Christians not wanted.

That's the implied message in a Tucson Women's Commission flier seeking new applicants, says a critic of the city-funded agency, who was recently appointed to the commission.

The flier says the commission "particularly encourages applications from women or men with the following backgrounds: Asian / Pacific Island, Hispanic, young, disabled, employed in non-traditional fields for women (carpenter, mechanic, etc.), employed in a for profit business, Jewish and others not in a Western Christian faith tradition."

Patricia Moore said that is blatant religious prejudice against Christians and wonders how the Tucson City Council can endorse and fund such agroup.

"Is this reflective of our city father's views?" she asked.

Moore, who was appointed last week to the commission by Pima County Supervisor Ed Moore (no relation), said the flier is an example of the "special interest narrow-minded" focus of the women's commission.

Tucson City Council members said they were apalled when the flier was read to them by a reporter.

"I hope it's an honest mistake," said Councilman Bruce Wheeler.

Councilwoman Molly McKasson called it a poor choice of words.

Marcia Niemann, executive director of the commission, said most of the commissioners come from Christian backgrounds and were trying to attract people of other faiths.

"We may need to find better language," she said.

"We're not saying we won't take a Christian, but what we have are some gaps right now in terms of diversity," Niemann said.

"That sounds discriminatory to me," said Floyd Thompson, equal employment officer for the city.

Supervisor Ed Moore agreed.

But Assistant City Attorney Merle Turchik said the language is not legally discriminatory.

Patricia Moore, who takes her seat on the commission July 1, said she hopes to bring some balance to the "radical feminist adenda" of the commission.

Ed Moore had vowed to find someone to infiltrate and cause trouble for the 16-year old commission after supervisors voted, 4-1, last month to give TWC up to $40,000 next year in exchange for five appointments to the commission.

Patirica Moore said the commission is nothing more than a political advocacy group pushing the agendas of the National Organization for Women and the Women's Political Caucus.

Niemann said NOW and WPC have no connections to the commission but agreed the TWC is a feminist advocacy group.

"We were created by the City Council that gave us the mission that, yes, can be defined as feminists working for equality," she said.

The city gives $56,000 a year to the commission.

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