Religious Liberty Under Siege, Interfaith Leaders Warn

[CornField]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=41662

Today, The Interfaith Alliance hosted a press conference at the National Press Club where leaders from five major national organizations warned that religious liberty is under siege and called on the nation to block efforts in the 109th Congress that would tear down the constitutional wall of separation between religion and government.

The Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance, ( http://www.interfaithalliance.org ) moderated the event and introduced the speakers: Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism ( http://www.rac.org ); Sarah Eltantawi, co-founder and communications director, Progressive Muslim Union of North America ( http://www.pmuna.org ); Rev. Romal Tune, senior organizer for African American Programs, People for the American Way ( http://www.pfaw.org ); and J. Brent Walker, executive director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty ( http://www.bjcpa.org ).

"The 109th Congress and the courts to which members of the Senate will send new judges are critical venues in which we will see whether or not the historically heralded value of religious liberty will be preserved and strengthened or ignored, compromised, eroded or abolished," Gaddy said.

Saperstein warned that the Jones Bill, "the so-called 'Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act'....would amend the tax code to permit houses of worship to engage in partisan electoral activity while maintaining their tax-exempt status...transforming sanctuaries into political campaign headquarters and blurring the line between church and state. Congregations would be plunged into divisive political battles, pitting congregant against congregant and congregant against clergy."

(much more)

[CornField]

1. Audio file & Text of press conference: Link

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=291636

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Under siege? How do they compute that? They're under siege the

way marauding Vikings were under siege. The way Genghis Khan was under siege. The way ....

[LoZoccolo]

3. I don't think you really read this. n/t

[Democrats_win]

7. Yes, this person wants to maintain wall of separation.

Very interesting that there is a bill that would allow them to make political speeches in their church and still not pay taxes.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. I did read it. If I'm guilty of anything it's in attributing the"Under

Siege" caption to the wrong party.

The claim of being "under siege" would be consistant with the way Hannity and all the other right-wing nuts have been arguing for years. By taking down the separation of church and state, the churches would be able to retain their own tax exempt status AND become P.A.C.s They've been able to get this far because they've convinced their parrishes that the liberals were out to get them -- under siege, per se.

So, mea culpa if I misattributed who said they were undersiege, but my comments were written in accordance with the above paragraph.

[tx_dem41]

6. Lol....you really need to actually READ the article...

before letting that knee start a-jerkin'!

[mutus_frutex]

10. Man, you are confused...

These represent good people that have been brainwashed into believing in god. They are afraid of the same people you probably are (otherwise you wouldn't be here): people that have also been brainwashed into believing in god, but which few would consider good.

[Selwynn]

16. READING IS YOUR FRIEND

The Interfaith Alliance is an excellent organization which amoung other things, staunchly defends the separation of church and state. Their argument, which I agree with, includes the point that this separation PROTECTS the private free exercise of religon as much as it protects the state from the unsolicity forcing of religion onto the public.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. Already posted my explanation elsewhere.

I'll just stand quietly here and take my 40 lashes.

[Wisc Badger]

4. When I see "People For The American Way"

involved I get nevous. Don't like that group to much.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. They are some of the harshest Bush/Neo-Con critics around.

[tx_dem41]

8. Not sure what your problem with it is....

its very liberal...I think Norman Lear started it.

Check out the website...its a DUers dream.

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/

[silvermachine]

9. Why is that?

This involves keeping the separation of church and state intact and their concern about this administration demolishing it.

[Maat]

12. Why not?

I'm a proud member of People for the American Way. And the Interfaith Alliance is a progressive group that is trying to make sure that the Religious Right extremists do not own religion. PFAW (www.pfaw.org) has an excellent database chock full of info. about RR organizations and the structure of the Republican Noise Machine.

[Hobarticus]

13. The enemy of my enemy is my friend....

Maybe they're not everyone's cup of tea for whatever reason, but anyone who stands up to these clowns is alright with me.

[Selwynn]

17. How do you get away posting this without any kind of support?

This is a discussion forum - in order to have a discussion, you have to actually give some kind of explaination and justification for a statement like that.... ?

[Bridget Burke]

23. What, exactly, are your objections to PFAW?

Why do you hate the American way?

[SemperEadem]

26. Why? Because you want the line blurred between

separation of church and state? Pat Robertson and those of his ilk are constantly howling and crying about PAW ripping back the cover of deceit on him and his attempts at politicizing pulpits in this country while maintaining their tax-exempt status.

[Wisc Badger]

27. No Please Read my other post

I try to address my feelings about the People for the American Way.

[Redstone]

14. Tells you something about the fundamentalists

that even the other Christian denominations feel they have to protect themselves from them.

I can see why these moderate Christians are nervous. The Bible-thumping Holy Rollers are giving them all a bad name.

But will the fundamentalists ever give a shit? I doubt it. They're probably already branding this group of moderates as Satan's Spawn or something.

Redstone

[renaissanceguy]

25. The fundies have opened a pandora's box

Soon, Christians will fight other Christians...the churches will have to battle out the social issues. Meanwhile, atheists and agnostics can watch on the sidelines and laugh at how ridiculous this all is.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14746026

[Megahurtz]

15. OMG!!!

the fundie churches with tax-exempt status getting involved in politics? Watch out! Here comes more corruption now!

Sounds like they have a prime setup for money-laundering.

[callous taoboy]

18. Rev. Gaddy is a great man.

I wrote him a thank you note back during the "Catholics need not apply" bullshit the Mepublicans were pulling during the confirmation hearings.
He was most eloquent during a C-Span event hosted by Sen. Leahy about the issue of blurring of church and state. He wrote a nice thank you note back. I've seen him interviewed at least once since then and I am always struck by how with it this religious leader is. The Interfaith Alliance deserves all of our support.

[Wisc Badger]

19. OK I plead Ignorance - When I think of

the "People For The American Way" I automatically think of an anti religious organization.

I go to General Baptist Convention church and I have found much solace and peace with my faith over the years, for me personally I have felt God's hand in helping me in times of severe trial.

I have seen my church help others in need, such as a wife who need protection from a battering husband, or several others who found (at least at the time) that life was no longer bearable and were considering doing something permanent about it (such as me).

Yes they preach that Jesus is the answer to mans sins, but not in such a obscene way as more strident Church's do.

I have seen my church help feed, cloth, and move the needy when necessary.

The rhetoric I associate with People for the American Way, makes me feel like I am some sort of a fascist unforgiving organization and I have seen my church in action and it simply not that way.

My pastors did no political preaching in any form during the recent election cycle. They feel they are here to serve GOD and to leave political leanings to individuals in front of the Lord. The Deacons of the church are the same way.

Oh well I guess I got off topic.

Bear with me, I am a recovering Republican (I would be a poster child for Thomas Franks book).

Thank You all.
:hi:

[tx_dem41]

20. I see them more as protectors of the separation of church and state..

not anti-religious. You might not see the distinction (and around these parts I can sometimes understand why), but I think for religion to survive, the separation must be maintained.

[sandnsea]

22. Exercising your first amendment right

To worship in your church. Keep it there. You start mixing politics with the pulpit, watch every church in this country disintegrate. That's the point. That was the beauty of keeping government out of religion in the first place. Churches would flourish better if they were separate. And they did. You bring the values learned from religion into government, not religious doctrine.

[Bridget Burke]

24. Please try to learn more about PFAW.

There's a link in the snip at the top of the thread.

There are quite a few religious people involved in this movement to preserve the separation of Church & State.

[Malva Zebrina]

28. Rev. Gaddy was the leader of the Southern Baptist Convention

before the literalist extremists took it over by stealthy means. Chuck Colson played a part in the initial takeover.

I am glad and grateful that we have them--the ACLU, PFAW, AU and some freethought organisations who are all beacons defending the consitution, especially the separation of church and state.

[steve2470]

29. give me a f****n break nt