May 21, 2001

Ashcroft's Bible studies draw critics, supporters
___WASHINGTON (RNS)--Attorney General John Ashcroft's daily Bible studies at Justice Department offices have drawn criticism from staffers who do not share his Pentecostal Christian beliefs. But others familiar with the practice say it has not made them uncomfortable.
___Ashcroft passes out devotional books to the three to 30 people who attend the sessions in his personal office or a conference room, the Washington Post reported. They're known as RAMP meetings with a four-point focus--Read, Argue, Memorize and Pray.
___"The purpose of the Department of Justice is to do the business of the government, not to establish a religion," said a Justice attorney, one of several critics who refused to be identified by name. "It strikes me and a lot of others as offensive, disrespectful and unconstitutional. ... It at least blurs the line, and it probably crosses it."
___Ashcroft, who declined to comment on the matter, said in a recent speech: "It is against my religion to impose my religion on people."
___Top staffers say his practice is not any different from numerous prayer sessions held in congressional offices.
___"He has never in any way insinuated that I should be going to these meetings, and I never felt I've been hindered by not attending," said David Israelite, deputy chief of staff to Ashcroft.
___A career lawyer in the department criticized the daily meetings as "totally outrageous" and a threat to career advancement. Another lawyer called it "alienating."
___But Shimon Stein, a department analyst and Orthodox Jew, said he finds the meetings beneficial.
___"Growing up in the circle I did, I didn't have a chance to study other religions, so it's very educational for me," said Stein, the only non-Christian who regularly participates.
___Ashcroft also found support from a sometimes-critic, Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs.
___"The Baptist Joint Committee has been critical of Gen. Ashcroft's lack of appreciation for separation of church and state," Walker said. "But his daily devotionals--even with other Justice Department employees--should not be counted among his church-state indiscretions."

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