(Episcopal Life) More than 525 leaders of faith communities, including at least 45 Episcopalians, have signed a letter to President Clinton urging him to commute the sentences of low-level, non-violent federal drug offenders.

Signers include Episcopal Bishops Frederick H. Borsh of the Diocese of Los Angeles and George Packard, suffragan bishop for the armed forces, health care and prison ministries. Other Episcopal signatories include clergy, seminary professors, chaplains in prison ministry, members of religious orders and lay people on national committees.

'Scores of Americans are serving unconscionably long sentences for drug offences-in some cases 20 years or more-which are grossly out of proportion to the nature and severity of their crime,' the clergy wrote.

'By exercising your executive power to forgive these men and women, you help heal the devastating effects of race and class disparities in our criminal justice system. Commuting the sentences of low-level, non-violent drug offenders will begin to restore much needed public confidence in our criminal justice system,' the letter said.

The clergy asked the president to grant clemency and release on supervision parole these low-level, non-violent federal drug prisoners who have served at least five years in prison. A 1994 Justice Department study counted 16,316 such inmates.

Although officials of the Coalition for Jubilee Clemency, based in Washington, said it is unlikely the president will grant clemency to thousand of offenders, the clergy urged him to use his resources to address those who are most deserving.

'Action by president Clinton is urgent. Freeing non-violent drug offenders entails political risk. It is unlikely that the opportunity to free significant numbers of deserving prisoners will arise again for four or eight years,' said Chad Thevenot, the coalition's coordinator.