Blast from the Past: They Could Change Their Names, But They Couldn’t Change History
“Typical of other morality crusaders, [Charles Keating] was morally bankrupt. He is nationally known not because of his views on pornography, but his 1992 conviction for swindling small investors of their money, in the collapse of Lincoln Savings and Loan. Keating received inappropriate loans, received compensation he was not rightfully entitled to, sold stock back to the company at inflated prices, spent company money on himself in inappropriate ways, and generally was treated preferentially over other customers of the institution because of his inside connection. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, overturned on a technicality.” — NNDB
“In 1957, Charles H. Keating Jr. founded the non-profit organization Citizens for Decency through Law [CDL], a pro-censorship group. …
“In July [1989, three months after the government seized Lincoln Savings and Loan], CDL changed its name and became Children’s Legal Foundation (CLF). …
“Citizens for Decency through Law, though, was not the first radical right organization to change its name out of embarrassment.
“The Moral Majority was chided about its name probably more than any organization in history. A popular bumper sticker proclaimed, ‘The Moral Majority is neither.’
“Then came a parade of disgraced TV evangelists — our keepers of morality. The scandals got so bad that the Rev. Falwell had to change his group’s name to the Liberty Federation. …
“[A]nother moralist, the Rev. Donald Wildmon, founded the National Federation For Decency. His purpose was to ‘promote the Biblical ethic of decency in American society.’ This ‘decent’ fellow has recently been blasted over his use of anti-Semitic innuendo. Last year, the Rev. Wildmon announced that his group would henceforth be known as the American Family Association.
“Radical religious zealots continue to be their own worst enemy. Decency and morality are more than a name. Unable to keep the standards implicit in their names, group after group has been forced to adopt new, ‘safe’ names.”
— Skipp Porteous
“What’s in a name?”
Freedom Writer, November/December, 1989
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