrounds. As an advocate, he has led efforts to secure services
for this disabled, increase the supply of affordable housing, promote
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marriage equality, ensure pay equity and especially, protect civil rights
for people of all faiths and sexual orientations.
A native of Chicago, he holds the title of Rabbi Emeritus of Agudas
Achim Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia, where he served for 27
years. Rabbi Moline is an adjunct faculty member of the Jewish
Theological Seminary and the Virginia Theological Seminary,
educating future leaders in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith
communities.
A long time board member of Interfaith Alliance, serving as chair of
the board from 2006-2008, Rabbi Moline comes to this role with a
wealth of experience in interfaith advocacy. In addition to his work
with Interfaith Alliance, he has served as chair of the Interfaith
Relations Committee of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, vice
president of the Washington-Baltimore Rabbinical Assembly and
board member of the Faith and Politics Institute. He serves on the
advisory boards of Clergy Beyond Borders and Operation
Understanding DC. He has served as president of the Washington
Board of Rabbis and is past chair of the Alexandria Interfaith
Association. He also served as the first director of public policy for the
Rabbinical Assembly and was executive director of NJDC.
Rabbi Moline also has advised and written for many public figures,
including President Bill Clinton, for whom he provided advice on
international affairs and the presidents personal challenges. He was
invited to offer a blessing to the Obama and Biden families before the
2013 presidential inauguration.
Rabbi Moline has authored two books and has contributed to many
publications. He is a popular speaker and has offered commentary on

PBS, CNN, CBS, Fox News, the Washington Post, National Journal,
Huffington Post and other news outlets.
Rabbi Moline is a graduate of Northwestern University (School of
Communications, 1974). He studied to become a rabbi at the
University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los
Angeles and the Jewish Theological Seminarys (JTS) Jerusalem and
New York campuses. Ordained in 1982, he received an honorary
doctorate from JTS in 2012. He became full-time rabbi and part-time
Jewish chaplain at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury,
Connecticut upon ordination. In 1987, he became rabbi of Agudas
Achim Congregation of Northern Virginia, in Alexandria.
Rabbi Moline is a long-suffering supporter of the Chicago Cubs. He
lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife of 37 years. He is the father of
three grown children and the proud grandfather of one.

Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy

Author of more than 20 books, including First Freedom First: A
Citizens Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of
Church and State, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy led the national nonpartisan grassroots and educational organization Interfaith Alliance
for 16 years, retiring in 2014. Dr. Gaddy continues his work with the
Alliance as President Emeritus and Senior Advisor. He serves as
Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster (Baptist) Church in
Monroe, Louisiana.

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In addition to being a prolific writer, Dr. Gaddy hosts the weekly State
of Belief radio program, where he explores the role of religion in the
life of the nation by illustrating the vast diversity of beliefs in America,
while exposing and critiquing both the political manipulation of religion
for partisan purposes and the religious manipulation of government
for sectarian purposes.
Dr. Gaddy provides regular commentary to the national media on
issues relating to religion and politics. He has appeared on MSNBCs
The Rachel Maddow Show and Hardball, NBCs Nightly News and
Dateline, PBSs Religion and Ethics Newsweekly and The Newshour
with Jim Lehrer, C-SPANs Washington Journal, ABCs World News,
and CNNs American Morning. Former host of Morally Speaking on
NBC affiliate KTVE in Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Gaddy is a regular
contributor to mainstream and religious news outlets.
While ministering to churches with a message of inclusion, Dr. Gaddy
emerged as a leader among progressive and moderate Baptists.
Among his many leadership roles, he is a past president of the
Alliance of Baptists and has been a 20-year member of the
Commission of Christian Ethics of the Baptist World Alliance. His past
leadership roles include serving as a member of the General Council
of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, President of Americans United
for Separation of Church and State, Chair of the Pastoral Leadership
Commission of the Baptist World Alliance and member of the World
Economic Forums Council of 100. Rev. Gaddy currently serves on
the White House task force on the reform of the Office of Faith Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Prior to the fundamentalist takeover of the Southern Baptist
Convention (SBC), Dr. Gaddy served in many SBC leadership roles
including as a member of the conventions Executive Committee from

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1980-84 and Director of Christian Citizenship Development of the

Christian Life Commission from 1973-77.
Dr. Gaddy received his undergraduate degree from Union University
in Jackson, Tennessee and his doctoral degree and divinity training
from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,
Kentucky.

State of Belief Radio

State of Belief is based on the proposition that religion has a positive
and healing role to play in the life of the nation. The show explains
and explores that role by illustrating the vast diversity of beliefs in
America the most religiously diverse country in the world while
exposing and critiquing both the political manipulation of religion for
partisan purposes and the religious manipulation of government for
sectarian purposes.
Each week, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy offers listeners critical
analysis of the news of religion and politics, and seeks to provide
listeners with an understanding and appreciation of religious liberty.
Rev. Gaddy tackles politics with the firm belief that the best way to
secure freedom for religion in America is to secure freedom from
religion. State of Belief illustrates how the Religious Right is wrong
wrong for America and bad for religion.
Through interviews with celebrities and newsmakers and field reports
from around the country, State of Belief explores the intersection of
religion with politics, culture, media, and activism, and promotes

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diverse religious voices in a religiously pluralistic world.

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