Christian conservative convention opens: Seek 1 million new activists

[Bluebear]

With a mixed sense of triumph and urgency, some 900 Evangelical Christians from more than 40 states gathered at Fort Lauderdale's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Friday to hear prominent Christian conservatives discuss how to advance their political agenda.

"We used to be a minority and now we've got to learn how to lead," said Gary Cass, the executive director of the Center for Reclaiming America, in urging the crowd to get involved in government by lobbying Congress and starting local political action centers. "It's very ambitious, and we can't do it alone, and that's why you're here."

During one of several grass-roots training sessions Friday at the church's annual Reclaiming America for Christ conference, Cass outlined four new initiatives in his group's fight to ban gay marriage, outlaw abortion and promote religion in schools and public life.

They include:

• Opening a lobbying office in Washington, D.C.

• Launching a ''strategy institute'' to study the tactics of their political opponents.

• Expanding the center's media outreach.

• Recruiting one million grass-roots activists around the country.

'"We've got God-sized problems in our country and only God can solve them," Land said, drawing frequent applause and occasional gasps as he lamented the nation's divorce rate and the advancement of "the homosexual agenda."

Land also drew cheers when he credited Christians with the reelection of President Bush. "It's a pro-life, pro-family, pro-Judeo-Christian win," he said.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10938692.htm

[coloradodem2005]

1. Infiltrate and take 'em down from the inside.

[4morewars]

2. We are so fucked !

lord, what fools these mortals be !

[FreedomAngel82]

13. I agree with you

This is all really scary. :scared: I know I'm in a bad nightmare.

[Erika]

3. The idiots could be Hitler crusaders

Don't they realize the only way they can take back their government is by putting Christ first in their lives?

Christ chose not to deny help for the poor or to bomb the innocents.

[Sgent]

4. LEAVE US OUT OF IT

If I hear Judeo-Christian used in this nonsense one more time I'm going to scream.

Jews are some of the most supportive of separation of church and state -- unlike this idiot. Most of them are also pro-choice.

Leave us out of it, corrupt your own damn religion.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. No wonder I quit going to Mass. These people make me sick.

[lala_rawraw]

6. Do they know

About the hookers yet? Wow, these people need reality TV and reality God in order to make it from 9-5 without once stopping to think.

As for the strategy and media crap... um, I don't think so. Coral Ridge sounds really familiar. Was there a scandal involving them recently? No joke, the name rings a bell for some odd reason or perhaps some factual reason. Anyone?

[jdots]

7. Mass hysteria on the march.

These people are not Christians and they are not right.

[whistle]

8. So what can be done when half of this country is totally insane...

[Bluebear]

9. Whistle, that is indeed the question.

I can't even believe what a spell has come over 51% of folk.

[DARE to HOPE]

10. Nah, not half--no more than 34% at best...

...they just get the publicity so it looks like more. Look at the weekend WSJ poll: 60% want the Dems to stand up to Bush!! Only 34% think he's doing a good job, and of that, the Christian right is maybe half.

There are "over 40 states" and only 900 people? Not as big a deal as it sounds.

BTW--going to Mass is NOT the same as going to a fundie convention. One goes to meet God--who cares what the crazies think. Lessons yesterday were terrific: Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well--discussing just who had the religious truth, and how she had endured so many husbands (five.) She held her own in that discussion with the Rabbi. :-)

[Bluebear]

11. I think it's a pretty big deal

Those 900 people were only delegates. Clearly the fundies have a greater agenda in mind.

P.S. I know Mass is different. I'm not religious but my Catholic friends in New England don't seem to have to wear their religion on their sleeve as other people do. Then again, a lot of fundies say Catholics are not Christian. :crazy:

[atreides1]

12. Traitors

From their own mouths they have stated that they will fight to usurp the US Constitution, by promoting religion is schools and in public life. They believe in open discrimination by not allowing gays the same rights as other Americans and taking away a woman's right to choose.

The only way they can do this is by making the attempt to promote a state sponsored religion, and to amend the Constitution.

I have my own personal thoughts on what to do about these types of groups, but we know for certain that they will not discuss, they will not compromise, their belief is in total power over this country
so that they can create a theocracy.

The time for talking, I think is over, now is the time to start looking at how the Founders dealt with a crown that refused to talk to them.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. If they are going to

change the Constiutition I see this as a slap in the face to our founding fathers. I don't think they wanted any of this at all. And if they really cared about getting rid of abortion they would vote for someone who was financially responsible. I know in Clinton's years abortion was really down and started rising really high (at least by 30%) in his first term.

[Ishoutandscream]

15. The picture of the lady gives me the creeps

Yikes!

[MAlibdem]

16. good picture

how do people so good intentioned do so much damage?

's fucked up.

[bobbieinok]

17. Coral R Presbyterian Church and its minister Dr. James Kennedy

the church (and its minister) is one of THE major pushers of the claim that the US is a christian nation founded on christian principles and that the 'separation of church and state' is nowhere in the constitution and is a liberal, secular humanist lie

see for example

http://www.kennedycommentary.org/default.asp?date=2/21/2005

'wallbuilders' is David Barton's group......also part of this mind-set

[bobbieinok]

18. see also

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/PAGES/grassroots.asp

....

Questions About the First Amendment? - An informational fact sheet on the First Amendment freedom of speech and the myth of "separation of church and state."
Ready to print online version.

more....

[CatholicEdHead]

19. Tax codes

"Opening a lobbying office in Washington, D.C."

Wouldn't this be an easy thing to point out to the IRS to revoke the church's exempt status?

I have seen that pic before and it is erie every time.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.