Groups Warn Against Using Waco Tragedy to Define a Valid Religion

WASHINGTON —  A wide range of church and religious groups are urging the federal government to refrain from using its investigation into the Branch Davidian tragedy as a means to define a valid religion.

“History teaches that today’s ‘cults’ may become tomorrow’s mainstream religions,” the statement warned. “In the midst of our national mourning, we must fend off any inclination to shrink from our commitment to religious pluralism or to seek security at the expense of liberty.”

Signers of the statement ranged from the National Council of Churches and the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs to the National Assn. of Evangelicals, the Church of Scientology and the Assn. of Christian Schools International.

Since April 19, when a 51-day standoff between federal agents and a religious group led by David Koresh came to a fiery end, a number of investigations and congressional hearings have been mounted.

Some in the religious community have suggested holding congressional hearings on cults. But the religious groups counseled against such hearings.

“Under the religious liberty provision of the 1st Amendment, government has no business declaring what is orthodox or heretical, or what is a true or false religion,” the statement said. “(The government) should steer clear of inflammatory and misleading labels.”

The groups said it is appropriate for the government to investigate what happened during the standoff outside Waco, Tex., in order to prevent similar occurrences. The statement also recognized that religious freedom is neither absolute nor an excuse for violent or criminal conduct.

The Waco incident was apparently triggered when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Koresh. In a deadly shootout that began the 51-day standoff, four ATF agents were slain.

Internal investigations are being conducted at both the Treasury Department, the parent agency of the ATF, and at the FBI. On April 22, the House Judiciary Committee held a daylong hearing examining the government’s actions.

At least one religious leader has suggested that bringing more light to bear on cults would be a good thing. At a recent youth ministry conference, Tal David, interim director of the interfaith witness department of the South Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board, said a public inquiry such as congressional hearings “would increase the awareness of people about some of these groups.” But, he added: “I’m real hesitant about the government getting too deeply into things.”

The groups issuing the May 6 statement warned that government efforts to define a cult would prove dangerous to religious liberty.

“Absent some compelling justification, however, government should not restrict religious exercise,” the statement said. “And force--if ever appropriate--must be employed as a last resort.”

James Dunn, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee and one of the initiators of the statement, said “the difference between a ‘religious fanatic’ and a devout believer” is never clear. “Even to categorize would be a calamity; to do more would be a catastrophe,” he said.

Signing the statement were American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.; American Civil Liberties Union, Washington office; American Conference on Religious Movements; Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Assn. of Christian Schools International; Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs; Church of Scientology International; Churches’ Center for Theology and Public Policy; Episcopal Church; First Liberty Institute; General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Greater Grace World Outreach; National Assn. of Evangelicals; National Council of Churches of Christ; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington office, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.