Obama: Some Religious Leaders Have Hijacked Faith
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Sen. Barack Obama told a church convention Saturday that some right-wing evangelical leaders have exploited and politicized religious beliefs in an effort to sow division.
“Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and started being used to drive us apart. It got hijacked,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in remarks prepared for delivery before the national meeting of the United Church of Christ.
“Part of it’s because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, who’ve been all too eager to exploit what divides us,” the Illinois senator said.
“At every opportunity, they’ve told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage, school prayer andintelligent design,” according to an advance copy of his speech.
“There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich,” Obama said. “I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, but it doesn’t jibe with my version.”
Up until this point I haven't been a huge Obama fan, but he certainly got this one right. He said what many "unevangelical" Christians have been thinking and feeling for quite some time.
“Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and started being used to drive us apart. It got hijacked,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in remarks prepared for delivery before the national meeting of the United Church of Christ.
“Part of it’s because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, who’ve been all too eager to exploit what divides us,” the Illinois senator said.
“At every opportunity, they’ve told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage, school prayer andintelligent design,” according to an advance copy of his speech.
“There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich,” Obama said. “I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, but it doesn’t jibe with my version.”
Up until this point I haven't been a huge Obama fan, but he certainly got this one right. He said what many "unevangelical" Christians have been thinking and feeling for quite some time.
posted by Leo at 3:56 PM
4 Comments:
It's about time a Democrat put his or her foot down on this issue. Religion and morals most certainly don't belong to the Evangelical's.
Let's talk, yeah I was happy to see at least one of the democrats stand up to the religious right for a change. It gave me a bit more respect for Obama. Thanks for swinging by and commenting.
If you get a chance, I recommend reading his book, The Audacity of Hope. He talks about religion and much more. I hope he will be elected as our next President or Veep.
Candace, yeah I've been meaning to check his book out. I've heard it's good. Thanks for the comment.
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