'mainstream clergy + people of faith....battle the religious right' in MO

[bobbieinok]

and Kansas

(article also at http://www.talk2action.com, a good site monitoring the religious right)

http://hopeandpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/03/kc-star-misses-story-clergy-organize.html#links

To say that the Kansas City Star missed the story is an understatement. The newspaper reported today on a supposedly modest news conference about what appears to be, oh say, a handful of people who were upset by a teeny governmental thingie. The paper somehow failed to note the most important fact: For the first time in the history of Kansas and Missouri, mainstream clergy and people of faith have come together to battle the religious right.

What they're battling is a resolution to declare Christianity the majority, state religion of Missouri.

I’m not talking a few people here. Fifty-one clergy and lay people from both states signed the statement handed out at the news conference. Among those signing were 32 clergy, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Jewish and Buddhist leaders.

They represent a new organization called Mainstream Voices of Faith. The group already has the support of 700 people who have signed up to be recognized as "voices of faith" in this region, said Boo Tyson, executive director of Mainstream, the group that helped form the new organization.

And that unimportant resolution? While it doesn’t have the force of a bill and can’t become a law, it does declare the majority faith of the great state of Missouri to be Christianity. Despite the fact that declaration is buried between statements about how lawmakers believe in the Constitution and will show “respect” for “those who object,” this is the most chilling resolution I’ve ever read.

more....

[MuseRider]

1. Wow bobbieinok!

Two of my most favorite people in the world! Boo Tyson with the link from Diane Silver. Both top notch people, going to read more, I have not been to Diane's blog for a while. I heard it had heated up a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you.

[evlbstrd]

2. I'm an atheist, so this makes me happy.

Church and state issues are hard to argue when you don't believe in god. I'm glad that there are reasonable Christians out there.

[PassingFair]

5. I'm an atheist too, and I would attend a rally like this...

just to shake people's hands and thank them!
Make no mistake, these are the good guys.

[MuseRider]

7. These are amazing people.

I only know a few of them personally but they are open people and accepting of differences and easy to work with. I have never been preached to or felt like I was in danger of getting "the sermon" from them. If they can't fight this then nobody can, they are very good with framing and working with everyone.

[blondeatlast]

11. What many people of faith fail to realize is that if the state can mandate

a religion, it's only a matter of time until they start mandating how exactly to practice that religion.

I'm a Christian who is absolutely opposed to any blurring of the lines on the issue. Most of us are, but we've failed to organize and thus get ourselves heard.

In the end, we are on the same side--and largely for the same reasons.

[opihimoimoi]

3. In this Day and Age even... I find this appalling and yet..not suprizing

[MuseRider]

4. Kicking this because I think it is important

for people to know this is not going to happen quietly, we are working on it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. And thank goodness for that

[bobbieinok]

8. kick for those who miss 'middle of the night' discussions

[nemo137]

9. One of our campus paper's columnists came out in support of the law

a few days ago. You can read it Here. I decided to write a letter to the editor (Here). I'm glad this isn't going unnoticed, and that other Christians are coming out against this.

edit: updated links. Hopefully, they work. From the March 8 and March 10 opinion section of the Daily Illini.

[bobbieinok]

12. can't locate your 1st link

the 2nd gets me to

The page cannot be displayed

[nemo137]

14. Should work now.

I hope. For some reason, it'll let me link to the print friendly version of the first, but not the regular.

[bobbieinok]

15. thanks for fixing the links....boy, that columnist sure uses a lot of

words to say 'we're the majority; deal with it'

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. The last part of the statement:

Whereas, we as religious leaders and other people of faith recognize and praise a Higher Power that exists above and beyond the institutions of humankind and, therefore, requires neither the protection nor the defense of the Missouri House of Representatives, or any other governmental body;

Now, therefore, let it be resolved, by the signatures that appear on this page, that we, the clergy leaders of Mainstream Voices of Faith, as well as other religious leaders and citizens in the Kansas City Metro area stand with the majority of our congregants, colleagues, families and friends in denouncing the passage of and the spirit behind House Concurrent Resolution 13 of the Missouri House of Representatives; and,

Be it further resolved, that we invite others in our area who are concerned about this kind of encroachment of theocracy onto public life to join us for a rally on Sunday, May 7th, 2006 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at St. Andrew Christian Church, 13890 W 127th St, Olathe, 66062. More details about this event will be distributed at a later date.

[DanCa]

13. A ray of hope

This article makes me so happy. :D Thanks for posting it.

[MuseRider]

16. Kicking back to the front page

for all the bashers out there.

THIS is what we in Kansas and Missouri are doing. It is important work and these people are working overtime to get it done.

It is something that all states these days should be doing because if it has not happened in your state yet it might. Be ready for it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Kick cause these ministers are from MY home town

and I am mighty damn proud of them.

:woohoo: