From: RMVLUG_4@FLINT.MINES.COLORADO.EDU (FRANK BERNDT)
Subject: Lou Sheldon Letter
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 00:01:03 GMT


Well, since an article on the subject has been posted, I guess, you
want to see a transcript of Lou Sheldon's actual fundraising letter.

The text was posted a week or so on soc.motss.  Here it is:

The following is a letter from Lou Sheldon of the Traditional
Values Coalition which I obtained.  In it, he calls for a
California statewide ballot initiative similar to Oregon's
and Colorado's.


                     TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION
                   100 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 350
                         Anaheim, CA   92805
                           (714) 520-0300

                                                      November 20, 1992

Dear Friend of TVC:

I am writing to share with you what I have only shared in private with 
other state and national pro-family leaders.  And I am asking you to 
prayerfully consider supporting a statewide ballot proposition on the 
heterosexual ethic.

However, allow me to briefly state my deep sorrow and note our 
tremendous loss with the defeat of President Bush.  I believe the 
election hung on the economy and the president's perceived lack of vigor 
for domestic economic changes.

For many years my heart has been greatly burdened.  Particularly, this 
election year we witnessed a serious and radical attack against the 
Judeo-Christian ethic by the homosexual lobby and their liberal friends.  
They have a twisted version of morality that does not represent the 
beliefs of the general population.

These "Social engineers" use their campaign contributions and influence 
with school boards, city councils, state legislatures, U.S. Congress and 
in government bureaucracies to slowly implement radical ideas that are 
damaging to God and country.

They have taken God's gift of man and woman (the heterosexual ethic) and 
twisted it to promote homosexuality as a viable life alternative in 
society.  Help me re-capture our heritage.

Hollywood and the evening news does everything they can to attack 
traditional family values.  Two weeks ago, Barbara Walters commented on 
a special report on lesbianism for ABC's 20/20.  As usual it was very 
biased.  At the end of the show Barbara Walters blamed bigotry as the 
biggest problem lesbians face.

What Ms. Walters really said is that we are all the problem.  She calls 
evil good and good evil.  I refuse to submit to this thinly veiled 
attack upon the heterosexual ethic which is ordained by God.

I have privately recommended to fellow pro-family leaders, and they 
agree, that unless we bring winnable pro-family issues to the voters for 
a direct vote, we will allow the liberal secular humanists to chip away 
at America's Judeo-Christian consensus.

          IF WE ABDICATE OUR RIGHT, AUTHORITY AND POWER
          TO RESPOND TO THE GROWING ATTACK UPON THIS
          NATION, WE WILL BE ONLY ASKING FOR MORE OF
          THE SAME FROM THE RADICAL SECULAR HUMANISTS.

In a reasonable manner we have to launch a positive policy initiative 
that will send a message that grassroots Americans support traditional 
family values.  In the war for the heart and mind of America this will 
be a crucial battle.

To take back our culture and the nation's Judeo-Christian ethic we have 
to start simple and work in increments.  That means addressing important 
issues that are under attack by the liberal left, yet have the strong 
support of the general population.  It would be unwise to present an 
issue with too much controversy to the voters on a statewide ballot 
proposition.

Three major areas of vital importance need to be addressed at this time 
in a statewide ballot proposition.

     ** the agenda by the homosexual community to legalize same sex
        marriages

     ** the promotion of homosexuality in public schools

     ** complete exemption for religious institutions from homosexual
        "special rights" laws

Here in California, Assemblyman John Burton (D-S.F.) introduced AB 167, 
which would have replaced the existing definition of marriage, which is 
between "man and woman," with the phrase "two persons."  Currently, 
Hawaii's Supreme Court and Washington D.C. Superior Court are 
considering granting marriage rights to same-sex couples.

It is reasonable that the homosexuals will again try to have the 
legislature legalize same-sex marriage.  That is why we need to put into 
the state constitution that marriage is between a man and a woman.  If 
it is in the state Constitution the legislature can not pass a new law 
trying to legalize same-sex marriages.

Under the auspices of the public education system, schools are promoting 
homosexuality to youth.  For example, USA Today reported that New York 
City schools use books called Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy's 
Roommate in elementary age classrooms; the Los Angeles Unified School 
District declared the month of June "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month"; and 
schools in many parts of California now have programs to recruit 
troubles students into homosexuality.

The following are excerpts from the book Heather Has Two Mommies.  This 
book is being given to elementary age children.  (If you want copies of 
this reading book, please contact my Anaheim office.)

     A long time ago, before Heather was born, Mama Jane and Mama
     Kate were very good friends....  Kate and Jane realized that they
     were very much in love with each other.  They decided they wanted
     to live together and be a family together....  Kate and Jane
     wanted to have a baby....  Kate and Jane went to see a special
     doctor together.  After the doctor examined Jane to make sure
     that she was healthy, she put some sperm into Jane's vagina.
     (Page 2-8)

If we don't get with it, it is all over.  A basic staple of our society 
is a mother and a father in the context of mutual monogamous 
heterosexual marriage.  A generation of the above type of indoctrination 
will circumvent the mother and father as the foundation of the family, 
which is the foundation of our society.

This is an attack upon the family.  America can not exist without strong 
families.

Over the last two years in Sacramento the homosexual lobby has worked 
overtime to put pro-homosexual propaganda into the Health Framework that 
publishers use to write K-12 Heath Textbooks.  We have to stop this 
assault against our children.  With your help we have been able to 
remove much of the objectionable material, but the final outcome will 
not come until January, 1993.

The point, however, is that the homosexual lobby is not going away and 
continues to grow stronger.  We have to address this growing problem 
with prayers, strength and wisdom.

We need your help.  We are forming a broad based coalition of churches, 
businesses, consumers, taxpayers, pro-family groups and others to put a 
pro-family statewide ballot measure before California voters to address 
these issues.  The effort to qualify this ballot measure will be 
inclusive of all organizations and individuals.  That is why we are 
working with all friendly organizations to form a united coalition of 
activists.

Here at Traditional Values Coalition we monitor with increasing concern 
the growing attacks upon the religious liberties and moral values in our 
country.

In 1989, TVC was the architect and the sponsor of legislation in 
Sacramento to require the teaching of abstinence in public schools.  The 
ACLU strongly opposed this legislation and argued that it was 
unconstitutional.  Why?  Their twisted argument was that abstinence is a 
part of religious beliefs and therefore it would violate the First 
Amendment to teach abstinence in public schools.

These anti-democratic activities are not a single aberration by some 
crazy left wing kooks.  It is a campaign by the liberal elite in this 
country to make Christians second-class citizens.

I can not overstate the enormity of the threat these anti-family 
movements pose to individual religious liberties, children, family and 
the Church.  Over the last two decades the homosexual lobby and their 
liberal friends have slowly chipped away at the moral fabric of this 
country.  And we must respond with a positive initiative.

That's why I am convinced that the preservation of traditional family 
values can not be left to the politicians or judges.  We must work to 
preserve our heritage by incorporating simple fundamental beliefs into 
the state constitution.  This is not the answer for all of our problems, 
but a start in the right direction.

Imagine the message we will send when we have a united coalition of 
these good organizations and churches working together.  Of course, even 
as we pursue this ballot measure, we must continue our efforts to 
educate churches and concerned Americans and oppose the ongoing activity 
by the liberal-left.

That's why it's important for you and every member of TVC who shares our 
concern for this nation to join me in protecting our God-given liberties 
... by sending a generous gift to help us place into the state 
constitution rights we have taken for granted.

Specifically, we need your help NOW as we begin to organize and build a 
consensus among the broad based coalition of churches, businesses, 
consumers, taxpayers, pro-family groups and others.

We need resources to organize and hold meetings in various regions of 
the state.  We are preparing materials and videos for churches and 
groups that need information to better support this issue.

Together, you and I and multiplied thousands can work together for these 
three statewide policy initiatives.

Do you want to:

--->  Protect the marriage laws?

--->  Stop the promotion of homosexuality in public schools?

--->  Grant complete exemption for religious institutions from
      homosexual "special rights" laws?

If your [sic] agree with me that these issues are important enough to 
take a stand then please use the enclosed card and return envelop to 
tell me that you will support this effort.

While on November 3, 1992, pro-family activists won a measure 
prohibiting homosexual "special rights" in Colorado, there is no 
guarantee that a campaign such as this one will succeed.  But the 
greatest danger is not doing anything at all.  Putting our heads in the 
sand or wishing things will get better by throwing pennies in a well is 
not the answer.

The other side has launched a "cultural war" against us.  We must 
respond.  Please join me in this campaign to seize the initiative.

The hour is very late.  The radical homosexuals are on the march and 
have spent years mobilizing.  We must mobilize too, and NOW.

I am traveling throughout the state meeting leaders to discuss this 
needed initiative on the heterosexual ethic.

Please let me hear from you today.

                              Sincerely,



                              Rev. Louis P. Sheldon
                              Chairman

P.S.  Your financial gift
      enables us to begin
      this effort.


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