Posted on 09/21/2010 6:14:34 AM PDT by markomalley
A remarkable letter has been issued by over 70 Christian leaders, mostly from the Protestant Religious Left but including several Catholics, like Duquesne’s Nicholas Cafardi and Georgetown’s Thomas Reese. It states:
[W]e are deeply troubled by the recent questioning of President Obama’s faith…. [T]he personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate…. Therefore, we urge public officials, faith leaders, and the media to offer no further support or airtime to those who misrepresent and call into question the president’s Christian faith.
No airtime? Not even to debate what is indeed arguably the most unconventional faith profile of any president in history, one understandably creating confusion among the public? Imagine that.
But why stop with President Obama? What about the questioning of other presidents?
Liberals constantly questioned Ronald Reagan’s faith, even as he repeatedly stated he was a Christian. He endured questions during two nationally televised presidential debates. It was embarrassing.
Reagan was far from alone. Some 200 years after his presidency, Thomas Jefferson’s faith is ever-maligned. Even the beliefs of Lincoln and Washington are debated.
What about our most recent president? I can’t tell you how many times I addressed serious inquiries about whether George W. Bush was seeking to impose a theocracy. It took every bit of charity to respond with patience. I never thought to sniff: That question should not be permitted airtime!
Don’t these liberal Christians realize how bad this looks? Their position isn’t exactly … well, liberal. It certainly lacks diversity and tolerance.
If they don’t like free discussion about the president’s faith, they should do what Americans have always done in their free society: Go to the public square—i.e., the media—hash it out, make your case, and persuade. Debate.
Wait a second … wouldn’t that be banned?
The continued push to move Christians out of the public square in order to silence them.
What freedom-loving, truth-telling, American-principle-honoring, non-collectivist, non-muslim-individual/Christian/Buddhist/Hindu/etc.,etc...OR...MAN...ANY MAN....ANY MAN ANYWHERE...would EVER say that in ANY context?
EVER
We as Christians have no "leaders" other than Christ. These people may claim to be "leaders" of other Christians but they only speak for themselves, as in the eyes of Christ, they have no greater standing than anyone else.
With that being said, these people have no business telling us that we cannot exercise our God-given rights to ask these questions of our leaders. Perhaps if they wish to promote the facade that they are actually Christians, as opposed to heretics impersonating Christians, then they will respectfully STFU as we Christians choose to exercise our rights.
Leftists always try to silence their opponents.
Leftists always try to silence their opponents.
Because the truth and reality are NEVER on their side.
In other words, silence those who disagree with us.
I question the faith of these "Christian" leaders.
Excellent point.
|
Bishop T.D. Jakes Ronald J. Sider Rev. Sam Rodriguez Jim Wallis Luis Cortes Stephen Monsma Miroslav Volf Donald Miller Kirbyjon Caldwell Wesley Granberg-Michaelson Rev. Peg Chemberlin Dr. David P. Gushee Dr. William Shaw Cynthia Bolbach Gradye Parsons Linda Valentine Dr. James C. Perkins Rev. Gabriel A. Salguero Noel Castellanos Vincent J. Miller Terrence W. Tilley Nicholas P. Cafardi T. Michael McNulty, SJ Stephen Schneck |
Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies The Catholic University of America |
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Skinner Leadership Institute
Thomas J. Reese, S.J.
Senior Fellow
Woodstock Theological Center
Georgetown University
Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ
Rev. Jonathan Good
Director, Global Faith Engagement
Habitat for Humanity
Mr. Rich Stearns
President
World Vision
Rev. Glenn R. Palmberg
President Emeritus
Evangelical Covenant Church
Daniel Garcia
Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc.
Brian Wiele
Lead Pastor
River Ridge Covenant Church
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry
The Eighth Episcopal District - A.M.E. Church
Bishop John R. Bryant
Senior Bishop
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Michael Kinnamon
General Secretary
National Council of Churches
Thomas P. Melady
Former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda, and the Vatican
President Emeritus, Sacred Heart University
The Rev. Dr. Peter K. Nord
Executive Presbyter
The Presbytery of Baltimore
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Dr. Janet M. DeVries
Grace Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Rev. Dr. Sallie M. Watson
Regional Presbyter/Stated Clerk
Presbyteries of Santa Fe an Sierra Blanca
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Jose Luis Casal
General Missioner
The Presbyter of Tres Rios
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Linda Valentine
Executive Director
General Assembly Mission Council
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Wendy S. Bailey
Associate General Presbyter
Presbytery of New Covenant
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Earl James
Coordinator
Multiracial Initiatives & Social Justice
Reformed Church in America
John F. White
Ecumenical & Urban Affairs Officer
African American Episcopal Church
Bishop Wayne Burkette
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province
Rev. Carlos L. Malave
Associate for Ecumenical Relations & Assistant Stated Clerk
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Richard A. Schempp
Executive Presbyter
Palo Duro Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Joseph W. Hill
General Presbyter
Presbyter of the Pines
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Dr. Gregory J. Coulter
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr.
General Presbyter
National Capital Presbytery
David Baak
United Church of Wayland, MI
George B. Telford
Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Stephen J. Thurston
Sr Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
President, National Baptisst Convention of America, Inc. International
Daniel Vestal
Executive Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Rev. Chuck Currie
Rev. Tyler C. Millner
Edna S. Watson
Joann K. Blake
Maxine E. Garrett
The Reverend Douglas W. Fromm
RCA Associate for Ecumenical Relations
Sis. Jackie Weary
Rev. Dr. Glen C. Missick
Director, African Americans/Black Ministries
Reformed Church in America
Ken Eriks
Director of Congregational Mission
Reformed Church in America
Rev. Stephen J. Thurston
Senior Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
President, National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International
Rev. Joyce G. Thomas
Family Coordinator
Project Destiny
Rev. Jeff Johnston
Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson
Dr. Brian T. Kaylor
Author/Professor
Rev. Allison Jackson
Rev. Susan L. Gabbard
Karen Puckett
School Media Specialist
Salisbury, NC
|
Rev. Mary Andreolli Laura Minnick Jim Hopkins David Daniels Rev. Dr. Chris Lieberman Rev. Joyce Lieberman John Savage Tobias Winright Ken Bogan Andrew Foster Connors Johanna Johnson Delilah Winstead David O'Brien Larry Osweiler Mark Rosenthal Garland John Gates Julia Welbon The Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes Michael Ruffin Rev. George E. Holmes David Fischler Sandra Roberts Blaise Kazadi Janet Salmons Rudy Rasmus Ruth Padilla DeBorst Rev. Nathan Dannison Jack Kooyman Stanley Bomgarden Phyllis Joseph Dianne Sayre Lynn Hansen Joshua Lunde-Whitler Ken Cumbie Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale Georgia Hartman Sharon Jones Kathryn Shannon The Rev. Linda Kaufman Kathleen Hargan Carolyn Harper Paul Alexander Daryl Stahl Rev. Dr. Floris Armstrong Michael Carey Rev. Dr. Andy Odle Kenneth Golphin Larry Grant Matt Hollifield Robert Thompson Linton G. Manier Charlotte Fuson Rev. William Stooksbury |
Dr. David Guel John Hanscom Peter Horsfield Rev. Dr. Betty Carey Rev. Greg Hathaway Jodie King Laura Wilcox Rev. Dr. Lynn Hargrow, Sr. Rev. Dr. Patricia Green Sandra Wint Rev. Charles Messer Dr. Kenneth Meyers Valerie Williams Rev. Justin Schlesinger-Delvin Rev. Jackie McHenry The Rev. Michael Povey Kyle Stevenson Rev. Jason Marin Paul Roberts Dr. Karen Hale Hankins Heidi Unruh Rhea Marrie Russell Cherry Vertie Reid Jolanda Mosley RC Hopper James Weeks Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker Jessica Colund Neil Kucera Sandra Webster Virginia Eubanks Don Johnson Patricia Green-Scott Kenneth J. Golphin Theona Hall Vanessa Griggs Rev. Dr. Letitia Watford Rev. Marcia Revis Esther Moore Rev. Renita Lamkin Dr. Abraham Onuora Fred Garvin Rev. Mercy Osabutey Jo Ann H. White Joshua Moorer Linda K Brian Kent Vivian Wesley Rev. Daniel Facemyer Reverend Shelly McNaughton-Lawrence William Mullette-Bauer Re. Carolyn L. Stapleton Reverend Billy Bond Dr. Lawrence Rankin Paul Whiteford Rev. Melissa McDade Stephen Tarr Peter Strals Rev. Dr. Lawrence Potts Rev. Charles Eagle Rev. Daryl Blanksma Rev. James E. Magaw Rev. LaRue Owen Rev. Richard Randolph Brenda Graves Susan Patterson-Sumwalt Jeanette Slater-Ham Dennis Deskin Forrest Clark Mrs. Cynthia Ewing Joe Payne George Mamourian |
Rev. Kathie Clontz Sherrill Keith Schnell Richard Worman Priscilla McWilliams Douglas Asbury Rev. Billie Blair Rev. Roosevelt Baums Patricia Brockman Marette Simpson Jean Asbury Steven Kelder Raul Alegria Marty Goad Rev. Jerome Tilghman Jimmy Asbell, Jr. Reverend Sarah Roncolato Rev. Dr. James Ritchie Ilia Vazquez Thomas Wilber Nancy G. Rorie Rev. Fairy Caroland Georgeann Quiggins Charles Quiggins Michael Lunsford William McFadden Elias Galvan Rev. Amy Probst Calvin McConnell Rev. Roger Underwood Jim Hopwood Gary Comer Pointer Chinyerere Rev. Dr. Brooks Heck Rev. Dr. Karen Munson Larry Boldin Theodore Runyon The Rev. Dr. William D. Mills Curtis Freeman Oscar Garza IV Shirley Ritter John Braaten Galeda Jones Montie Jones Jannette Parker Dorothy Jones Creed Pogue Henry Dreistadt Charles Teykl Anna Sowers Rev. James Martin Melvin Talbert John Thornton Maggie Jackson Neal Neuenburg Charles Ross Paula Philadelphia Patrick Chappell Lisa Chapman Catherine Fretwell Carolyn Waterman Jim Smith Rev. J. Gail Coulter Reverend Margery Schleicher Rev. Dr. Fred Allen Diane Meadows Mark Fernihough Ray Speakman |
Rev. Jim Fellers Ellen Hostetter Thompson Perry Sandifer Rev. Gayla Collins Saul Trinidad The Rev. Skip Danforth Milly A. Lloyd Shrestha Rev. Dr. Apelu Poe Dr. Edward Parish Kathryn Mitchem Rev. William Koppert Rev. Dr. Truman Brooks Rev. Philip Chandler Marilynn Schellhamer Josephine Deere Rev. Carmen Gaud Teresa Osborn Thekla Scott Lugard Westcott Reverend Lloyd Nyarota Sheryl Foster David Kuntz Pauline Kuntz Rev. June M. Smith Rev. Ryan Lambert Rev. Bruce Gardow Lanetta Anderson, MD Rev. Gerard Dykstra Rev. Ray Wightman Rev. Dr. Lloyd Doyle Debbie Tyler Barb Heise Herb Wheelock Linda Carithers Duane Harris O. Littleton Nance, Jr. Jean Foster David True Richard Allen Rev. Beverly Gaska Thelma Jones The Reverend Joseph A. Darby Paul Cleveland Sr. Marilynn Schellhamer Rev. Alvin Deer Rev. Deborah Nance Kathryn Stokes Rev. Dwight Webster Rev. Gay Albers Bill Sampson Faye Cohen Rev. Julie Merritt Lee Bryan Faulkner Bufford Coe Daniel Wolpert John Helmiere Dawn Peil Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. Alex Cooper Rev. Pamela Buchholz Mindy Saintsing Cynthia Alloway The Rev. Dr. David B. Jones Rev. Rene Whitaker Rev. Ann Herlin Laurel Carlyle Mrs. Judith Nickerson Rev. Fred Anderson Philip van Lidth de Jeude |
Jeremy Bixler Ann Troutt Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Keary Kincannon Vance P. Ross LaNella Smith Rev. Samuel Warren Van Johnson Dr. Juanita Johnson Mark Edwards H. Eugene Gragg Rev. Travis DeLoach Jeane Dunkum Reverend Paula Werner Barbara Dick Wayne Crozier Kathy Guy Fr. Nils Thompson, O.F.M. Kathleen Thomas-Sano Reverend T. Todd Smith Rev. Dr. T. Randall Smith David Hurd Rev. Lance Schmitz Rev. Dr. Jeanne Knepper Jennifer Mercer Ann Bateman Rev. Cindy McNutt-Kaestner Steven Taylor George Shuler Juan Luera Reverend Stan Wright Emma Morales Hope Morgan Ward Rev. Mark Alley Rev. Prof. Manfred Marquardt P. Dean Brown James V Lyleas Rev. Phyllis Garrett Alfred Norris James Pollard Alice Woldt David Lamarre-Vincent Russell Meyer Rev. Donald Waddleton Sarah Trotty Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser Juliette Green Jerry Ruth Williams Victor Marshand Webb Tyrone Gordon Juanita Jackson Norma Jeane Miller |
This is NOT a new phenomenon, of course. Progressives in every age since our Lord have been busy on this front.
The First Amendment is really coming under fire these days.
I’ll bet that all the people calling for silence from critics can say, out loud and in public, “endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights” without a single grimace.
One dare not question the messiah.
“Progressives in every age since our Lord have been busy on this front.”
And please..cut the PC term “Progressive”. I takes me want to puke.
THEY ARE MARXIST, or neo-Marxist.
There are quite a few women on that list.
Are you familiar with the "Progressive" movement from the first part of the 20th Century?
Where is the pastor of “ The Church of What’s Happening Now”? His name is not on List!
Obama went to “church” for the first time in months - to hear a MUSLIM guest speaker talk about Palestinian issues, which the media did not report - and to fool you.
Obama is MUSLIM and a liar, no question.
“Are you familiar with the “Progressive” movement from the first part of the 20th Century?”
Yes, it goes back to the late 19th century.
Marxism, socialism, progressive, Obamanism...All the same.
Two can play at this game. I have gotten 70 of my friends together and we have made the following appeal:
” [W]e are deeply troubled by the lack of questioning of President Obama’s faith…. [T]he personal faith of our leaders is a valid subject for public debate…. Therefore, we urge public officials, faith leaders, and the media to silence any group that opposes questioning the president’s Christian faith. Furthermore, we urge that groups opposed to such questions be immediately disbanded and their leader put in jail, until they are properly re-educated.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.