In an inconsistent editorial switch, the Austin American Statesman today openly embraced the idea that church leaders should become politically active. Historically, the Statesman has been critical of the "Religious Right" and has been offended at any partisan right-wing politics that some church leaders engage in. Why the change in editorial position? Simple. It is because today's editorial (http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editoria l/stories/12/11ministers_edit.html) is endorsing a left-wing group of activist clergy, the Austin Area Interreligous Ministries. This group of liberal clergy will be taking stands on issues such as justice, discrimination and our obviously racist police department. The editorial even criticizes Austin clergy for not having taken partisan stands on local politics, stating, "Sure, they're preaching very lovely sermons from their individual pulpits on Sundays that emphasize peace, equality and the Golden Rule. But those sermons largely have been drowned out by the loud thunder of injustice rumbling outside their doors. If ministers have ventured beyond the walls at all, they have done so quietly or infrequently." I believe that activist left-wing clergy are no different than activist right-wing clergy...they have strong beliefs, they wear the cloth and therefore they believe that their politics are God's intentions. The Statesman's hypocritical stance on politically active clergy is just more re- inforcement of the bias with which its editors write. GREGG