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THEREPORTER NATIONAL DECENCY Published by Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. Vol. 19, No. 5 • September - October 1982 • Phoenix, Arizona President Petitioned to Review Policy on Federal Obscenity Prosecutions
Father Morton Hill, founder and without interference by the federal Tre White House President of Morality in Media, government. Mr. McGeady gave the moderated the meeting and set the figures for the number of cases agenda for the discussions. He in under the federal obscenity laws in troduced a panel of veteran profes recent years: In 1978, only two sionals who have been active in dozen convictions were obtained in obscenity law enforcement to give the whole country, 13 of which their opinion to the assembled were child porn. In 1979 and 1980, group and Administration officials one dozen pornographers were on the scope of the problem and convicted and eight child por some practical solutions. Dr. Victor nographers nationwide. In 1981, Cline, a psychologist and expert nine child porn and nine major por prosecution witness, reminded all nography defendants were con that pornography has pathological victed. The porn distributors·con formal procedure is under effects on its viewers and con victed in the last two years were way to make the President tributes to abuse and sex crimes. basically involved in only two A aware of the lack of federal Mr. Homer Young was one of the cases, one in Boston and the enforcement of the existing FBl's top organized crime and MIPORN cases in Miami. To say obscenity statutes and to request obscenity investigators for thirty that only 32 pornographers involv him to direct the Department of years and made the statement that ed in the billion dollar national Justice to change its restrictive the federal agencies could break porn market were convicted in the policies in order to allow the 95 down the pornography syndicates last four and half years by federal U.S. Attorneys, the FBI, Customs, in eighteen months with a serious prosecutors is proof that the and the Postal Inspectors to in effort. Mr. Larry Parrish, former federal government's inaction has vestigate and prosecute the multi - Assistant U.S. Attorney in Mem given the green light to the hard million dollar traffic in pornography. phis, described how the FBI un core obscenity industry in America. The only thing that is holding the The first step in the protocol was a covered the national conspiracy to make and distribute "Deep Throat" line at all is the effort of state and meeting at the White House Old local authorities, where the vast Executive Office Building on July and how his office obtained federal convictions against the major majority of obscenity prosecutions 27, 1982. Fifty representatives of are taking place. numerous public service groups, figures involved. His success was the biggest federal case prior to media and religious organizations, (continued on page 2) corporations, and research and MIPORN and shows that the legal legal foundations were invited by battle can be won. Mr. Paul Mr. Morton Blackwell, Special McGeady, General Counsel of Assistant to the President for Morality in Media and a Public Liason. Representatives of knowledgeable expert on obscenity Regional the Justice Department, FBI, cases and statutes, exposed the Customs, the Postal Service, and Justice Department's written policy Obscenity several members of the President's of forbidding the federal agencies staff were present. and prosecutors from bringing any Conference cases unless child porn or organized crime leaders are directly in- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania volved. This means that hard-core Sept. 16 and 17, 1982 pornography is being imported, mailed, and shipped between states Details inside. THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER
CDL's General Counsel, Bruce without a question how serious the that their local U.S. Attorney Taylor, presented intelligence in problem has become, and that he wishes to prosecute. We need this formation from the FBI and Justice must direct the Department of involvement by the federal govern Department's own reports, backed Justice, the FBI, the Postal Inspec ment. Their strength and leader up by reports by the police depart tors, and the Customs Agents to ship will bolster the efforts of city ments of most of America's big stop the importing, interstate ship police and prosecutors and put the cities, that organized crime figures ment, mailing, and broadcasting of fear of the law back into this are involved with the "adult" porn hard core obscenity. blatantly criminal industry. CDL syndicates. It was pointed out from The next step in the protocol pro will work hard to assist the govern experience that the change in the cedure is for the White House staff ment in any efforts undertaken and problem from a few hard-core to submit the results of this only the best could come from outlets in big city back alleys ten Meeting to the President's Advisory such a change in federal policy. years ago to "adult" bookstores Council on Legal Policy, which in and theaters and live sex shows in turn will make a recommendation nearly every city, suburb, and town to the President. The President will in every state today prove the then consider the matter and make Petition the result of the federal government's a decision. "hands off" policy. The problem is President now too big for local cities to con The decision sought by the trol alone. The federal government Meeting was to have the Attorney he following page is a peti must assist in a nationwide effort General direct the Justice Depart tion addressed to the Presi by all the law enforcement agen ment to allow approval of prosecu T dent of the Un ited States. cies to stop this powerful porn in tions by the U.S. Attorneys and The petition reflects the Statement dustry and prevent the further Strike Forces on violations of all of the Meeting in Washington, D.C. federal obscenity statutes. Restrict growth of porn, prostitution, drugs, We are asking our subscribers to loansharking, bribery, and violence ing approval only to child porn, organized crime or major remove or copy the petition and which has resulted from this situa circulate it in your community. It tion. distributors leaves thousands of violations of the mails, customs, would be important to obtain the Distinguished representatives next and !TOM (Interstate Transporta signatures from your community were called upon to state the con tion of Obscene Material) statutes. leaders; Mayor and council, law en cerns of their organizations, con It is hoped that U.S. Attorneys who forcement personnel, civic leaders, gregations, constituents, and sup wish to proceed against local por church leaders and members, the porters over the explosion of por nographers and distributors, or in business community, and your nography and the need for decisive dividual schemes involving hard neighbors. action. core pornography or particularly After you have obtained all the offensive materials, would deter signatures you can, send it back to Representing the Justice Depart violations by the vast number of us and we will forward the petitions ment, Mr. Jonathan Rose, Assistant less powerful pornographers and to President Reagan. Attorney General, promised that their associates and conspirators. the message of the meeting would A change in the policy to subject be taken back to the Honorable all pornographers to possible ac William French Smith, United tions would remove the ability and States Attorney General, and fur willingness of pornographers to ther promised that the policies of make, distribute, and show hard the Justice Department relating to core materials without fear of pro Send completed petitions to: obscenity cases would be reviewed. secution anywhere in the country Citizens for Decency through Law In order to support the good inten as long as they don't get caught 2331 W. Royal Palm Road tions of the present Justice Depart with "kiddie" porn. The change in Suite #105 ment, the participants made a mo policy would be its own deterrent Phoenix, Arizona 85021 tion that a meeting with President and would free the hands of those Attn: Petitions Reagan and Attorney General agents, inspectors, and in Smith be arranged. A resolution vestigators who uncover violations was made to take the concerns of the members, and a Statement signed by all present, directly to the President so he will know Petition to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States
WHEREAS, the proliferation of obscenity in the United States has reached a level of national concern and is directly affecting the quality of life, the moral fabric of the country, and the right and obligation of the govern ment to maintain a decent society, and WHEREAS, it has become increasingly apparent that enforcement of existing federal obscenity laws during the previous years has been wholly inadequate, and WHEREAS, federal law enforcement with respect to such laws must be made more aggressive and effective, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President of the United States be requested to publicly indicate that prosecution of the federal laws relating to the Mailing, Importing, Broadcasting and Interstate Transportation of Obscenity is to him a matter of utmost importance, and to direct the Attorney General to issue instructions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and all United States Attorneys to make this matter of prime concern. FURTHER RESOLVED, that such instructions authorize and encourage all United States Attorneys to institute criminal proceedings of violations of such laws brought to their attention by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Service and United States Customs.
NAME ADDRESS
(If you need more petitions, Xerox copies are acceptable.) THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER
AFAA Targets Variety also exposed the porn syn There are many pornographic dicates' efforts to capture a magazines which describe how the CDL "broadening market base in act is to be performed. However, homevideo and cable TV" with a pornographers don't mention that DL was described as a "higher grade" soft-porn product. only 4.4 pounds of pressure on the serious threat to the porn in The AF AA also announced plans carotid artery for 8 seconds will C dustry at the annual conven for an "attorneys hotline", and a cause a person to involuntarily sub tion of the Adult Film Association "War Chest" to oppose CDL and mit to unconsciousness. Once un of America in New York. The support political candidates and conscious, the person can't stand AFAA is made up of the nation's legislation in favor of legitimizing up, and will die unless someone hard and soft core pornography pornography. It was obvious that releases the pressure immediately. producers - the porn industry's at the AF AA did not appreciate the Robert Davis, a 13-year-old youth tempt to act criminally but look works of CDL, as stated in the arti from upstate New York, died last legitimate. Two articles exposed cle: month. His body was found hang the platform and concerns of the "Five years ago, you could ing from a tree in a wooded area convention and show the brazen still depend on the ig near his home. According to confidence with which the por norance and inexperience newspaper accounts, the local nographers conspire to violate of local prosecutors to win sheriff stated that the boy died ex federal, state, and local obscenity you cases," attorney Robert perimenting with bondage posi laws. Smith told a lunchtime tions which were dipicted in Pent Michael Gallagher of the U.S. legal seminar, arguing that house, Hustler and Playboy. The Catholic Conference Department of privately financed computer sheriff stated that several of these Communication wrote an article for banks and traveling bat magazines were strewn around the The Tidings paper in Los Angeles teries of attorneys from the body. entitled, "'Adult' Films Going moral watchdog group Two other youths, one 13 and one Straight Into Homes via Cable" on Citizens for Decency 12, died in the same manner and in May 21 , 1982, in wh ich he stated: through Law have reversed the same general location within THE FIVE-MEMBER AF AA that situation in a big way. the last six months. We know of Legal Advisory Board, Hence, the move to form an similar deaths in Michigan, Califor which includes "some of organized lobbying and nia, and other places. the foremost First legal info body, which in a sense would become the What a waste. What would have Ammendment attorneys na happened had those "magazines" tionwide" (names available adult film biz's battling counterpart to the CDL. not been available? Is the money on request), took up the and wealth gained from the sale of problems of film piracy Let's hope we can continue to have such filth worth the lives of these -they're going to set up a this effect on the porn producers children and the many others we piracy hotline - and the and their traveling group of never hear about? even more vexing problem defense lawyers. However, we now of doing battle with the know it's going to be serious Supreme Court Citizens for Decency business and the enemy has ar through Law, who seem to mored itself for major offensives. Upholds Child have no respect for the right of these honest Porn Laws tradesmen to earn a decent living through the distribu Pornography Kills n its most important deci tion of their wares. sion for children in its t is called "autoerotic The entertainment industry trade I history, the U.S. Supreme asphyxia". The Coroner of Court upheld the New York child paper, Variety, ran a story on the State of New York says March 10, 1982, entitled "Adult Pix I porn statute. On July 2nd, the that deaths attributed to it are in Court decided New York v. Ferber, Eye Cable Boom, Legal Gloom," creasing. which quoted several of the and held that the law could pro AFAA's lawyers who were com What is it? It is an accidental hibit the distribution of films and plaining of the increasing numbers death, not suicide. It is a type of photographs of minors engaging in of zoning and public nuisance laws, masochism where masturbation is sexual conduct or lewd exhibition and the success of prosecutions in practiced while hanging oneself of the genitals. This was a major eliminating porn books and movies "almost" to the point of blackout. departure from "adult" por from Atlanta and Jacksonville. nography cases in that the Court said such depictions of child sex did not have to be proven legally obscene under its three-part "Miller Test". The briefs filed with the Court were most knowledgeable officers in the The Crime Commission is made up exceptional. The Court accepted country on organized crime's in of State Senators Marino, Berns the positions of the N.Y. District volvement with pornography pro tein, Johnson, and Babbush. Attorney and Father Ritter's Cove duction and distribution and coor Jeremiah McKenna is the Commit nant House that only the strongest dinates a nationwide clearinghouse tee's General Counsel. This Com deterrent possible can help stop of intellegence information for the mittee is probably the foremost in the devastating psychological and police departments of most of vestigative crime commission in physical results on the children, America's metropolitan cities. the country and has become a and the legal argument of Charles CDL's Bruce Taylor also testified preeminent source of information Keating and CDL that child porn is on the involvement of organized on criminal conduct, reform of so vile that is is "obscene per se" crime and on the structure and criminal laws, and on organized and utterly without First Ammend inter-connections within the nation crime and foreign influences. ment protection. wide pornography syndicates. Laws banning outright all por Taylor also presented specific pro nographic photos of children exist posals for strengthening New Regional in 19 states besides New York. The York's obscenity and child porn federal statutes and many other statutes and gave advice on pro Obscenity states ban only "obscene" child secution tactics for controlling the pornography. These laws should be porn and child abuse problem. It is Conference to be changed to adopt the New York Taylor's opinion that to effectively held in Pittsburgh model and also provide a separate deter the use of children, law en and higher felony penalty where forcement must continue to pro secute the "adult" porn figures and n September 16th and 17th, the child porn is also "obscene". a Regional Obscenity Con The Court's opinion identifies the prostitution at all levels. Only through concentrated state and O ference is being held in Pitts laws of all the states and is publish burgh, Pennsylvania. The Con ed in Volume 50 of U.S. Law Week, federal enforcement can the flow of funds and market for new "talent" ference is being sponsored by the page 5077, available in most Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation libraries and law libraries or CDL be prevented from spilling from narcotics, gambling, bribery, pro and the Pennsylvania Coalition will gladly supply a copy on re Against Pornography. CDL's legal quest. stitution, and pornography onto child porn and child slavery and counsel Faye Gardner has been prostitution. working closely with the sponsor CDL Testifies leaders to help make the Con An undercover investigator also ference the most informative event Before New York told how Mafia-run call-boy ser for community and governmental vices in New York and D.C. have leaders since the National Con Crime Commission sold information on political and ference in Phoenix, Arizona, last business "clients" to foreign in year. he New York Select Commit telligence agencies, including the tee on Crime heard Soviets. The Committee also heard On Thursday evening, September T testimony July 26 and 27th from the New York City Police, 16th, Father Bruce Ritter, the from law enforcement officers into U.S. Customs, and prosecutors Director of Covenant House in New the problems and solutions from local county and city offices York City, is scheduled to give a associated with child pornography on the investigative and judicial major address to the Conference. and sexual exploitation, with em problems in enforcing the existing Covenant house is a licensed, non j phasis on organized crime and on statutes. Also testifying were Sgt. profit child care agency which the growing use of young boys in Tom Rogers of the Indianapolis specializes in helping the sexually prostitution and pornography. Police Department, a recognized abused teenage runaways who have The witness list is an impressive ar expert on the nationwide problems been exploited by New York City's ray of seasoned veterans with first of child pornography and child sex industry and was instrumental hand knowledge of these prostitution, and from Dr. Samuel in the landmark decision by the monstrous problems. Testifying on Janus, a psychotherapist with ex United States Supreme Court in the influence of organized crime perience and knowledge on child the child pornography case against and Mafia figures on the porn and sexual abuse and author of The Ira Ferber in New York. sex industries were Det. Carl Shof Death of Innocence. fler and Det. Anne Fisher of the Organized Crime Branch of the Metropolitan Police of Washington, D.C.. Det. Shoffler is one of the THEREPORTER NATIONAL DECENCY
On Friday, September 17th, public Nuisance ordinance against the past two years. Deputy Pro workshops will be conducted in the pornography outlets. Mrs. secutor Mark Chambers and CDL's morning, the afternoon, and for Gardner's speech included informa Bruce Taylor were opposed by those unable to attend the day ses tion on the conrol by organized Baltimore defense lawyer Burtpn sions, an evening session. The crime of the pornography industry Sandler, his assistants, and a local numerous workshop topics are nationwide and the importance of Fort Wayne defense attorney. separately directed toward citizens, taking action in Pennsylvania to (Previous trials were defended by law enforcement officials, and combat the sexual victimization the office of Atlanta porn attorney legislators. The faculty will include that is pornography. Robert Eugene Smith who is an ad such nationally recognized experts Present at a meeting on June 18th visor to the Adult Film Association as David H. Bludworth, State At were prominent businessmen from and an active lawyer for the porn torney of Florida, who successfully major corporations headquartered industry nationwide.) used the Florida RICO statute in Pittsburgh, and public officials against the organized criminal ac such as prosecutors and Crucial to the defense was the re tivity of the pornographers; George legislators. They heard speeches by quest by Mr. Sandler to have the Weaver, Assistant Solicitor General Mr. Fein, Mrs. Gardner, and Donald film judged by the standards of the of Atlanta, Georgia, who assisted in Lewis, the District Attorney fro homosexual community, rather prosecuting and closing all the Crawford County, Pennsylvania. than the adult community as a Atlanta pornography outlets, and Mr. Lewis talked about his suc whole. Veteran Judge Robert Dr. Blaine McLaughlin, Senior cessful efforts in prosecuting the Meyers rejected this request and Psychiatrist of The Psychiatric In pornographers in Crawford County. had the jurors apply the standards stitute of Fort Worth, Texas, who is The meeting attendees, with sug of Allen County's whole popula an authority on the harmful effects gestions from the speakers, tion. The jury could understand of pornography. discussed what their role should be their own community standards The Conference fee is only $15.00 in assisting their local law enforce and said the hard-core sodomy film for both day sessions. The evening ment agencies. was obscene under Indiana law. session fee is only $5.00. CDL applauds these public spirited The "battle of experts" was an im If you would like more information individuals for their sense of com portant part of the defense about attending the Conference, munity and their efforts to work strategy, but advance preparation please call the Pittsburgh Leader together in combating the harms by the prosecutors prevented the ship Foundation at (412) 281-3752 flowing from the pornography in impact the pornographers hoped or write the Pennsylvania Coalition dustry. for . Three self-proclaimed "sex Against Pornography, P.O. Box ologists" from San Francisco, 14510, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Fort Wayne Wins Theodore Mcllvenna, Wardell 15234. Pomeroy, and Loretta Haroian, Hopetoseeyouthere. Major Trial tried to convince the jury that por nographic films are normal and n what is becoming a major contribute to healthy sexual at Pre-Conference defensive tactic of the porn titudes, even in homosexuals. At Activities in I industry, Fort Wayne, In their own Institute for the Advanced diana, was the site of a recent Study of Human Sexuality, these Pittsburgh obscenity trial where experienced three people view, make, and store attorneys from other states and hundreds of hard-core porn films n June, the Pittsburgh Press hired "sexologists" tried to over and books and grant themselves Club was the site of two im whelm local communities and and others their "degree" of "Doc I portant meetings to lay the frustrate law enforcement. The ef tor of Sexology". The Hedonistic foundation for the September fort failed for the pornographers on philosophy these people gave to Regional Obscenity Conference. On July 15th when the jury returned a the jury was admirably rebutted by June 17th, religious leaders from Verdict of Guilty of distributing an Dr . James Spink, a psychologist throughout Western Pennsylvania obscene film, "Cruising". The two with the Family Counseling Clinic met to hear Marvin Fein, Assistant day trial involving the male who was called by the prosecutors City Solicitor of Pittsburgh, and homosexual film sold to an under to testify. This was his first CDL's legal counsel Faye Gardner cover police officer was an expen obscenity trial and his testimony to discuss what they could do to sive and desperate attempt to was unknown to the State as well support the September Conference reverse the series of convictions as the defense. and the fight against sexual ex gathered in the County Court over ploitation. Mr. Fein spoke about his successes using Pittsburgh's However, trusting in the decency the right and the language with Enter David Rickard and Fay and common sense of a dedicated which to regulate "indecent" and Angus, concerned citizens of Sierra professional with academic creden "patently offensive" programming. Madre. They set up a hearing tials of the highest level from some By ignoring this fact, the Escon before the city council which took of the best universities in America dido city council opened wide the place July 27th. Rickard and Mrs. and abroad proved to be the bomb door to the pornographers. Angus testified, as did CDL's Jim shell that destroyed the enemy. Dr. But the Reverend Falling was in Clancy and Ernie Schulzke. The Spink refuted the anything-goes good spirits. With characteristic council listened attentively and evidence of the porn-biased sex vigor, he declared that the battle politely. Media coverage was in ologists and told the jury the truth: has just begun. tense. KABC-TV, the leading news that porn does appeal to a prurient station in the Los Angeles area interest and is harmful to stable We at CDL wish the citizens of Escondido every success, and gave an extensive and favorable sexual and family relationships. He stand ready to assist. After all, the report. A KABC-TV commentator stressed respect for people as accurately voiced the concerns of human beings, rather than as city belongs to the people - not the council. the citizens of Sierra Madre, and pieces of meat, and the jury ob the challenge to its city council. viously agreed with him. This hearing was a preliminary step This trial proves the need and CDL Represented to express concern. No action was . worth of CD L's experience and anticipated. Nor was any taken. assistance. The familiarity of our at Sierra Madre Further meetings with City Council lawyers with the defense tactics of members are planned. David these travelling defense attorneys Cable Hearings Rickard and Fay Angus and other and of the bias and proclivities of citizens of that fine com111unity are their favorite "expert" witnesses ierra Madre is a tiny com munity nestled against the to be congratulated for their proved to be a key in insuring that tremendous effort. the people could once more uphold S mountains just east of THE LESSON FOR ALL COM their own community standards Pasadena, California. It is a plea sant place. But it shares a problem M{JNITIES IS CLEAR: against the attacks of the nation Prohibitions against X-rated or wide pornography syndicates. common to many other com munities these days - how to R-rated showings are not enough. This was no small victory. They regulate cable television. The movie ratings are made by a had a lot to lose and we con handful of people over whom none gratulate Fort Wayne on a suc When the cable company signed its franchise agreement, the city of us has control. Nor are they cessful "day in court". fathers inserted a prohibition responsible to anyone that matters. against X-rated materials. What the And their tastes probably do not Citizens Press for city fathers did not anticipate was reflect the tastes of most com Cable Porn Law how easily the pornographers can munities throughout this nation. get around such a provision. They THE ONLY DEFENSE IS AN EX oncerned about por do it by ~etting the ratings changed PLICIT PROHIBITION AGAINST nographic movies and sex from "X' to "R" even though "INDECENT" MATERIAL (explicit C shows on cable TV, citizens the content of the movie remains sex or nudity which is patently of of Escondido, California, testified substantially the same. Or they do fensive to community standards) at a hearing held by the City Coun it by showing unrated movies, -language used by the United cil in late July. Led by_Qi~ which most pornographic movies States Supreme Court in FCC v. Reverend Billy Falling, a petition are:-So-they-stmply-abi-de by the Pacifica, (see July-August NOR). signed by forty-nine religious letter of the law, even when, as in Contact CDL for a model ordinance leaders in that city in north San the case of Sierra Madre, the fran which we believe will withstand Diego County was presented to the chisee Group W (Westinghouse) Constitutional muster. council. CDL's Ernie Schulzke says it would like to abide by the presented legal arguments in sup intent of the agreement. port of the proposed ordinance. The problem is that Group W gets Unfortunately the mayor and coun much of. its material from sources cil had their minds made up not to which it claims it does not control. approve the ordinance even before We would hope, however, that the hearing. The tragedy is that the companies such as Westinghouse U.S. Supreme Court has given the would begin to influence the in communities of this nation both dustry suppliers in a favorable fashion. THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER
tional CDL can more efficiently CDL Chapter serve local citizen groups, what a Conference Manual group may consider to be the most Update effective anti-porn tactics, and Available s you well know, the fight whether or not a group is incor opies of the Conference against pornography is a porated in their state. Manual are available from A never-ending battle. This questionnaire was sent out to CCDL at a cost of $25.00 per Soldiers in the field come and go. anyone who has formerly been copy. Please send check or money We at the National CDL head associated with an anti order to: quarters are in the process of up pornography group or CDL Citizens for Decency through Law dating our files, so that we may of chapter. If there is any group who 2331 W. Royal Palm Road, fer better assistance and have more has not received one of these ques Suite 105 effective communication with local tionnaires, please send inquiries to: Phoenix, Arizona 85021 citizen groups. It is imperative that Citizens for Decency through Law The manual was prepared for con our records contain accurate infor Attn: Chapter Co-ordinator ference participants. In its prepara mation so that we can more 2331 W. Royal Palm Road tion it was anticipated that economically get the job com Suite #105 numerous persons who did not at· pleted. Phoenix, AZ 85021 tend the conference would want . Therefore, we have formulated a It is our goal to establish an ac manuals. We believe that anyone simple-to-answer questionnaire to curate network chain of all anti who has an interest in the obsceni help us identify which groups are pornography groups in each state, ty battle will find the manual currently active. Also included are thereby providing more strength materials helpful. questions concerning how the Na- and unity to local citizen groups.
NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS CORRECT? published at CITIZENS FOR DECENCY THROUGH LAW, INC. Please help CDL keep an accurate mailing file on you at all times. 2331 W. Roye! Pelm Roed, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizone 85021 Incorrect addreses and multiple mailings drain our funds un (602) 995-2600 necessarily. Please return this with your instructions. Thank you. Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. is a non D I'm getting duplicate mailings. profit, inter-faith national organization working to (Attach all addresses together with this form) promote decency in the media and oppose the dissemination of obscenity, within the framework of D My name is spelled incorrectly. the law. it has affiliates in numerous states, and is (Attach old and new spelling with this form) qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions under IRC 501 (c) (3). D My address in incorrect. Gifts to the organization are encouraged, including (Attach old and new address to this form) bequests in Wills and in Trusts. D I'm moving or changing my name. Founder: Charles H Keating, Jr. (Please attach old and new address or name with this form) Published 6 times yearly, in alternate months by Cit izens for Decency through Law, Inc.
PLEASE RETURN TO: CDL, 2331 West Royal Palm Rd. #l 05 Subscription $ I 0.00 per year Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Third Class Postage Attention: Computer Entry Dept. Paid at Phoenix, Arizona
To Every Friend of CDL: Your NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER needs your support. D YES Count me in. I want to see NDR go on fighting. Enclosed As you can imagine, publishing please find $10 for one year's subscription to The National Decency the hardest-hitting, most reliable Reporter for: source of information on the Name obscenity issues in America to day takes money. And inflation Organization has added to that need until now Address it is a pressing one. Your check for $10 will insure that NDR will City ______State ______ip ______keep coming to you six times each year. Why not help NDR's Please make checks payable and return to: Citizens for Decency editors and staff keep up the Through Law , Inc ., 2331 West Royal Palm Road, #105, Phoenix, good fight. Arizona 85021. .,.
An introduction to the work of Citizens for Decency through Law Questions and anwers concerning CDL and its efforts to free America from the grip of the commercial pornographers. 1. What Is Citizens for Decency 2. Why Is there a need for such through Law? an organization? CDL is a public , non-profit , non Pornography is big business. It is denominational group which was enormously big business, with established in 1957 by Charles H enormous profits. The por Keating, Jr. to seek strict enforce nographers have long been willing ment of the existing obscenity to purvey their illegal "trade" and laws. Then known as Citizens for take their chances on being Decent Literature, the organiza caught. They have built legal tion has worked untiringly to seek defense funds amounting to the arrest and prosecution of millions of dollars with which they those who violate the nation's hire full-time legal experts to de obscenity laws for their personal fend them in long, drawn-out profit . CDL is the most nationally court battles. Some pursue their "The hottest places in hell effective organization standing in fight clear to the United States the way of the flood-tide of filth Supreme Court, because they are reserved for those who, which the smut merchants have have been able to continue unleashed on this country, its operating, and profiting, all during citizens, and its children . the time when their cases are on in a time of great moral crisis, appeal. Such appeals may take years. Some have avoided convic maintain their neutrality." tion at the trial court level by matching their batteries of highly -Dime paid, expert attorneys against the undermanned and inexperienced staff of the local prosecutor. These prosecutors and their assistants cannot be expected to know all of the intricacies of the obscenity law, and they are not infrequently 3. Who are these legal experts 4. How can a central group of made the details of this technique defeated in court battles by on CDL staff? legal experts work with available to all the country 's pro veteran defense attorneys hired by CDL's legal staff is made up of thousands of prosecutors? secutors and district attorneys. the pornographer's legal defense lawyers and former prosecutors In addition to direct, personal The procedure involves the use of fund. with vast experience in obscenity assistance in certain important a synchronized high-speed camera CDL provides experienced at cases and First Ammendment law. cases, the CDL legal staff regularly and sound-recording device which torneys to assist these local pro The attorneys affiliated with CDL prepares and mails comprehensive produces evidence which is ad secutors. The CDL legal group have held such positions as head analyses of current developments missible in court, and which helps the prosecutors to gather of the Obscenity Prosecutions Unit in obscenity law to the nation's prevents the theatre operator from evidence and to prepare their of the L.A . District Attorney 's Of prosecutors. They also send out "losing " the film or otherwise cases, and our representatives fice; Special Prosecutor for current legal briefs prepared by disposing of it before his court ap may even appear in court on the Obscenity Cases for the City of the staff, as well as suggestions on pearance. Full photographic side of the prosecutor and his Cleveland; Assistant United States preparing and pursuing effective evidence of these pornographic staff. The CDL staff is well Attorneys ; Professors of Law; prosecutions. In addition, the legal films are reproduced in the briefs prepared to carry the fight with Counsel to the Legislature; and staff originates new legal ap which CDL prepares for the United the smut merchants into the senior partners of private law proaches to the problem of States Supreme Court, to rebut chambers of the United States firms . Our attorneys are recognized obscenity, and brings actions on any possible contention that the Supreme Court, and has done so as being among the foremost behalf of CDL in order to test and films in question have any on numerous occasions. authorities in the country on perfect these approaches in court . "literary or scientific merit." obscenity law and enforcement. Several of these cases have Our staff initiated and developed already reached the Supreme the application of nuisance abate Court, with important and far ment principles to obscene reaching results for the forces of materials. Amicus Curiae briefs decency. filed by these attorneys in support Moreover, the CDL staff has of law enforcement are regularly perfected a technique to preserve accepted by the United States evidence of the showing of Supreme Court. obscene motion pictures, and has S. Give me examples of a few regulated while gearing their It is worthwhile to mention also 6. I've heard that obscenity cases CDL has been Involved obscenity statutes to current the case of Paris Adult Theatre I v. laws are In violation of the In. Supreme Court requirements. The Slayton. This was one of the five First Ammendment. CDL has filed over fifty briefs with second case involved a por key obscenity cases decided by In the nearly-200 years of its ex the Supreme Court since 1957, in nographic movie house which was the Supreme Court on June 21 , istence, the United States has volving most of the major obsceni charged as a public nuisance. CDL 1973. These cases are the most never legalized pornography . ty cases, including the 1973 land attorneys developed and cham important ever handed down by Every decision of the United mark cases and the recent cases pioned the public nuisance ap the Court in the area of obscenity States Supreme Court, from its in of Larry Flynt v. Ohio (1981 proach, which permits a judge to and have cleared the way for ception to the present, has said Hustler magazine case) and New close down the offending movie or vigorous local prosecutions of the that pornography is outside of the York v. Ferber (1982 child porn theatre or "'adult" bookstore, and smut merchants. CDL submitted protection of the First Ammend case). These cases are part of a to provide for a confiscation of the an amicus curiae brief in support ment. In short , the First Ammend tradition of CDL support for law illegal profits. This would be far of the winning side in the Paris ment does not apply to obscenity . enforcement. CDL pioneered more effective than the fines or Adult Theatre case - the culmina Those who claim First Ammend direct legal assistance by aiding suspended jail sentences which tion of nearly sixteen-years of ef ment immunity for their local prosecutors in pending often accompany convictions fort at the Supreme Court level for degenerate wares are merely at obscenity prosecutions and with under criminal obscenity statutes. our legal staff. One defense at tempting to confuse the general civil suits filed by Charles Keating CDL helped the prosecutor to torney was quoted as saying that public. and CDL attorneys against the assemble and prosecute this key the Supreme Court's decision pornographers themselves. Two of case, which presented the United directly reflected the position the most important were Ohio, ex States Supreme Court with an op espoused in CDL's brief. rel. Keating v. Vixen and Huffman portunity to rule favorably on the v. Pursue, Ltd. The Vixen case use of public nuisance-obscenity helped establish the constitu statutes throughout America. tionality of Ohio 's obscenity laws, and provided states with clear limits on what conduct could be Citizens for Decency through Law 7. But surely I have a right to 8. Are you opposed to sex 9. Do you have "lists" of por• 10. Is CDL Involved only In the read whatever I like - even If education? nographlc books and movies.? legal area? It's filth. No, although we believe that such We are not a censorship organiza CDL has two objectives: to inform The Supreme Court has held that an important segment of human tion. We do not attempt to deter the public, and to demand en no one can be prosecuted just for knowledge must be provided to mine whether material is por forcement of the law. In pursuing processing obscene books or films our young people by those who nographic. We do not hold the first objective, we regularly in his own home. However, no one love, understand, and respect the ourselves out as movie critics. We publish the National Decency has the right to transport, mail , beauty of sex and the do not seek to impose our moral Reporter which is distributed six sell, or import obscenity . State wholesomeness of the sexual act standards on others. We seek only times a year. The Reporter pro and federal laws proscribe the when performed as an act of love. the strict enforcement of existing vides our supporters with an over commercial exhibition , sale, The pornographers " teach" rape, obscenity laws under the view of the pornography problem broadcasting, and distribution of sodomy , perversion, bestiality, tor guidelines established by the nationally , and of CDL's efforts to obscenity. They are directed at ture , sadism, homosexuality, and United States Supreme Court. combat it. I those who seek to profit by sexual attacks on children . These Determinations of obscenity under pandering to the base interest of constitute the usual and unvarying the law are reserved to juries and people and, in particular , to the fare of pornographic books and judges. We are content to have natural inquisitiveness of youth . movies. They are, in themselves, a these impartial bodies decide the All law abiding citizens must obey complete perversion of sex and a issue of obscenity, as they decide and support these statutes and if vicious attack on womanhood and every other legal issue which that means foregoing the right to manhood . arises under our nation of laws. have hard-core pornography , for the good of our children and neighbors, then we must do all we can to assist in carrying out those laws. It also regularly includes informa 11. Who Is Charles H Keating, majority recommendation by a 12. Does CDL need funds ... and tion to enable local groups to take Jr.? vote of 60-5. If so, what for? effective steps to combat por Keating is the founder and guiding Mr. Keating has never accepted Yes, we need and accept financial nography in their own community. spirit of the CDL organization . He any compensation for his work on support from concerned citizens. CDL also provides speakers to is the father of six children, a suc behalf of CDL, in fact contributes CDL receives some major support interested organizations and is fre cessful attorney, an prominent regularly and heavily from his per from a few foundations, corpora quently represented on panels at Phoenix businessman, and the sonal funds to support the work of tions, and benefactors. However, leading universities, as well as talk recipient of numerous awards for the organization. the sustaining bulk of our funds shows, both local and national. his humanitarian work in the pur comes from the individual con The work of the organization is suit of the cause of decency. He tributions of thousands of people also featured in many national was a member of the President's from across the nation . The ex publications including feature ar Commission on Obscenity and penses of running an office, ticles in the Reader's Digest. One Pornography and the author of a employing competent lawyers and prominent CDL local unit has strong dissent to the recommen staff personnel, paying travel ex sponsored a Paperback dations of the Commission. Mr. penses, and preparing materials Bookmobile , which visits the local Keating's position was adopted by and briefs for distribution are schools on a regular basis and en the President and by the United significant and amount to hun courages good reading habits States Senate, which rejected the dreds of thousands of dollars among the children by making every year. Without these available inexpensive paperback dedicated persons and the ex classics and other books geared to penses needed to make their work their ages and interests. available to law enforcement and local communities in every state, CDL will not be able to effectively counter the organized por nography syndicates supplying hard-core pornography to the hun dreds of "adult" bookstores and theatres in every state of the Citizens for Decency through Law Union. 13. Are contributions to CDL 14. What active part can I take munity to express your concern tax-deductible? In combating pornography In for the situation. Take time to find Yes, contributions to Citizens for my community? out what is playing at your neigh Decency through Law are tax Write to CDL, 2331 West Royal borhood theatres - what is being deductible as a charitable gift. Palm Road, Suite 105, Phoenix, sold in your local newsstands and CDL has been classified as a Sec Arizona 85021. Ask us for our in drugstores. Talk to your friends, tion 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt formation package on How To talk to the merchants, take a organization under the Internal Start An Anti-Pornography Drive stand on behalf of decency . Revenue Code. In Your Community. It contains Remember the words of Dante: the information needed to establish an effective chapter of "The hottest places In hell are CDL, and to GET RESCJLTS. reserved for those who, In a If you do not feel that you have time of great moral crisis, the current capacity for organizing maintain their neutrality." a chapter, then take the time to write your local prosecutor, to the local newspaper, and to the judges and police officials in your com- Ii , Officers Gary W. Hall, M.D. President Carol A. Clancy Citizens for Decency If/ Vice President - National Director Bruce A. Taylor through Law, Inc. Vice President - General Counsel Mary Lou Miller, C.P.A. 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Treasurer - Controller Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Terese M. LoPresti 602/995-2600 Secretary
Charles H Keating, Jr., founder of Citizens for Decency through Law, descends the steps of the United States Supreme Court after the Court's landmark anti-obscenity decisions on June 21, 1973. Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 602/995-2600
November 30, 1982
Founder Charles H Keating, Jr. The Honorable Morton Blackwell Board of Trustees Special Assistant to the President Richard M. Bertsch for Public Liaison Attorney at Law The White House Cleveland, Ohio Washington, D.C. 20500 Thomas J. Blee Attorney at Law Fort Wayne, Indiana Dear Mr. Blackwell: Robert J. Kielty Attorney at Law I am enclosing to you our letter to President Reagan and the Phoenix, Arizona second installment of petitions concerning federal enforcement. I Donald E. Santarelli am also enclosing a copy of my letters of transmittal to the Attorney at Law President along with the Attorney General's letter of October 4th Washington, D.C. for your files. We still have a big job in urging the federal Officers authorities and the Department of Justice to increase enforcement Gary W. Hall, M.D. against the pornography industry. President Carol A. Clancy I wish to thank you for kind assistance in this regard, and Vice President - please let us know if there is anything further we can do to assist National Director you in your work. Bruce A. Taylor Vice President • General Counsel Very truly yours, Mary Lou Miller, C.P.A. Treasurer - Controller ls~\~ Terese M. LoPresti Secretary Bruce A. Taylor Vice President-General Counsel Mall Manager William J. Melnikas BAT:tml
Enclosures HONORARY COMMITTEE
UNITED ST ATES SENATORS GOVERNORS
Hon . James Abdnor, South Dakota Hon. Paula Hawkins, Florida Hon. Richardo J . Bordallo, Guam Hon . Al D'Amato, New York Hon . Samuel I. Hayakawa, California Hon. Ed lHerschler, Wyoming Hon . Dennis DeConcini, Arizona Hon. Jesse Helms, North Carolina Hon. Edward J. King, Massachusetts Hon . Jeremiah Denton, Alabama Hon. Gordon Humphrey, New Hampshire Hon. Albert Quie, Minnesota Hon . Peter V. Domenici , New Mexico Hon. Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii Hon. Richard Riley, South Ca rolina Hon. J. James Exon , Nebraska Hon. J . Bennett Johnson, Louisiana Hon. Charles Thone, Nebraska Hon . Jake Garn , Utah Hon. James A . McClure, Idaho Hon. Dayid T reen , Louisiana Hon . John Glenn , Ohio Hon. John Melcher, Montana Hon . Ba rry Go ldwater. Arizona Hon. La rry Pressler, South Dakota Hon . Cha rles Grassle y, Iowa Hon. Ted Stevens, Alaska Hon. Orrin G. Hatch , Utah Hon. Strom Thurmond, South Carolina
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Hon. Don A lbosta . Michigan Hon . Benjamin A . Gilman, New York Hon. Joseph G. Minish , New Jersey Hon. Frank A nnunzio , Illinois Hon. Newt Gingrich, Georgia Hon. Donald J . M itchell. New York Hon. Douglas Applegate. Ohio Hon. Will iam F. Goodling, Pennsylvania Hon: Robert H. Mollohan, West Virginia Hon. John M. Ashbrook. Ohio Hon . Tennyson Guyer, Ohio Hon. G.V. Montgomery, Mississippi Hon. Eugene V. Atkinson. Pennsylvan ia Hon. Tom Hagedorn, Minnesota Hon . Carlos J . Moorhead, Ca lifornia Hon. Les A uCoin . O regon Hon . Ralph Hal l. Texas Hon. Ronald M. Matti, Ohio Hon. Robert E. Badham. Californ ia Hon . Sam B. Hall , Jr., Texas Hon. Austin J . M urphy, Pennsylvania Hon. L.A. Bafa lis. Florida Hon . John Paul Hammerschmidt, Arkansas Hon. John T . Myers, Indiana Hon . Don Bailey. Pen nsy lva nia Hon. Kent Hance .Texas Hon. John Napier, South Carolina Hon. Wende ll Bailey . Missouri Hon. James V: Hansen . Utah Hon. Bill Nichols, Alabama Hon . Doug Barna rd . Georgia Hon. George Han se n. Idaho Hon . Ma'ry Rose Oakar. Ohio Hon. Cleve Benedict , West Vi rgi nia Hon. Margaret M. Hec kler, Massachusetts Hon. George M . O'Brien. Illinois Hon. Mario Bi aggi . New York Hon. W. G. Hefner. North Carolina Hon. Stan Parris, Virginia Hon . Lindy Boggs, Lo uisiana Hon. John Hiler. Indian a Hon. Chbrles Pa shayan , Jr .. California Hon. Edwa rd P. Boland. Massachusetts Hon. Elwood' H. Hill is. Indiana Hon. Thomas Pe tri. Wisconsin Hon. David Bowen. Mississippi Hon. Harold C. Ho llenbeck , New Jersey Hon. Rai'p h S. Regula. Ohio Hon. Jack Brinkley . Georgia Hon . Marjo ri e S. Ho lt. Ma ryland Hon . John J . Rh odes . Arizona Hon. Wi lliam S. Broomfield . Michigan Hon . Larry J . Hopkins, Ken tucky Hon . Matthew J. Rinaldo, New Jersey Hon. Clair W. Burgener. Ca lifornia Hon. James J . Howard. New Jersey Hon . Do,ha ld Ritter. Pennsylvan ia Hon. Caldwel l Butler. Virginia Hon. Ca rro ll Hubbard, Kentucky Hon . J . Kenneth Ro bi nson. Virginia Hon. Ca rroll Campbell. Jr .. South Carolina Hon. Bil l Hughes. New Jersey Hon . John H. Rousse lot. Ca lifornia Hon. Gregory Carman . New Yo rk Hon . Earl D. Hu tto. Florida Hon . Eldon Rudd . Arizona Hon . Wil liam Carney. New York Hon . Henry J . Hyde. Illinois Hon. Ri9hard T . Schulze . Pe nnsylvania Hon. Bil l Chappel. Jr .. Florida Hon. Andy Ire land . Florida Hon . Ri 5ha rd C. Shelby. A labama Hon . Richard B. Cheney. Wyoming Hon. James M. Jeffords. Vermont Hon. Norman D. Shum way. Ca lifornia Hon. Don H. Clausen . Ca liforn ia Hon . Jim Jeffries . Ka nsas Hon. Bud Shuster. Pe nnsylvania Hon. James M. Col lins. Texas Hon. Ed Jenkins. Georgia Hon. M.p . Snyder. Kentucky Hon. Barber B. Conable. Jr .. New York Hon . Eugene Johnston. North Carolina Hon. Gera ld B. Soloman. New Yo rk Hon. Ba ltasar Corrada. Puerto Rico Hon . James R. Jones , Oklahom a Hon . Gladys Noon Spellman. Maryland Hon . Larry E. Craig . Idaho Hon. Robert W. Kastenmeier, Jr .. Wisco nsin Hon. Floyd Spence. So uth Carolina Hon . Ph ilip Crane . Illinois Hon . Jack F. Kemp. New York Hon. A rlan Stangeland. Minnesota Hon. Dan Daniel . Vi rgin ia Hon . T homas N. Kindness. Ohio ' Hon . J. Wi ll iam Stanton . Ohio Hon. Wi lliam E. Da nnemeyer. Ca lifornia Hon. Ken Kramer. Co lorado Hon. David Staton. West Virgin ia Hon. Butler Derrick. So uth Carolina Hon . John LaFalce. New Yo rk Hon . Dave Stockman. Michiga n Hon . Edwa rd J. Derw inski. Illinois Hon . Robert Lagomarsino . Ca li fornia Ho n. Bob Stump. A rizona Hon. Wi ll iam L. Dickinson . A labama Hon . Delbert L. Latta. Ohio Hon. Bi lly Ta uzin . Louisiana Hon. Robert K. Dornan. Cal ifornia Hon. Marvin Leath. Texas . Hon. Gene Taylor. M issouri Hon . Charles F. Dougherty. Penn sy lvania Hon. John LeBoutillier. New Yo rk Hon. Pau l S. Trible. Jr .. Vi rginia Hon. John J . Duncan . Tennessee Hon. Norman F. Lent. New York Hon . GJy Vander Jagt. Michigan 1 Hon . Roy Dyson . Ma ryland Hon . Jerry Lewi s. Ca lifornia Hon. Harold L. Vo lkmer. M issou ri Hon . Joseph D. Early. Massachusetts Hon . Bob Li vingston . Louisiana Hon. Wi'l liam C. Wam pler. Virg inia Hon . Mickey Edwards. Oklahom a Hon. C. T rent Lott. Missi ssippi Hon. Ed Weber. Ohio Hon. David Emery. Ma ine Hon. Manuel Lujan, Jr .. New Mexico Hon. G. Wil liam Wh itehurst. Virginia Hon. Arlen Erdahl. M innesota Hon. Dan iel E. Lungren . Ca liforn ia Hon . Charley Whitley . North Ca ro lina Hon. Dave Evans. Indiana Hon. Robert McClory. Illinois Hon. Ja~ie L. Whitten. Mississ ippi Hon . Mill ice nt Fenwick . New Jersey Hon . Larry P. McDonald. Georgia Hon. Lye Wi ll ia ms, Ohio Hon. Geraldine A . Ferraro. New York Hon . Raymond McGrath . New York Hon. La ry Winn, Jr .. Kansas Hon. Paul Findley. Il linois Hon. Edward R. Madigan . Illinois Hon. Antonio Borj a Won Pat . Guam Hon. Hamilton Fish . Jr .. New Yo rk Hon. Dan Marriott. Uta h Hon. GElo rge Wortley. New York Hon. Floyd J . Fithian. Indiana Hon. Robert H. Michel. Ill ino is Hon. Chalm ers P. Wylie. Ohio Hon. L.H. Fo untain. North Carolina Hon. Barbara Mikulski. Maryland Hon. Bill Yo ung. Florida Hon. Edwin B. Forsythe. New Jersey Ho n. Clarence E. Miller. Ohio Hon . Clement J . Zablocki. Wisconsin Hon . Leo C. Zeferetti . New York * * * * Melvin Anchell. M.D. Lottie Beth Hobbs Mrs. Jq hn G. Pew Dallas. Texas Los Angeles. California National President 1 Pat Boone Pro Family Forum Most Rev. Leo A . Pursley Beve rl y Hi lls. California Fort Worth . Texas Bish1p of Fort Wayne Mrs. Judie Brown Jenkins Lloyd Jones. Editor-Pub lisher So ut Bend . Indiana Ameri can Life Lobby Inc. Th e Tulsa Tribune Father Bruce Ri tter Wa shington. D.C. T ul sa. Oklahoma The <;:ove nant House Professor Harry M . Clor Simon L. Leis. Jr. New Yo rk . New York Kenyon Co lle ge Prosec uting Attorney Pro fessor Ernest Van Den Haag. PHO . Gambier. Ohio Hamilton County . Ohio New ~ o rk City. New York Mrs. Ruth Hankins. Vice President His Eminence T imothy Cardinal Manning Revere l1 d Don Wildmon Women's Bar Association Archbishop of Los Angeles. Ca liforn ia Tupelo. M ississ ippi Washington . D.C. Wa lter S. Nosa l. EdD. Di rector Mrs. Betty Hanicke Counseling Center Di rector. Chairman John Carroll University National Affairs Congressional Action Co mm ittee Kansas City. Misso uri Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 602/995-2600
November 30, 1982
Founder Charles H Keating, Jr. The Honorable Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees The White House Richard M. Bertsch Washington, D.C. 20500 Attorney at Law Cleveland, Ohio Dear President Reagan: Thomas J. Blee Attorney at Law Fort Wayne, Indiana In order to continue informing you of the concern being expressed in having the F.B.I., Customs, and Postal Service increase Robert J. Kielty Attorney at Law federal prosecutions, we are transmitting an additional 6,502 Phoenix, Arizona signatures on our petition. These were gathered in November to Donald E. Santarelli accompany the 2,563 we sent you in October bringing the total to Attorney at Law 9,065. These signatures were gathered -by our supporters nationwide Washington, D.C. without a formal petition drive in effect. Each circulator merely Officers asked immediate friends and associates. It is obvious, therefore, Gary W. Hall, M.D. that had door-to-door and shopping center circulation been made, the President number of signatures would be limitless. Carol A. Clancy Vice President - We are pleased that the Attorney General clarified the federal National Director policies on obscenity prosecutions in his memorandum of October 4, Bruce A. Taylor 1982. It is a help that local p.s. attorneys who wish to do so may Vice President - General Counsel bring pornography cases. However, as the F.B.I. and major city police have stated, a consistent state and federal practice of Mary Lou Miller, C.P.A. Treasurer • Controller enforcement against the regular adult pornography industry is needed Terese M. LoPresti to achieve results against this threat of pornography, the influence Secretary of organized crime and the drug industry, and traffic in child pornography. Mall Manager William J . Melnikas Please don't let current events, the economy, and the media discourage you. Your attempts have already created hope for us that the Supreme Court and the federal government will take a stronger turn toward law enforcement. We certainly need a change in that direction and .need your help to see it happen.
Very truly yours, ~\T' Bruce A. Taylor -. Vice President-General Counsel
BAT:tml
Enclosures ... 426 Grand Concourse Miami Sh~res,Fla 33138 NOY. 13,1982
The Non.William French Smith Attorne7 General ot the United State•. U.S.Dept. of Justice Washington,D.C. 20530 Attn: As1J 1 t Attorne7 General Jonathan Rose tear Sira·· -· · ------•··· -· · ·-· ·----·· ····•··- ·-· - ·· ·· --· - -. As a retired special agent ot the FBI with sane twent7 7eare' i nvestigative experience in the obscenity-pornograph7 field, I comnend i ou for your forthright letter to all U.S. attorne1s,dated Oct.4,1982, in which you claritied policy and encouraged, it not ordered~prosecution in pornogrcph7 (obscenit7) cases.
It baa been uq sad experience that since the MIPORlf indictments ot February,1980, very little has been done b)" federal investigative agencies or b7 federal prosecutors in this highl7 organized field ot criminal activity;cfd ot the· most lucrative ot all underworld pursuits. Hopefully, · things will now begin to change.
I wish to advise you ,however, that since I first became aware ot the publication or your letter or Uctober 4., ~ .2!!! or the several . ·-· · federal investigative officers with whOlll I have . been in contact had ' any knoliledge or that letter until the1 were so informed_b)" me. · It would therefore appear that it is urgently requtred that the heads ot the FBI,US Postal Service and US Customs instruct their people· in the variws field offices as to the existence and ·contents or ywr l etter. I suspect it would be unlikel7 that all or even most. or the many US attorneys would make it a point to ccntact the responsible investigative agenci«s in their areasto inform them or ywr letter; thereby seeking additional presentations ot' obacenity violations. Admittedl7, I as yet have not contacted U.S.Attorney Stanley :Harcus·, · ·_ ·: -· \ :; Miami, in this regard. _l . .. - - . ~ ~ -· ..· :"{(.('.: , Only 7esterdq, at a MIPeRN hearing in Miami,
Most sincerel7~
William P .Kell.7 rm,retired. ,·;.· ..
-~-- ·: .. - .
; . '--. ~ .'' ..... ~ . :-~~.
®ffin nf thP _;irnmru ®rnrral . . - llJ ashingtnn, Il. I . TO: ·All United States Attorneys FROM: William French Smith u.Jf.5 Attorney General SUBJECT: Enforce~ent of Anti-Pornocraohv L2~s ' ' { V President Reagan has re-cently statec his alarm anc concern [ . over the spread of pornography, anc his deterDinati9n tc e~sure that we effectivelv enforce the federal laws acainst traffickinc in pornography: P~rnography· is indeed a growi~g problen, but if ~ is a problem before which l2w enfo::cement officials are net helpless, as cerr.~nstrate6 by the success of the De?artment • s MIPOR~: operation.) Accorcingly, I "''ould like to t2ke this opportunity to clarify the Department I s enforcement policy i:; pornography ~ases, and to .encourage their prosecution. The U: S. Attorneys' Manual states: "Prosecutive prioritv should be civen to cases involvino larce-scale distributors w~c realize substantialJ income from multi-state- operations anc ca~es in which there is evidence of involvement by known orcanizec cri~e figures," and "[s]pecial priority should be given to cases . involving the µse of minor! engacino in sexuallv exolicit condurt . ". § 9-75.140 (emphasi.s adc5eci). 'I·his passage also state5 that prosecution of those ca_ses- not in one of the three priority are~s may nonetheless have a dete~rent effect and be a?propriate 1 when esoeciallv of~ensive material or nurnerou~ citizen conolaint~ are ir.vol V':C. ~ Id. I • • • ..,....c- ~ ,~~---...... ,...... -- .. .~ ___,..-, .... -•~-r--t? -,r,-...-_-:- '• ·,. '·" ·: ...... -,.- . -~ .. .-~ ·... ; .:· ,;.- -, /-·-··· ~:.' . .-. ~ ...... ,. t· ... ·· ;~ '.• ... · --...-...... - z....__,-.,:.. • .,.,. . ;;•:...;,; ··--....::· ":.....·· "'£(.-,...,_.-·..... ,;.. _ __ ...... ""°"'""·___,· · ,...,,...... ,.....,,.,__.,.,,....,, ...... - . -· • ,.....,,. __ .._.., .,. ..,.,..· ;:_.; ,.- 1-e -.:. · The Manual also states, of course, that the "Federal role i;; prosecuting obscenity cases is to focus upon the major producers and interstate distributors cf pornography while leavinc to local jurisdictions the responsibility of dealino with local* exhibi tions ~nd sa1es. "J ·s 9-:-75 .130: But this ;ection goes on t; recognize that the U.S. Attorney in an area rnav ·often have ~reat~r _eipertise a~d more money than ~is local ;ounterpart, and t.hat [ i) n these circurnsta:1ces the United States may provide assistance through .prosecutive efforts not fallinq precisely within the above -ouide 1 ine s. " · .., ;' - . r (✓Thus, where larae volume dealers, organized crime, or child pornography is invol ~ed, t'he U.S. Attorney should aggressively prosecute. Even in other cases, he mav prosecute wher noa- r_aphy is a .., c. • ro em in an area, an · , ~ t?..inly ss~s ance. were _oca_ effcrts are being ~ac .' ,. o pornograp y may be _ prir.,ari y ' ocal., J. successful prosecution calls increasingly fpr interstate e!forts and coordination which only ~ederal officials may be able to provide. Similarly, where th'e district's Law Enforcer.1ent Coo:: dir.a ting Cornmittee identifies pornography as an area requirin<:= federal support, our assistance to local enforcement efforts rnay and should be providAd, even if the dealers are not in the three "priority" categories. ✓ \·:hi le po::-nog r aphy is not a ?robler.. that car. be solved by :eceral efforts alone, it is a r..atte:- c: pr-ime conce::-n a:--.c "-'e i7'.USt e:-:fcrcc ·::e;.::;::ously t.he e:-::stins ::eceral c==.r.t.i-:,c::nocranhv ~a,-:s I ?art:.cularly ir. . t.::e prior: -:y a:-eas ciscusseo above - ar,~ ir. t.hcse co~~unities where it has been icentified as a wajo:: la~ e~force~ent prc~lem, - ...... -~ .•, ------· -- -.:•~~- .. .,. ______~ •• •• • -- •v ---•~-• ~ - • . '. I•.:,•·' -··:,. ·, " 'l. •·• • THEREPORTER NATIONAL DECENCY Published by Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. Vol. 19, No. 5 • September - October 1982 • Phoenix, Arizona President Petitioned to Review Policy on Federal Obscenity Prosecutions Father Morton Hill, founder and without interference by the federal The White House President of Morality in Media, government. Mr. McGeady gave the moderated the meeting and set the figures for the number of cases agenda for the discussions. He in under the federal obscenity laws in troduced a panel of veteran profes recent years: In 1978, only two sionals who have been active in dozen convictions were obtained in obscenity law enforcement to give the whole country, 13 of which their opinion to the assembled were child porn. In 1979 and 1980, group and Administration officials one dozen pornographers were on the scope of the problem and convicted and eight child por some practical solutions. Dr. Victor nographers nationwide. In 1981, Cline, a psychologist and expert nine child porn and nine major por prosecution witness, reminded all nography defendants were con that pornography has pathological victed. The porn distributors con formal procedure is under effects on its viewers and con victed in the last two years were way to make the President tributes to abuse and sex crimes. basically involved in only two A aware of the lack of federal Mr. Homer Young was one of the cases, one in Boston and the enforcement of the existing FBl's top organized crime and MIPORN cases in Miami. To say obscenity statutes and to request obscenity investigators for thirty that only 32 pornographers involv him to direct the Department of years and made the statement that ed in the billion dollar national Justice to change its restrictive the federal agencies could break porn market were convicted in the policies in order to allow the 95 down the pornography syndicates last four and half years by federal U.S. Attorneys, the FBI, Customs, in eighteen months with a serious prosecutors is proof that the and the Postal Inspectors to in effort. Mr. Larry Parrish, former federal government's inaction has vestigate and prosecute the multi Assistant U.S. Attorney in Mem given the green light to the hard million dollar traffic in pornography. phis, described how the FBI un core obscenity industry in America. covered the national conspiracy to The only thing that is holding the The first step in the protocol was a make and~istribute "Deep T.hr-0at" ,- line at all is the effort of state and meeting anhe White House OI local authorities, where the vast Executive Office Building on July and how his office obtained federal convictions against the major majority of obscenity prosecutions 27, 1982. Fifty representatives of are taking place. numerous public service groups, figures involved. His success was the biggest federal case prior to media and religious organizations, (continued on page 2) corporations, and research and MIPORN and shows that the legal legal foundations were invited by battle can be won. Mr. Paul Mr. Morton Blackwell, Special McGeady, General Counsel of Assistant to the President for Morality in Media and a Public Liason. Representatives of knowledgeable expert on obscenity Regional the Justice Department, FBI, cases and statutes, exposed the Customs, the Postal Service, and Justice Department's written policy Obscenity several members of the President's of forbidding the federal agencies staff were present. and prosecutors from bringing any Conference cases unless child porn or organized crime leaders are directly in- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania volved. This means that hard-core Sept. 16 and 17, 1982 pornography is being imported, mailed, and shipped between states Details inside. THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER CDL's General Counsel, Bruce without a question how serious the that their local U.S. Attorney Taylor, presented intelligence in problem has become, and that he wishes to prosecute. We need this formation from the FBI and Justice must direct the Department of involvement by the federal govern Department's own reports, backed Justice, the FBI, the Postal Inspec ment. Their strength and leader up by reports by the police depart tors, and the Customs Agents to ship will bolster the efforts of city ments of most of America's big stop the importing, interstate ship police and prosecutors and put the cities, that organized crime figures ment, mailing, and broadcasting of fear of the law back into this are involved with the "adult" porn hard core obscenity. blatantly criminal industry. CDL syndicates. It was pointed out from The next step in the protocol pro will work hard to assist the govern experience that the change in the cedure is for the White House staff ment in any efforts undertaken and problem from a few hard-core to submit the results of this only the best could come from outlets in big city back alleys ten Meeting to the President's Advisory such a change in federal policy. years ago to "adult" bookstores Council on Legal Policy, which in and theaters and live sex shows in turn will make a recommendation nearly every city, suburb, and town to the President. The President will in every state today prove the then consider the matter and make Petition the result of the federal government's a decision. "hands off" policy. The problem is President now too big for local cities to con The decision sought by the trol alone. The federal government Meeting was to have the Attorney he following page is a peti must assist in a nationwide effort General direct the Justice Depart tion addressed to the Presi by all the law enforcement agen ment to allow approval of prosecu T dent of the Un ited States. cies to stop this powerful porn in tions by the U.S. Attorneys and The petition reflects the Statement dustry and prevent the further Strike Forces on violations of all of the Meeting in Washington, D.C. federal obscenity statutes. Restrict growth of porn, prostitution, drugs, We are asking our subscribers to loansharking, bribery, and violence ing approval only to child porn, organized crime or major remove or copy the petition and which has resulted from this situa circulate it in your community. It tion. distributors leaves thousands of violations of the mails, customs, would be important to obtain the Distinguished representatives next and ITOM (Interstate Transporta signatures from your community were called upon to state the con tion of Obscene Material) statutes. leaders; Mayor and council, law en cerns of their organizations, con It is hoped that U.S. Attorneys who forcement personnel, civic leaders, gregations, constituents, and sup wish to proceed against local por church leaders and members, the porters over the explosion of por nographers and distributors, or in business community, and your nography and the need for decisive dividual schemes involving hard neighbors. action. core pornography or particularly After you have obtained all the offensive materials, would deter signatures you can, send it back to Representing the Justice Depart violations by the vast number of us and we will forward the petitions ment, Mr. Jonathan Rose, Assistant less powerful pornographers and to President Reagan. Attorney General, promised that their associates and conspirators. the message of the meeting would A change in the policy to subject be taken back to the Honorable all pornographers to possible ac William French Smith, United tions would remove the ability and States Attorney General, and fur willingness of pornographers to ther promised that the policies of make, distribute, and show hard the Justice Department relating to core materials without fear of pro Send completed petitions to: obscenity cases would be reviewed. secution anywhere in the country Citizens for Decency through Law In order to support the good inten as long as they don't get caught 2331 W. Royal Palm Road tions of the present Justice Depart with "kiddie" porn. The change in Suite #105 ment, the participants made a mo policy would be its own deterrent Phoenix, Arizona 85021 tion that a meeting with President and would free the hands of those Attn: Petitions Reagan and Attorney General agents, inspectors, and in Smith be arranged. A resolution vestigators who uncover violations was made to take the concerns of the members, and a Statement signed by all present, directly to the President so he will know Petition to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States WHEREAS, the proliferation of obscenity in the United States has reached a level of national concern and is directly affecting the quality of life, the moral fabric of the country, and the right and obligation of the govern ment to maintain a decent society, and WHEREAS, it has become increasingly apparent that enforcement of existing federal obscenity laws during the previous years has been wholly inadequate, and WHEREAS, federal law enforcement with respect to such laws must be made more aggressive and effective, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President of the United States be requested to publicly indicate that prosecution of the federal laws relating to the Mailing, Importing, Broadcasting and Interstate Transportation of Obscenity is to him a matter of utmost importance, and to direct the Attorney General to issue instructions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and all United States Attorneys to make this matter of prime concern. FURTHER RESOLVED, that such instructions authorize and encourage all United States Attorneys to institute criminal proceedings of violations of such laws brought to their attention by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Service and United States Customs. NAME ADDRESS 'ii'... .cCII .c V a...«I (If you need more petitions, Xerox copies are acceptable.) THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER AFAA Targets Variety also exposed the porn syn There are many pornographic dicates' efforts to capture a magazines which describe how the CDL "broadening market base in act is to be performed. However, homevideo and cable TV" with a pornographers don't mention that DL was described as a "higher grade" soft-porn product. only 4.4 pounds of pressure on the serious threat to the porn in The AF AA also announced plans carotid artery for 8 seconds will C dustry at the annual conven for an "attorneys hotline", and a cause a person to involuntarily sub tion of the Adult Film Association "War Chest" to oppose CDL and mit to unconsciousness. Once un of America in New York. The support political candidates and conscious, the person can't stand AFAA is made up of the nation's legislation in favor of legitimizing up, and will die unless someone hard and soft core pornography pornography. It was obvious that releases the pressure immediately. producers - the porn industry's at the AF AA did not appreciate the Robert Davis, a 13-year-old youth tempt to act criminally but look works of CDL, as stated in the arti from upstate New York, died last legitimate. Two articles exposed cle: month. His body was found hang the platform and concerns of the "Five years ago, you could ing from a tree in a wooded area convention and show the brazen still depend on the ig near his home. According to confidence with which the por norance and inexperience newspaper accounts, the local nographers conspire to violate of local prosecutors to win sheriff stated that the boy died ex federal, state, and local obscenity you cases," attorney Robert perimenting with bondage posi laws. Smith told a lunchtime tions which were dipicted in Pent Michael Gallagher of the U.S. legal seminar, arguing that house, Hustler and Playboy. The Catholic Conference Department of privately financed computer sheriff stated that several of these Communication wrote an article for banks and traveling bat magazines were strewn around the The Tidings paper in Los Angeles teries of attorneys from the body. entitled, "'Adult' Films Going moral watchdog group Two other youths, one 13 and one Straight Into Homes via Cable" on Citizens for Decency 12, died in the same manner and in May 21 , 1982, in which he stated: through Law have reversed the same general location within THE FIVE-MEMBER AF AA that situation in a big way. the last six months. We know of Legal Advisory Board, Hence, the move to form an similar deaths in Michigan, Califor which includes "some of organized lobbying and nia, and other places. the foremost First legal info body, which in a sense would become the What a waste. What would have Ammendment attorneys na adult film biz's battling happened had those "magazines" tionwide" (names available counterpart to the CDL. not been available? Is the money on request), took up the and wealth gained from the sale of problems of film piracy Let's hope we can continue to have such filth worth the lives of these -they're going to set up a this effect on the porn producers children and the many others we piracy hotline - and the and their traveling group of never hear about? even more vexing problem defense lawyers. However, we now of doing battle with the know it's going to be serious Supreme Court Citizens for Decency business and the enemy has ar through Law, who seem to mored itself for major offensives. Upholds Child have no respect for the right of these honest Porn Laws tradesmen to earn a decent living through the distribu Pornograpliy Kills nits most important deci tion of their wares. sion for children in its t is called "autoerotic The entertainment industry trade I history, the U.S. Supreme asphyxia". The Coroner of Court upheld the New York child paper, Variety, ran a story on the State of New York says March 10, 1982, entitled "Adult Pix I porn statute. On July 2nd, the that deaths attributed to it are in Court decided New York v. Ferber, Eye Cable Boom, Legal Gloom," creasing. which quoted several of the and held that the law could pro AFAA's lawyers who were com What is it? It is an accidental hibit the distribution of films and plaining of the increasing numbers death, not suicide. It is a type of photographs of minors engaging in of zoning and public nuisance laws, masochism where masturbation is sexual conduct or lewd exhibition and the success of prosecutions in practiced while hanging oneself of the genitals. This was a major eliminating porn books and movies "almost" to the point of blackout. departure from "adult" por from Atlanta and Jacksonville. nography cases in that the Court said such depictions of child sex did not have to be proven legally obscene under its three-part "Miller Test". The briefs filed with the Court were most knowledgeable officers in the The Crime Commission is made up exceptional. The Court accepted country on organized crime's in of State Senators Marino, Berns the positions of the N.Y. District volvement with pornography pro tein, Johnson, and Babbush. Attorney and Father Ritter's Cove duction and distribution and coor Jeremiah McKenna is the Commit nant House that only the strongest dinates a nationwide clearinghouse tee's General Counsel. This Com deterrent possible can help stop of intellegence information for the mittee is probably the foremost in the devastating psychological and police departments of most of vestigative crime commission in physical results on the children, America's metropolitan cities. the country and has become a and the legal argument of Charles CDL's Bruce Taylor also testified preeminent source of information Keating and CDL that child porn is on the involvement of organized on criminal conduct, reform of so vile that is is "obscene per se" crime and on the structure and criminal laws, and on organized and utterly without First Ammend inter-connections within the nation crime and foreign influences. ment protection. wide pornography syndicates. Laws banning outright all por Taylor also presented specific pro nographic photos of children exist posals for strengthening New Regional in 19 states besides New York. The York's obscenity and child porn federal statutes and many other statutes and gave adyice on pro Obscenity states ban only "obscene" child secution tactics for controlling the pornography. These laws should be porn and child abuse problem. It is Conference to be changed to adopt the New York Taylor's opinion that to effectively model and also provide a separate deter the use of children, law en held in Pittsburgh and higher felony penalty where forcement must continue to pro secute the "adult" porn figures and n September 16th and 17th, the child porn is also "obscene". a Regional Obscenity Con The Court's opinion identifies the prostitution at all levels. Only through concentrated state and O ference is being held in Pitts laws of all the states and is publish burgh, Pennsylvania. The Con ed in Volume 50 of U.S. Law Week, federal enforcement can the flow of funds and market for new "talent" ference is being sponsored by the page 5077, available in most Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation libraries and law libraries or CDL be prevented from spilling from narcotics, gambling, bribery, pro and the Pennsylvania Coalition will gladly supply a copy on re Against Pornography. CDL's legal quest. stitution, and pornography onto child porn and child slavery and counsel Faye Gardner has been prostitution. working closely with the sponsor CDL Testifies leaders to help make the Con An undercover investigator also ference the most informative event Before New York told how Mafia-run call-boy ser for community and governmental vices in New York and D.C. have leaders since the National Con Crime Commission sold information on political and ference in Phoenix, Arizona, last business "clients" to foreign in year. he New York Select Commit telligence agencies, including the tee on Crime heard Soviets. The Committee also heard On Thursday evening, September T testimony July 26 and 27th from the New York City Police, 16th, Father Bruce Ritter, the from law enforcement officers into U.S. Customs, and prosecutors Director of Covenant House in New the problems and solutions from local county and city offices York City, is scheduled to give a associated with child pornography on the investigative and judicial major address to the Conference. and sexual expJoi_tatj_on, ith_em:._ problems in enfe-re-iAg the exist-in§ Covenant house is a licensed, non phasis on organized crime and on statutes. Also testifying were Sgt. profit child care agency which the growing use of young boys in Tom Rogers of the Indianapolis specializes in helping the sexually prostitution and pornography. Police Department, a recognized abused teenage runaways who have The witness list is an impressive ar expert on the nationwide problems been exploited by New York City's ray of seasoned veterans with first of child pornography and child sex industry and was instrumental hand knowledge of these prostitution, and from Dr. Samuel in the landmark decision by the monstrous problems. Testifying on Janus, a psychotherapist with ex United States Supreme Court in the influence of organized crime perience and knowledge on child the child pornography case against and Mafia figures on the porn and sexual abuse and author of The Ira Ferber in New York. sex industries were Det. Carl Shof Death of Innocence. fler and Det. Anne Fisher of the Organized Crime Branch of the Metropolitan Police of Washington, D.C.. Det. Shoffler is one of the THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER On Friday, September 17th, public Nuisance ordinance against the past two years. Deputy Pro workshops will be conducted in the pornography outlets. Mrs. secutor Mark Chambers and CDL's morning, the afternoon, and for Gardner's speech included informa Bruce Taylor were opposed by those unable to attend the day ses tion on the conrol by organized Baltimore defense lawyer Burtpn sions, an evening session. The crime of the pornography industry Sandler, his assistants, and a local numerous workshop topics are nationwide and the importance of Fort Wayne defense attorney. separately directed toward citizens, taking action in Pennsylvania to (Previous trials were defended by law enforcement officials, and combat the sexual victimization the office of Atlanta porn attorney legislators. The faculty will include that is pornography. Robert Eugene Smith who is an ad such nationally recognized experts Present at a meeting on June 18th visor to the Adult Film Association as David H. Bludworth, State At were prominent businessmen from and an active lawyer for the porn torney of Florida, who successfully major corporations headquartered industry nationwide.) used the Florida RICO statute in Pittsburgh, and public officials against the organized criminal ac such as prosecutors and Crucial to the defense was the re tivity of the pornographers; George legislators. They heard speeches by quest by Mr. Sandler to have the Weaver, Assistant Solicitor General Mr . Fein, Mrs. Gardner, and Donald film judged by the standards of the of Atlanta, Georgia, who assisted in Lewis, the District Attorney fro homosexual community, rather prosecuting and closing all the Crawford County, Pennsylvania . than the adult community as a . Atlanta pornography outlets, and Mr. Lewis talked about his suc whole. Veteran Judge Robert Dr. Blaine McLaughlin, Senior cessful efforts in prosecuting the Meyers rejected this request and Psychiatrist of The Psychiatric In pornographers in Crawford County. had the jurors apply the standards stitute of Fort Worth, Texas, who is The meeting attendees, with sug of Allen County's whole popula an authority on the harmful effects gestions from the speakers, tion. The jury could understand of pornography. discussed what their role should be their own community standards The Conference fee is only $15.00 in assisting their local law enforce and said the hard-core sodomy film for both day sessions. The evening ment agencies. was obscene under Indiana law. session fee is only $5.00. CDL applauds these public spirited The "battle of experts" was an im If you would like more information individuals for their sense of com portant part of the defense about attending the Conference, munity and their efforts to work strategy, but advance preparation please call the Pittsburgh Leader together in combating the harms by the prosecutors prevented the ship Foundation at (412) 281-3752 flowing from the pornography in impact the pornographers hoped or write the Pennsylvania Coalition dustry. for. Three self-proclaimed "sex Against Pornography, P.O. Box ologists" from San Francisco, 14510, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Fort Wayne Wins Theodore Mcllvenna, Wardell 15234. Pomeroy, and Loretta Haroian, Major Trial tried to convince the jury that por Hope to see you there. nographic films are normal and n what is becoming a major contribute to healthy sexual at Pre-Conference defensive tactic of the porn titudes, even in homosexuals. At Activities in I industry, Fort Wayne, In their own Institute for the Advanced diana, was the site of a recent Study of Human Sexuality, these Pittsburgh obscenity trial where experienced three people view, make, and store attorneys from other states and hundreds of hard-core porn films n June, the Pittsburgh Press hired "sexologists" tried to over and books and grant themselves Club was the site of two im whelm local communities and and others their "degree" of "Doc I portant meetings to lay the frustrate law enforcement. The ef tor of Sexology". The Hedonistic foundation for the September fort failed for the pornographers on philosophy these people gave to Regional Obscenity Conference. On July 15th when the jury returned a the jury was admirably rebutted by June 17th, religious leaders from Verdict of Guilty of distributing an Dr. James Spink, a psychologist throughout Western Pennsylvania obscene film , "Cruising". The two with the Family Counseling Clinic met to hear Marvin Fein, Assistant day trial involving the male who was called by the prosecutors City Solicitor of Pittsburgh, and homosexual film sold to an under to testify. This was his first CDL's legal counsel Faye Gardner cover police officer was an expen obscenity trial and his testimony to discuss what they could do to sive and desperate attempt to was unknown to the State as well support the September Conference reverse the series of convictions as the defense. and the fight against sexual ex gathered in the County Court over ploitation. Mr. Fein spoke about his successes using Pittsburgh's However, trusting in the decency the right and the language with Enter David Rickard and Fay and common sense of a dedicated which to regulate "indecent" and Angus, concerned citizens of Sierra professional with academic creden "patently offensive" programming. Madre. They set up a hearing tials of the highest level from some By ignoring this fact, the Escon before the city council which took of the best universities in America dido city council opened wide the place July 27th. Rickard and Mrs. and abroad proved to be the bomb door to the pornographers. Angus testified, as did CDL's Jim shell that destroyed the enemy. Dr. But the Reverend Falling was in Clancy and Ernie Schulzke. The Spink refuted the anything-goes good spirits. With characteristic council listened attentively and evidence of the porn-biased sex vigor, he declared that the battle politely. Media coverage was in ologists and told the jury the truth: has just begun. tense. KABC-TV , the leading news that porn does appeal to a prurient We at CDL wish the citizens of station in the Los Angeles area interest and is harmful to stable gave an extensive and favorable sexual and family relationships. He Escondido every success, and stand ready to assist. After all, the report. A KABC-TV commentator stressed respect for people as accurately voiced the concerns of human beings, rather than as city belongs to the people - not the council. the citizens of Sierra Madre, and pieces of meat, and the jury ob the challenge to its city council. viously agreed with him. This hearing was a preliminary step This trial proves the need and CDL Represented to express concern. No action was worth of CDL's experience and anticipated. Nor was any taken. assistance. The familiarity of our at Sierra Madre Further meetings with City Council lawyers with the defense tactics of members are planned. David these travelling defense attorneys Cable Hearings Rickard and Fay Angus and other and of the bias and proclivities of citizens of that fine comIT)unity are their favorite "expert" witnesses ierra Madre is a tiny com munity nestled against the to be congratulated for their proved to be a key in insuring that tremendous effort. the people could once more uphold S mountains just east of THE LESSON FOR ALL COM their own community standards Pasadena, California. It is a plea sant place. But it shares a problem MUNITIES IS CLEAR: against the attacks of the nation Prohibitions against X-rated or wide pornography syndicates. common to many other com munities these days - how to R-rated showings are not enough. This was no small victory. They regulate cable television. The movie ratings are made by a had a lot to lose and we con When the cable company signed its handful of people over whom none gratulate Fort Wayne on a suc of us has control. Nor are they cessful "day in court". franchise agreement, the city fathers inserted a prohibition responsible to anyone that matters. against X-rated materials. What the And their tastes probably do not Citizens Press for city fathers did not anticipate was reflect the tastes of most com Cable Porn Law how easily the pornographers can munities throughout this nation. get around such a provision. They THE ONLY DEFENSE IS AN EX oncerned about por- do it by ~etting the ratings changed PLICIT PROHIBITION AGAINST nographic movies and sex from "X' to "R" even though "INDECENT" MATERIAL (explicit C shows on cable TV, citizens the content of the movie remains sex or nudity which is patently of of Escondido, California, testified substantially the same. Or they do fensive to community standards) at a hearing held by the City Coun- it by showing unrated movies, -language used by the United ·1 · I t J I , d 1.. th which most pornographic movies States Supreme Court in FCC v. c1 m a e_ u y.....Le __u e_ -·-•-~ S 15 c1. Reverend Billy Falling, a petition are. o t ey s1mp y a I e y t11e -Pacifica, (see Jatyry\agust-NDR): signed by forty-nine religious letter of the law, even when, as in Contact CDL for a model ordinance leaders in that city in north San the case of Sierra Madre, the fran- which we believe will withstand Diego County was presented to the chisee Group W (Westinghouse) Constitutional muster. council. CDL's Ernie Schulzke says it would like to abide by the presented legal arguments in sup- intent of the agreement. port of the proposed ordinance. The problem is that Group W gets Unfortunately the mayor and coun- much of. its material from sources cil had their minds made up not to which it claims it does not control. approve the ordinance even before We would hope, however, that the hearing. The tragedy is that the companies such as Westinghouse U.S. Supreme Court has given the would begin to influence the in- communities of this nation both dustry suppliers in a favorable fashion. THE NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER tional CDL can more efficiently CDL Chapter serve local citizen groups, what a Conference Manual group may consider to be the most Update effective anti-porn tactics, and Available s you well know, the fight whether or not a group is incor opies of the Conference against pornography is a porated in their state. Manual are available from A never-ending battle. This questionnaire was sent out to CCDL at a cost of $25.00 per Soldiers in the field come and go. anyone who has formerly been copy. Please send check or money We at the National CDL head associated with an anti order to: quarters are in the process of up pornography group or CDL Citizens for Decency through Law dating our files, so that we may of chapter. If there is any group who 2331 W. Royal Palm Road, fer better assistance and have more has not received one of these ques Suite 105 effective communication with local tionnaires, please send inquiries to: Phoenix, Arizona 85021 citizen groups. It is imperative that Citizens for Decency through Law The manual was prepared for con our records contain accurate infor Attn: Chapter Co-ordinator ference participants. In its prepara mation so that we can more 2331 W. Royal Palm Road tion it was anticipated that economically get the job com Suite # 105 numerous persons who did not at pleted. Phoenix, AZ 85021 tend the conference would want Therefore, we have formulated a It is our goal to establish an ac manuals. We believe that anyone simple-to-answer questionnaire to curate network chain of all anti who has an interest in the obsceni help us identify which groups are pornography groups in each state, ty battle will find the manual currently active. Also included are thereby providing more strength materials helpful. questions concerning how the Na - and unity to local citizen groups. NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER IS YO0R NAME AND ADDRESS CORRECT? published at CITIZENS FOR DECENCY THROUGH LAW, INC. Please help CDL keep an accurate mailing file on you at all times. 2331 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Incorrect addreses and multiple mailings drain our funds un (602) 995-2600 necessarily. Please return this with your instructions. Thank you. Citizens for Decency through Law. Inc. is a non D I'm getting duplicate mailings. profit, inter-faith national organization working to (Attach all addresses together with this form) promote decency in the media and oppose the dissemination of obscenity, within the framework of □ My name is spelled incorrectly. the law. It has affiliates in numerous states, and is (Attach old and new spelling with this form) qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions under IRC 501 (c) (3). □ My address in incorrect. Gifts to the organization are encouraged, including (Attach old and new address to this form) bequests in Wills and in Trusts. □ I'm moving or changing my name. Fo under: Charles H Keating, Jr. (Please attach old and new address or name with this form) Published 6 times yearly, in alternate months by Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. PLEASE RETURN TO: CDL, 2331 West Royal Palm Rd. #105 Subscription $10.00 per year Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Third Class Postage Attention: Computer Entry Dept. Paid at Phoenix, Arizona To Every Friend of CDL: Your NATIONAL DECENCY REPORTER needs your support. D YES Count me in. I want to see NOR go on fighting. Enclosed As you can imagine, publishing please find $10 for one year's subscription to The National Decency the hardest-hitting, most reliable Reporter for : source of information on the Name obscenity issues in America to day takes money. And inflation Organization has added to that need until now Address it is a pressing one. Your check for $10 will insure that NOR will City ______State ------~ip ______keep coming to you six times each year. Why not help NDR's Please make checks payable and return to: Citizens for Decency editors and staff keep up the Through Law, Inc. , 2331 West Royal Palm Road, #105, Phoenix, good fight. Arizona 85021. .. : . . GB€€K OBThOD0X MChDIOCBSe• OF MOijTh ~D SOUTh i\MBRICA £i\?tHMIKH OPOOAOEOC t\PXl£nICKOilH BOP£l8 }y NOTl8 AM£PIKHC 10 EAST 79th STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10021 • TEL (212) 570-3500 • CA!JLE: ARCHGREEK, NEW YORK November 5, 1982 Mr. Bruce Taylor L Citizens for Decency 23-31 W. Royal Palm Road Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Dear Mr. Taylor: There is, Ecclesiastes reminds us, a time to keep silent and a time to speak. On NBC recently a television program debased the Orthodox Church and in particular, the role of the Greek Orthodox Priest when he was projected in a most vulgar and objectionable manner. The plot depicts a couple who come to the Priest for counseling. The husband has committed adultery, but both are willing to reconcile and continue their life as husband and wife. What is repulsive and un acceptable is the fact that the role of the alleged Greek Orthodox Priest suggests that before reconciliation takes place, the wife "gets even" by herself committing adultery with a co-worker as did her husband. The Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Arch diocese of North and South America and Canada has written to NBC in New York in order to protest this abuse inflicted upon a minority Christian body whose rich spiritual heritage spans 2,000 years. We take issue with those who would say to the general public that the Orthodox Church takes lightly such vulgarity. I am appealing to you as a person who I know is interested in stopping such indecencies. Programs like these do nothing to enhance the dignity, reverence and venerability of religion in America. It accomplishes the opposite; the mocking, the scorning, the deriding and the ridiculing of the faith of millions of Americans whatever their denominational affiliation. I am sending you a copy of the telegram that millions of Orthodox sent to the chairman and the chief executive officer of NBC. · You might want to use this sample for a similar telegram. In any event, thank you for taking the time to read this letter in consideration of sending a telegram to NBC which must assume full responsibility for such recklessness and lack of proper programming decor. MBE:ac .,. . -~ .. ·• ( .· -_,_ .. l, , .. ,, Grant Tinker . Chairmin and ·Chief Executive Officer · National Broadcasting Company, Inc. 3000 West Alameda Avenue Burbank, California 91523 Dear Mr. Tinker: The epi s'ode of Taxi that aired Thursday, October 21,_ depicted an actor · · portraying an Orthodox Christian Priest in a derogatory, sacrilegious, , false and misleading manner. The suggestion that any Pries~, especially · an Orthodox Priest, would desecrate the Sacrament of Confession by · r counseling a parishioner to commit adultery is blasphemous. This abomination was reinforced on the episode broadcast Thursday, October 28, with flashbacks of the previous week's epitome of bad taste. Reckless character assassination of Orthodox Priests has no place on network television, even on a situation comedy with its admittedly wide latitude in satirizing · . society. As one of the five million Orthodox Christians in the United · States, I vigorously protest such religious bigotry. Repeated incidents of this reprehensible nature can only provoke more drastic measures, including the picketing of NBC Network- owned and operated stations as well as affiliates. / / ,---- :--,....· ., ;=~~7: ~- ...:...: ...~ .:::.: :r:, .. Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc. 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 602/995-2600 January 26, 1983 Founder Charles H Keating, Jr. Board of Trustees Rev. Dr. Miltiades B. Efthimiou, Director Richard M. Bertsch Department Church & Society Attorney at Law Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North Cleveland, Ohio and South America Thomas J . Blee 10 East 79th Street Attorney at Law Fort Wayne, Indiana New York, NY 10021 Robert J. Kielty Attorney at Law Dear Rev. Efthimiou: Phoenix, Arizona Donald E. Santarelli Thank you for your letter of November 5, 1982, concerning the Attorney at Law NBC show Taxi. I am enclosing a copy of my letter to Grant Tinker Washington, D.C. of NBC and a copy of the response I received from Robert O'Neil. Officers Gary W. Hall , M.D. It is obvious that we all have much to. do to turn things President around. One of the possible solutions I see to the cable situation Carol A. Clancy may be for the Congress to adopt the indecency standard of the FCC Vice President • as reflected in 18 U.S.C. 1464 and make it applicable to cable as National Director part of the economic deregulation contained in S. 2172 currently Bruce A. Taylor before the U.S. Senate. I think that t he lEigitimate cable industry Vice President • is using their unholy alliance with the pornographers as a way to General Counsel generate short term cash flow solutions. However, the opportunity Mary Lou Miller, C.P.A. for long term and stable growth under a deregulation such as S. 2172 Treasurer • Controller envisions is much more attractive financially for the cable industry Terese M. LoPresti Secretary and I feel the legitimate cable owners would give up the pornographers in exchange for the deregulation. Your thoughts on Mail Manager this issue would be appreciated and your support and influence with William J. Melnikas Congress would be important. Best of luck in your continued work, and please remember us in your prayers. Very truly yours, ·~ ~~ \ ·~~~---- ,) Bruce A. Taylor Vice President-General Counsel BAT:tml Enclosures cc: White House attendees ✓ Citizens for Decency through Law, Inc.$-- 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 602/995-2600 December 21, 1982 Founder Charles H Keating, Jr. Mr. Grant Tinker Board of Trustees Chairman of the Board Richard M. Bertsch National Broadcasting Company, Inc. Attorney at Law Cleveland, Ohio 3000 West Alameda Avenue Burbank, CA 91523 Thomas J. Blee Attorney at Law Fort Wayne, Indiana Dear Mr. Tinker: Robert J. Kielty Attorney at Law I would like to add our concern and objection to the type Phoenix, Arizona of programming represented by the October 21, 1982, episode of Donald E. Santarelll Taxi. Depicting a Greek Orthodox Christian priest as giving Attorney at Law Washington, D.C. advice to commit adultery during the holy Sacrament of Confession is not only blasphemous to members of that Christian Officers Churche but is also an affront to the basic respect between men Gary W. Hall, M.D. and women that we all are finding increasingly difficult to President maintain in today's world. Carol A. Clancy Vice President • National Director Treating sex as a sport and a commodity, rather than an . expression of love and commitment, is one of the primary reasons Bruce A. Taylor Vice President • for the widespread occurrences of adultery, divorce, single General Counsel parent households, and abandoned children. Such depiction of a Mary Lou Miller, C.P.A. priest's advice may also mislead members of the public which do Treasurer • Controller not belong to this particular church into believing that this Terese M. LoPrestl church in fa~t condones such advice and the adultery that was Secretary recommended. If the same kind of misstatement were made about Mail Manager an individual person, it would be libel and slander, and such portrayals are a similar injustice and dishonesty to this Church William J. Melnikas in particular and all religions in general. Television has become a major force ~n American life, which we all enjoy, however, as television becomes more crass, misleading, dishonest, and just plain corny, you may find t hat the attractiveness of the medium is economically damaged by the repulsiveness of the message. You are in a position to influence a new renaissance in American television. The continued dominance of network television over cable may indeed depend upon higher standards and quality. Please consider these remarks and rest assured that most people would appreciate some efforts to improve television broadcasting. Very truly yours, ~~ Bruce A. Taylor Vice President-General Counsel BAT/lar r---, I ' !~~~.l NBC National Broadcasti ng Company, Inc. Thirty Rockefeller Plaza New York, N.Y. 10020 212 -664-3163 Robert O'Neil Public Information Department Manager Communications Services January 3, 1983 Mr. Bruce Taylor Vice President-General Counsel Citizens for Decency Through Law, Inc. 2331 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Dear Mr. Taylor: Thank you for your comments about a recent two-part episode of "Taxi" dealing with marital infidelity. We regret your mistaken impression that an Orthodox Christian priest was portrayed on these programs. It is not so. As regular viewers of "Taxi" know, the characters "Latka," "Simka" and "Father Gorky" are immigrants from a nonexistent foreign country, a place whose language, geography, customs and beliefs have been totally fabri cated for comic purposes. We assure you that neither the producers of "Taxi" nor NBC intended to refer to any real religion. The dress and behavior of "Father Gorky" were carefully devised to ensure against any such identification. We believe most viewers took the comedy in a harmless spirit of fun, as intended. Still, we regret any mis understanding and thank you for permitting us to present our views on this matter. Sincerely, Robert O'Neil