Posted on 11/19/2024 9:35:57 PM PST by Morgana
The Father of the Progressive Left, Tony Campolo, passed away this evening at the age of 89.
Campolo was a popular teacher, speaker, and sociologist who pastored several American Baptist Churches. He was perhaps best known for being the spiritual advisor to Bill Clinton and for founding the left-wing organization ‘Red-Letter Christians’ Movement 2007, with the help of Shane Claiborne and Sojourner’s Jim Wallis.
Red-Letter Christians was envisioned to be a counter-movement to the political influence of conservative Christianity, advancing social justice by focusing on the words of Jesus (the red letters) frequently at the exclusions or depreciation of other portions of the biblical text. By failing to see the entire bible as cohesive and God-breathed, all from the mouth of God, the organization quickly evolved into a liberal rag that eventually released articles supporting abortion and homosexuality.
Notably, Campolo emerged as fully LGBTQ-affirming in 2015 and ditched the moniker ‘evangelical’ a year later. He was known for employing hyperbole or shock value statements in his quest to get folks to consider his mission, saying things like:
“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said ‘shit’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”
An obituary posted to his Facebook page reads:
It is with both deep sorrow and profound gratitude that we announce the peaceful passing of Dr. Tony Campolo, a beloved husband, father, friend, educator, Christian leader, and author, and a tireless activist for justice and compassion. Tony died at his home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on November 19, 2024, at the age of 89, surrounded by his family and loved ones. His life was a testament to faith, love, and the transformative power of relationships, and his influence will be felt for generations to come.
Born on February 25, 1935, in Philadelphia, Tony grew up in a close-knit family where his bond with his two older sisters, Rose and Ann, was the foundation of his formative years. Their steadfast nurture, faith, and laughter remained an enduring source of strength throughout his life.
Tony’s professional legacy is profound. For more than six decades, as a pastor, distinguished professor, mesmerizing public speaker, and prolific author, Tony touched countless lives around the world with his hopeful message of social justice, love, and reconciliation. While he richly enjoyed teaching at the University of Pennsylvania for more than a decade, Tony happily spent most of his academic career at Eastern University, where he first served as a professor of sociology and later became a spiritual mentor to many. Tony’s commitment to Eastern was not just intellectual, but deeply personal; he viewed Eastern as an extension of his family and poured his heart into shaping its mission and community.
Tony’s influence extended far beyond the classroom. As a lifelong public speaker and ministry organizer, he worked tirelessly to advance a combination of Biblical faith and Jesus-inspired care for the poor popularly known as Red Letter Christianity. Known for his charismatic storytelling and unique ability to blend humor with deep theological insights, he was a sought-after keynote speaker at churches, conferences and major events around the world, where he challenged individuals and communities to love their neighbors with radical compassion and live out their faith through sacrificial social action.
Tony was also a prolific author, writing over 35 books on topics ranging from theology and social issues to personal reflections on faith and family. His work resonated with people from all walks of life, and his passion for social justice inspired many to devote their lives to making the world a better place.
Tony is survived by his beloved wife Peggy, who was his devoted partner, wise guide, and best friend for more than 66 years. He is also survived by Peggy’s and his daughter Lisa Goodheart (Marc), son Bart Campolo (Marty), their grandchildren Miranda Stowers (Tyler), Roman Campolo (Ali), Nina Goodheart and Naomi Goodheart, and their great-grandchildren, Maya and Luca Stowers and Oscar Anthony Campolo. His love for each and all of them was deep, unshakeable, and unwavering, as was – and is – their love for him.
Throughout his life, Tony was a shining example of kindness, exuberance, authenticity, and commitment, and he leaves behind a wonderful legacy of evangelical scholarship, inspirational communication and missionary impact. Both his message and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him best and in the countless lives he touched through his work.
A memorial service to celebrate Tony’s life will be held at Eastern University in early 2025. Details will soon to be available at www.eastern.edu/campolocenter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Campolo Center for Ministry, which is ably ca
“What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said ‘shit’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night”
And about 100,000 kids were butchered in their mothers womb.
It’s appointed to each of us once to die, and then the JUDGMENT. (Heb. 9:27)
This is the ultimate FA and FO!
Tony FA. Now he will FO.
“Be not deceived; GOD is not mocked. For whatsoever a man shall sow, that shall he also reap.”
Famous for laughing and yukking it up with Clinton after Ron Brown’s funeral.
Clinton noticed the camera and immediately stopped smiling and laughing and turned sad and somber-looking.
Campolo was too dumb to notice and kept yukking it up.
Left wing Christianity is an oxymoron.
Narrow is the way and few shall find it.
I may be shocked but I do feel sorry for him.
Eternity is a long time.
Here is what the bullshit artist Tony Campolo had to say about abortion:
RNS: And what about the millions of abortions performed each year in America? Explain to me why that doesn’t make your list.
TC: I think it is a pressing political issue. And I am very concerned that we have allowed the Republican party alone to define the pro-life position. The Democrats have not understood where evangelicals are coming from. They would be able to get a great deal of support from the evangelicals if they would propagate what they know to be true: 72% of all abortions in America are driven by economic forces. That is to say, it is young women who are pregnant, working at a minimum wage, with no health insurance or possibility for daycare, with no pre-natal or post-natal help, and who knows that if she has the baby it’s going to cost her thousands of dollars for hospital care. So we have to begin to ask, “What’s this woman going to do?” Seventy-two percent of the people who’ve had abortions were driven by economic forces and when asked by the Guttmacher Institute, which is a pro-choice organization, “Would you have an abortion if it wasn’t for these economic choices?” would say, “No, we wouldn’t have had the abortion.”
My question is: how can we as evangelicals call ourselves pro-life if all we are anxious to do is to make abortion illegal? If we are not dealing with the economic forces that are driving people to have abortions?
In short, the people in Congress who vote for curtailment of abortion, on the one hand, turn around and vote against raising the minimum wage, vote against universal healthcare, vote against daycare for single women, vote against prenatal and post-natal care? There is an inconsistency here. [tweetable]If we’re going to make abortion illegal, on the one hand, we have to deal with the forces that are driving women to have abortions.[/tweetable] Or else we will drive them underground as they were prior to Roe Vs. Wade. And you know the consequences of driving abortions underground. The evangelical community should have a guilty conscience if, in fact, it makes abortion illegal and doesn’t deal with the economic forces that are driving people to have abortions. I’m pro-life, but pro-life in a full sense, in the sense of Cardinal Bernadin: you can’t just pass a law against abortion. You have to, in fact, deal with the forces that make many women feel that abortion is a necessity for them.
The Righteous Judge King Jesus awaits, Tony! Your bullshit will not protect you in that encounter.
“Famous for laughing and yukking it up with Clinton after Ron Brown’s funeral.
Clinton noticed the camera and immediately stopped smiling and laughing and turned sad and somber-looking.
Campolo was too dumb to notice and kept yukking it up.”
I REMEMBER THAT
Here was Rush giving a play by play on his TV show. I had no idea that was Campolo beside him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf8TOGrq8Bo
Thanks.
Rush loved to use this as a perfect example of liberal perfidy.
Dude was a commie. God hates commies.
>> I do feel sorry for him. Eternity is a long time.
That is a righteous attitude, IMO. GOD bless you for expressing it. I’m not quite there yet. Those that deceive many have to answer for their deceit. Especially when they bill themselves as shepherds. But I am aware that the details of that process are way above my pay grade. :-)
I thought he assumed room temperature years ago.
Thank you dear friend.
Considering how horrible it will be, I’d not wish Hell on anyone.
I fervently pray that I’ll never see it myself.
I’m currently trying to find a way to be immersion baptized, even as phobic as I am of being underwater.
It’s become a frantic search and I have no idea how to accomplish this.
Call random churches?
Do they do baptisms “on demand” or is it a scheduled event?
After the nightmare serial losses and tragedies of the last 3 years, my priorities have wildly shifted.
Sorry for rambling on.
Apparently I’m experiencing true loneliness for the first time and not handling it very well.
And satan is very pleased to have another dead commie coming to spend an eternity with him.
I thought he left this world years ago
I'm praying for his soul (seriously).
Re the quote: one of the downsides of being perceived as charming (cf. Clinton) is that you are tempted not to examine closely your own reasoning. It is a huge leap to go from Guttmacher's 72% to saying they are minimum-wage workers.
The fact is that contemporary American society (with, thankfully, a few notable exceptions) doesn't regard children, or life, as a gift. To say that "we can't afford the baby" means we don't value him or her as we should.
"ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17
You decide whether you want a baby before you do what makes them happen.
Not after.
It’s that simple.
>> one of the downsides of being perceived as charming (cf. Clinton) is that you are tempted not to examine closely your own reasoning.
Excellent point. Thank you.
Campolo was a snake oil salesman of pie-in-the-sky Christianity. His son Bart eventually stopped believing in God and became a “secular humanist”(whatever the heck that is).
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