Church and Society joins call to president for tobacco control legislation
4/23/1998 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn by United Methodist News Service The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has joined a Washington-based coalition on smoking in asking President Clinton and Congress to protect children by passing tobacco control legislation.
The Interreligious Coalition on Smoking or Health made the call after religious communities nationwide learned in early April that the five largest tobacco companies were dropping their commitments to reduce smoking. The companies said their previous commitments to the effort were "dead" and broke off talks with Congress over legislation that would affect the industry.
The coalition represents Christians, Jews and Muslims, and counts the Board of Church and Society among its members.
The group said it was disturbed that the tobacco companies had attacked Clinton and Congress because of their efforts to protect children "from an addictive drug." Calling nicotine the nation's "most powerful killer," the coalition urged the president and Congress "to defend the children of America against the onslaught of a powerful and arrogant industry by passing comprehensive tobacco legislation in this session of Congress."
The companies oppose the legislation, which would cost them $516 billion during the next 25 years and would not provide the protection they seek from future lawsuits.
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