By Chad Groening
AFR News
October 24, 2000

(AgapePress) - The Torah Court in New York has excommunicated Senator Joseph Lieberman for supporting views that go against the teachings of Orthodox Judaism.

The court ruled that the Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful has caused "grave scandal"--the desecration of God's name--by claiming to be an observant Jew but misrepresenting and falsifying the teachings of the Torah. Rabbi Joseph Friedman says Lieberman's stances on several issues are shameful.

"[Lieberman's positions] on gay rights, partial-birth abortion, and intermarriage, when they're taken to represent those of the Orthodox Jewish community, are harmful and actually shameful," Friedman says. "Therefore we feel it necessary to make such a statement to disassociate his views with those of the Jewish Orthodox community."

Friedman says Lieberman must recant the statements he has given about abortion, gay rights, and intermarriage, if he wants to be returned to full fellowship in the Orthodox Jewish community.

"He would have to say that those statements were made from a political perspective, but as far as an Orthodox Jew goes, he does not support special gay privileges," the rabbi says. "He would have to say that he believes that partial-birth abortion is wrong and [that] intermarriage is against the strict letter of the law."

Friedman also criticized Lieberman's support of gender integration of the military in the areas of barracks, naval ships, and combat training. Friedman says that policy weakens and demoralizes our armed forces.

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