Posted on 03/13/2009 2:28:19 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Conservative evangelical and Catholic leaders who went out on a political limb by aligning themselves with the Obama administration are expressing feelings ranging from disappointment to optimism in their reaction to the president's decisions so far on culture war issues.
Although most of President Obama's moves on abortion and stem cell research have been expected, some right-leaning Christian leaders who took a risk sitting down at the table with a Democratic president feel that several major decisions fall short of the common ground Obama had promised on divisive social issues.
Obama's reversal this week of Bush-era restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is the latest example.
"Thus far, I have been disappointed to see little give. There's been a lot of take," said the Rev. Frank Page, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention who serves on a month-old advisory board to Obama's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "I've seen little give in the area of relating to the evangelical community as far as life issues."
Others point out that Obama is, after all, a Democrat and supporter of keeping abortion legal -- and he has promised to proceed with caution on stem cells.
Obama "is not doing anything he hasn't said he was going to do during the campaign," said the Rev. Joel Hunter, an evangelical megachurch pastor from Orlando, Fla., and another advisory board member. "So I am not enthusiastic, but I'm not disappointed, because we knew what to expect. I'm encouraged he is not totally flipping to the other side. We've got to be patient here."
One of the four main priorities of Obama's faith-based office is to find ways to reduce the abortion rate, an attempt at common ground. But shortly after taking office, Obama lifted restrictions on federal
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
the Rev. Frank Page, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention who serves on a month-old advisory board to Obama's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
the Rev. Joel Hunter, an evangelical megachurch pastor from Orlando, Fla., and another advisory board member.
Joshua DuBois, director of the faith-based office
Douglas Kmiec, a Pepperdine University law professor, Catholic opponent of abortion and former Reagan administration lawyer
Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the 6 million-member Church of God in Christ, a predominantly black Pentecostal denomination - the only one quoted who said he would "challenge Obama".
Cameron Strang, editor of Relevant Magazine
the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
I’m optimistic that Obama WILL destroy this country.
Talk about extremely poor ability to discern!
They should be ashamed!
Christians Optimistic But Disappointed in Obama
Christians are optimistic on Obama?
I do not see how that is possible. How can anyone that claims to be a Christian support a baby killer?
Obama hasmany policy/programs that are counter tobeing a Christianand that directly or indirectly attack Christianity in America......
It was posted here but didn't get much response, I think it was because the title was changed.
This should be an action item. I sent the info out to people I know to tell them to contact their Congresscritters and demand that they continue to support the Dickey-Wicker Amendment.
These people are Christian in name only. There are two types of people who call themselves Christian. Those that acknowledge they are sinners and commit themselves to Jesus Christ and all His teachings. Then, there are those who understand scripture but have DECIDED to ignore certain biblical principles they KNOW are true. Read Matthew 7:21 “On that day many will say Lord Lord didn’t we prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and the Lord will say to them, I never knew you.”
Damned fools!
I don’t have a poor ability to discern. I’m trying my best not to do God’s work and judge. I can say that I would never follow a leader who voted or works for Obama.
Anyone who voted for this amateur and is now disappointed is not very bright. Obambi is delivering exactly what he promised, especially on abortion and stem cell research.
It was clear before the election the facts of Obama’s record of supporting abortion. When pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church asked Obama when life begins he said” to answer that would be above my pay grade”. So they have no excuse in electing this Fraud or expecting he would side with pro-life stances. No excuses!
AMEN. You are right. I was amazed at Christian friends who voted for this man (sorry men) knowing full well what his record is. Good grief.
Dickey-Wicker? Ya can’t make this stuff up, LOL.
I don't think they are Christians.
0 was very clear prior to the election he believes in abortion, embryonic stem cell research and spent 20 years listening to a racist preacher. All the election did was tell us how much work we have to do within our churches.
Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the 6 million-member Church of God in Christ, a predominantly black Pentecostal denomination - the only one quoted who said he would “challenge Obama”.”
That’s the only man among them. He’s realized his mistake and will now fight it. Good for him.
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