Are there principles that Christians can agree on when determing which candidates to vote for this fall?  The National Council of Churches put forth a set during a previous election cycle that still hold true:

Our Christian faith compels us to address the world through the lens of our relationship to God and to one another. Public discourse is enhanced as we engage civic leaders on the values and ethics affirmed by our faith. At the same time, religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy will be protected as candidates refrain from using faith-based organizations and institutions for partisan gain. We offer these ten principles to those seeking to accept the responsibility that comes with holding public office.

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to conflict.

2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation. We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.

3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well-being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.

4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.

5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and equal opportunity for everyone.

6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation.

7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out against xenophobia.

8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health care for all.

9. Because of the transforming power of God’s grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal justice system and the individuals within it.

10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God’s children is a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who will advocate for equal educational opportunity and abundant funding for children’s services.

Finally, our religious tradition admonishes us not to bear false witness against our neighbor and to love our enemies. We ask that the campaigns of political candidates and the coverage of the media in this election season be conducted according to principles of fairness, honesty and integrity.

I've made clear my personal preference in some races - including the presidential contest.  In doing so, I've been clear that I believe there is no "ordained" candidate in the presidential contest or any other race and good people of faith can come to different conclusions as to how they will vote.

People of faith should reject voices like those of Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki - who like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson before him - has argued this year that you can only vote for one party and remain in good standing with God.  Bishop Paprocki has confused party platforms with the Gospel of Jesus.  That's bad theology and poor pastoral leadership. 

This past January, at age 42, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  That's pretty young.  But there is a history of this disease on my mother's side of the family and she insisted that I get screened - a screening that normally wouldn't have occurred for someone my age - and what a good thing she did.  If the cancer had gone a few more years undetected it might not have been treatable.  My mother knew what she was talking about.  She demanded I get screened as she started hospice care for a cancer that went undetected and that would take her life in early April.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  If you have a family history of this cancer it is important to talk with your physican about the risks and whether or not screening is appropriate.  Sometimes it isn't.  Prostate cancer is often a slow growing cancer and treatment in those who are eldery is often worse than the cancer.  But for younger men it can be the difference between life or death.  The difference between being there for your children or not. I was fortunate to get the best treatment possible at Oregon Health Sciences University.

I'm glad I get the chance to be there for my children. 

The U.S. Department of Justice recently found that the Portland Police Bureau has engaged in a pattern of abuse that has denied people their basic civil rights and resulted in the deaths of several Portlanders, mostly those suffering from mental illness.  Willamette Week notes this morning that the DOJ has not called for an independent monitor to oversee reforms in Portland but instead will “create a body to ensure increased community oversight of reforms.”  That's an effort doomed to failure.

Local communities always oppose advances in civil rights when pressed.  That's the sad reality of our history.  We would never have had civil rights in our nation without the intervention of federal authorities and monitors.  Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police Chief Mike Reese have already said they don't agree with the DOJ's findings.  So what is there to reform?  And how will this body make head-way if Portland authorities are busy protecting turf instead of protecting rights?

Most disappointing in the article today in Willamette Week were the comments by the two candidates hoping to replace Sam Adams as mayor in January when his scandal plagued term ends.  Both said they oppose independent oversight.  So does the police union, naturally.  This is all a recipe for more failure, more inaction, and more deaths of innocent Portlanders.

We have learned this morning that the U.S. Department of Justice has found that the Portland Police have engaged in a pattern of force that has violated the civil rights of Portlanders and resulted in the deaths of too many of our fellow citizens. I have not yet read the full report but applaud the DOJ for their work. As one of the clergy who called for this investigation and who took part in the memorial service for James Chasse, I continue to be outraged at the crisis in management that has developed in the Portland Police during the last several years. It will take a new mayor and new leadership at the Police Bureau to regain the full trust and faith Portlanders should have in their police. I am deeply appreciative of the many members of the Portland Police who have come forward to report violations and to work with integrity with the DOJ during this period. I'll look forward to reading the full report and hearing of the DOJ's recommendations to make Portland a safer community for all. - Rev. Chuck Currie


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Despite inheriting a wrecked economy, President Obama has indeed moved our nation in the right direction -- by creating jobs and reforming our health care system -- in ways that advance the common good. We need Barack Obama to continue the hard work of repairing our nation.

My latest op-ed on The Huffington Post.