Baptist Leader Sees Racism In Criticism

In a ringing denunciation of Republican and antiabortion rights groups’ opposition to surgeon general nominee Henry W. Foster Jr., the president of the nation’s largest black Baptist denomination strongly suggested Friday that race had become an issue in the faltering nomination.

“We are sick and tired that every time a black man in particular (is nominated) we get into a problem. He’s castigated, humiliated, upbraided and downgraded,” said the Rev. Dr. Henry J. Lyons, who was elected president of the 8.5 million member National Baptist Convention last year.