As the only resident rabbi in Montana and a proud member of the Reform Movement, I am hurt, ashamed and deeply offended by Mona Charen's recent column that was published in the Helena Independent Record this weekend.

Just when we think America is getting beyond slandering religious minorities, we are reminded right in your local paper that we must be ever vigilant. That was the feeling I and many others had reading the syndicated column.

In her piece, Charen labels Reform Jews as "arrogant," "obtuse," "pompous" and "leftists." She says, " these American Jews are being chumps" because many oppose the Iraq War. She adds that "Reform Jews would have us abandon this struggle for the sake of 'world opinion.' " She hurls insults at the Reform Jewish Movement instead of substantiating her argument for continued involvement in the Iraq conflict. Her choice of invective sounds like the tantrum of a spoiled child stamping her feet because someone disagrees with her.

Worst of all, she leaps to the conclusion that because many Reform Jews oppose the war in Iraq, Reform Jews as a movement "make common cause" with those who are against "preventing suicide murderers (i.e., terrorists) from entering" Israel. How she reaches this conclusion is baffling.

Whatever your feelings on Charen's particular political beliefs or about the War in Iraq, attacking people for their religious beliefs has no place in Montana, and no place in America. The fact is, there is a very strong case to be made for opposing wars--especially wars based on misinformation--on moral, spiritual and religious grounds. It is why many religious leaders throughout America-- Christian, Jewish, Muslim and others--have long opposed not only the Iraq War, but other deadly conflicts that cost both American and foreign lives.

My friends and I have different opinions concerning the war, yet I have never felt anti-Semitism in response to my position.

Sadly, slandering and intimidating religious groups for opposing war is nothing new. People like Charen use religion as a vehicle to wield their extremist political axes instead of respecting each individual's right to his or her spiritual beliefs.

And now, the government is getting into the act as well.

The Los Angeles Times recently reported that, "the Internal Revenue Service warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it risks losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon" Reverend George Regas delivered in 2004. Regas opposes war. He also sermonized against the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War, but that did not seem to matter. What mattered was using Big Government to bully and publicly defame a religious organization for opposing the Iraq War.

Americans are used to reading about this type of behavior in other parts of the world, but not here in a country that prides itself on religious tolerance and respect for individual beliefs and religious diversity.

It is time for us to say enough is enough. Negative labeling and pejorative insults that avoid reasoned arguments and intelligent discussion smack of the fascist tactics of the 1930s and 1940s. What's more, they constitute unprofessional, jaundiced journalism.

We ask that Lee Newspapers recognize that religious attacks have no place in the pages of its publications and to consider not publishing Ms. Charen's column.

She does not live in Montana, yet is being allowed, through your publication, to taint our public debate by spewing slander. There are any number of writers right here in Montana who can replace her and who, at the very least, can respect people's religious faiths, regardless of their political ideology.

Many radio commentators disagree with those who stand against the war, but I have yet to hear any one of them refer to Jews as a "pompous arrogant chumps."

As we celebrate this season of different religious holidays, Americans should look suspiciously at those in the media and in government who seek to use religion as a political weapon, rather than treat it as a matter of personal faith. Our country has made great strides in strengthening the freedoms and religious tolerance we cherish.

Allowing those priorities to be eroded by self-serving ideologues or political thugs defiles the ideals that make this country great.

Rabbi Allen Secher of Whitefish is the only rabbi based in Montana.