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Starting tomorrow, in-district prayer rallies and events reaching 100 Members of Congress will take place across the nation. These events are a critical component of the faith-based health care reform movement. Members of Congress are under intense pressure from anti-reform special interests who are funding and organizing hostile mobs in an effort to bluff and intimidate them into opposing reform. Members need to know that their constituents consider quality, affordable health care for all a moral issue and an urgent political priority, and these events drive the point home. Complementing these efforts, there will be a nationwide Sermon Weekend later this month, in which clergy of diverse faiths will carry the faith-inspired message for healthcare reform to thousands of congregations.

Grassroots pastors call on swing Senators to pass healthcare reform

June 30, 2009, 3:01PM

Starting Tuesday, a coalition of local religious leaders across the country and national faith groups including Faith in Public Life, PICO, Faithful America, Sojourners and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good is running Christian radio ads in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska and North Carolina calling on specific Senators to support reform that extends quality, affordable health care choices to all Americans. Timed to coincide with the Independence Day Recess, the ads ground the call for reform in Scripture (Isaiah) and call for action in a spirit of love and courage. (Ad scripts and audio are available here.)

The ads are a key part of a greater pro-reform effort that includes meetings with legislators, such as a public meeting 400 Denver-area faith leaders are having with Sen. Bennett this week; distribution of congregational resources, such as a pastor's guide for talking about health care that will reach over 4,000 congregations; and a sign-on letter endorsed by over 600 clergy who have agreed to engage their congregations in the health care reform debate. Simply put, pro-reform religious folks are outworking out-organizing the religious right on health care

For me, the most inspiring part of this effort has been working with pastors in places like Nebraska, where premiums have increased 3 times as fast as income in recent years and Colorado, where the recession has hit hard and premiums went up nearly 5 times as fast as income from 2000-2007. These leaders see firsthand in their congregations and their service to their communities that our broken system has severe human consequences, up to and including premature death. They articulate the moral dimension of health care reform uniquely and powerfully. It's humbling to listen to their witness, rooted in faith, service, courage and love. I hope the senators who hold health care reform in their hands will be similarly moved.

Common ground gets some (virtual) real estate

June 16, 2009, 5:09PM

RHRealitycheck.org -- the must-read web site for news, analysis and commentary on reproductive health issues -- has launched a first-of-its-kind online forum called 'On Common Ground', featuring contributors from across the spectrum who provide original, insightful common ground perspectives.

[Quick background for the unfamiliar -- common ground on abortion brings together pro-choice and pro-life leaders around the shared goal of reducing the need for abortion (or some would say the number) by preventing unintended pregnancy, providing improved economic support and health care for pregnant women and families, and improving the adoption process for both pregnant women and adoptive families. It doesn't entail restrictions or any coercive measures.]

Cristina Page -- an outspoken advocate for common ground on abortion, and author of How The Pro-Choice Movement Saved America -- will serve as moderator of the site, and the stable of contributors will bring expertise on a variety of topics related to common ground -- from pregnancy prevention to coalition-building to policy analysis. Not to be self-promotional, but the site is currently featuring a piece by Faith in Public Life Program and Communications Director Katie Paris, as well as other contributors. Some excerpts --

Katie:

Pro-choice faith leaders have said to me that they are excited about this approach -- that it captures how they feel and how they think most people in their congregations feel. They think women should be able to make their own decisions about their bodies, but absolutely wish there were fewer abortions.
Meanwhile, younger pro-life leaders tell me they are all for working with the President to find common ground ways to prevent unintended pregnancies, support women, and reduce abortions. They feel that older leaders are out of touch -- they are more interested in the fight than in results.

Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota:

It's time to stop using the divisive language of the past and start acknowledging and respecting the internal conflict felt by many voters on this issue.
Acknowledging moral conflict is not something to fear. Finding common ground is not ceding ground. It's higher ground. It's showing respect for women's ability to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University:

...It will not be enough to offer a series of technical solutions or policy "best practices" to the problem of reducing the number of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies each year in this country. These proposals-like improving access to effective contraception, or streamlining adoption procedures, or strengthening access to health care services for poor, pregnant women-are essential. But there is something going on at a deeper values level and it must be addressed at that level. The question is whether a pluralistic, diverse nation can find common language and common vision at that deeper level.

Others posting today include Cristina, RHReality Check founder Scott Swenson, Third Way Culture Program Director Rachel Laser, Feminists for Life in America's Serrin Foster, Beliefnet editor Steve Waldman, and Sarah Brown, CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

With so much energy around finding common ground on abortion, it's great to see a permanent home for these conversations online.

Panicked Religious right attacks health care reform

May 29, 2009, 1:20PM

The health care campaign launched last week by local pastors from across the country along with Faith in Public Life, Faithful America, PICO, Sojourners, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Gamaliel brought together grassroots and national religious groups to call on Members of Congress to make quality health care truly affordable for every American family. The nonpartisan effort, which includes radio ads and events in congregations, has drawn attention to the moral urgency of our nation's health care crisis and the faith community's commitment to reform that makes care affordable for all families.

Unfortunately, in their Washington Update yesterday, the Family Research Council mischaracterized and distorted this effort to baselessly claim that it is advancing "an anti-faith, anti-family anti-freedom agenda." (Scroll down to bottom of FRC's page.)

FRC asserts that the effort is a "ploy" "in concert with the Obama administration to garner support for government-controlled health care." In fact, the radio ads as well as the leaders and organizations involved in the campaign lifted up values and broad principles for health care reform, all focused on making quality health care choices affordable for all families. Moreover, the ads have run in states and districts represented by both Democrats and Republicans. Leaders in both parties need to hear the faith community's concerns and work toward reform that addresses them.

FRC also claims that the effort is part of a "new strategy to use the veneer of religion to cover a socialist agenda that will federalize another 17% of our nation's economy." Not only does the campaign urge leaders of both parties to pass reform that simply puts quality health care within reach for all families, but the clergy participating in the campaign hail from progressive, moderate and conservative congregations alike. Their commitment to health care reform is rooted in firsthand experience with the unmet needs of families in their own congregations and communities, as well their faith commitment to caring for the well being of all people.

We have confidence that these faith leaders and the families they serve will be heard by the decision-makers who hold the power to reform our system, and that misleading claims and speculation will fall on deaf ears. But charges that quality, affordable health care for all Americans is "an anti-faith, anti-family anti-freedom agenda" require correction. As FRC ironically stated in their attack, "we must be careful to separate the rhetoric from reality."

Emerging Religious Right Meme -- Sotomayor the Racist

May 27, 2009, 5:30PM

A growing number of prominent religious conservatives are mounting an effort to portray Sonia Sotomayor as a racist or "reverse racist" by taking out of context a quote from a lecture -- titled "A Latina Judge's Voice" -- she gave in 2002 at a conference at the University of California School of Law. Speaking about the ways in which life experience, gender and ethnicity affect judicial reasoning, particularly regarding areas of the law pertaining to discrimination, Sotomayor said

First, as Professor Martha Minnow has noted, there can never be a universal definition of wise. Second, I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.

Some responses from the Right...

Concerned Women for America's Wendy Wright: "Revealing her immodest bias, she stated that a 'Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.'"

Southern Baptist Convention's Richard Land: "We are going to make our constituency aware of her record," he said, "and certainly her statement that someone from her background can render a better opinion than a white male."

Family Research Council's Tony Perkins: "Needless to say, that statement is troubling - if not offensive - on many levels."

Newt Gingrich (on Twitter, via TPM): "Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman' new racism is no better than old racism"

Rod Dreher: "I want someone to explain to me how Sotomayor's statement does not mean that white males, by the facts of their gender and ethnicity, make inferior judges. It seems pretty obvious to me that she believes that."

Rod, however, later read the full speech and followed up with a post titled "I was wrong about Sotomayor speech," in which he says

"Taken in context, the speech was about how the context in which we were raised affects how judges see the world, and that it's unrealistic to pretend otherwise. Yet -- and this is a key point -- she admits that as a jurist, one is obligated to strive for neutrality. It seems to me that Judge Sotomayor in this speech dwelled on the inescapability of social context in shaping the character of a jurist. That doesn't seem to me to be a controversial point..."

Given the contrast between the controversial, out-of-context soundbyte and thoughtful nuance of the speech itself, the trumped-up racism charge will surely remain a salient attack despite the fact that it's nothing more than opportunistic hype. Greg Sargent and Steven Benen have more.

Religious Right Backs the Tea Parties

April 15, 2009, 4:48PM

As generational changes threaten to permanently diminish the religious right's hold on political power, they're reinvigorating their alliance with economic conservatives by backing today's "grassroots" Tea Parties against government spending. Yesterday Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council joined up with longstanding Tea Party backers such as Concerned Women for America and the American Family Association to promote these lobbyist-organized demonstrations.

Here's what they don't get -- teaming up with Fox News, corporate lobbyists, and conservative ideologues to gin up outrage about government spending and progressive taxation does not resonate with the generation they need to win over in order to give their movement a new lease on life. Their effort shows the extent to which the religious right's leadership remains entrenched in the conservative political establishment, which is steadily losing influence and popularity. For example, Tony Perkins signed a joint statement of support for the parties with Edwin Meese, Grover Norquist and Brent Bozell today, which contains no faith-based arguments but does conflate tax increases on the wealthiest Americans with across-the-board hikes that aren't happening, while invoking buzzwords such as "death tax," "big government" and "free-spending liberals." The religious right's support for the Tea Parties is a partisan exercise, not a religious one.

Religious voices weigh in on conscience clause

April 9, 2009, 1:54PM

Originally posted at Bold Faith Type.

Today marks the end of the 30-day comment period on President Obama's proposal to rescind the "conscience clause" implemented in the final days of the Bush presidency. There's been a lot of misinformation about what Obama's proposal means, particularly when it comes to conscience protections for abortion. Some groups have falsely alleged that rescinding the "conscience clause" will force doctors to perform abortions against their will. In fact, current underlying laws protect such providers, and these conscience protections will remain in place. Rescinding the "conscience clause," which was implemented by the outgoing Bush administration on January 20, 2009, simply returns conscience protections to the way they were less than three months ago -- the same way they were under President Bush for eight years and prior.

While some religious groups do oppose the rescission, many support it because of their concern that it is overly broad and vague and could be harmful to health care and counter-productive to efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies and, in turn, the number of abortions:

Beyond AIG -- working for a moral budget

March 23, 2009, 2:13PM

The actions of AIG executives--with their reckless credit default swaps--contributed to the economic collapse we're experiencing today. The fact that $165 million of federal bailout funds were funneled to these same AIG execs symbolizes the core corruption behind it.

The popular response so far has centered on punishing offending investment banks, but we need a more holistic approach as well. Regardless of what happens with those AIG bonuses, the bottom line is that Americans are suffering. People are losing jobs and health care, unable to provide for their families and to ensure their immediate needs are met. Non-profit organizations across the country, like food banks and free health clinics, are stepping up to help, but they are buckling under the pressure of this recession. With donations sagging and investment values plummeting, these organizations are facing debilitating budget cuts. We need to help. These programs are lifelines for thousands of struggling families, and Faithful America is advocating for a budget that supports them.

The new federal budget submitted by the president is a step toward fairness. By increasing funds to food assistance, health care, and providing tax cuts for low and middle-income families, it renews our commitment to the common good. This budget says we're not going to bail out investment banks while leaving food banks and other service providers behind.

To this end, Faithful America is starting a campaign to build support for a federal budget that addresses the needs of on-the-ground service providers and the people they assist. Click here to learn more and lend your support.

Members of Congress will be under intense pressure to cut these vital funds. We need to remind them that difficult times are when these programs are needed the most.

The AIG bonuses are shocking, not just due to their size, but what they represent: the rejection of the idea of shared sacrifice and the common good. We might not be able to get those executives to reconsider their priorities, but we can demonstrate our values and commitment to the well-being of all -- not just a wealthy few.

UPDATE: Recipients of 15 of the 20 largest bonuses have returned them, including 9 of the top ten. Good start.

UPDATE II: The Coalition on Human Needs has more information on how the budget can improve opportunity and address needs for millions of Americans. Read the statement of support they sent every member of Congress here.

On the administration's meeting with the religious right

March 18, 2009, 3:46PM

Last night Rachel Maddow weighed in with bemusement and a bit of dismay that White House faith-based office staff are meeting with reps of the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and other religious right organizations.

Rachel's skepticism is understandable (those groups have some pretty extreme views and have been openly hostile toward the administration), but having White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Director Joshua Dubois meet with them is consistent with Obama's record and rhetoric as a candidate and as president. In early primary debates he said he'd be willing to meet with leaders of hostile governments, including Iran; as president-elect he expressed his desire to be president of all Americans, not just those who voted for him; and right when he got to Washington he met with a group of conservative columnists who don't always engage him in good faith. Obama made clear that this would be his approach in his victory speech:

There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

Steve Benen, who Rachel quoted on-air, adds:

To put this in perspective, imagine George W. Bush aides agreeing to meet with representatives of the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and People for the American Way, to discuss culture war issues. If that sounds like a ridiculous scenario, then you can appreciate why this meeting between Obama's faith-based guy and leading activists from the religious right is unusual.

I'm not necessarily troubled by their chat, anymore than I was concerned about the president stopping by George Will's house for a dinner with Krauthammer, Brooks, Kudlow, Barone, and Kristol. If Obama and his administration are interested in honest discussions with conservatives, and they want to engage detractors in a good-faith dialog, fine. I'm skeptical it will amount to much, but I certainly respect the administration's mature approach to spirited discourse.

We concur. Meeting with political adversaries doesn't require compromising principles, and argument hones ideas. Part of being big is dealing with people who are small.

Getting to the truth about torture

March 17, 2009, 4:19PM

A recently leaked secret Red Cross report has joined the growing body of evidence calling our treatment of detainees what it is -- torture. When we saw it, we knew we had to do something. Faithful America, FPL's online activist community, was founded in a campaign expressing regret for the prisoner abuse at Abu Graib prison. Since then, we have continued to fight for human rights and against torture. FPL has also worked closely with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture for several years. You could say the issue is dear to us.

We can't just keep relying on leaked reports and the efforts of journalists. As much as we've learned, we're still just peeking under the rug. That's why Faithful America and the National Religous Campaign Against Torture are stepping up to call for a Commission of Inquiry into U.S. interrogation since 9/11. Please join our effort calling for an official Commission.

The Commission of Inquiry is just one part of a process to uncover the truth and restore justice to our national security policies. The Commission will have subpoena power, and will not block any possible prosecution of perpetrators.

We have to act now before too much time and too many crises wipe these despicable acts from our memory. Please sign our petition and amplify our call. The slow trickle of damning revelations is festering. We need to shine a light now.

Originally posted at Bold Faith Type.

Missing the story on embryonic stem cells

March 9, 2009, 3:48PM

It was no surprise that the Obama administration's reversal of the Bush White House's ban on funding of embryonic stem cell research set off some faith-based controversy, but subsequent misinformation has been disappointing. I've seen two sins: one of omission, and one of commission.

Blame for the former lies with the press. Early news coverage painted a misleading picture of the faith community's position on the issue, casting religious opposition to ESC research as the viewpoint of the faith community by excluding the viewpoints of the numerous denominations that support it. Offenders include the Washington Post, Politico, Newsday and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Blame for the latter lies with Family Research Council President (and only religious source in the Washington Post story) Tony Perkins, who falsely claimed in a press release today that lifting the Bush ban will lead to human cloning. The president spoke unequivocally to the contrary today.

Luckily not all journalists are taking the bait. Boston Globe reporter Michael Paulson's coverage is comprehensive (and he cites Faith in Public Life's Kristin Williams), and US News & World Report's Dan Gilgoff posted on faith leaders who stood with the President today when he lifted the ban.

[Note: This post draws on two blog entries from Faith in Public Life's blog, Bold Faith Type.]

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