September 26, 2006
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Republicans and the Religious Right
Today on NPR I heard a program that featured Republican Senator John Danforth talking about his new book. Here’s the link: click here. Essentially, Danforth believes the religious right–the Christianists, according to some–have stolen the Republican party away from moderate Republicans like him. Danforth severely regrets that.
Several callers into the show said they thought the Republicans, under Karl Rove and George Bush, have tricked right-wing Christians into supporting the Republicans. I find myself in this camp.
Bush claims to be pro-life. Where’s the proposed anti-abortion Constitutional amendment? It doesn’t exist. Where’s the anti-capital punishment amendment? It doesn’t exist, either. George’s brother, who happens to be a Catholic, in case that’s ever relevant in the pro-life debate, executed a guy last Friday in Florida. That was a very anti-life move. And there was the Terri Shaivo debacle that implicated both Bush brothers.
Regarding Terri Shaivo, I don’t think George Bush had any comprehension whatsoever of the issues involved in that case. How could he, given his nucular brain? JEB, though, is smart. But how can a little brother go against a big brother, when the little brother was only a governor and the big brother was the president? It couldn’t be done.
From my reading of the Christian Right, I think they have totally misinterpreted what Christianity is all about. Christianity is all about justice. Justice first for the widows and orphans, however we define those today, but Justice is always the primary Christian virtue. It is always justice before charity.
ED
Comments (5)
I always thought that the defining christian virtue was supposed to be humility.
You nailed this one Ed. Here’s a good post on the issue: Who Would Jesus Torture?
And in my own blog posts, I pull scriptural references proving no religious person can possibly support GOP policy on the poor and disabled.
Religion exists to SAVE THE WORLD
and
the divide in this country isn’t left vs. right, the divide is inhumane vs. humane.
Nick
It is important for us to stand up for life, and affirm severely disabled life matters and is worth living, period.
But on Schiavo, recent events have proven to me that the Schiavo family doesn’t give a damn about disability rights, and instead of working on our issues, is a one issue group about abortions, and is using the Schiavo Foundation to funnel money to anti-abortion extremists. It’s very disappointing to say the least.
Nick
My newest blog hits the torture issues head on. Check it out.
Aren’t you pro-choice, Ed?