Faithful Work Both Sides of the Aisle
Sojomail - June 8, 2007
|
 | ||||||
"They have taken language hostage. We wanted numbers but this is bureaubabble. ... It is not real in any language. We are looking for accountable language and numbers. I might be a rock star but I can count." - Bono, denouncing G-8 leaders for a lack of timelines and other substantive details in their recent pledge to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. (Source: Reuters) + Sign up to receive "Verse and Voice" - our daily quote and Bible verse e-mail
Faithful Work Both Sides of the Aisle On Monday night, we saw the three Democratic front-runners for the presidential nomination deal with questions about faith in a comfortable way. They showed that faith is both personal and real for them. When John Edwards spoke of how he and his wife Elizabeth were actually "dysfunctional" for a time after the tragic death of their son, and how only "the Lord" got him through that – nobody on either side of the political aisle could have doubted the authenticity. After what many thought was an inappropriate question about Hillary Clinton’s marriage, the Senator responded with a spiritual depth and maturity that deeply impressed everyone who was watching – even her political enemies. The questions about faith, as they often do, ended up revealing more of the honest humanity of these candidates than we often see, and took them off their stump speeches.
But at the same time, and very significantly, these three Senators showed an easy capacity to connect their personal faith with the great moral and public issues of the day – to poverty in particular, to criminal justice, to immigration, health care, energy, and even to the problems of good and evil, and war and peace. John Edwards said his faith compels him to spend the rest of his life seeking to end poverty, Barack Obama insightfully argued how believing God to be on your side is so dangerous in making foreign policy decisions, and Hillary Clinton, in response to a question from a representative from Catholic Charities, showed a deep understanding of the religious notion of "the common good" and applied it to what good political leadership requires.
Several political pundits and media commentators described the forum as "unprecedented" or "groundbreaking." And I think it might well have been for two big reasons. First, the presidential forum on "faith, values, and poverty" clearly showed that faith is alive and well on both sides of the political aisle, and that God is, indeed, not a Republican or Democrat. It served to help "level the playing field" on faith and politics, where the Republicans have enjoyed a decided advantage for several decades now. Second, it clearly moved the faith and politics debate far beyond the narrow two-issue agenda of abortion and gay marriage, which have for so long been "the religious issues."
This time the religious issues focused in on the fundamental biblical issues at stake in how we treat the poor. And the traditional hot-button issues were even brought in, with a very thoughtful exchange between evangelical pastor Joel Hunter and Hillary Clinton on how we might actually find some needed common ground on the divisive matter of abortion. But this time religion focused on social justice and that was a welcome relief from the discussion over many years now.
All this holds great promise for the future. And I am convinced that the discussion of faith and politics, religion and public life, will be a very different one – and far better one – in the election cycle of 2008 than it has been for a very long time. That broader conversation, with both sides participating fully, will better for the country, for politics, and for the faith community.
This commentary also appeared as part of the Washington Post/Newsweek On Faith online discussion. + Read and respond to comments on this article on the God's Politics blog The candidates forum is being rebroadcast by CNN on Friday (6/8), Saturday (6/9), and Sunday (6/10) at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. (Check listings in other time zones.) Transcript: Presidential Forum on Faith, Values, and Poverty Pledge to Vote Out Poverty Martin Luther King Jr. famously warned that "a nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." Yet despite King's caution, we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a disastrous war in Iraq while 37 million Americans are living in poverty and 3 billion people worldwide live on less than $2 a day. This election season, we can answer Jesus' call to care for the "least of these" by demanding that candidates go on the record with real plans for addressing poverty in the U.S. and around the world. + Click here to send a message to the presidential candidates: “In 2008, I’m voting out poverty.” + See what's new on the blog of Jim Wallis and friends Ryan Rodrick Beiler: Colbert Can't Believe It
Video: Vote Out Poverty March and Rally Sue Badeau: Personal and Corporate Responsibility Diana Butler Bass: The Rebirth of Irony Ryan Rodrick Beiler: Faith Blog Round-up on Candidates Forum Video: Pentecost 2007 Justice Revival! Erika Fox: Why I'm at Pentecost Brian McLaren: Correcting Media Myopia Jim Wallis: Billy Graham's Integrity and Humility Becky Garrison: Pete Seeger and the U2charist
+ Sign up to receive our "Daily Digest" e-mail - the latest headlines on critical issues Top Stories: Edwards, Clinton and Obama Describe Journeys of Faith Clinton, Edwards and Obama Discuss Their Faith at Forum Top Democrats Discuss Faith Democratic Candidates Talk Faith 2008: Democrats on Their Faith What's Faith Got to Do With It? Will Poverty Make a Political Comeback? "Sojourners in the news" articles are the most recent news clippings that mention Sojourners in any way - whether favorably or unfavorably. Though we provide the text on our site for your convenience, we do not necessarily endorse the views of these articles or their source publications. |
 |
ADVERTISERS    
Join this huge rally to send a clear message: End the Occupation!
Grassroots Lobbying Day June 11 The Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peaceand Friends of Sabeel--North America invite you to join the US Campaign, United for Peace and Justice, and nearly 200 other organizations to call for a just peace now for Israel/Palestine. See http://www.endtheoccupation.org/.    Next Steps? A year as a Sojourners intern includes room, board, health insurance, city transportation, and a monthly stipend. Sojourners interns commit themselves to one year of service working, living, and growing together. Consider joining us for the 2008-09 year. |
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Get a free issue of Sojourners
| GIVE TO SOJOURNERS: Donate now to support this voice for justice and peace.
GET THE MAGAZINE: Subscribe today CONTACT US: General inquiries: sojourners@sojo.net | Advertising: advertising@sojo.net | About Us PRIVACY NOTICE: Sojourners won't trade, sell, or give away your e-mail address. Read our privacy policy. |