The Catholic League objects to public funding of hate groups, and that is why it supports the efforts of Congressman Peter King to deny government contracts to the Nation of Islam. Printed below is the text of the letter sent by the Catholic League to Congressman King and to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros.
October 23, 1995
Hon. Peter King
House of Representatives
118 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3203
Dear Congressman King:
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights strongly supports the amendment that you have proposed to the U.S. Housing Act of 1995, HR 2406. It is due to the delinquency o f the Department o f Housing and Urban Development that security contracts have not been adequately screened, allowing, perversely, for public funding of hate groups.
The Nation of Islam has a long track record of anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic bigotry, and that is why the Catholic League vehemently objects to the federal government extending contracts to the organization. HUD has an obligation to investigate how and why the Nation of Islam qualifies for public funding, and since it won’t do so voluntarily, it makes it imperative that your amendment succeed.
As president of the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, I can say without equivocation that nothing is more disturbing than to find instances o f taxpayer-funded bigotry. Your amendment addresses this issue and has therefore merited the support of the Catholic League.
Sincerely,
William A. Donohue
President
cc: Hon. Henry Cisneros
