Perry’s Newest Faith Ad: Not Very Christian

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2011
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Perry’s Newest Faith Ad: Not Very Christian
National Religious Leaders Unite and Respond to Gov. Perry’s Newest Iowa Ad, “Strong”

Washington, DC December 8, 2011  – National religious leaders have responded to Gov. Rick Perry’s most recent faith based ad, which is called “Strong.”  The ad, which is commonly referred to as “War on Christmas,” is currently running in Iowa and has sparked a firestorm of criticism in the religious and secular communities.

Rev. Jim Wallis, President and CEO of Sojourners:

Our Founding Fathers would never have finished the Constitution had they required all of their religious beliefs to be identical.

                Diversity of opinion and beliefs is also what makes this country strong.

Across the nation there are Christians who vote Republican, Democrat, Independent and everything in between or on the edges. We should have a vigorous debate about how faith influences public life. But, we need to do that without “attacks” or trying to declare a “war.”

Many of us Christians, and some of us Evangelicals, know the President and his faith commitment. Disagreement around policy is to be expected but attacks on personal faith are patently unacceptable.

Full Comment by Rev. Wallis HERE.

Rev. Richard Cizik, President, New Evangelical Partnership:

As an evangelical Christian leader, I am very disturbed and saddened by this ad. It represents what is the worst about political campaigns -- the cynical manipulation by politicians of religious believers for partisan gain. How distinctly un-Christian! Mr. Perry should be ashamed of himself and promptly remove the ad. Spare us this kind of ugly behavior during such a beautiful Christmas season.

Brian D. McLaren, theologian, speaker, activist:

In Rick Perry's recent ad, he scores a double-play for the wrong team. He brings down our level of civil discourse in misrepresenting President Obama and he discredits Christian faith by wielding faith as a wedge to divide. The kind of faith that made our nation strong is not the kind that Rick Perry represents.

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, President, Skinner Leadership Institute:

The greatest thing about being an American citizen is the religious freedom guaranteed by our constitution.  While I am a Christian, I find it disturbing that a person of any faith should be under attack for what they chose to believe (or not).  The severity of economic problems and other pressing social issues plaguing Americans, especially the poor and vulnerable, deserve serious debate and thoughtful dialogue.  Tragically these issues are being drowned out by the uncalled for religious attacks.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.:

Since Abraham Lincoln never joined a church, and Dwight Eisenhower joined the church after his Inauguration, neither would be qualified under today's Republican agenda. An agenda that tends to eliminate or exile most of the human race. The Republican Party needs to come home to the ideals of democracy

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Sojourners' mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Visit www.sojo.net, and www.GodsPolitics.com.

Jim Wallis is the president and CEO of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States focused on the biblical call to social justice. Wallis is also author of the New York Times bestsellers God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It and The Great Awakening: Seven Ways To Change The World, Reviving Faith & Politics. His latest book is Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street.