Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

Tuesday Is D-Day For Poor Oregonians

If recent history is any indicator than the special election this coming Tuesday in Oregon will end with the defeat of Measure 30. Health care programs will be cut, schools will loose programs, policing programs will suffer, and the first bi-partisan effort to raise taxes in recent memory will have failed.

There will be plenty of blame to go around. Oregon’s version of right-wing nut Dick Armey, Lars Larson, has teamed up with, well, Dick Armey, to campaign against the measure. They’ll get a lot of blame (or praise) for the defeat. Their message (aka out right lie) that Oregonians are over taxed resounds in certain quarters. Out of 50 states Oregon’s tax burden ranks 39. Oregonians have it pretty well, but Larson and Armey hope you’ll ignore those pesky facts.

No one is joking when they say people might die if Measure 30 is defeated. Hopefully, no one in Oregon has yet forgotten the case of Douglas Schmidt, a 36-year-old epileptic who lost his prescription drug benefit after budget cutbacks last year. Without the medicine he went into a long-term coma and finally died. He wasn’t the first to die because of a lack of resources and he won’t be the last.

No one is going to argue that the state and local government bodies have done everything right . We shouldn't be developing waterfront properties for developers with tax dollars while streets in east Portland go unpaved. Corporate taxes should be increased so that they pay a fair share and that the tax burden on individuals could go down.

Jack Bogdanski is a professor at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland. He’s voting no because he wants to teach the politicians a lesson:

Our property taxes have gone up by 8.89 percent in the past year.

We live in Multnomah County. Our state and local income taxes have already gone up by 13.89 percent during the same period.

If state and local governments can't make things work with that much new revenue from our household, then there really is something wrong with them. To give them more money is not the solution.

Jack’s solution would make Lars Larson and Dick Armey proud: let the system burn to the ground and then those no-good politicians will have learned their lessons.

No, Jack, it won’t work that way. People frustrated with their taxes have good reason for being so. But we do have it better than most states. And the services we get are often great. Sometimes even life saving. It's worth paying taxes for that.

Just ask Douglas Schmidt.

If you haven't turned in your ballot please vote Yes on 30.

It Was Cold

It was four above zero this morning when Liz and I went door-to-door for a labor candidate - Tim Meadows - running for state representative in Arnold, MO. He better win. It was cold.

Roy Neel: Where We Go From Here

Howard Dean's new man has a plan. Can it work? It's worth the try. Pay no attention to next Tuesday. Dean is waiting for Wisconsin.

Why Wisconsin? First, it is a stand-alone primary where we believe we can run very strong. Second, it kicks off a two-week campaign for over 1,100 delegates on March 2, and the shift of the campaign that month to nearly every big state: California, New York, and Ohio on March 2, Texas and Florida on March 9, Illinois on March 16, and Pennsylvania on April 27.

Read more:

Blog for America : Roy Neel: Where We Go From Here | January 30, 2004

I Knew It! I Just Knew It!

From http://www.hasservision.com/

Candidates Debate Poverty

All of the democratic candidates - except Joe Lieberman - debated poverty issues in Columbia, SC today. That Lieberman declined to take part speaks volumes about his support for policies that have pushed people into poverty. The debate was sponsored by WIS-TV (where my dad once worked), the Tom Joyner Morning Show and the Center for Community Change.

Real families were selected by the center and paired at random with candidates. The statements of the families do not reflect the position of the Center for Community Change or WIS.

Before the forum about 4000 people marched from the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Columbia to the Township. Cassandra Barham-Denton explained why, "We're here to tell them that poor people vote."

Craig Jenkins attended the forum and has it narrowed down his choice. He says he'll make his final decision based on the candidate's plan for job creation, "A lot of people are really being disenfranchised. A lot of people are out of jobs. We want to find out what kind of economic development is coming down the pipe. What sort of plan is being set forth."

Ethan Gallagher, 26, wanted to hear what the candidates have to say about health insurance, "I'm a social worker for HIV and AIDS patients. They obviously don't have health care which is a basic necessity in their lives."

This was a great opportunity to address issues that have been largely overlooked in the 2004 campaign. You can watch excerpts of the debate here.

Updated UCC Sites

Two United Church of Christ web sites have been updated: The UCC Central Pacific Conference (Oregon-Idaho) site was updated recently with a new look. This is the conference that I am assigned to as a seminarian. If you're looking for a progressive church to join this is the place to find one. You can also find a lot of new national UCC news at the updated United Church News site. Check them both out.

Papers: Investigate Bush & Weapons

Newspapers across the country are calling for an independent investigation into the assertions made by the Bush White House that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Possession of these weapons was the major reason given by the President for going to war. Even the Dallas Morning News, the President’s hometown paper and a supporter of the war, have now turned on the administration:

"We feel deceived -- by the CIA, which overestimated the threat, and by the White House, which probably stretched the bad estimates to build a case for war."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes:

…. "the evidence also seems overwhelming that the Bush administration pushed existing evidence well beyond its breaking point, exaggerating threats and claiming specific knowledge of Iraqi WMD where in reality no such knowledge existed."

13 major papers – eight of which supported the war – are now calling for investigations and leveling harsh words against the White House. This week the US chief weapons inspector broke ranks with the White House and claimed that there are no weapons to be found in Iraq. You can read more about the editorials by clicking here.

Albert Mohler Is Mad Again

Albert Mohler is mad again.

This time at General Wesley Clark – American hero, democratic presidential candidate.

As Paul Nickell (aka WWP) mentioned on his blog, Clark appeared on the cover of The Advocate. The Advocate is a gay-centered publication. Paul, a good friend of mine for many years and a well-know advocate for the gay community in Oregon’s church and law circles, wrote:

He's hip, he's hot, he's running for president of the United States. He's Gen. Wesley Clark, and there he is --in all his t-shirted wonder -- on the cover of the current issue of Advocate magazine. Worldwide Pablo can truly say he's now seen just about everything.

God bless Gen. Clark (even though WWP thinks he doesn't stand a chance of winning the Democratic nomination). But at least he's consistent on gay issues. And his heart is in the right place.

Mohler, the arch-conservative president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Republican Party stalwart, isn’t quite as impressed:

….his cover photo and interview in The Advocate are proof positive of the dramatic gains made by homosexual activists over the last decade. Fueled by powerful political patrons and supported by activist judges, gay activists have pushed beyond anything even they could have imagined just a few years ago.

In a retrospective article, The Advocate noted that their first candidate survey, sent in 1970, received few replies--especially from candidates registered as Democrats or Republicans. Now, all of the major Democratic candidates participated in The Advocate's survey--and all declared themselves fully on board for the normalization of homosexuality. The magazine summarized the candidates' positions in a chart, "Rating the Dems," that indicates that all of the Democrats support either gay unions or homosexual marriage, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act [ENDA], adoption rights for homosexuals, and a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." All oppose the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.

Good news. Good news. That means the Democrats have moved closer toward a moral position on civil rights for gay and lesbian people. People like Paul are old enough to remember when that wasn’t the case (and Paul is pretty young). Thank you, Paul, for being one of those gay activists. People like you made Wesley Clark’s pro-civil rights position possible. That’s good for America.

Three Weeks that Changed Politics

I hope you're all still checking with The America Street. If not you're missing something good. Including a great essay today from Jeff Alworth:

Three Weeks that Changed Politics

Bishop William Boyd Grove Takes On Bush

The Charleston Gazette has an article today on United Methodist Bishop William Boyd Grove's involvement in the Clergy Leadership Network.

“We’ve been concerned with the impression that all Christians support the present policies of the government,” Grove said. “We are seeking new leadership in the next election.”

“The policies that our government was operating under seemed drastically at odds with the social teachings of our churches,” Grove said.

Check it out.

Interfaith HIV/AIDS Poster Contest

From United Church News

Churches and community groups are invited to make a poster, make a statement and make a difference by participating in an interfaith poster competition that focuses attention on fighting HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

The national competition is part of a larger global campaign organized by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), a network for international cooperation in advocacy on HIV/AIDS, global trade and peace.

A selection of the posters from the United States and other nations will be displayed March 5-8, 2004, in Washington, D.C., during the Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice. The deadline for submitting posters for the U.S. contest is Jan. 31, 2004.

"The global poster competition is a dynamic and creative opportunity to learn and mobilize in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with a special focus on the hurt caused by stigma and discrimination," says the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, the UCC's executive for health and wholeness advocacy and a member of the EAA's national steering committee. "HIV is not a virus that happens to 'someone else' or to other communities. It is present everywhere in the world, including the United States. Stigma and discrimination contribute to the spread of HIV and compound the suffering of those who are living with HIV and their loved ones. Silence about HIV/AIDS has perpetuated ignorance about the facts, risky behavior and death."

The UCC's Wider Church Ministries is among the more than 85 international churches and church-related organizations that have joined the alliance by committing to speak out with one voice against injustice; confront structures of power, practices and attitudes which deprive human beings of dignity; and offer alternative visions based on the Gospel.

Schuenemeyer says, "For Christian communities, silence and inaction are not options, and people of faith around the world are speaking out by participating in the competition. We're taking the cause of HIV/AIDS to the community level, involving youth and young adults in making a difference through honest dialogue and art."

Read more

Changes For Dean

I've been a Joe Trippi fan since the short-lived '87 Hart campaign. He created a revolution of sorts with the Dean campaign. Now comes word that he is out as campaign manager and Roy Neel is in. That was a good decision by the governor. Trippi brought the campaign far, but you cannot come in third in Iowa and second in NH and call that a winning campaign. It was time for a change and Dean made the call. You can read the statement on the change here:

Blog for America : Statement by Governor Howard Dean | January 28, 2004

3 Months: 10,000 Hits

My blog has now received over 10,000 hits since starting in late October. On average the site is now receiving 100+ hits a day. Thanks to everyone who has visited.

Religious Leaders: Yes on 30

Religious leaders in Oregon held a press conference yesterday to urge support for Measure 30. The event took place at First United Methodist Church and was organized by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO). EMO is “a statewide association of 17 Christian denominations working with congregations, ecumenical and interfaith organizations, and people of faith to improve the quality of life for all Oregonians.”

Religious leaders warned Tuesday that faith-based relief organizations won't be able to take up the slack if the Measure 30 tax hike fails and state funding is slashed for social services. Voter rejection of the $800 million tax next week would trigger cuts in programs that provide in-home care to seniors, health care for low-income people and mental health and addiction treatment for others, the leaders said.

"We know where they will go for help," said Norene Goplen of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Oregon. "They won't line up at the offices of well-funded anti-tax activists. They will be at the doors of our churches and agencies and emergency rooms."

Bob Horenstein of the Jewish Federation of Portland, a fundraising agency that gives money to various relief groups, said none will be in a position to increase assistance to the needy.

"Try as they might, our faith-based agencies will not be able to make up the difference," Horenstein said. "Unfortunately, there are going to be a lot of people who will not be served."

There is strong support for Measure 30 among religious leaders in Oregon. For more information you can visit the EMO web site or the Oregon Catholic Conference.

What Happens Next?

Now that John Kerry has won both Iowa and New Hampshire the question becomes can anyone stop him? His address tonight to supporters was inspiring and moving. Can you imagine this Vietnam War hero on the stage debating George W. Bush? Kerry would wipe the floor with him.

Missouri and South Carolina are the next big contests. Howard Dean has an operation on the ground in Missouri, but there are a lot of hard feelings between St. Louis Congressman Richard Gephardt’s supporters and Dean’s. Some of Gephardt’s staff have joined Kerry’s campaign since their candidate dropped out after Iowa. John Edwards has the home field advantage in the Palmetto State. Wes Clark has a lot of support there as well. Both Edwards and Clark have to win in South Carolina next week to remain viable. Edward said that himself on CNN this evening.

What all the candidates have to do is wage whatever campaign is left in them in a way that doesn’t damage the eventual nominee. Some of these guys are going to be desperate and that can be dangerous. The prize in 2004 is escorting the 2000 court-appointed President out of the White House and back to Texas. In the end, defeating Bush II is all that matters. We've been big Dean fans and still hope he does well, but we'll support whoever the democrats nominate.

John Kerry Takes New Hampshire

Senator John Kerry wins another in New Hampshire.

Howard Dean is coming in second. The question now is how close that second place finish will be.

It's time for a few more of the candidates to drop out. Dennis Kucinich has raised some good issues but cannot win the votes. Al Sharpton and his Republican advisors have nothing left to do. He never should have been on stage with the rest of the candidates. Joe Lieberman has no chance and should fold the tent.

Wes Clark and John Edwards are the only two others who have even a slight chance to win a contest.

Kerry and Edwards will be here in Missouri tomorrow. We might go see the North Carolina senator.

Religion and Politics

"The Interfaith Alliance asked the 2004 presidential candidates a series of four questions regarding his or her personal views on faith, how those views impact policy-making and where each candidate stands on issues related to religious pluralism and religious liberty."

You can read or view the responses by clicking here.

Pro-Gay Votes Don't Count

Last month I made mention (here and here) of the anti-gay American Family Association poll on gay marriage. The group wanted to know if readers of their web site opposed gay marriage and they promised to send the results to Congress. What they never considered is what would happen if people voted for gay marriage. Now we know from Wired News (thanks to HC for the link):

But the AFA never counted on the power of the Internet. And once the URL to the poll escaped its intended audience, everything went haywire. As of Jan. 19, 60 percent of respondents -- more than 508,000 voters -- said, "I favor legalization of homosexual marriage." With an additional 7.89 percent -- or 66,732 voters -- replying, "I favor a 'civil union' with the full benefits of marriage except for the name," the AFA's chosen position, "I oppose legalization of homosexual marriage and 'civil unions,'" was being defeated by a 2-1 ratio.

"We're very concerned that the traditional state of marriage is under threat in our country by homosexual activists," said AFA representative Buddy Smith. "It just so happens that homosexual activist groups around the country got a hold of the poll -- it was forwarded to them -- and they decided to have a little fun, and turn their organizations around the country (onto) the poll to try to cause it to represent something other than what we wanted it to. And so far, they succeeded with that."

Of course, no such poll can be said to represent an accurate picture of popular opinion. But, clearly, the AFA had hoped Congress would take the numbers it planned to produce as exactly that kind of evidence.

Now, Smith says, his organization has had to abandon its goal of taking the poll to Capitol Hill.

"We made the decision early on not to do that," Smith admitted, "because of how, as I say, the homosexual activists around the country have done their number on it."

Jesus, Truth and Mel Gibson's The Passion

Mel Gibson’s new film The Passion has some concerned that the show based on a composite of Gospel stories will foster anti-Semitism. Gibson, a conservative Catholic, denies the charge. He has set-up special screenings of the film for clergy (mostly conservative evangelicals) who have only praised the film.

That’s because they had to.

It turns out everyone who has attended these special screenings has been forced to sign a Statement of Confidentiality that included a provision allowing clergy to speak to reporters about the film only if they would say good things about it.

John Dominic Crossan, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at DePaul University in Chicago, was one of those who attended. He wrote an essay for Beliefnet.com on the film:

What bothered me most about that Statement of Confidentiality's disjunction was not just its clear attempt at censorship or its even clearer attempt to promote interest by secrecy and conspiracy. What bothered me intensely was the way it contradicted the character and attitude of its own subject, that Jesus who spoke always openly and publicly, who received and accepted both loving support and lethal criticism. If the Gospel of the Christ was so publicly open, why is "The Passion of the Christ" open only to support but closed to criticism? If you cannot take criticism, Mr. Gibson, get out of the Passion.

So is the film anti-Semitic? Crossan won’t say. He’s forbidden from doing so.

However, Crossan provides a link to the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith which infiltrated the screening and has this to say:

We were saddened and pained to find that "The Passion of the Christ" continues its unambiguous portrayal of Jews as being responsible for the death of Jesus. There is no question in this film about who is responsible. At every single opportunity, Gibson's film reinforces the notion that the Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob are the ones ultimately responsible for the Crucifixion.

MSNBC/Zogby Poll: A Dead Heat in NH

A dead heat in NH? Tomorrow night former Governor Howard Dean might be the true 2004 Comeback Kid. Stay tuned.

Read the poll results here:

Blog for America : MSNBC/Zogby Poll: A Dead Heat in NH | January 26, 2004

Should The Church Split?

Sojourners Magazine has two great articles on the debate concerning gays and lesbians in the church.

The Presbyterian Church (USA)—like many Christian denominations—has been starkly divided over the role of gays and lesbians in the church. It feels to many, as author Richard Mouw puts it, that the church is getting ready for "divorce court." Should the church split or stay together? The authors of these two articles—both Presbyterian, one liberal and one conservative—differ on many things, but they are in accord about whether unity—or schism—is the best way forward.

You can read both articles here:

Why the Evangelical Church Needs the Liberal Church
A Presbyterian split would be a serious setback for Reformed orthodoxy. by Richard Mouw

Why the Liberal Church Needs the Evangelical Church
What if instead of bemoaning our estrangment, we embraced it as a gift? by Barbara Wheeler

Hugo and Hazel At Play

We've only seen three cars drive past our house all day. It's cold out there. At least the dogs are enjoying it.

Sunday Morning Ice Storm

We're getting a litte bit of an ice storm this morning. Liz and I are stuck at home waiting for the meltdown- which should come sometime in March.

Devin and Ian

My sister Heather sent us some great photos of my nephews today. On the left is Heather's son Devin. Ian, my sister Jennifer's son, is on the right.

Dean's Statement on David Kay's Comments

Howard Dean issued a statement today on the David Kay controversy:

"Today's comments by David Kay further undermine this President's repeated claims that Iraq posed an imminent threat to America with weapons of mass destruction. It is an embarrassment that for the second year in a row, George Bush misled the American people in his State of the Union address about Iraqi weapons."

Blog for America : Dean's Statement on David Kay's Comments | January 24, 2004

"I Don't Think They Existed"

During the State of the Union address last year the president got into trouble for saying a few things that turned out not to be true. Now it turns out he either lied again or is the most ill-informed president in modern times. This is what he said last week about weapons in Iraq:

Already the Kay Report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations.

I’m not sure what weapons of mass destruction-related program activities are, but ok. The problem with the statement concerns what David Kay (author of the above mentioned Kay Report) told the media when he resigned this week as the US-point person searching for weapons in Iraq.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former chief U.S. arms hunter David Kay has concluded Iraq had no stockpiles of biological and chemical weapons, a potential embarrassment for President George W. Bush, and Secretary of State Colin Powell has said it is an open question if they'd be found.

Kay told Reuters by telephone shortly after stepping down from his post on Friday he had concluded there were no such stockpiles to be found.

"I don't think they existed," Kay said. "What everyone was talking about is stockpiles produced after the end of the last (1991) Gulf War, and I don't think there was a large-scale production program in the '90s," he said.

"I think we have found probably 85 percent of what we're going to find," said Kay, who returned from Iraq in December and told the CIA he would not be going back.

"I think the best evidence is that they did not resume large-scale production and that's what we're really talking about," Kay said.

That’s right: the man Bush sent to Iraq to find all those illegal weapons has concluded there aren’t any and quit his job.

You can only conclude that Bush doesn’t know the different between fact and fiction. That’s pretty scary in a commander-in-chief.

The Heretic's Corner: George vs. Jesus

You can find another great take on the State of the Union here:

The Heretic's Corner: George vs. Jesus

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

This week is Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Events across the globe have been organized around the theme "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). The week is organized by the World Council of Churches and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Week of Prayer has its origins in the 19th century, and was popularized by the Catholic father Paul Couturier of Lyon in the 1930s. For Couturier, the Week was a time to focus on the unity of Christians, as well as on the unity of mankind. "We must pray not that others may be converted to us, but that we may all be drawn closer to Christ... The spiritual horizon of the Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians is not merely Christianity, it is the redemption of humankind," he wrote.

One of the prayers used in observing the week was written by Bishop Munib A. Younan. It is based on a Palestinian litany. We spend so much time talking about what divides us that we often forget all that unites us (I’m as guilty as this as anyone else) I’ve posted Bishop’s Younan’s prayer below. You can find it along with other prayers for Christian Unity by clicking here.

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and
for all people according to their needs.

Merciful God, in the birth of your Son Jesus Christ in Bethlehem you became one of us; you shared our joy, suffering and pain. We thank you for taking refuge in Egypt and for identifying yourself with refugees and victims of political power. We thank you for your suffering on the cross and for identifying yourself with those who suffer from injustice and live under occupation.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Eternal God, you know the troubles and pains of the people of Israel-Palestine: We pray for the victims of injustice and violence but also for those who have caused suffering. We pray for those who cannot enter their places of work. We pray for young people who are losing their hope for the future and for mothers who are tired of bloodshed and killing. We pray for the bereaved families, who have lost their beloved ones.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the recovery of the injured. We pray for those who have to live with permanent disability. We pray for politicians; grant them wisdom and courage to search for reconciliation and peace.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We are all created in your image. Grant us courage to recognize every person's human, religious, civil and political rights. Help us to build a culture of peace, justice and reconciliation. Free us from all hatred and bitterness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." (Jn 14:27) Give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts. Merciful God, accept our prayers and yearnings. You are our only strength, refuge and hope. In the name of Jesus – our liberator and redeemer.
Amen.

© Bishop Munib A. Younan, ELCJ, Palestine

AP: Dean's New Hampshire Comeback | January 23, 2004

The first "Dean Comeback" story has been written.

You can also read it here along with comments from Dean supporters:

Blog for America : AP: Dean's New Hampshire Comeback | January 23, 2004

Dirty Tricks 2004-Style

High-tech spying is the new game in Washington, DC. The Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms is investigating reports that Republican staff members have been systematically breaking into the computers of Democratic Senators and stealing sensitive information. The information was then leaked to conservative newspapers and columnists. Richard Nixon would be proud. (Thanks to WC for the link)

Dean On Letterman: The Top Ten List

Our man Howard Dean showed up on David Letterman tonight to give the "Top Ten List." The subject of Dean's list was "Ways, I, Howard Dean, can turn things around."

10. Switch to decaf.

9. Unveil new slogan, "Vote for Dean and get one dollar off your next purchase at Blimpie."

8. Marry Rachel on the final episode of "Friends."

7. Don't change a thing, it's going great.

6. Show a little more skin.

5. Go on "American Idol" and give them a taste of those pipes.

4. Start working out and speaking with an Austrian accent.

3. I can't give specifics yet, but it involves Ted Danson.

2. Fire the staffer who suggested I do this lousy Top 10 List instead of actually campaigning.

1. Oh, I don't know — maybe fewer, crazy, red-faced rants.

Dr. And Dr. Dean On ABC

(looking for info on Mel Gibson's The Passion? Click here.)

Liz and I sat down and watched the Diane Sawyer interview with Howard and Judy Dean. Both did a fantastic job. You got a real sense of the respect and love they share for each other. We both think the whole issue on Governor Dean's "outburst" is being overplayed (big surprise) by the media. You can read the transcript of the interview by clicking here.

The Ad CBS Doesn't Want You To See

From MoveOn.org:

During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it.

Meanwhile, the White House and Congressional Republicans are on the verge of signing into law a deal which Senator John McCain (R-AZ) says is custom-tailored for CBS and Fox, allowing the two networks to grow much bigger. CBS lobbied hard for this rule change; MoveOn.org members across the country lobbied against it; and now the MoveOn.org ad has been rejected while the White House ad will be played. It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech.

Of course, this is bigger than just the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted an ad that was also rejected. We need to let CBS know that this practice of arbitrarily turning down ads that may be "controversial" – especially if they're controversial simply because they take on the President – just isn't right.

To watch the ad that CBS won't air and sign the petition to CBS to run these ads, click here.

Bishop Raymond Burke: Anti-Choice, Anti-Gay

The anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe Vs Wade is today.

One of the most visited posts I’ve written was one on Catholic Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse. In November, the Bishop wrote letters to Catholic lawmakers warning them that he might not allow them to take communion if they supported abortion rights. Now it has been reveled he signed a decree ordering priests under his jurisdiction to follow through with that threat. His actions have drawn criticism from other Catholic leaders.

Dan Maguire, a professor of theology at the Jesuit Marquette University in Milwaukee, called Burke a "fanatic" who has embarrassed the Catholic Church by using bullying tactics.

"He is not a theologian and he is making terrible mistakes that have been addressed in theology in the past," Maguire said. "He's making a fool of himself. And the politicians are absolutely within their Catholic rights to ignore him."

In December, Bishop Burke ordered Catholic groups not to participate in a fund raiser for AIDS’s related programs because he felt some of those programs “promote homosexuality among young people.”

The Pope has since promoted Bishop Burke and he will take the reigns in St. Louis as the new ArchBishop on January 26.

As a Christian, I understand the differences of opinion people hold over abortion. I am pro-choice. I fully support the inclusion of gays and lesbians in religious life. But I can respect that others of deep faith can stake positions other than mine. I would never refuse them communion.

Bishop Burke does all Christians a disservice by his actions.

Since it is the anniversary of Roe vs Wade I'm posting the United Church of Christ statement on abortion as a resource and to remind people not all Christians share Bishop Burke's views:

But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me." —Luke 8:46

God has given us life, and life is sacred and good. God has also given us the responsibility to make decisions which reflect a reverence for life in circumstances when conflicting realities are present. Jesus affirmed women as full partners in the faith, capable of making decisions that affect their lives.

If the full range of options available to women concerning reproductive health are compromised, then women’s moral agency and ability to make decisions consistent with their faith are compromised. Furthermore, poor women should have equal access to full reproductive health services, including abortion and information on family planning.

The United Church of Christ has affirmed and re-affirmed since 1971 that access to safe and legal abortion is consistent with a woman’s right to follow the dictates of her own faith and beliefs in determining when and if she should have children, and has supported comprehensive sexuality education as one measure to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. (General Synods VIII, IX, XI, XII, XIII, XVI, XVII, and XVIII)

My Mom The Blogger

My mom has her own blog. Judy Bright is a certified nurse midwife who lives with her husband Dr. John Thomas in Puget Island, Washington along with their three dogs, six or so cats, about a dozen chickens, two parrots, and two goats. Check out her site.

Gun Control Advocates Protest Blunt Appearance

by Matt Sepic, KWMU

ST. LOUIS (2004-01-21) Opponents to Missouri's conceal and carry legislation Wednesday protested a public appearance Wednesday by Missouri Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt in Maplewood. Blunt is running for governor, and says he supports concealed guns. But gun control advocates like Liz Smith-Currie of Webster Groves say the state Supreme Court should strike it down.

"As a parent to be, I'm very concerned about my own safety and my children's safety, when I go to a store and I have to worry that the person next to me is carrying a concealed weapon, and I don't know what their intent is," Smith-Currie said.

But Blunt says concealed weapons laws are working in more than 40 other states.

"I'm a supporter of the Second Amendment, and I believe that the right to carry is something that's worked in 40 other states," Blunt said. "It hasn't had the sort of negative repercussions that I assure you we'd have heard of if there were any negative manifestations of the right to carry legislation."

The Missouri Legislature passed concealed gun legislation in September, but Governor Holden vetoed it.

The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case Thursday.

(Liz, of course, is my wife)

Reviews On State Of The Union

The reviews are coming in: some good and some bad. Take a special look at Paul Nickell’s comments on the attacks made by George W. Bush on the civil rights of gays and lesbians. The American Street has some additional commentary (including mine).

Clergy Leadership Network Responds To State Of The Union

The Clergy Leadership Network is a new interfaith movement of moderate and progressive clergy who are pursuing greater political participation as an expression of an inclusive faith and a religious social conscience.

Just as the prophet Jeremiah spoke truth to power in ancient Judah, we find ourselves compelled, out of a sense of faith and patriotism, to give voice to our concerns about the integrity and well-being of our country.

It comes as no surprise to us that George Bush should find the state of the union so healthy. For himself and those he associates with, times have surely never been better. That is because, in spiritual terms, his Administration has been one that has coddled the wealthy and catered to the powerful at the expense of desperate and even destitute people. While this Administration seeks to aggrandize the corporation and the profiteer, millions of God’s children are plagued by unmet needs: the struggle to find jobs, to shelter their families, to educate their children, and to heal their illnesses.

We reject domestic economic policies that favor the advantaged and pander to greed. The pursuit of such policies is irreconcilable with spiritual commitments and biblical convictions. But worse, to wrap these policies in a false cloak of ‘compassion’ moves into the arena of cynicism and public hypocrisy.

Tonight, President Bush also defended – and even celebrated – his violent and unnecessary war in Iraq, which has brought so much human suffering to Americans and Iraqis alike. We share the President’s goal of security for all our people. But faith teaches that security realized through conquest is no security at all. Only policies that affirm human dignity, provide for basic human needs, and create global partnerships can lay fair claim to having enhanced security for us and for all nations.

Furthermore, it is unconscionable that public resources can be found to tear down and rebuild an entire society abroad, but when it comes to pressing human priorities here in our own communities, the nation’s coffers have mysteriously run dry.

The President persists in establishing a dubious link between his preemptive invasion of Iraq and the imperative of stopping terrorism. He addresses terrorism’s consequences but not its causes. Terrorism thrives where there is political oppression and economic exploitation. Rather than taming terrorists, the incineration of Muslim nations provides the seed bed for recruiting new terrorists.

Forsaking fellowship for a climate of fear, the Bush Administration has squandered the respect and admiration of the global community. We are now on a perilous path, trying to remake the world according to our own vision. Four years ago, Candidate Bush called for a more modest foreign policy. But President Bush has given us policies woven of international hubris, self-righteousness, and intimidation.

The President has also offered a vision of space travel that includes a mission to Mars. Has the Earth become so unmanageable that we must now seek new outposts? Science and discovery are certainly important forms of human progress. But before we take on this interplanetary frontier, we must take care of unfinished business here on Earth: lifting up the poor, comforting the afflicted and pursuing justice for all. That would indeed be ‘one giant leap for mankind.’

Just yesterday, the nation celebrated the 75th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January is also the month of the birth of Rabbi Abraham Heschel, the great Jewish scholar and colleague of Dr. King. In the most tragic of ironies, we celebrate two of history’s most passionate advocates of peace and social justice, while our government tramples their ideals as never before.

We had hoped to work with this President, especially given his promise to ‘change the tone’ and to be a ‘uniter, not a divider.’ But when it comes to those with perspectives different than their own, the leaders in this Administration are not interested in engagement and compromise, only arrogance and condescension.

We have concluded that the Administration’s faulty vision for our nation and our world, as measured against God’s caring, cannot be corrected. It must be repudiated – challenged from our pulpits and rejected in our voting places. We have concluded that this is a time for national leadership change. Nothing in this evening’s address leads us to believe otherwise.

It Was One Year Ago Today

It was on January 20, 2003 that I began my drive from Portland to St. Louis for the start of our three-year stint while I attend seminary. My two dogs and two cats made the drive with me (Liz and her cat flew later). When we make the drive back to Portland in two years we will also have two babies. Wow.

Colombian Leader Threatened

United Church of Christ Action Alert

Many of you in the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network have followed the work of Ricardo Esquivia, a close friend and partner in UCC/DOC efforts to advocate for peace and justice in the war-torn country of Colombia. At General Synod 23, Ricardo Esquivia received an award from the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries in recognition of his peace-building efforts. Recent UCC General Synods have urged support for reconciliation efforts by church leaders like Ricardo, rather than an increasingly militarized response that has only served to escalate the violence.

Ricardo Esquivia is a Mennonite Church leader, a courageous voice for justice, peace and human rights for many years. He has met with many UCC members, congregations and conferences both in the United States and in Colombia, providing helpful insight and analysis of the Colombian conflict.

Because legitimate debate and political activity have at times been mistaken for subversion in Colombia, many social and religious leaders have come under increasing pressure. We have received unconfirmed reports that the Colombian authorities are planning to arrest Ricardo Esquivia on fabricated charges. His arrest would be a grave violation of his rights by the Colombian government.

Contact Colombian President Uribe, Colombian Vice-President Santos, and U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood to ensure that Ricardo Esquivia's work is not jeopardized.

To send a fax click here.

The Morning After

Tonight I congratulate the other candidates for their strong campaigns here in Iowa. One of them will wind up carrying the banner of the great Democratic Party in this election, and they will have earned it, and I will support that candidate in any way that I can.

- Richard Gephardt

We came from behind and we came for the fight. And now, I have a special message for the special interests that have a home in the Bush White House: We're coming, you're going, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

- John Kerry

I came here a year ago with a belief we could change the country with a belief in the possibility, with a belief the politics of hope could overcome the politics of cynicism. The people of Iowa confirmed their belief in this positive, uplifting vision of America.

- John Edwards

I used to be the frontrunner when I went out to Iowa, but I'm not the frontrunner anymore. New Hampshire has a great tradition of supporting the underdog. So guess what? Let's go get him.

- Howard Dean

Gephardt Leaving Contest

CNN is reporting that Richard Gephardt will leave the democratic race. A statement on his web site from his campaign manager leaves the same impression:

A Message from Campaign Manager Steve Murphy

I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you've done for this campaign. We put together an extraordinary campaign operation. It's very clear that the results are not going to be good tonight, that the voters in Iowa have made a different decision.

We are all exceedingly proud of the campaign that Dick has run. We all support Dick's positive vision for the future.

I just want to express our sincere appreciation for everything that you've done. Voters and donors and volunteers responded to Dick's bold and innovative message of bringing health care to each and every American and leading the Democratic Party to recognize the importance of fair trade in this campaign. These messages will continue to resonate with the American public well into the fall elections.

Again, on behalf of Dick Gephardt, thank you for everything that you have done for his candidacy.

Steve Murphy
Campaign Manager
Gephardt for President

Gephardt has been a tough leader for the Democrat Party for decades. Being President just wasn’t in the cards for the St. Louis congressman. Liz and I enjoyed going to one of his campaign events last year and hearing him speak. He would have made a great House Speaker. That damn Newt Gingrich!

Kerry Winning Iowa

It looks like John Kerry will finish in first place tonight in Iowa. Howard Dean is conceding tonight’s caucus. John Edwards may take the second place bouncing the former Vermont governor to third place. This should mean the end of Richard Gephardt’s campaign. Expect to see the Missouri congressman drop out as early as tonight. Now it is on to New Hampshire where Kerry, Edwards and Dean will face former General Wesley Clark.

If the early numbers hold this will obviously be a stunning victory for Senator Kerry and a huge boost to Senator Edwards. Liz and I have been Dean backers since before most people had heard his name. Hopefully, he’ll bounce back. In the end, we’ll support the democratic nominee and look forward to sending George W. Bush back to Texas.

Our Hall of Fame

We've added Megan Kean to our Hall of Fame photo section. This is where we keep photos of everyone who visits us during our self-imposed exile here in St. Louis. Megan is a friend and co-worker of Liz's who got along well with all of our animals. She was here back in December (sorry for the long delay). Check out the photos.

Liz Weighs In On Iowa

My wife Liz wants to weigh in with her predictions on tonight’s Iowa caucuses. Here’s how she believes it will turn out:

Howard Dean takes first place.

John Edwards comes in second.

Richard Gephardt comes in third.

John Kerry finishes last among the major contenders.

My predictions were pretty similar. You can tell we both pay little attention to the polls. Feel free to make your own predictions in the comments section. And stay tuned tonight for the real results.

Jimmy Carter: Dean "A Fellow Christian"

I am particularly grateful at the courageous and outspoken posture and position that Gov. Dean has taken from the very beginning. I've spent a lot of time in the last year and half strongly opposing the completely unnecessary and unjust war in Iraq.

The fact that he supported me in 1980, the fact that he was a strong and open advocate of peace whenever possible instead of war, and his outspoken nature-sometimes saying things that might have to be retracted, which I had to do as well when I ran for president-have made it very harmonious between me and him.

- President Jimmy Carter

Texas Paper: Why Would Christians Vote For Bush?

James A. Haught of The The Charleston Gazette had an article today published in the Dallas-Forthworth Star-Telegram applauding the new Clergy Leadership Network and questioning why Christians would ever vote for the policies endorsed by the Bush Administration:

Everything that Jesus stood for seems opposed by Republicans now in control of Washington.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers" -- yet the Bush administration was hell-bent for war in Iraq, using fictitious alarms to rouse public support.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor" and lived among the lowly -- yet the Bush administration has showered trillion-dollar tax giveaways on the wealthy, causing record deficits. The White House ignores 45 million "working poor" Americans who lack health insurance.

Jesus opposed the death penalty, saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" -- yet President Bush set an all-time execution record when he was governor of Texas, and boasted of it.

Good questions. The answer is that the religious "left" hasn’t done enough in recent years to organize during election years around Biblical principles. The danger is making the false argument that God would endorse one candidate or another. We cannot say that (though some on the religious right are willing to make that claim). What we can argue is that Jesus stood for the poor, against war, and in opposition to the death penalty (Jesus himself was killed by the state). Then the voters can make their own decisions about where their faith leads them to cast their vote.

Measure 30: How Would Jesus Vote?

Oregon’s Measure 30 is drawing national attention. The question before Oregonians is pretty simple: will the voters raise taxes to help erase a budget deficit or allow massive cuts in health care programs and other services for the poor and elderly?

Christians have a special responsibility to speak up on such issues. Jesus’ ministry was filled with calls for social justice that would lift up the poor. Through Jesus and the prophets of the Old Testament we know that God is upset with those who put their own interests ahead of the least of these.

It is obvious that Christians of good faith can have different opinions on tax policies and ballot measures. We can legitimately argue over the right path that lifts people out of poverty. But I do not believe Christians can legitimately vote to abandon health care programs for the poor and services for the elderly. It just doesn’t seem like something Jesus would do.

Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey! What will you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth, so as not to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain? For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.

- Isaiah 10: 1-5 (NRSV)

Martin Sheen & Howard Dean

There's a great article in The Madison Capital Times about Martin Sheen campaigning for Howard Dean. Sheen was a friend of my friend Mitch Synder. Several years ago Sheen came to Portland and we spoke together about homelessness and religion before a group of Catholic high school students. So what does Sheen have to say about the Dean campaign?

"We've awakened a movement," he says. "And we've made this election meaningful - a real referendum on the direction of our country."

No question about it.

The Rev. Frederick Streets

One of new leaders of the Clergy Leadership Network is The Rev. Frederick Streets. Rev. Streets serves as the chaplain of Yale University and was profiled in The Yale Daily News this past week.

"We realize that there are a lot of religious people that don't fall into what the conservatives have defined as faithful," Streets said. "We're trying to help people respect the relationship between religion and social justice.”

The article is a great introduction to a person I very much enjoyed meeting with last week. With people like him leading the Clergy Leadership Network the group is sure to succeed.