January 8, 2004

 

Dear Friend of the National Legal Foundation:

 

            Although 2003 has just ended and 2004 has begun, the fight for freedom never ends!

 

            We can’t fight it according to the calendar.  The battle doesn’t start or end on schedule.  As the defenders of religious liberty, we must always be ready for battle . . . new skirmishes constantly erupt, and the old ones hardly ever die out completely.

 

Consider these headlines which have appeared just in the past three days:

 

Homosexual Students get $1.1 Million in Suit Against California School.

 

Kindergartner Censored for Distributing Gifts with Religious Message; Case goes to the Supreme Court.

 

Religious Debate Rages at National Parks.

 

Judge Delays until May Hearing on Missouri 24-Hour Waiting Period Abortion Law.

 

Abortion Group Urges Europe to Counter “Christian” U.S. and Fundamentalist Bush.

 

Salisbury, MD Council Prayers Spark Debate; City Attorney Awaits 4th Circuit Ruling on Pending SC Case.

 

[Harvard law Professor] Lawrence Tribe, Former Governor, Two AGs [Attorneys General] Urge the Mass. Legislature to Approve Same Sex Marriage.

 

            Every one of these headlines deals with the NLF’s issues—the issues you and I care so deeply about.  Every one of these situations demands our attention . . . BUT at our current level of funding, we simply CANNOT fight all of these fights! 

 

            Of course, much of what we do is driven by emergency phone calls . . . some one needs our help TODAY!  Then we have to drop everything and gear up for immediate action and hope and pray that we have the necessary resources!

 

            My friend, THE ENEMIES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM—radical groups like the ACLU, People for the American Way, the homosexual activists and their allies—refuse to stop their assault on our liberties and on the family.

 

            That’s why I’m asking you to return the enclosed statement of renewal with your very best gift to the National Legal Foundation today.

 

            We never charge a fee for the legal services we provide.  Many of the people and organizations we represent couldn’t afford to pay if we did.  But our freedoms are precious.  They must be defended, no matter what the cost.  And that’s why we need you . . . it’s only possible with your support.

 

            The Ten Commandments remain under attack.  So does the Pledge of Allegiance!

           

            Thanks to our friends like you, we have been able to file some very important briefs on these

issues . . . and we must be financially ready to do the same in the future.

 

            BUT the year 2004 could see one of the worst attacks we have seen in a long time!  Besides our religious liberty work on issues like Bible Clubs, the Pledge, and the Ten Commandments, we will have to fight on all the fronts that you have helped us with before:

 

The battle to protect marriage continues in many states, not just Massachusetts.

 

Congress’s efforts to stop the plague of Internet pornography will continue to be under assault in America’s courtrooms this year.

 

The Boy Scouts are under attack all over the country . . . and they have asked for our help!

 

            We want to fight all of these battles . . . and more.  But we must make choices based on the funds available.  That’s why your renewal today is urgently needed.  Even though some of our activities are the types of emergencies that I mentioned earlier, now is the time we must make decisions about which big cases and activities to undertake this year.  THIS IS THE CRUCIAL HOUR.

 

            Please take a moment right now to pray about your part and to complete and return your statement of renewal, together with a generous gift, in the envelope provided.  Your gift today will make a wonderful difference in all our ongoing battles to defend religious freedom.

 

            If you don’t help today, groups like the ACLU and People for the American Way will continue erasing religion from our public schools and homosexual activists will succeed in redefining marriage.

 

            The defense of freedom and decency rests in your hands.  Please send your statement of renewal in the next few days.

 

                                                                                    For Freedom,

 

                                                                                    Steven W. Fitschen

                                                                                    President

 

P.S.  In many ways, the deck is stacked against us.  We see outrageous anti-Christian bigotry every time Christians speak out on these issues.  But we will not be stopped!  With your gifts and prayers, we will have the financial resources and the moral support to keep going.

 

Just today, I had to make the painful decision NOT to file an amicus brief at the Massachusetts Supreme Court . . . the current staff is simply stretched too thin.  We desperately need to hire at least two more law clerks for the coming year.  Clerks that will help defend religious liberty for all of us!