Right-wing fanatics dictate Democrat Party policy on religion
The New York Times is reporting in their online edition that The Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson has resigned as the Democratic National Committee’s senior adviser on religious outreach:
Under Fire Over 'Under God'After less than two weeks on the job, the Democratic Party's first-ever director of religious outreach resigned Wednesday after her public positions came under fire, according to Religion News Service.
The Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson said it was "no longer possible for me to do my job effectively" after the New York-based Catholic League issued three blistering news releases attacking her positions. The Catholic League blasted Peterson for a friend-of-the-court brief she signed with 31 other clergy members that supported removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Today saw intense fire from the religious right over her appointment. The Southern Baptists, Focus on the Family and Lifesite joined The Washington Times, D.C.’s right-wing paper funded by The Rev. Moon, and the Catholic League in assaulting Peterson’s values.
Peterson didn’t just come under fire for the Pledge issue. She was also criticized for opposing the war in Iraq and the Bush tax plans. The right-wing made hay out of her involvement with the Clergy Leadership Network. It was through that group that I met Brenda.
All the groups opposing her appointment are backers of George W. Bush and take extreme positions on issues of war and peace, women’s health care, and civil rights. The Catholic League backs an extreme agenda that includes some far out apologetics for the Catholic priest sex scandals and the role of the Catholic Church during the Holocaust.
It is disappointing that Terry McAuliffe allowed Peterson to resign under these circumstances. He has allowed the religious right to dictate the terms on which the Democratic Party will discuss religious issues. McAuliffe did a great disservice to the party today and to the cause of bringing together democrats and people of faith.
