St. Jack and the Bullies in the Pulpit

[MountainLaurel]

Jack Danforth wishes the Republican right would step down from its pulpit. Instead, he sees a constant flow of religion into national politics. And not just any religion, either, but the us-versus-them, my-God-is-bigger-than-your-God, velvet-fist variety of Christian evangelism.

As a mainline Episcopal priest, retired U.S. senator and diplomat, Danforth worships a humbler God and considers the right's certainty a sin. Legislating against gay marriage, for instance? "It's just cussedness." As he sees it, many Republican leaders have lost their bearings and, if they don't change, will lose their grip on power. Not to mention make the United States a meaner place.

Danforth is no squalling liberal. He is a lifelong Republican. And his own political history shows he is no milquetoast.

A man of God and the GOP, he is speaking out for moderation -- in religion, politics, science and government. The lanky figure once dubbed "St. Jack," not always warmly, for the perch he seemed to occupy on Washington's moral high ground, expects people will sour on the assertive brand of Christianity so closely branded Republican.

"I'm counting on nausea," he says.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/01/AR2006020102393.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. There is no doubt in my mind

that "christian conservatives" are the number one domestic enemy of our constitution today. They are not patriotic, because they do not support constitutional liberties. They pick and choose in the bible verses which justify their hate and then try to get their hate codified. Biblical passages which interfere with the secular joys they like are ignored. They march to church like drones to get their instructions on who to hate and who to boycott and to give their tithings to the radical christian cleric in charge of their region; who in turn spreads hate in a tax exempt status. Senator Danforth is right; I have totally soured on today's brand of "christianity." No doubt Jesus Christ has too.