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F R I D A Y , A U G U S T 0 5 , 2 0 0 5Far Right Using Pulpit For Politicsby Michael in New York on
8/05/2005 01:05:00 PMA scary story in USA Today about how the far right continues toorganize among evangelical Christians and uses the pulpit forpolitics -- especially to organize attacks on the freedoms ofAmericans they don't like. You wouldn't think these fringeradicals could get more organized, but apparently they haveonly begun to network. And the religious voice on the left?Muted and scattered. Some disturbing details:Pastor Russell Johnson paces across the broad stage as hedecries the "secular jihadists" who have "hijacked" America,accuses the public schools of neglecting to teach that Hitlerwas "an avid evolutionist" and links abortion tochildren who murder their parents....The Ohio effort isn't unique. Johnson's project -- which hesays has signed up more than 900 pastors in Ohio duringits first 10 weeks in operation --? has helped spawn theTexas Restoration Project in Bush's home state. Thefledging Pennsylvania Pastors' Network has signed up 81conservative clergy so far. Similar efforts are beginning topercolate elsewhere....John Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron,calls the networks a new chapter in an effort to organizeconservative clergy that began with the Moral Majority aquarter-century ago, then faltered...."We as Christians need to take a stand as to what ourbeliefs are," Linda Stoffer, 50, a bank loan officer, says afterthe service in Canton. Her top concerns are gaymarriage and abortion. "And life issues," adds herhusband, Dave, 54, who works in a cabinet shop. "Like,what was her name? Terri Schiavo.""We sit back and let it happen," Jean Wuske, 77, says. "Weneed to be more vocal --? let God back into places heshould be, like in the schools...."Tax-exempt churches and organizations can't endorsecandidates or be formally tied to a political party. Johnsonnotes that the Ohio Restoration Project aims to do morethan register voters. Each pastor who joins also promises tosign up 100 "Intercessors" to join an e-mail prayer chainand 200 "Minutemen Volunteers" to work in communityprojects."I like to say I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm aChrist-o-crat," declares Pastor Rod Parsley, a supporter ofthe Ohio Restoration Project and head of a similar venturecalled Ohio Reformation.
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© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Far Rig...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/far-right-using-pulpit-for...
5 of 57/24/09 11:24 AM
8/05/2005 01:05:00 PMA scary story in USA Today about how the far right continues toorganize among evangelical Christians and uses the pulpit forpolitics -- especially to organize attacks on the freedoms ofAmericans they don't like. You wouldn't think these fringeradicals could get more organized, but apparently they haveonly begun to network. And the religious voice on the left?Muted and scattered. Some disturbing details:Pastor Russell Johnson paces across the broad stage as hedecries the "secular jihadists" who have "hijacked" America,accuses the public schools of neglecting to teach that Hitlerwas "an avid evolutionist" and links abortion tochildren who murder their parents....The Ohio effort isn't unique. Johnson's project -- which hesays has signed up more than 900 pastors in Ohio duringits first 10 weeks in operation --? has helped spawn theTexas Restoration Project in Bush's home state. Thefledging Pennsylvania Pastors' Network has signed up 81conservative clergy so far. Similar efforts are beginning topercolate elsewhere....John Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron,calls the networks a new chapter in an effort to organizeconservative clergy that began with the Moral Majority aquarter-century ago, then faltered...."We as Christians need to take a stand as to what ourbeliefs are," Linda Stoffer, 50, a bank loan officer, says afterthe service in Canton. Her top concerns are gaymarriage and abortion. "And life issues," adds herhusband, Dave, 54, who works in a cabinet shop. "Like,what was her name? Terri Schiavo.""We sit back and let it happen," Jean Wuske, 77, says. "Weneed to be more vocal --? let God back into places heshould be, like in the schools...."Tax-exempt churches and organizations can't endorsecandidates or be formally tied to a political party. Johnsonnotes that the Ohio Restoration Project aims to do morethan register voters. Each pastor who joins also promises tosign up 100 "Intercessors" to join an e-mail prayer chainand 200 "Minutemen Volunteers" to work in communityprojects."I like to say I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm aChrist-o-crat," declares Pastor Rod Parsley, a supporter ofthe Ohio Restoration Project and head of a similar venturecalled Ohio Reformation.
HuffPost PoliticsMichael Shaw: Reading the Pictures: As If This PutsBirthers To Bedt - click for full size Seeing isbelieving? via RJ Eskow. Stewart escalates....29 minutes ago
FiredoglakeLate Late Night FDL: Holiday Road - LindsayBuckingham - Holiday Road. I'm not headed toWallyworld but I am on the road tonight, headeddown to the San Francisco Bay Area for themeetup this...1 hour ago
Daily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Tonight's RescueRangers are noddem, Elise, jlms qkw, taylormattd,Shayera, and joyful with vcmvo2 editing.* Thediaries up for rescue are: - *Vikin...2 hours ago
Crooks and LiarsOpen Thread - Just a little something re the birtherthing. Open thread below...2 hours ago
EschatonLate Night - Go Electric.2 hours agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show AllEnd Deadlock? Yes With ISVoters select one issue: lawmakers must resolve it or be replacedIssueSelection.org
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Far Rig...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/far-right-using-pulpit-for...
1 of 57/24/09 11:24 AM
A M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 326 videos >I collect with
vodpod
Judge order San Diego toget rid of the seals
Massive brawl in SouthKorean parliament
Mormons may havesecretly baptized
Medieval helpdesk withEnglish subtitles
The Taco Bell dog hasdied
In honor of SenatorDeMintNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Far Rig...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/far-right-using-pulpit-for...
2 of 57/24/09 11:24 AM
Walker ReportSimple Test ToDetermine If Conrad'sCo-ops Are Worthless2 hours agoEzra KleinTab Dump7 hours agoWonk RoomNewt Gingrich’s ‘JobsFirst’ Plan Puts TheWealthy AndCorporations First9 hours agoHealth BeatIf We’re Able to StopObama On This . . . . ItWill Break Him9 hours agoDaily DoseObama Talks HealthCare With Post's HiattG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!Study Catholic HistoryAn InterdisciplinaryDegree in The Paths ofCatholic Culture. Enroll!www.STThomas.edu/History5 Kinds of ChristiansRead this article tounderstand the disparityof Christians in America.www.christianitytoday.comEvangelism That WorksSee how other churchesare Sharing Christ. FreevideoDaveRamsey.com/EvangelismOnline Ministry TrainingPastors/leaders/churchplanters Full ScholarshipsUntil 9/7/09www.christianleadersinstitute.orgFree WSJ.comRegistrationThe Wall Street JournalOnline. Free Registration.Sign Up Now.www.wsjregistration.com
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AMERICAblog
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SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Far Rig...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/far-right-using-pulpit-for...
4 of 57/24/09 11:24 AM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Far Rig...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/far-right-using-pulpit-for...
5 of 57/24/09 11:24 AM