News In Brief

Cuomo quotes bishops' letter in calling for nuclear freeze

Gov. Mario Cuomo last Saturday called participation in the nuclear freeze movement ''the simplest form of moral affirmation,'' and urged support for US Roman Catholic bishops' condemnation of the arms race. Mr. Cuomo quoted from a letter issued by the bishops' on Saturday entitled ''The Challenge of Peace,'' which said: ''We are called to turn back from this evil of total destruction ... to God, toward our neighbor, and toward the building of a peaceful world.''

Asked if he weren't mixing religion and politics as he has criticized President Reagan of doing, Cuomo said: ''I have no objection to his referring to religion. I have objection to trying to foist religious beliefs on people who don't share those beliefs.''