Religious Leaders Criticize Bush Campaign for Misuse of Churches

[Nambe]

Evangelical/Moderate Religious Leaders Criticize Bush Campaign for Misuse of Churches; Call on President to Repudiate Violations

U.S. Newswire - A group of prominent Evangelicals and moderate to conservative religious leaders have sent an open letter to President Bush (news - web sites) condemning the Bush/ Cheney 2004 campaign's improper collaboration with church leaders and use of congregational directories.

The signatories, all of whom teach ethics, ask President Bush to repudiate his campaign's violations of fundamental principles of democracy and the sanctity of their houses of worship. ..

The Rev. Dr. James Dunn said, "Blurring the lines between churches and political parties undermines the integrity of our democracy and of our religious institutions."

Signatories include:

Jimmy R. Allen, Former President, Southern Baptist Convention (Georgia)
The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, Eastern University (Pennsylvania)
The Rev. Dr. James M. Dunn, Wake Forest Divinity School (North Carolina)
Dr. Richard V. Pierard, Gordon College (Massachusetts)
The Rev. Dr. Ronald B. Flowers, Texas Christian University (Texas)
The Rev. Dr. Walter B. Shurden, Mercer University (Georgia)
The Rev. Dr. George Hunter, Asbury Theological Seminary (Kentucky)
Dr. James T. Laney, Faith and the City (Georgia)
The Rev. Dr. Paul Raushenbush, Princeton University (New Jersey)
Rollin O. Russell, Lancaster Theological Seminary (Pennsylvania)
The Full letter reads: ...

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Good news -- thanks for posting!

[CO Liberal]

2. The Signatories All Teach Ethics

The person they sent the letter to HAS no ethics.

[progressivebydesign]

3. I'm so glad this story is not dying!

This was one of the most cynical abuses of religion, I've ever seen.

[Joanne98]

4. Fall down from shock

I didn't know there was any honest Christians left in this country.

[mom cat]

10. They are just hard to hear over the obnoxious wannabees.

Jesus was not too popular with the imperialist of his day. And the powers that be were even able to turn popular opinion against him. Yet it is his message of love, peace, charity and justice that lives on... in spite of the worst efforts of some of his followers. I am glad that a few of them were willing to speak out on this.

[AspenRose]

5. Asbury!!!

Asbury signed it!!!!

Asbury Theological Seminary is a premier *conservative* institution!!!

*shock*:wow:

[Rose Siding]

6. They are so right

I love Christians who have their heads screwed on straight. The following snip identifies precisely the spiritual world view. To do otherwise opposes the very core of Christianity, laying up treasure (political power) in the world.

snip>
It is proper for church leaders to address social issues, but it is improper, and even illegal, for them to get their churches to endorse candidates or align their churches with a specific political party.

Christians, individually, should prayerfully seek God's direction when voting, but when any church leaders contend that they speak for God and have the right to tell congregants how to vote, such leaders have assumed prerogatives to which they have no right.

Whenever the Church follows such a path, it engages in a scandalous secularizing of the sacred. Whenever political parties use the church, they invoke absolutes in the passing parade of politics. Whenever the church has engaged in partisan politics, it has compromised its moral authority.

[xxqqqzme]

7. a friend, who has a house in

Georgia, just returned from a visit there. She said she had a mailbox stuffed w/ rethug mail. (She has never voted rethug anything.) After thinking about it she asked the minister of the methodist church, here she is a member, if they sent the members names 2 the rethugs. He said, 'Why yes, we did.' When she complained, he brushed her off w/ 'Well, you are in the minority around here'. She sent a letter of complaint to the synod or whatever it is called that runs the Methodist church in Georgia.

[AspenRose]

8. That would be conference

UMC has bishops and operates out of conferences...and I don't blame her, I would complain clear to Nashville (HQ).

[TheReligiousLeft]

9. God bless

That is good news in deed! On top of that NY seminaries are going to be biting Bush's face off<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x617136> (in a Christian way of course) at the RNC convention. It is a good day to be a follower of Lutheran Underground Theology!
Peace all,
Chris

[dansolo]

11. Maybe they are just worried about losing their tax exempt status

Perhaps I'm too cynical, but my thought is that they know just how far to go to avoid threatening their tax exempt status, and they realize that if they don't denounce the Bush/Cheney activities, then someone may scrutinize them more closely.

[hang a left]

13. evil minds, think alike n/t

[Az_lefty]

12. This is great news!!!!!!

:toast: :toast: :toast:
:bounce:

[jdj]

14. WooHoo Wake! Go Demon Deacons!

I'm comforted by knowing there is an NC college involved in this.

[lovuian]

15. Have ya seen the Bush Religious Book(Bush & Christianity)

they are reading it like the Bible ...Sheesh :bounce: