Faith in Public Life: Rev. Jen Butler - Commentary from the intersection of progressive Christian faith and modern public policy.

Tear Gassing Children is Not Christian

November 27, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

As Americans finished up Thanksgiving celebrations, immigrant children fleeing violence in their home countries were tear gassed at the border. President Trump’s anti-immigrant policies and racist, fear-mongering rhetoric are to blame. We can be better than this. As a Christian, my soul is indelibly marked by God’s frequent exhortation: “remember who you are.” Hundreds of verses like this one pepper nearly every book of the Bible, particularly the legal codes of Hebrew Scripture: “And you are to love those who… Read more

This is the Year of the Faithful Women in Politics

November 10, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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This image means a lot to me pic.twitter.com/vj5JW9Bji7— Solomon (@solomonmissouri) November 8, 2018 In a rebuke of President Trump and the Republican party’s racism, attacks on health care, the separation immigrant children from their parents, and failure to confront sexual abuse, women turned out to vote for women in record numbers. The result is an election that will go down in history as the year of the woman in politics. Voters will send a historic 100-plus women to Congress, including… Read more

Trump’s Nationalism is Incompatible with Christianity

October 25, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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Speaking at an election rally for Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Trump admitted to being a nationalist: You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It’s called a nationalist. And I say, really, we’re not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, OK? I’m a nationalist. This is hardly a revelation. Trump’s actions have already earned him this label. But it indicates another milestone in Trump’s chipping away at democracy and human… Read more

Is Democracy Done? The Road after Kavanaugh

October 16, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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No, it’s not done. But that’s the right question. It means that unlike many Americans, you no longer take democracy for granted. Democracy can only be maintained by vigilance and we have been headed down the road to unfreedom for some time. The Kavanaugh appointment was a failure for our democracy on so many levels. The Senate failed to fully vet a lifetime appointment with a faux FBI investigation of sexual assault charges and a refusal to release millions of… Read more

Food Stamps: Some Good News out of September

October 2, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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As allegations about Judge Kavanaugh multiply and cast doubt on his character and fitness for the Supreme Court, there was a lot of bad news this past September. Here is one good story that no one is paying attention to — SNAP, that is, food stamps, in the 2018 Farm Bill. Just this past Sunday, September 30th, we missed a deadline to renew the Farm Bill. But that is actually a good thing. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is… Read more

Franklin Graham says Attempted Rape Doesn’t Matter

September 21, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham and on of the Trump’s most vocal evangelical supporters, implied in an interview this week that he thinks attempted rape doesn’t matter. Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization. Asked by a Christian Broadcast Network reporter what he thought about the attempted rape allegations against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Kavanaugh, Graham said that what Kavanaugh did as a teenager… Read more

Six Ways Faith Can Counter Polarization and Russian Espionage

September 14, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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Thanks to U.S. intelligence agencies, we now know Russian agents are still actively working to promote polarization and destabilize American democracy. Our reality show president uses misinformation and inflammatory tweets to distract and divide us. With midterm elections coming up, it is especially important for faith communities to be vigilant. With the right skills, we can play a major role in strengthening democracy. Here are a few ways we can get started. Use social media wisely First, come up with… Read more

Why Kavanaugh is Dangerous

September 4, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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I don’t like calling anyone dangerous but a Supreme Court justice who threatens our civil rights instead of championing them is just that. Today Brett Kavanaugh takes his seat before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the American people to tell us how he would serve on the Supreme Court. He has already told us he thinks the President shouldn’t face questioning or criminal charges while in office and he has already made it clear that he does not seek to… Read more

3 Reasons Why Evangelicals Should Have Boycotted Trump’s Dinner

August 28, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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Last night, President Trump hosted about a hundred evangelical leaders, including Ralph Reed, Robert Jeffress, Eric Metaxas and others, at the White House for a “state dinner.” They should have boycotted. Instead, conservative reporter David Brody tweeted exuberantly: “Javanka” at @WhiteHouse evangelical dinner last night. They have been FULLY embraced by these evangelical leaders. They have prayed with both of them many times. The love is returned FULLY. @CBNNews @IvankaTrump @POTUS pic.twitter.com/rZhLCY54Kf — David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 28, 2018 And… Read more

Swastika, Stars and Bars Hang from Same Pole: Christians Must Resist Racism and its Symbols

August 10, 2018 By Rev. Jen Butler

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To mark the one-year anniversary of a reprehensible rally in Charlottesville, Va., that killed one and wounded dozens, white supremacist groups are gathering in Washington, D.C to spew even more hate. Organizers have changed at least one strategy since last year’s bloodshed. This time, white supremacist organizers will not allow members to carry the Nazi flag. Only the Confederate and American flags will be permitted. As a Southerner, this sent a chill down my spine. As they march on Sunday,… Read more