It started with a list, prepared by the Washington-based Traditional Values Coalition (TVC), condemning some 200 American researchers for studying what the TVC hates most: casual sex, STDs and the gay lifestyle. Then Congress started questioning the National Institutes of Health - the body that awards research grants - on the noted studies. Now the TVC, which claims to represent 43,000 American churches, wants a full Justice Department investigation into NIH competency.

The NIH argues that they, as qualified scientists, know what they're doing: that studies on AIDS and sexual behaviour bring better public health and education programs.

California Democrat Rep. Henry A. Waxman called the campaign "scientific McCarthyism" and hopes Washington will stand up to the TVC, but researchers fear the crusade has complicated operations at the NIH and cast aspersions on their work. The TVC isn't concerned.

TVC executive director Andrea Lafferty boasts that the TVC is different from other conservative groups because "I believe we truly represent the body of Christ."

» Scott Saxon