Positions on Social Issues

Basic Living Standard, Equal Rights, Extremists

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Entitlement to a Basic Living Standard

The 1981 Convention recorded its "strong, resolute support" of the principle of entitlement -- "that Americans are entitled by law and right to a certain basic standard of living (food, clothing, shelter, legal representation, health care, education)" -- and called for its implementation at every level of government. An earlier Convention (1975) had called upon the federal government to "devise and initiate a broad program of corrective action" to insure the availability of these basic necessities. (See also Hunger & Homelessness, Advocacy)


Equal Rights

Earlier Convention statements of support for the achievement of basic constitutional and human rights for women, for blacks, and for "other minorities similarly affected" were reaffirmed in an omnibus Convention resolution in 1978.


Extremists

In 1963, the Convention condemned extremists "both of the Right and of the Left who often resort to false witness, slander, distortion and over-simplification" and whose activities have "often aroused suspicion, mistrust, and confusion within the Church,; reminding Churchpeople to "examine carefully charges of disloyalty and subversion brought by extremist groups, and the over-simplified appraisal of our situation which they promote."

 

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