Radio License for Clergyman Called ‘extremist’ Opposed in Philadelphia

Labor, religious and human relations groups in the Philadelphia area, including Jewish organizations, have requested the Federal Communications Commission to deny a broadcasting license to a conservative, Christian institution, the Faith Theological Seminary, which has applied for permission to buy Radio Station WXUR, in suburban Media, Pa., it became known here today.

The issue came to a head today when the Greater Philadelphia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed with the Commission in Washington a conflicting petition, asking that the protests against the purchase of the radio station be rejected.

Among the organizations that have protested against the transfer of the WXUR license to the Faith Theological Seminary are the Pennsylvania AFL-CIC Council, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Council of Church and the Fellowship Commission.

These groups pointed in their petition particularly to the record of the seminary’s president, Rev, Carl McIntire, of Collingswood, N.J., whom they accuse of having in the past broadcast programs they characterized as “extremist, irresponsible, inflammatory, biased, controversial and disruptive.” The claim was made that Rev. McIntire’s programs have openly attacked the United Nations, civil rights legislation and the Catholic Church.

In the view of the local branch of the ACLU, however, the seminary should be allowed to buy the Media radio station, and could be hauled before the FCC later if Rev, McIntire refuses to adhere to the “fairness doctrine” which requires a licensee to permit diverse views to be expressed on his station.