An underlying assumption in many Republican policies is that poor people deserve what they get and that they are poor because of some character flaw. But poverty is not a sin, and it is not necessarily caused by sin. Jesus was homeless throughout his ministry. His disciples were unemployed. Elijah the prophet fled into the desert from Queen Jezebel and went homeless and hungry because of his righteousness. Although some people in poverty today are there because of choices they... Read more
On January 28th, President Obama signed his first bill into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Lilly Ledbetter began working at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1979 and discovered 19 years later that her male colleagues were being paid significantly more than her (from $559 to $1509 more per month). In 1998, she filed charges with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, appealing to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights... Read more
If Republicans are so eager to legislate morality, perhaps they should start by doing all they can NOT to appeal to our base desire to increase our own wealth, because Jesus told us that we “cannot love both God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24), and as Paul said, “the love of money is the root of many kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). (more…) Read more
The tendency of many leaders of the religious right and Republicans to focus on purity following the letter of the law while ignoring its true purpose is hardly new. As Jesus said to the religious and political leaders of Israel: “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices…but you neglect the more important matters of the Law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness…You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside... Read more
If certain elected officials and Christian interest groups seeking to influence elections and government claim that they cannot check their faith at the door when it comes to their so-called "family values" issues, then this same faith must also inform their positions during tax and budget debates along with all the debates on the "compassion issues." Although "family values" issues are mentioned only peripherally in the Bible, Jesus and the prophets are quite explicit about the clear responsibilities those with... Read more
Although there are no easy answers to challenges of the financial crisis, our faith teaches us to continue to hold our hopes and dreams close at hand. (more…) Read more
It is that belief of the impossible becoming possible that has guided my steps as a public servant. It is the belief that we can build a society like Dr. King’s Beloved Community where we tend to the “least of these” and everyone has a seat at the table. There are those among us who will say those ideals and goals are just childish imaginings, full of little substance or reality. But they’re wrong. (more…) Read more
In the interest of free flowing ideas I would like to propose an old solution: Peace in the Middle East. Jerusalem is the centre of the world. Okay, maybe not the literal center of the world – along the line of the equator – but in terms of world events, peace, and war… nothing matters more than Palestine. Recently, the world awoke to another invasion of the Gaza strip by the Israeli army as Hamas launched a string... Read more
The last few weeks I have been caught up in the TNT worthy drama in Washington surrounding the passage of the stimulus bill. As the final votes were tallied in the House and Senate, I was saddened – though not surprised – by the decision of Congressional Republicans to vote almost unanimously against the package. In an attempt to defend their actions, Republicans have fallen back on their well-worn and counterproductive mantra of attacking government and labeling as wasteful any... Read more
Faithful Democrats
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