c. 1996 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ President Clinton praised religious groups, political leaders and the public for their response to the rash of church burnings, at ceremonies Wednesday (July 10) marking a new law that would stiffen federal penalties for such crimes.”I want to compliment all the religious organizations and other groups in this country that have agreed to come together to help to rebuild these churches, showing that we can reach across lines of race and religion and region to bring all law-abiding Americans together in this rebuilding effort,”Clinton said.

Thus far, millions of dollars have been raised to restore the burned churches. Donations of human labor and building materials have been received from individuals and businesses.

Last week, the president signed the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, which makes hate crimes against houses of worship a federal crime. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders attended today’s Rose Garden ceremony, along with members of Congress who were instrumental in its passage. The measure was passed unanimously.

The law doubles, to 20 years, the maximum prison term for those convicted of hate crimes involving houses of worship in which people are injured and increases the statute of limitation for prosecution of such cases from five to seven years.”When these attacks are motivated by hate, they are an affront to our basic commitment to religious liberty and racial tolerance,”said Clinton.”And in so doing they pose a challenge not just to those whose houses of worship are desecrated or burned but to the entire nation and to our future as a common community.” Clinton said there have been more than 190 cases of fire or desecration of U.S. houses of worship since January 1995.”While many have been targeted at black churches in the South, there have also been attacks on synagogues, mosques, and white churches in all parts of this country,”he said.

Clinton recently declared July a national month of unity and asked religious leaders”to emphasize the need for healing and tolerance.”He also called on Americans to reach out to people of all races and faiths in efforts to foster understanding and reduce divisiveness.

The National Council of Churches, an organization of 33 Protestant and Orthodox denominations, has raised close to $2.5 million in cash and an equal amount in pledges to rebuild the estimated 42 churches that the NCC says have been the targets of race-based hate crimes since January 1995, said the Rev. Rodney Page, the NCC’s deputy general secretary.

International Paper, the world’s largest forest products company, has offered to supply the NCC with enough lumber, paneling and other wood products to rebuild the burned churches. Page said the gift amounts to”essentially $1 million worth of lumber.” In addition, Elektra Entertainment Group is holding a benefit concert Wednesday (July 10) in Atlanta to raise money for the council’s Burned Churches Fund.

Elektra artists, including rhythm and blues singer Keith Sweat and the rap group Goodie Mob, are slated to perform. Elektra has already donated $5,000 to the fund and plans to hold a larger benefit concert for the churches in the fall.”There’s been an outpouring of compassion and goodwill and of unity and of the nation coming together to say that this does not represent who we are as a nation,”said Page.”Who we are as a nation are people of justice and equality and peace.”

MJP END RNS