Religious Leaders Turn Against Rep. Todd Akin After His ‘Legimate Rape’ Controversy

[cbayer]

By Guest Blogger on Aug 28, 2012 at 10:45 am
Our guest blogger is Jack Jenkins, researcher for the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/08/28/753161/religious-leaders-turn-against-rep-todd-akin-after-his-legimate-rape-controversy/




GOP Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) is banking on the support of Christian conservatives to help him weather his “legitimate rape” controversy, but it doesn’t look like the rest of America’s faithful are going to let him off that easy.

After refusing to bow out of the Missouri Senate race despite intense pressure from Democrats and Republicans alike, Akin has attempted to use the dispute as an opportunity to energize his longtime supporters — many of whom are anti-abortion Christian conservatives. His campaign launched a fundraising drive last week to “Help Todd Fight Back Against the Party Bosses”, and recently released an ad in which Akin apologized for his statements by saying, “I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault, and I pray for them.”

But while some conservative Christian groups and evangelical leaders like Mike Huckabee have come to Akin’s defense, dozens of Christian pastors, authors, and activists have published statements decrying Akin’s remarks. Here are just a few:

– Covenant Theological Seminary: Akin’s former seminary, which otherwise claims to be doggedly anti-choice, issued a press release rebuking Akin’s claims that a woman’s body can automatically prevent pregnancy in the event of a rape, noting “Covenant Theological Seminary has never taught, and in no way affirms, that the female body is capable of preventing pregnancy caused by rape.”

– Episcopal Women’s Caucus: The Episcopal Women’s Caucus expressed outrage at Akin’s comments in a press release last week, saying they were “appalled” by “the current political discourse regarding reproductive justice.”

more at link

[dmallind]

1. How dare you lump all believers together! Don't you mean "*SOME* religious leaders"?

http://www.examiner.com/article/christian-groups-support-akin-after-legitimate-rape-comment

Yep it's a bloody stupid argument isn't it? Just like it has been in the multiple cases that are EXACTLY analogous in grammar and intent where the fauxtrage here is leveled against perfectly accurate statements of negative or inconvenient opinions held by believers.

Please - either tell me the difference, follow your own advice henceforth (as you failed to do here), or, more rationally, stop whining when a collective group is identified without the "some" qualifier when it refers to Christians opposing equal rights or other liberal ideas.

[cbayer]

2. Who lumped all believers together?

Please don't make this personal. Thanks.

[trotsky]

5. You did, by posting that headline.

You've made this personal in the past by criticizing posts (and posters) doing the same thing, only when it comes to negative news about religion or religious people.

The shoe's on the other foot now. Do you see anything wrong this time, or is it OK when it's news you WANT to hear and promote?

[Goblinmonger]

3. + 1 billion n/t

[MineralMan]

4. Some Religious Leaders.

Well, of course some religious leaders are condemning Akin's position. Some are not doing that, but are either silent or in agreement with it. The headline is a meaningless generality, as is the article, essentially.

Of course progressive religious leaders are expressing disagreement. The only one that doesn't fit that mold in the article is that Covenant Seminary. The rest are progressives, more or less. The article was boring. Where's the list of conservative religious leaders who are in line with Akin? Without that, it's not a useful article.