The Institute on Religion on Democracy denies having ties to the Republican Party but the links are obvious. Nearly all of their foundation funding comes from conservative political activists – people like Richard Mellon Scaife. IRD’s stated mission is to “reform” mainline denominations but their real aim is to silence Christian voices opposed to conservative political goals.
This week IRD hired freelance writer Matthew May to attend and write about the General Synod of the United Church of Christ. May wrote a predictably critical review which calls the UCC a “very liberal and fast declining” denomination and he takes to task Bill Moyers and Barack Obama for their remarks at Synod.
IRD neglects to mention, however, that the man they hired is also a writer for the Newt Gingrich for President blog, a site set-up to promote the candidacy of the disgraced House speaker who was driven from office after several ethics scandals. On his personal blog May writes that…
…one has rarely heard a more bitter, angrier man than Bill Moyers whose bile is exceeded only by his self-delusion and denial of complicity in the very things he decries.
Sen. Obama missed a golden opportunity to expand on his thoughts abou religion and politics in favor of boilerplate alms to the left. Sen. Obama has an engaging style - a clear voice and presence, but the words he speaks are uninspired and pedestrian.
When you read IRD’s articles or their website it is important to consider their motives and the people they associate with. You’ll note IRD (a group that falsely claims to be non-partisan) decided not to disclose May’s political activities and went ahead and let him review Senator Obama’s speech without letting their readers know May is advocating a Gingrich candidacy.
This is not the first time IRD has hidden the political activities of key staff.
Honesty and integrity are essential both in ministry and politics. That is why I’ve been open and transparent about my own support for Barack Obama – just I have for other candidates, both Republican and Democrat.
But honesty and integrity just aren’t words used in the IRD vocabulary.
