| My dear friend of "Liberals Like Christ"
If you aren't yet familiar with the paperback which Bill Press has recently published, "HOW THE REPUBLICANS STOLE RELIGION", I urge you to buy it a.s.a.p., read it through. and to tell as many people about it as you can. It's an improved version of "HOW THE REPUBLICANS STOLE Christmas", which he published a year ago. I wish all Democrats would adopt it as their political bible, especially if they want to get elected to public office or to help other Democrats to do so.
It is packed full with outstanding insights and documentation to support Liberal Democratic positions. I want to draw your attention in particular to some of his conclusions that relate to my own work as a pioneering Liberal clergyman:
"If Republicans want to talk about morality, then bring it on! But bring it on in its full, biblical dimension, not the tunnel-vision, sex crazed version of morality we usually hear from right-wing Christians. And Democrats will be happy to meet them on the moral battleground. But that burden should not rest on Democratic politicians alone. The burden of redefining and lifting up moral issues must also be undertaken by religious leaders of the left, far too many of whom have gone into hiding." (or don't even know they are in a closet! R.D.)
"It may be true, in the ideal world, that both politics and religion are better served when clergy maintain their prophetic independence - not supporting any candidates and not engaged in any political battles. (Not in my view. R.D.) But that ideal world no longer exists. Conservative religious leaders have jumped into politics with both feet - sometimes with both left feet, and always on the far right side. When no other strong voices of faith are heard, people get the impression that Republicans have a monopoly on religion. Religious leaders of the left must reengage in order to help correct that imbalance. Without going too far by endorsing candidates or getting involved in purely partisan matters, they must let their voices be heard. They must teach the true message of love and compassion found in the Gospels-and repudiate the narrow, greedy, intolerant version of the Gospels taught by the religious right. They must speak truth to power. It's important that liberal or progressive priests, ministers, and rabbis reenter the arena of political debate they once owned. Even if they don't like politics, they have no choice. In her review of Jim Wallis's God's Politics, Amy Sullivan of The Washington Monthly, laid down the challenge to religious leaders of the left. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer good enough, Sullivan argued. ". . . If they want to protect the values they hold dear, and the country they love, they're going to have to start fighting the good fight." Indeed, the political contest today is not between godly conservatives and ungodly liberals. The true battle is between religious conservatives and religious liberals. And that's how Democrats should put forth and fight for their issues: Whose professed values are more in line with the word of Scripture-not to mention the Constitution of the United States? Whose issues better reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ?" p. 261 I have already been doing for 11 years what Press calls Liberal Christian clergy to do more of . Without the kind of moneyed backers that hacks like Jerry Falwell and so many other Conservatives have had, relatively few have noticed.
I urge you to check out our constantly growing and improving web sites and our new forum. Even if you don't expect to have much time to participate in the forum, it would be great if you would take a few seconds to register your name, as that much will impress others and move them to follow your example and get involved. (As of June 10, after I invited over 1000 friends of "Liberals Like Christ" to join, only 50 had accepted my invitation!)
Thank you very much for your support!
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