Governor-elect Linda Lingle Returns $3,000 to Christian Supremacists

Linda Lingle has returned $3,000 she received from Howard F. Ahmanson, a wealthy Christian Fundamentalist who advocates "biblical law." In Ahmanson's view the death penalty sould be required for over a dozen categories of offenders, including adulterers, homosexuals, witches (sic), incorrigible children and those who spread "false" religions. The return of campaign funds was in response to a written complaint from HCSSC.

> EMAIL FROM LINDA LINGLE'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER

From: "Bob Awana" <bobawana@lindalingle.com>
To: "Mitchell Kahle" <hcssc@lava.net>
Cc: "Micah Kane" <micahkane@gophawaii.com>
Subject: Howard F. Ahmanson
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 13:51:49 -1000
Organization: Linda Lingle Campaign Committee

Dear Mitchell:

This is to inform you that we have today refunded $3,000 to Howard F. Ahmanson and his affililiated organization, Fieldstead & Co.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Aloha,

Bob Awana
Campaign Manager
Linda Lingle Campaign for Governor

Lingle Accepting Donations from Christian Supremacists
HCSSC Letter to Linda Lingle

Friday, October 11, 2002

Ms. Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle Campaign Committee
1290 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Phone: 808-440-9600, Fax: 808-440-9629
Email: campaign@lindalingle.com

RE: Campaign Contributions and the Christian Religious Right (Page 1 of 2)

Dear Ms. Lingle:

It has come to our attention that your campaign committee has accepted financial donations from individuals and organizations affiliated with the Christian Religious Right.

Of particular concern is the participation of Howard F. Ahmanson, who contributed $3,000 through the Fieldstead Company. Mr. Ahmanson is a well known financier of the Christian Reconstruction movement; an extremist faction of the Religious Right which advocates that conservative Christians should take "dominion" over American society. Under their version of "biblical law," the death penalty would be required for over a dozen categories of offenders, including adulterers, homosexuals, witches (sic), incorrigible children and those who spread "false" religions. They regard the teaching of evolution as part of a "war against God."

Ahmanson and his partners founded the Chalcedon Foundation, a Christian Right think tank which advocates the imposition of an "Old Testament" legal code in America. Ahmanson thinks stoning is the biblically preferred form of capital punishment. He notes that the means of execution are cheap and readily available and that stoning demonstrates the whole community's responsibility for crime prevention.

By accepting campaign contributions from Ahmanson and other proponents of Christian supremacy, you endorse these views and their effect on our society. These Christian supremacists are not interested in religious freedom, diversity, and pluralism. They seek to establish, by force if necessary, a nation of laws based on the Bible and Christian rule.

In your response to the Hawaii Christian Coalition candidate survey, you either "support" or are "undecided" on policies advocated by the Christian Right. For example, you marked "undecided" on whether biblical creationism should be taught as part of the science curriculum is public schools; even though the courts have found that creationism is not science and promotes religion.

You appear to lack an understanding of and respect for Hawaii's religious diversity. Less than 30% of Hawaii residents are Christian. This claim is supported by two recent surveys and statistical reports.

772,843 Hawaii residents (nearly 70%) are unaffiliated with the Christian religion, according to a survey recently conducted by the Glenmary Research Center, a Catholic research organization. Nearly 100,000 residents (approximately 8%) are practicing Buddhists; other faiths include Jews (estimate 7,000), Baha'i, Hawaiians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Shintos, and others. The vast majority of Hawaii residents (approximately 52% or 630,000), however, are agnostic, atheist, secular humanist, or religiously indifferent.

Based on the demographics and respect for the constitutional separation of state and church, we encourage your campaign to respect all citizens by remaining neutral on all matters of religion.

The distinction between personal religious expression and government religious preference is easy to recognize and understand. Individuals are free to express their religion in public, but the government may not promote religion on behalf of the public.

The people of Hawaii - the vast majority of whom are NOT Christians - deserve and demand equality, justice, respect, and freedom from religious bias, coercion, and discrimination by government.

Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church was founded on the principle that government must never demonstrate any preference for one particular religion over others or for religion generally over non-religion. We ask that you respect and honor this constitutional principle of freedom.

Because of their radical and discriminatory agenda, we hereby request that you return any and all campaign contributions from individuals and organizations affiliated with the Christian Religious Right.

The courtesy of your timely reply is appreciated.

Sincerely,

<signature>

Mitchell Kahle
President

CC: Mr. Micah Kane, Chairman, Hawaii Republican Party (Fax: 593-7742)
      Ms. Lorraine Akiba, Chairwoman, Democratic Party of Hawaii (Fax: 596-2985)