Fundies say that atheists never point to the good things that churches do.
In the interest of fairness, I offer the following, forwarded from ANEWS:

CHURCHES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE (CMEP) LETTER TO LEE HAMILTON:

April 2, 1993

The Honorable Lee Hamilton
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Hamilton:

Churches for Middle East Peace, a working coalition of the
Washington offices of Roman Catholic and Protestant groups, writes
to you in your capacity as a member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee with our concerns about Congressional responses to
terrorist acts.

The bombing of the World Trade Center has brought the fear of such
attacks to the people of the United States.  We are concerned that
members of Congress, in seeking to address this matter of public
safety, may inadvertently foster measures that erode civil
liberties and cast suspicion on Muslims and Arabs generally.  We
are alarmed by the ease with which religion, specifically Islam,
is cited as the factor that distinguishes, motivates and funds the
men accused of the World Trade Center bombing as well as many of
the perpetrators of violence in Middle Eastern countries.

Some might argue that constitutional guarantees regarding the
freedom of citizens, aliens and even visitors to speak, assemble
and worship should be restricted in order to protect against acts
of terrorists.  We hold the view that these rights, which insure
alternatives to violence as a means of political expression, have
been a major reason for the relatively few terrorist incidents in
the United States.  To weaken basic liberties in response to the
Trade Center bombing would be misguided.

We urge your thoughtful consideration and rejection of resolutions
and letters to the administration that stereotype Islam or Arabs.

There is no need to designate specific Arab Muslim groups for
exclusion from the United States.  Criminal and immigration laws
already provide the measures necessary to exclude and prosecute
terrorists.  The amendment to Sec. 212 of the Immigration and
Naturalization Act offered by Sen. D'Amato and Rep. Deutsch abets
religious and ethnic stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs.  Such
proposals, even if never enacted or intended to become law, are
widely discussed in the Middle East, the Muslim world and among
Arab-Americans.  The fact that such measures are even considered
by Congress has an effect different than supporters perhaps intend.
The proposal to categorize and exclude from the United States yet
another segment of Palestinians makes the task of the Palestinian
delegation to the peace talks with Israel even more difficult.

Further, we urge you at every opportunity to challenge religious
stereotyping, prejudice and bigotry in the debates and actions of
Congress and in public events back home.  We hope you will join us
and others in enthusiastic support of this country's pluralism and
diversity.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Tiller
Director, Office of Governmental
Relations
American Baptist Churches, USA

James Matlack
Director, Washington Office
American Friends Service Committee

Timothy A. McElwee
Director, Washington Office
Church of the Brethren

Ted Keating, S.M.
Director of Justice and Peace Office
Roman Catholic Conference
of Major Superiors of Men

Patricia J. Rumer
General Director
Church Women United

Betty A. Coats
Presiding Bishop's Staff Officer
Episcopal Church, Washington Office

Mark B. Brown
Assistant Director for Advocacy
Lutheran Office for Governmental
Affairs
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America

Nancy Nye
Legislative Secretary
Friends Committee on National
Legislation

Terence Miller
Justice and Peace Office
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Delton Franz
Director, Washington Office
Mennonite Central Committee

Dale Bishop
Middle East Director
National Council of Churches

Eleanora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Robert Z. Alpern
Director, Washington Office
Unitarian Universalist Association

Jay Lintner
Director, Washington Office
Office for Church and Society
United Church of Christ

Anna Rhee
Executive Secretary for Public Policy
Womens' Division
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church

Robin Ringler
Peace with Justice Program Director
United Methodist Board of Church
and Society

MARK BROWN
Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs