Replies to post #29493 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Chris McConnel]

Horray! Bring on the facism. I'll vote green if demos don't fillibuster this.

How long is going to be before it is ILLEGAL to critize Bush on Ihub?

1 year?

2 years?

[harrypothead]

CLERGY LEADERSHIP NETWORK

The "Anti-Falwell": Reason's answer to the ridiculous, repressive, religious right, Bush's core base. How long before the RNC and WH spin machine set out to "demonize" these well intentioned AMERICANS?

Clergy Group to Counter Conservatives
By LYNETTE CLEMETSON

Published: November 17, 2003

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 — 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/17/politics/17CLER.html?ex=1069650000&en=f26c200172a0e870&ei=....

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About the CLN

Why We Need Change


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! Had we ever thought that we could lose our democracy? Religiously, what we see runs counter to the deepest and most compelling values that flow through every religious community in our land: a family of life affirming all people, a world where justice prevails, and a time of peace both within and between nations, so that lives may be lived openly and safe, blessed with health, opportunity and hope.

We choose to stand for a different direction for our country, indeed dramatically different from what is currently being pursued. Further, we believe that growing numbers of clergy and religious leaders - local pastors, rabbis, imams and others, as well as those with broader leadership roles in our religious communities - share our concerns. We believe that many, some perhaps for the first time, are ready to become publicly active on behalf of resisting what is our current national direction and advocating a future that is more clearly shaped by God's will for the well-being of all. We believe that such a different direction is strongly rooted in the early vision that guided, and gave courage for, the launching in this land of a government "of…by…and for the people," which in our time "must not perish from the earth."

Responding to these urgent concerns over our present national direction, we are forming the national Clergy Leadership Network. We follow in the tradition of clergy actions that have preceded us, especially those potent public movements many of us can recall in our own lifetime: the work of G. Bromley Oxnam, Eugene Carson Blake and others who challenged McCarthyism and its hold of fear, the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the hundreds of clergy who joined him in pursuing racial justice -- legislatively assessed by then Senator Russell of Georgia: "The preachers beat us! - and the numerous groups of clergy gathered as Clergy and Laymen Concerned who stood strong against continuing the war in Vietnam.

We invite clergy from throughout the country to join us. We offer an avenue of action focused on the 2004 elections that can impact positively the direction of our nation and the leadership we choose. We are committed to encouraging clergy participation in electoral activity in ways allowed to every citizen and respectful of both the limitations in the law placed on religious communities and the diversity of views embraced within religious constituencies. We seek a new commitment to active participation in the political processes of our nation by those members of religious communities who hold views larger than sectarian interests or narrow ideologies and who serve, beyond private advantage and any claim of spiritual superiority, the moral vision of the common good.

CLN Strategies


1. The Clergy Leadership Network will identify active clergy in states and local communities across the country who are willing to be supportive of new directions in public policy and political leadership. CLN will draw on the leadership tools available to clergy:

a. Influence: As individual citizens as well as respected religious leaders, clergy are free to exercise their influence in political arenas. However, the religious institutions they serve cannot be exploited for partisan political campaigning or fundraising, and institutional (but not personal) endorsements of candidates can neither be stated nor implied from the pulpit or official settings. The normal avenues of citizen participation are fully open to clergy.

b. Information: CLN will provide issue information to clergy for their own understanding of current political choices. Also, as informed clergy they will be better equipped to lead their religious communities in discussing public issues. For instance, clergy will be encouraged to increase the political awareness of the members of their religious communities and to identify political participation itself as a religious mandate. Also, clergy will be encouraged to hold nonpartisan candidate forums in their religious communities or in combination with neighboring religious institutions. Through such programs the positions on issues held by various candidates can be identified.

c. Involvement: Religious communities can register voters. CLN will urge clergy to conduct up to four voter registration events in their religious communities in advance of elections. In churches, for instance, trained congregational volunteers can provide voter registration opportunities on four Sunday mornings. This can result in a new awareness of elections and the responsibility of voting.

d. Issues: CLN will facilitate clergy being involved in advising candidates on issues especially important to religious communities and how those issues can be effectively addressed.


2. CLN will work collaboratively with all those who seek change in our nation's current directions and its leadership. Practically this will involve pursuing collaborative relationships with the Democratic Party, Republicans who seek change and other political groups who share these goals. However, CLN will not function as a branch or program unit of any political party and will accept no party funds at any level. It is a clergy network, not a political body. Strictly preserved independence of choice is necessary for there to be an effective clergy role involving political participation and public leadership. Any collaborative relationship can be withdrawn at any time.

3. CLN will organize clergy groups both in states and in local communities. The process of identifying and recruiting clergy for such groups is already underway. These groups will be identified to, and invited to work collaboratively with, state and local political organizations that are committed to policy and leadership changes. It is especially important that these state and local groups provide counsel to campaign leaders on issues of concern to religious communities.

4. CLN will employ a small Washington staff for operational and communication purposes. It will be accountable to the national CLN committee through its Chair/CEO. Members of the national committee will be of counsel to the staff and assist in its organization, communication and political participation tasks.

5. CLN funding will come from grants, gifts and membership contributions, none of which will be tax deductible. Grant requests have been prepared and are being considered. Potential donors and CLN members are currently being identified. Financial support is currently needed for CLN to move forward on a timely schedule.

The Rev. Dr. Albert M. Pennybacker, Chair

The National Committee

CLERGY LEADERSHIP NETWORK


http://www.clnnlc.org/

DONATE: http://www.clnnlc.org/membership.html