Posted on 08/13/2004 7:50:20 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Evangelical/Moderate Religious Leaders Criticize Bush Campaign for Misuse of Churches; Call on President to Repudiate Violations
8/13/2004 10:43:00 AM
To: National Desk
Contact: Jamie Shor, 202-628-7772 or jshor@venturecommunications.com
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A group of prominent Evangelicals and moderate to conservative religious leaders have sent an open letter to President Bush 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 letter was written in response to an August 9th article in the New York Times on the campaign's solicitation of churches for endorsements and membership directories.
The Evangelical letter calls on religious leaders to resist any direct cooperation with political parties, warning: "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."
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:
August 12, 2004
President George W. Bush Bush/Cheney 2004 Campaign Arlington, VA
Re: Playing Politics with Church
Dear President Bush,
When certain church leaders acceded to the request of the Bush/Cheney campaign to hand over the names and addresses of their congregants they crossed a line.
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.
In the light of these developments, we call on church leaders to stand vigilant against entanglement in partisan politics. Likewise we urge both candidates to respect the integrity of all houses of worship. In that spirit, we call upon you to repudiate the actions of your re-election campaign, which violated a fundamental principle of our democracy.
-0-
/© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
Let me guess, they are affiliated with the National Council of Churches, right?
Yeah, I'm sure we'll hear the same from them about Democrat candidates campaigning from the pulpits.
Not to mention black pastors campaigning for Democrats from their pulpits too.
But, that would be racist.
Exactly. This is absolutely disgusting. The Dems have used Jesse Jackson and Sharpton and the Black churches to get out the Black vote for years, Clinton did it, Gore did it and so does Kerry. Why is this only one sided?
Something is very wrong here. Everybody knows that Democrats have a much cozier relationship with the black churches. Evangelicals are overwhelmingly pro-Bush, the rank and file need to speak out on this.
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)
This is a real who's who of church power. I especially like Faith and the City.
Because, the media scoffs at the notion of the existence of the Religious Left.
Thank you, Bill Clinton.
This was made a non-issue by the behavior of the Democrats during the 2000 campaign. I'll never forget the pic of Gore sweating and flailing his arms while proclaiming "You are the wind beneath my wings" in a church just a day or two prior to the election. And what was said at that time by our illustrious media and prominent church members about using the church as a political pulpit? Exactly nothing! Mrs PD
Tony Campolo.
That's all I need to see to know this is bunk as far as I'm concerned.
That doesn't look like a list of "religious leaders". They are professors.
does anyone know...are these guys "really" evangelicals? tony campolo was the same guy that mentored bill (i had sex in the oval office) clinton and URGED us to forgive him.
i find it hard to believe some of these divinity schools aren't somewhat liberal.
Not to worry these are all liberal Democrat leaders.
Tony Campolo moderate? He was one of Clinton's defenders.
And the SBC ex-pres: just because someone is of the Southern Baptists doesn't mean they aren't liberal. Jimmy Carter was a Southern Baptist also.
To view the famous Clinton "Steel Magnolia" moment at Ron Brown's funeral video click here. Campolo was cracking him up...
Faith and the City! Wasn't Sarah Jessica Parker in that show?
I distinctly remember Tony Campolo leading cheers for BC and AG after their win (maybe before?) in 1996, along with Phil Driscoll playing at the same session...in a (black) church.
Tony Campolo is a favorite of mine, as is Driscoll, but I wish Tony would keep his partisan politics to himself.
If those idiots are moderates, then I am from mars.
The Dems and liberals are pulling every rabbit out of the hat now. They are so desperate!!! Notice how the headline makes it sound as if Bush is breaking the laws (as if there ever was one) between church and state.
Don't even get me started on this guy!
Really? i didn't know that he freaked out like that. It bothers me then that he is still speaking to our young people at conventions, worse yet training future leaders a t a Christian schools
liberal Christians.
* See Reverend Jesse Jackass & Reverend Al Sharpshooter...pandering to the black churches for Democrat votes!!! Anytime you hear the term "religious moderates," remember the correct description: "liberal socialists."
This one is pretty irritating!
He's also a shill for acceptance of homosexuals within the church.
Yes, what a bunch of Horse Crap! I President Bush sends Ambassador Hienz over so she can tell them to SHOVE IT!
And if that doesn't work we'll send in Big Gun Cheney to tell them what to do!~}
Yes, but to me that is an Oxymoron!
Tony Campolo has written some good books etc., but he is extremely liberal politically. I cannot understand how one who claims Christianity can embrace the party of abortion, homosexuality, free sex and irresponsibility.
OK, now we know the latest DNC trial balloon is "Evangelicals are deserting Bush." I really don't think this one will have legs, but I could be wrong.
Disgusting Slime Buckets of Liberalism
See WoodstockCat's posting (#23). He's exactly right.
When I was in college, I loved Campolo's passion and keen Christian insight. But through the years he's become more and more pro-Marxist, pro-Marxist/Feminist, and so on. A lover of Liberation Theology. His approach to Scripture has become "proof-texting," rather than deductive.
Campolo's support of Clinton's sexual sins and deception is also telling....
Seriously, after much research of the man, my conclusion is the same as WoodstockCat: "Tony Campolo is no friend of Conservative Christians."
Then, there is this 8th century prophet, Bill Moyers, born out of due season. Bill, without any doubt and as a matter of fact attested to by all sorts of authorities, is the prophetic voice of the Last quarter of the 20th century. So when Bill, my friend, indicates that he thinks the stuff I’m doing is OK, that gives me more than a smattering of confidence.
That's all I would need to know.
I looked at some writings of a few other names. These men do not appear to be "moderate to conservative" as the article states - at least what I saw.
I meant Al Gore, sorry I wasn't thinking.
I could be wrong, but I thing AG was for Al Gore!!! So take a deep breath and relax.
My Deepest apolise. I found ur statment and realize you were refering to Al Gore. Again i am tully sorry
I agree with the letter, regardless of who wrote it. Churches have no business aligning themselves with partisan politicians of any stripe. If you lie down with dogs, you'll get fleas! I am so opposed to politicians in pulpits stumping for votes, that if one ever attempted that in my church, I will be the first to run up the pulpit and demand he step down or be else be yanked down. And if the church authorites side with him, I'll be looking for a new church, as soon as I get out of jail for assault!
<< The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, Eastern University (Pennsylvania) >>
Tony Campolo?
ka-FLUSH!
Dan
Yep, don't really know the others, but when I saw "Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo" that was enough for me.
Blessings, Bobo
I used to feel that way too, but now that activists judges are taking away our religious rights I am afraid we must all get involved, whether individual or collectively.
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