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 opinions 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, the United States Congress in order to revise the criminal code is considering an omnibus bill know as S-1722 which includes dangerously oppressive features; and

WHEREAS, it is practically impossible to revise or amend this omnibus bill to protect and guarantee First Amendment rights;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1980 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association oppose the omnibus approach to criminal code revision and urge such revision be accomplished by the increment method on a section-by-section basis with full debate and discussion of each and every provision.