Posted on 08/16/2008 11:59:35 AM PDT by XR7
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — When John McCain and Barack Obama appear on the same stage today, they will vividly demonstrate the reach that has made the Rev. Rick Warren among the most significant evangelists of his generation.
He's a megastar who leads the nation's fourth-largest church and reaches thousands of ministers through the Internet and crusades against poverty and AIDS. That globe-trotting work and his successful book — "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" — puts him at the vanguard of a movement that inspires young, socially conscious Christians.
But his willingness to soft-pedal political issues once central to U.S. evangelicals, such as opposition to abortion, has opened him to criticism that he has strayed from his calling to spread the Gospel.
Today's forum also is a sign of religion's importance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the emergence of a new style of evangelical leadership on the national stage that is not tied to a single party and has broadened its social agenda beyond that of the religious right.
"This is absolutely a changing of the guard, and it suggests that the new guard of the evangelical movement is able to generate the attention and focus of both parties," said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite."
Warren personally invited the two candidates — "friends of mine" — via their cellphones. His event at the Saddleback Church will be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News Channel and streamed on the Web. It has among its aims "helping the church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility," he said.
It's likely that fans and critics will be watching closely...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I love this Cross story...
What comfort it must have givem McCain
No hesitation on the abortion q!!
Beautiful answer on abortion...no questions.
Obama was boring and McCain, well he’s the real deal.
TIME OF CONCEPTION!!! NO HEMMING AND HAWING.
Great answer to abortion.. it’s not above his paygrade..
A baby is entitled to Human Rights at the MOMENT of CONCEPTION...
Okay, I’m in.
At the moment of conception.
Said with conviction.
That’s his commitment.
At the moment of conception...his Presidency will be that of PRO-LIFE!!!
OK...this guy has me on the hook now!!! This with his DRILL NOW policy!!
Ok, I’m in now too.
Human rights
At the moment of conception
pro-life for 25 years...
You go Mccain
Conception.
One man, one woman.
Outta the park!
Wants to go to SCOTUS right away! LOL!
“At the moment of conception”
God Bless John McCain!
Yep, I get the computer about 90% of the time, so when Mr. MOguy needs it, I gracefully allow him to use it....
:)
MOgirl
Yep, I’m in too.
Watch Warren hit him on stem cells.
Wait a minute, wasn’t Mc shopping a pro-abort.
McCain brought a tear to my eye (and his as well!) when he mentioned the story of the prison guard and the cross...
What about his amnesty bill?...already forgotten?
What about his visits to La Raza?....already forgotten?
Am I the only one with a long memory?
The Moron Mess-iah and he looks like he is fighting serious depressional problems.
@@@@@
He probably has woken up to the fact that he will be attending the Clinton Convention.
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