ADL Sets Record Straight On VP Nominees Religious Beliefs

Concerned that the media and the public are missing its message about Senator Joseph Liebermans recent comments about religion and the political campaign, The Anti-Defamation Leagues (ADL) Queens representative Ed Sederbaum agreed last week to "set the record straight" in an exclusive interview with The Queens Courier.
The confrontation between the countrys first Jewish candidate for vice president and the influential ADL flared last week after the Jewish organizations national director, Abraham H. Foxman, wrote Lieberman to express concern about his "extensive reflections on religious values and expressions of faith."
Foxman singled out Liebermans suggestion that, "As a people we need to reaffirm our faith and renew the dedication of our nations and ourselves to God and Gods purpose."
Sederbaum, a Jackson Heights resident who is associate director of ADLs New York regional office, said the Jewish agency has no problem with candidates telling voters about their religion.
"Our concern is with separating matters of religion and state," he said. "Its wrong to say that one cannot be a moral person without being a religious person. It is an affront to many highly ethical citizens."
Sederbaum acknowledged that the vice presidential candidate did change his tune after the ADL letter and said he could support a candidate who is an atheist if he proved a worthy candidate.
The ADL official said that at the outset of the campaign the ADL wrote to all candidates to be wary of religion-state conflicts.
The ADL position further states, "as this campaign unfolds, we urge you to keep in mind that public profession of religious beliefs should not be an elemental part of this or any other political campaign."