WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association and its member societies have a longstanding commitment to use their power self-consciously and explicitly in the interests of their ideas; and

WHEREAS, we believe that escalated international turmoil and violence are moving our government toward increased repression of dissident opinion and groups; and

WHEREAS, we further believe that the rights defined in the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and redress of grievances must be protected; and

WHEREAS, Congress is considering new FBI and CIA charters which would dangerously increase their power and make the agencies far less accountable and more secretive;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1980 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association opposes passage of the FBI and CIA charters in a form which would represent any subversion of the Bill of Rights.