Posted on 06/06/2008 3:19:30 PM PDT by SmithL
The Rev. Jeffrey Bryan has posted campaign signs for "Obama in '08" and displayed snapshots of the presumed Democratic presidential nominee visiting his Newark, N.J., church. At times he wears a T-shirt emblazoned with Barack Obama's face.
That's as far as Bryan will go — there will be no sermons peppered with "Vote Obama!"
"It's a historical time for black people. We cannot ignore what's going on," Bryan said. Yet, he added, "you can't tell people who to vote for."
The pulpit plays a powerful role in shaping political views in the black community. During the civil rights era, for example, pastors were activists as well as spiritual leaders. Now, with a black candidate one election away from the White House, black churches are trying to balance their support for Obama with their legal obligations as nonprofit institutions. And there's concern that controversial pastors — already a problem for Obama — could hurt his campaign.
This week, about 7,500 pastors gathered for the annual Hampton Ministers' Conference to discuss issues of faith and relate them to daily life. As Obama claimed the delegates necessary to secure the Democratic presidential nomination before a crowd of cheering thousands in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday, the energy rippled through the conference. Just a year earlier, the Illinois senator had used the conference to challenge the Bush administration for failing to diffuse a "quiet riot" of discontent brewing in black America.
By midweek, pastors were openly supporting Obama's historic candidacy — but choosing their words carefully. Many said they personally endorsed him, but stopped short of saying more.
The Rev. William B. Moore, a Philadelphia pastor, said he's helped organize voter drives in his congregation, given money to the campaign and posted an Obama '08 sign. But he didn't plan much else.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That law was made for conservative Catholics.
That only applies to conservatives in real Churches. It helps if you don’t speak out about murdering babies as well.
There's also no point. They're all a'votin' that way, regardless.
Judging by the primary results, they have no need to tell "people who to vote for." It's in the bag.
The Left has no respect for the separation of church and state. At all. It’s merely something they use to beat conservatives about the head with.
Obie is as much white as he is black........don’t that make him sprt pf a hypocrite? Just sayin.......
“It’s a historical time for black people. We cannot ignore what’s going on,”
A racist remark from the get go. Next Sunday the Whitey sermon, be early.
The black pastors are just like the white pastors, some of them serve God, and some of them do not. That it the only difference.
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