Walter Cronkite endorses Campaign to Force Christianity out of U.S. Public Life

LifeSiteNews ^ | 2/28/07 | Gudrun Schultz

[wagglebee]

SAN JOSE, California, February 28, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A new campaign to force Christian influence out of the public sphere was launched last week in San Jose, California, in response to what is seen as a returning strength of religious organizations in American society.

Led by members of the Interfaith Alliance, an organization dedicated to countering the influence of the conservative Christian Coalition on federal politics, the new campaign is designed to promote policies that would silence the political voice of the “religious right.”

Called ‘First Amendment First’, the campaign has been billed as a defense of the separation of church and state, which organizers claim is threatened by religious organizations’ involvement in political lobbying and endorsement of candidates.

Recommendations promoted by the campaign would see sweeping bans imposed on church activities affecting public policy, including a prohibition on church endorsement of political candidates. Research and health policies should not be founded on “religious doctrine”, the campaign states and a ban should be imposed on schools promoting a particular religion.

As well, campaign petitions include an end to state funding of any charitable organization that “discriminates in its hiring” or requires people hold a particular faith to receive services.

American news personality Walter Cronkite, a veteran of US media, endorsed the campaign, as did the Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance.

Cronkite, now 90, served as anchor for CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981.  He is the spokesman and honorary chairman of the Alliance, which includes multi-faith and atheistic members. In addition to opposing religious influence on politics, the organization is dedicated to promoting public acceptance of homosexuality, calling for an end to “discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

PRO-HOMOSEXUALITY BOOKLET SENT TO ALL US PUBLIC SCHOOLS
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/1999/nov/99112404.html

[RightOnline]

Just die, Cronkite, you treasonous old bastard.

[Jake The Goose]

You know - I am a child of the 60's - born in 58'.

I can remember Walter as a child does:

- The Nasa Program most of all.

As obvious as it now is - I still find it hard to grasp that this guy is NUTS !!!

You know?

[Reaganesque]

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

And yet in Liberal world we get:

Called ‘First Amendment First’, the campaign has been billed as a defense of the separation of church and state, which organizers claim is threatened by religious organizations’ involvement in political lobbying and endorsement of candidates.

Recommendations promoted by the campaign would see sweeping bans imposed on church activities affecting public policy, including a prohibition on church endorsement of political candidates. Research and health policies should not be founded on “religious doctrine”, the campaign states and a ban should be imposed on schools promoting a particular religion.

Positively Orwellian. Some people are most definitely more equal than others.

[wagglebee]

I don't think senility has a damn thing to do with it, Cronkite was lying about the United States "losing" the Tet Offensive almost 40 years ago.

[magslinger]

Krankheit isn't senile, he's always been like that. Smart comes and goes, but stupid is forever.

[wagglebee]

He doesn't sound all that different than the "big tent" Republicans we are being told we should support because they're "winners."

[EternalVigilance]

Called ‘First Amendment First’, the campaign has been billed as a defense of the separation of church and state, which organizers claim is threatened by religious organizations’ involvement in political lobbying and endorsement of candidates.

Typical. Use the First Amendment to destroy the First Amendment.

[Enosh]

A new campaign to force Christian influence out of the public sphere was launched last week in San Jose, California...

Walter, Walter...

"San Jose" means

Saint Joseph!

[rbg81]

Many of the same people who want Christianity out of public life have no problem inviting Islam in. They call Christians right wing and fanatic and in the next breath respectfully refer to Muslims as devout. They promote gay rights and say Islamic sensibilities must be protected. They accuse Christians of trying to censor free speech, but they self-sensor any reference to the prophet Mohammad. The hypocacy is breathtaking. There really is something fundamentally wrong with these people.

[goodnesswins]

Yep, you're right......."the organization is dedicated to promoting public acceptance of homosexuality, calling for an end to “discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

[Paperdoll]

If this EVER happens, we can say goodbye to AMERICA, the United States, and hello to Amerika, the new Soviet Union.
Hopefully, most loyal Americans will want to retain our beloved and successful Constitution rather than adopt the suicidal Communist Manifesto. And I knew Edward R. Murrow (truly), and Walter Cronkite is no Edward R. Murrow.

[The Duke]

There's no commie like an old commie!

[wagglebee]

The only constitution that I am aware of that mentions "separation of church and state" is when it appears in Article 52 of the Soviet Constitution.

http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/r100000_.html

[advertising guy]

great point.

[Towed_Jumper]

"I guess they don't see the irony in this plan to "separate church and state" by sic'ing THE State on THE Church."

Well said. These morons conveniently forget that the last group of American citizens to be burned alive for their religious believes were burned to death by the State at Waco.

[magslinger]

That's twice in the same thread I not quite quoted the previous post about thirty seconds later. I have got to work on the typing skills.

[Ladysmith]

...endorsed the campaign, as did the Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance.

Uh-huh.

-------------------------------

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/pp.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=120694

The Interfaith Alliance

The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan advocacy organization. Founded in 1994 to challenge the radical religious right, TIA remains committed to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in public life by encouraging civic participation, facilitating community activism, and challenging religious political extremism.

...snip... TIA and our members work to ensure that America is a nation where religious belief and practice are free and voluntary, and that the government does not favor or discriminate against citizens based on their religious belief or non-belief.

-------------------------

Religious freedoms for all but Christians.

[wagglebee]

Yeah, but Rudy will appoint judges like Thomas and Scalia, so no need for any concern./sarcasm off

[reagan_fanatic]

You are known by the company you keep. I hope Walter enjoys his alliance with the socialists, communists and athiests of the world.

What a sad, pathetic old fool he is.

[atomicpossum]

It's simply Left Wing base attacking the Right Wing base. Call it that.