Churches leap into smoking debate

WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, indicted by a grand jury in his home state and bounced from his leadership position in Congress, has another distraction:

Interfaith groups are pressuring him to drop his opposition to Food and Drug Administration oversight of cigarette sales, which health experts say could save thousands of American lives.

Religious leaders say they have leaped into the smoking issue for moral reasons. It is wrong, they argue, for tobacco companies to market lethal and addictive products, particularly to youths.

"We're really disturbed that Mr. DeLay and others have opposed FDA regulation," said the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, an addictions and health care specialist at an agency within the United Methodist Church in Washington. "There's a lot of talk by politicians about family values. But when we're talking about the health of families and children, that's a family value."

The pressure on DeLay comes from Texas Faith United Against Tobacco, a coalition of Southern Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Seventh-day Adventists and others. The group recently sent proclamations to about 200 church leaders, asking them to join the call for DeLay to support FDA oversight.

In March, a related national group, Faith United Against Tobacco, wrote to DeLay, then House majority leader, saying, "We find it incredible that the FDA can ensure the safety of everyday items like macaroni and cheese, but has no authority over tobacco, a product that kills over 400,000 Americans every year."

DeLay, a Baptist who openly professes his faith in political settings, relies heavily on support from religious conservatives. But he also has long-standing relationships with tobacco companies, which have contributed $134,150 to his campaigns since 1990, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan watchdog group in Washington.

In October, traveling to Houston to answer state money-laundering and conspiracy charges, DeLay flew aboard a jet owned by the tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, which has contributed to his legal defense fund and opposes FDA oversight.

Ben Porritt, a DeLay spokesman, said the congressman maintains his opposition to FDA oversight and believes the focus should be on enforcing laws against smoking among minors.

Asked if faith leaders' support of FDA control might pose a political problem for DeLay, Porritt responded: "Mr. DeLay stands in the corner of the children. He supports the laws on the books and making sure we protect children. That's everybody's goal here."