 Bill Bennett National ethicist defends evangelicals By John H. Adams The Presbyterian Layman Volume 33, Number 3 Posted May 22, 2000
It also produced a torrent of criticism by politicians who accused House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert and other Republican leaders of “anti-Catholic bias” because they first announced that the Presbyterian minister was their choice. That in turn spawned criticism directed at Protestants identified as evangelicals and fundamentalists. William J. Bennett Jr., a Roman Catholic who will speak on behalf of the Presbyterian Lay Committee on June 24 at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), waded into the House issue. But Bennett, in a letter that was co-written by Catholic author Michael Novak, didn’t take sides on the choice of chaplains. Divisive tactics criticized Rather, Bennett and Novak deplored “the semi-truths and outright falsehoods recently deployed by unwise persons to inflame passion and to sow acrimony” in an attempt to divide Catholics and Protestants. “Indeed, we would like to go on record in commending many of our evangelical colleagues for the spirit of amity and cooperation they have shown to Catholics over the past two decades, and for their increasingly warm and close cooperation with Catholics on many practical issues of common concern,” Bennett and Novak said. “We have learned to admire deeply the witness to Christian faith and to American civic life demonstrated by our Protestant friends. We do our best to emulate it, but often they have set a very high example.” Bill Bennett is a devout Catholic who works to bring Catholics and Protestant evangelicals together on ethical issues. He believes deeply held religious beliefs are the foundation of morality. Served two presidents Bennett was President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of education from 1985 to 1988 and head of the Office of National Drug Policy (“drug czar”) under President George Bush from 1989 to 1990. In both roles, he was like a philosopher-in-residence for the White House, frequently called on to explain the moral implication of national policies. But, according to one biographer, Bennett may have an even greater impact on America’s social and religious discussion now than while he was in office. Through his bestseller, The Book of Virtues, Bennett reintroduced the word “virtue” – as opposed to individual “values” – into the public’s discussion. And, as an iconoclast against contemporary culture, Bennett poses classical arguments – many gleaned from Scripture and the teachings of the Church – for “truth” rather than “trends.” Father of two sons “People are looking for something solid and reliable,” says Bennett, who is the father of two sons, ages 6 and 11. Aimed at the 8 and younger crowd, The Book of Virtues draws on classic tales and poems to teach moral lessons about the importance of being honest, kind, persistent, God-loving and self-disciplined. Some of his other books include The Moral Compass, The De-Valuing of America: The Fight for Our Culture and Our Children and The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators and The Death of Outrage, an assessment of the nation’s reaction to the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton. A native of Brooklyn, Bennett holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Williams College, a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Texas and a law degree from Harvard. He also taught at a number of leading universities before becoming president of the National Humanities Center in North Carolina in 1979. Currently, Bennett is co-director (with Jack Kemp and Jeanne Kirkpatrick) of Empower America, an organization dedicated to promoting conservative principles and ideas. He is a distinguished fellow, cultural policy studies, at the Heritage Foundation, and a senior editor of National Review magazine. |
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