NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - The House Ways and Means Committee approved a religious persecution bill on Wednesday, after removing provisions enacting President Bill Clinton's economic sanctions against Sudan that had been approved by another committee.

      Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, said the International Relations Committee had overstepped its jurisdiction when it had cleared attachment of the sanctions proposed by Clinton last November to the bill. He criticized the committee for deciding to "openly legislate in the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means." The Ways and Means Committee's approval of the bill also lacked a recommendation for the full House's action.

      The bill would create a special office with the State Department to monitor religious persecution worldwide and would impose economic sanctions, including denial of foreign aid and visas and a ban on exports, against countries that persecute religious minorities. Clinton has said he opposes the bill because its goals could be accomplished by other means. However, Clinton's opposition may also be due to a potential clash with China, which has consistently suppressed religious minorities and which the Clinton administration has fought to grant favored trading status. Clinton has also said the bill's mandatory sanctions would force the administration to look the other way to avoid imposing sanctions, despite the law's requirements.