Christians take up the cudgels
2005-06-22 21:36
Washington - Christians, dismayed by the political power of America's "religious right" on issues like gay marriage and abortion, launched a new grassroots movement on Wednesday to reclaim their faith.
Patrick Mrotek, founder of the Christian Alliance for Progress, said: "We are here because we can no longer stand by and watch people speak hatred, division, war and greed in the name of our faith."
The movement, which aimed to work as a catalyst for progressive Christians in United States churches, wanted to balance the influence of conservative religious leaders on hot-button social issues like abortion and stem-cell research.
Right to marginalise gays, lesbians
Mrotek said: "We are here because Christianity is being used by some leaders on the religious right to marginalise gay and lesbian people, to criminalise desperate pregnant women."
"We are here because the language spoken by the religious right is Christian - this requires a uniquely Christian response."
The religious "left" movement was galvanised by polls which suggested that "values voters" might have swung last year's presidential election to George W Bush over his challenger John Kerry.
Leaders were also alarmed by polls, which suggested that a majority of people who regularly worshipped in the churches of America tended to vote Republican.
Gay marriage issue
President George W Bush was accused by opponents of pandering to the religious right on issues like gay marriage and stem-cell research to appease the conservative voters who formed a key part of his political base.
The Rev Timothy Simpson, director of religious affairs, said: "The religious right has been extremely successful in taking control of the language of our faith and using it to promote an extreme and divisive political agenda.
"We think that most Americans, especially people of faith, are ready to hear from Christians who are tolerant, and who understand the many ways that our faiths have an impact on our views of public life."
A poll last November by the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press found that 63% of people who attended services more than once a week voted Republican, while 37% of regular attendees voted Democrat.
- SAPA