300 religious leaders back Occupy Wall St.

[rug]

Published: Oct. 21, 2011 at 4:00 AM

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- About 300 religious congregations and spiritual leaders have signed a statement supporting the values of Occupy Wall Street activists, a New York church said.

The places of worship and clergy people "support the spirit of Occupy Wall Street," the Rev. Donna Schaper of New York's Judson Memorial Church, affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA and the United Church of Christ, told the online TV Odyssey Networks.

"We're not an organization. We're not trying to join Occupy. We're really here to make a moral and spiritual statement in support of a new democratic energy," said Schaper, whose church came up with the idea.

"Our traditions are clear," the statement says. "The impoverishment of the many for the benefit of the few destroys us all. The cries of our people are clear -- the American dream is compromised, the middle is slipping away, and in our politics, fairness is dissipating.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/21/300-religious-leaders-back-Occupy-Wall-St/UPI-53801319184000/

[Ship of Fools]

1. How can Republicans NOT be shivering in their boots??? Go OWS!!!!

[Glassunion]

2. Uh oh... The Repubs are in trouble now.

[Turbineguy]

3. Let me guess...

Joel Osteen, Rick Warren and Pat Robertson are not among them.

[Deep13]

15. I think you might be right. nt

[Thats my opinion]

4. For those who wonder where religion is these days,

why not simply celebrate that there are a significant number of religious people whose liberal values are important, and who stand by others with similar values. It is a good sign. For those who think all religion is right wing nonsense, this item says something very different.

[laconicsax]

5. What about those who see religion as a tool used to further the goals of those who wield it?

:shrug:

[darkstar3]

8. Because your goals are not ours, they just happen to intersect at this time.

It really as simple as that. Well, that, and the fact that just because you got on the bus with the rest of us doesn't mean you get to drive or hang your banner out the side.

[edhopper]

9. If we do not have a significant number of religious people

who agree with liberal values we are screwed. While I will continue to debate all those folks here in the R/T forum about God, The Universe and Everything. I hope that politically most of us here on DU are on the same track. I think as a matter of practicality, the more religious leaders that back OWS the better. And since the main issues are about finance, taxes and the law. I think we have mostly common ground.

[Thats my opinion]

10. Wow!

Thank you.

[LeftishBrit]

16. I agree

[DerekG]

17. Precisely; this is about economics, not a culture war.

Anyone who seeks an end to economic exploitation should be welcomed with open arms.

[skepticscott]

12. Can you point to anyone

ANYWHERE who has said "all religion is right wing nonsense"? Because if not, if that's just another one of your persecution complex straw men, then your post really has no point.

[edhopper]

13. deleted

[Deep13]

14. I'll take any help we can get. nt

[skepticscott]

19. Apparently you can't

Is there some reason why you deliberately make claims that you know are untrue, just to advance your agenda?

[laconicsax]

20. I guess that commandment about lying is only a suggestion. n/t

[cleanhippie]

21. No one wonders, its everywhere! Raping children and covering it up, creating laws to oppress...

Spreading disease through backwards teachings agains condom use and abstinance only sex-ed, building mega churches, and trying to co-opt secular political movements.

Sorry, TMO, but no one is wondering where religion is, it's right there in our face.

[Iggo]

6. Good.

[PETRUS]

7. K&R nt

[LeftishBrit]

11. Good for them!

[Deep13]

18. 300, huh?

THIS IS WALL STREET!!!