Young Democrats launch faith initiative

[rug]

Douglas Turner
Updated: December 5, 2011, 6:29 AM

WASHINGTON — Mirroring the George W. Bush presidential campaigns, the Democrats have rolled out their religious platform of faith and values. But their agenda shows they’re not looking for much support for President Obama among conservative Evangelical Christians and traditional Catholics the way that Republicans did in 2000 and 2004.

In an announcement made in behalf of Young Democrats of America, the Democratic National Committee said, “new values voters will frown on a Republican Party that would reinstitute discrimination in the military.” The Faith and Values Initiative for young Democrats, formed last week, includes House members and religious leaders who are Jewish, Muslim, Evangelical Christian, Baptist and Presbyterian.

The “new values” message specifically denounces the Republican preference for the rich. “Young Americans are not abandoning their faith,” said Rod Snyder, president of Young Democrats of America. “Our definition of what constitutes a ‘moral issue’ has expanded into foreign policy, environmental regulations, economic and tax policy, immigration and other social justice causes.”

It went without saying those principles include the Democrats’ 24-year support of women’s reproductive rights. But doesn’t it sound rather earthbound for a religious statement? A far cry from a comment made by Catholic Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., about what he sees as militant secularism driving Catholic teaching about marriage and life issues out of the public square and “into the sacristy.” Lori, head of a new bishops’ committee on religious freedom, said, “once man’s transcendent nature is denied, all freedoms are endangered.”

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/columns/douglas-turner/article660594.ece

Here's the press release:

http://www.yda.org/yda-and-dnc-hold-joint-press-conference-on-faith-values-initiative/

Here's the new website:

http://www.ydafaithandvalues.org/

[rpannier]

1. K&R

[trotsky]

2. "Young Americans are not abandoning their faith"

That's not what the stats say.

But apart from that, why do we oppose "faith initiatives" and the melding of faith & politics by the right wing, but it's OK when we do it?

[Goblinmonger]

6. +infinity n/t

[LeftishBrit]

7. I don't have a faith...

and oppose the equating of any sort of religion with citizenship.

However, saying 'why do we oppose "faith initiatives" and the melding of faith & politics by the right wing, but it's OK when we do it?' is in some ways like saying 'why do we oppose hammers when they're used to bash people in the head, but it's OK when they're used for building?' Religion is a tool; it can be used for good or for evil. Christianity for instance can be used to support justice, protect poor people and fight oppression, or it can be used to suppress women and minorities, start wars, and treat existing power as God-ordained.

Personally, I would prefer that people would be 'good without God'; but I would not spurn support in the battle against the Right, because it comes from people whose spiritual philosophy I don't share.

As often, I think my experiences of living in Britain rather than America may explain my somewhat different perspective.

[trotsky]

12. The difference with hammers is that was can clearly see when they are being used to hurt someone.

The right wing, with their Supply Side Jesus, truly believe they are helping people become self-sufficient. The problem comes whenever you meld political goals with religious ones - the political arena, where compromise is the name of the game, is antithetical to religion, where one side is good and the other evil. Both sides dig in their heels.

[darkstar3]

8. Couldn't agree more.

[MarkCharles]

3. From the third link:

"Young Democrats are spreading the message that Democrats are the best representatives of religious values."

I guess it depends upon WHOSE "religious" values we're talking about.

[moobu2]

4. They're not real Christians.

Or so I've heard say.

[lwo]

5. Faith & Values Initiative a Good Idea

Although I don't regard myself as a Christian, I personally think reaching out to progressive people of faith is a good idea. The goal of such partnership is not to convert people to a religious orientation, but rather to join forces in a common political cause in support of commonly held civic values: justice, equality of opportunity, fairness, money out of politics, etc. However people come to progressive values I want to stand with them and have them stand with me. Progressive Partisan

[Kurmudgeon]

9. It's just nice to see that someone proves that the GOP doesn't have complete ownership of faith.

[darkstar3]

10. Neither party should be involved in it.

It was wrong when the GOP tried to co-opt faith for their authoritarian agenda, and it's wrong for the Democrats to try and mimic the action just because it was successful.

[cleanhippie]

11. Thats just what we need, Liberals/Dems PANDERING to religious groups.

:puke:

[rug]

13. Those links have email contacts.

By all means, let them know of your disgust.