Salon.com has a new interview just published on their site with The Rev. Albert Pennybacker. Pennybacker is the driving force in the new Clergy Leadership Network. We've talked several times recently on the phone and via e-mail and I've agreed to help organize seminary students to become involved with the mission of the CLN. Pennybacker responded this way when asked if his efforts might blur the line between church and state:
I think the religious heritage has always affirmed a prophetic role for religious leaders and so I make no apologies about that. It's calling people to action, and it's calling around basic religious values. As long as we've got free speech, free press and free religious institutions, then we're going to make it. And one of the problems under this administration, in the Justice Department, for instance, is that it is infringing on those freedoms, infringing on human rights. There's a big decision here for America (in the next election).
I encourage my friends and readers of this blog to become members of the CLN. The work this group is doing is very important and the religious progressive community needs to step up and help.
