The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 4

4AThe Jackson Sun NATION Friday, December 13, 2002 Frist denounces Lott remarks, says words aren't values of GOP of DeoDle." Republican who was director of Bush's Tennessee campaign and is Alexander spurned requests for a comment. Spokesman Matt Sonneysen said the former governor would be available on Saturday at the Tennessee GOP executive committee meeting By LARRY BIVINS The Jackson Sun WASHINGTON Following President Bush's lead Thursday, Sen. Bill Frist denounced controversial remarks by Senate Republican (leader Trent Lott that seemed to praise the South's history of i segregation. "Senator Lott's choice of words was insensitive and poorly chosen," Democrats were conspicuously forgiving of Sen. Robert Byrd, in March 2001 when he used a racial epithet while appearing on a television talk show.

Regarding Lott's comments, Bryant said, "He was speaking exuberantly about Senator Thurmond. I don't think that's in Senator Lott's heart. He just got carried away. You say things sometimes that are inappropriate." noting that his words "do not represent the values of our country. They are not the values of the Republican Party." Frist would not respond to requests for an interview, choosing to release prepared statements.

Amid speculation over who might succeed Lott if he should step aside or is forced out, Frist said he was sticking by the GOP leader. Republican Lamar Marsha Blackburn, who replaces Rep. Ed Bryant, R-Henderson, said Lott's statement was "sad, unfortunate and inappropriate" but that he deserves forgiveness. "He's a man of faith and compassion, and I feel we should give him the benefit of the doubt," said Blackburn, R-Brentwood. Bryant agreed, adding that co-chairman of Alexander's transition team, said many grass-roots Republicans were upset because of the damage Lott's remarks could cause to GOP outreach to minorities.

"It may have been that Senator Lott didn't mean to say what he said the way he said it, but the way it came out is offensive to a number i firs Frist in Nashville. But David Kustoff, a Memphis Friday, Saturday a Sunday December 13-15 For Every $50 You Spend, Get A s7r rn Frist, said in a prepared statement. "Segregationist policies are the saddest chapter in our nation's history, and comments from any elected official that suggest support for these offensive policies of the past must be condemned." Frist's remarks were much stronger than the statement he issued Wednesday in which he defended Lott, saying he believed the senator's words had been "interpreted unfairly." Lott, who is expected to become Senate majority leader next month, has come under fire for comments he made last Thursday during a 100-year birthday celebration for South Carolina Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond. Lott told an audience that he was proud that Mississippi voted for Thurmond's 1948 presidential bid and "if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." Thurmond, then a Democrat, ran on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket.

Lott's comments have drawn sharp rebuke from black political leaders and civil rights activists, with several demanding that Lott resign his leadership position. Rep. Harold Ford D-Memphis, said earlier this week that Lott should "step aside because his credibility is so damaged that his ability to lead has been severely diminished." Lott has issued a series of apologies, each a little stronger than the previous one. But the controversy has grown upon revelations that he has made similar statements in the past. During an event in Philadelphia on Wednesday to promote his faith-based initiative, Bush rebuked Lott for making "offensive" remarks and said he did the right thing in apologizing.

He went on to say segregation ran counter to the ideals of the 7 country and the Republican Party. "Every day that our nation was segregated was a day that America was unfaithful to our founding ideals," Bush said. "The founding ideals of the political party I represent was, and remains today, the equal 'dignity and equal rights of every American." Frist expressed similar senti-ments several hours later. He said he accepted Lott's apology after 0 1 lAJ K2U To Use On Your Next Purchase Through Dec. 21 And Euen On Your Purchases Made Now During Our Dggost Dm ddbv iff wart Cardinal Law, other bishops subpoenaed By DENISE LAV0IE The Associated Press BOSTON Boston Cardinal Rernard Law.

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OFFER GOOD ON RECEIPTS DATED DECEMBER 13-15, 2002. Redeem Bonus Cards between December 13-21, 2002. Law and seven bishops who once worked for him were subpoenaed last week to appear before a grand jury looking into possible criminal violations by church officials, a source familiar with the subpoenas said Thursday. Law, who has testified in deposi tions for civil suits, flew to Kome the day after receiving the subpoena. He remained at the Vatican on Thursday amid speculation that he will resign or get approval to declare thp emhattled archdiocese bankrupt.

Only the pope can decide whether to accept such a resignation. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said T.aw was exDected to meet with Pope John Paul II today and any res- 1 umatmn would not come betore mmm thpn. Law has been battered bv accusa- tions that he allowed priests who were sexually abusing cnimren 10 remain in parishes. The grand jury invpstitratini? the role of church offi- 1 cials in the scandal has been meet-ing for six months, but so far has nnlv dpmanded church records. mm Attorney General Thomas Reilly answered questions about tne sub-t poenas Thursday, though he did not I sav whether he issued them.

And he cautioned that state law makes it ivirrnallv impossible to charge Willi. church officials with concealing clergy misdeeds or failing to protect children. "There was a coverup. There was tan plahnratp scheme." Reillv said. 'But "it is very difficult under the criminal laws of this state to hold a superior accountable for the acts of another." I The other bishops subpoenaed by I Reilly office include Bishop ino-i mas Daily of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Bishop thn Mrfnrmark of Manchester.

N.H.; Archbishop Alfred Hughes of belk.com New Orleans; Bishop wimam mur- phy of Rockville Centre, N.Y.; and Bishop Robert Banks of Green Bay, who said he plans to cooperate fully,.