The Plain Dealer published a report July 19 on a gift of $7 million to the American Civil Liberties Union by Peter Lewis, chairman of Progressive Insurance Co. of Mayfield Heights. This news, coming at a time when I had just become a client of this company, caused me great shock and utter dismay.

The ACLU tries to transform the United States into an atheistic country. This organization is fighting the display of the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols. It wants to remove the imprint on our coins "In God We Trust." The ACLU tries to remove any trace of religion from public life and - even worse than that - from our schools. This has become most destructive to the moral fiber of this country. In addition to this, they demand complete freedom for many weird and immodest causes.

At a time when there are hundreds of worthy charities - some of them in desperate need of support - the CEO of Progressive Insurance has chosen to support at a rate of $7 million this "charity" with profits of dollars collected from often struggling motorists. How can one donate that amount of money to a questionable and very controversial organization?

Let us hope wealthy patrons will find worthy causes which truly need our help and will serve the betterment of our world.

Rabbi Joseph K. Fabian