airo.•••01111.. •. vase.. MEMORANDUM AUG 2 5 RECD To: Allen Clark FROM: Richard English /t SUBJECT: Clements' Position on the Activity of Religious Groups in Politics DATE: August 22, 1980 Governor Clements was asked today at his press conference about his position on the activities of "fundamentalist and evangelical" groups in politics. The governor outlined his position approxiamately as follows: 1. He strongly supports the separation of church and state. 2. He believes that it is the duty of every citizen to make himself informed and to vote. He further stated that it was "sinful" not to do so. He stated that he had told this to religious groups but made it clear in his remarks that it was equally applicable to all citizens. 3. He refused to get into the specifics of the application of these broad guidelines to particular situations, such as endorsements of candidates by particular religious groups. I am writing this memorandum in case we get some letters on this issue. A delegate to the Republican state convention iroN Dallas, wilom the Governor said he knows, is reported ready to offer a resolution at the state convention critical of the religious groups.
