|
New York Times November 17, 2003
Clergy Group to Counter Conservatives
By LYNETTE CLEMETSON
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 —
Quote--
In an effort to counter the influence of conservative Christian organizations, a coalition of moderate and liberal religious
leaders is starting a political advocacy organization to mobilize voters in opposition to Bush administration policies.
The nonprofit organization, the Clergy Leadership Network, plans to formally announce its formation on Friday and will
operate from an expressly religious, expressly partisan point of view. The group cannot, under Internal Revenue Service guidelines,
endorse political candidates, and it will have no official ties to the Democratic Party.
But the driving purpose of the organization, according to its mission statement, is to bring about "sweeping changes —
changes in our nation's political leadership and changes in failing public policies."
The Rev. Albert M. Pennybacker, of Lexington, Ky., chief executive officer for the organization and the chairman of its
national committee, said: "The Christian Right has been very articulate, but they have been exclusive and very judgmental
of anyone who doesn't agree with them. People may want to label us the Christian Left. But what we really are about is mainstream
issues and truth, and if that makes us left then that shines even more light on the need for a shift in our society." ...
|
 |
|
Clergy Leadership Network
Why We Need Change
The complete article may be found at-- http://www.clnnlc.org/about_change.html
Excerpt--
We have become deeply concerned about the well being of our country.
We see the quality of life domestically being
eroded by economic policies that favor the wealthy over the poor, that fail to address effectively growing unemployment and
underemployment, that jeopardize provisions for the elderly, that ignore healthcare needs, that provide tax benefits for those
who need them least and take away from average-income Americans the opportunities to care and provide on scale for neighbors
in need through effective programs of assistance and support. We are especially dismayed by the posturing we see on much-needed
enhancements for public education, and the manipulative ignoring of the principles and practices of church/state separation.
We see the international role of the United States being dramatically redefined as 'us against the world', accompanied
by dangerously imperialistic overtones. No longer are our embassies beacons of security and hope but tentacles of domination,
fortified against the very people with whom we are meant to engage. War and war making have been embraced and even celebrated
as our nation's vocation, hypocritically justified as necessary for peace. The America embraced by the world on 9/11 has become
today an America suspected, feared and even hated.
Constitutionally we are seeing both civil and human rights being
reduced in the name of domestic security. Patriotism is redefined as suppression and intrusion into personal life. First Amendment
rights, and of special concern to us, the religious establishment and free exercise provisions, are being systematically eroded,
to the detriment of religious communities and for the benefit of political manipulation. Free speech in the public media,
long treasured as a route to public truth, is increasingly experienced as a tool of official policy and government 'spin,'
if not an instrument of intentional public deception.
Other marks of our current condition - for instance, regressive
and exploitive abuses of the environment, our natural setting and our God-given resources - could also be cited. But these
are enough to justify our deep concern for our country. Over all, we are drawn to Bill Moyers' insight that the power of oligarchy
is replacing the processes of democracy, and it simply must not be allowed! ...
CLERGY LEADERSHIP NETWORK
The National Committee
The Rev. Dr. Albert M. Pennybacker, CEO/Chair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
